Leica's compact, wide-angle C-Lux 2
Leica unveils its version of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX30.
In the continuing tradition of Leica and Panasonic releasing fraternal-twin cameras, Leica is debuting its customized version of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX30, which that company announced at the end of January.
As usual, Leica targets a slightly more upscale audience with its C-Lux 2, justifying the $150 price differential by bundling a 64MB SD card--are they still making them that small?--and a copy of Adobe Photoshop Elements. Leica will also be offering a variety of leather cases as accessories.
Except for some minor cosmetic details, the 7-megapixel C-Lux 2 matches the FX30 pretty closely. It features a 28mm-100mm-equivalent, optically stabilized lens and 2.5-inch LCD, plus an 848x480 30fps movie mode. Unlike the FX30, which comes in four colors, the C-Lux 2 sticks with basic black and silver models.
Leica plans to charge $499 for the C-Lux 2 when it ships in May.