With Leica Sofort, the traditional German company is venturing into the market for instant cameras. And the price is an announcement. Can the Leica Sofort live up to the brand’s reputation and, even more importantly: is it worth buying or is the Instax Mini 90 from Fuji the better choice after all?
In short:
- Image size: 2.4 x 1.8 inches (portrait format)
- Film: Leica Instant Color Film or Fujifilm Instax Mini
- Sport & Action mode
- Double & long exposure
- Macro mode
- Three focus areas
- Selfie mode
- Price: approx. 270,- bucks
Leica Instant actually a Fujifilm?
At the Leica brand, passionate photographers have their hearts opened. The German manufacturer can look back on more than 100 years of company history and over the years has brought some legendary cameras such as the Leica M3 onto the market. Now the traditional brand is entering the Polaroid market with the Leica Instant, one can expect a lot. But in fact, not only Leica technology is slumbering in the Sofort. The “core technology” comes from Fujifilm, the brand that has revived the instant camera with its Instax cameras. The question now is, is the Leica Instant an overpriced Fujifilm or is there more to it?
The Leica Sofort in detail
Visually, the Leica Sofort goes its own way. Where other manufacturers focus either on classic design or playful modernity, the Sofort looks much more grown-up. At first glance, it is not even recognizable as an instant camera. In any case, the optics are attractive, the angular (plastic) housing appears stable and there is a suitable one for everyone among the available colours (black, white, mint and orange).
Changing the films is intuitive, because of the “relationship” to Fuji you can confidently choose Instax films. Like the competition, the Leica Sofort also has a selfies mirror on the lens, so selfies with cut off people should not be a problem anymore. A self-timer is also available (10 sec timer). The camera offers a number of practical modes for different motifs and lighting conditions.
The macro mode
Whether flowers, food or bugs, whenever the object of desire is at a distance of 1 – 2 feet (0.3 – 0.6 m), the macro mode offers the ideal settings.
Selfie-Mode
Although the recommended distance is 1 – 2 feet in both selfie mode and macro mode, the settings are adjusted to suit typical lighting conditions and subjects. The selfie mirror on the lens helps to align the camera.
Sport & Action Mode
In Sports and Action modes, shutter speeds are adjusted to suit moving objects. This eliminates a typical shortcoming of many instant cameras. The ideal distance is 1 – 2 fet.
Party & People or Free Mode
As the name suggests, people are in the foreground here. Among other things, the “red eye effect” should be prevented with this mode. Also possibly worse lighting conditions are compensated. The recommended distance is also here 1 – 2 feet.
Long Time Exposure
The instructions for the camera say: this mode is used, for example, to record fireworks. In fact, this mode is used when lighting conditions are very poor and high exposure is required. This way, spectacular night shots can be taken, but ideally the camera should be mounted on a tripod to prevent camera from shaking. For creative people, however, shots without a tripod also result in unique motifs and effects. The recommended distance is 9.8 feet plus.
Double exposure for creative people
This mode combines two images. Different motifs can be “melted” this way, the result is unique images. The distance should be between 1 – 2 feet.
Automatic
In the automatic mode of the Leica, the settings are automatically adjusted according to the given light conditions.
Other details of the Leica instant camera
The distance range of the Leica Sofort can be changed using the adjustment ring on the lens. The image ejector is located on the left side of the camera and as always: no shaking! The on/off switch, the mode selection button and the flash control are located on the back next to a small LCD display. The control for over- or underexposure is also located there. Important detail: all settings made are reset to factory settings when the camera is switched off. Some people find this annoying, others point out that every motif needs individual settings anyway. A tripod thread is of course available as well as the included carrying strap.
Leica Sofort vs. Instax Mini 90 – conclusion
The Leica Sofort is an excellent instant camera. The quality of the images is convincing, the wide selection of modes makes it versatile and the workmanship looks valuable despite the plastic housing. Polaroid cameras are often used by professionals for so-called test shots. In doing so, a quick snapshot of the lighting conditions is taken, instant cameras are ideal for this purpose. The Leica Instant has its place in such a scenario. Not because the quality of the images is superior to that of the Instax Mini 90 Neo Classic. But because it is a Leica.
For all others, the significant surcharge is hardly worth it. The essential technique is the same, and the photos are hardly distinguishable. But it is a real Leica…
VIDEO: Leica Sofort hands on
