#HTE

Leica’s X-U is a pretty and pricey waterproof camera

Waterproof and rugged cameras don’t get prettier than Leica’s new X-U.

Aimed at adventurers and designed in collaboration with the carmaker Audi, the X-U is the first Leica camera that can be submerged in up to 49 feet of water. It’s also extremely rugged: shock-resistant, shatterproof and dust-sealed.

The aluminum camera has a 16.5-megapixel APS-C sensor and a Leica Summilux 23mm lens. Though the lens isn’t interchangeable, it is fast — it has an f/1.7 aperture — and should perform like a real champ in low-light situations.

There are two control dials and a hot shoe for connecting accessories on the top. Around back is a 3-inch display, which Leica says has a “toughened monitor screen cover” to guard against deadly drops. A double-locking system protects the memory card and the battery from getting waterlogged. Read more…