Leica has just announced the Leica CL “100 jahre bauhaus” edition camera. It is a silver CL camera with a 18mm lens. The changes are the Leica logo is in black and the edition name is embossed on the front of the camera. The regular kit is priced at $3195 while the limited edition is $3795. For a special edition it isn’t that much of a premium over the regular camera.
The Leica CL is from the Leica T family tree that was introduced in mid 2014. Is was invited to the unveiling at the Leica West Hollywood Store. The concept for the camera was quite revolutionary for Leica. It was a whole new camera design for the company that I was very happy to see them introduce. I had been saying that for the company to survive that they were going to expand beyond the core audience of M users. I was impressed about everything about the camera except for the lack of viewfinder. I was assured by a company rep that if the camera could find a foothold in the market that it would grow into a more mature camera.
The Leica CL is that camera all grown up. I have always called it the test platform for a M camera that has an EVF that will be produced someday.