Leica Announces Sofort Instant Cameras

Leica Camera has officially announced the Sofort instant cameras. "Sofort" is the German word for "right away" (instant). And yes, they shoot film. The price is $299 USD and pre-orders are currently open (e.g. at Leica Store Miami).

Leica Camera Unveils Leica SOFORT

First Instant Film Camera from Storied Camera Brand Puts Photographs Back into People's Hands for Tangible, One-of-a-kind Pictures

NEW YORK, Sept. 15, 2016 -- Leica Camera proudly welcomes the newest member of its family: the Leica SOFORT. The SOFORT instant camera boasts a unique Leica design with special features, offering quick and easy access to photography that will have users seeing and sharing real photographs within seconds. With the SOFORT, Leica brings its photographic expertise, commitment to creativity, and ease of use to the world of Instax instant photography. The Leica SOFORT provides opportunities to create small tangible works of art and lasting memories.

Leica SOFORT
The Leica design team has developed the SOFORT to differ from other instant cameras in a number of essential aspects. SOFORT users will be equipped with a camera that not only comes in stylish choices of orange, white and mint colors that reflect the light-hearted fun of instant photography, but also an easy-to-use creative tool that can handle more dynamic situations than a traditional instant camera. In automatic mode, the SOFORT utilizes available light as much as possible before triggering the flash, creating pictures with a more authentic, natural look that are one-of-a-kind and cannot be replaced or reproduced.

In addition to preset modes for Automatic, Party & People, Sports & Action, Macro and the creative possibilities of multiple exposures and time exposures, the SOFORT also has self-portrait and self-timer modes. The camera automatically adapts exposure time and aperture to the mode the user selects. The SOFORT even offers options for manual control overrides: focusing distance can be changed independently of the presets, the flash can be turned off entirely and image brightness can be set higher or lower. And, to make it easier for those fond of self-portraits, the SOFORT has a rectangular mirror on the front for easier framing.

The SOFORT works with both color and black-and-white film. In a nod to the nostalgic character of instant photography, the border frames of instant film offered by Leica for the SOFORT are a warm cream color. All Leica SOFORT film packs come with 10 exposures. Color film is also available in double packs of 20 exposures.

Easy to use and fun to accessorize, Leica SOFORT will see a comprehensive range of accessories for both the camera and its unique pictures. Carrying straps are available in mint, orange, and black & white to perfectly match the colors of the camera and keep it secure, while stylish Leica SOFORT cases for protecting the camera come in black or brown. SOFORT owners who'd like to display their work can purchase SOFORT Postcards offered in sets of three with different designs integrating the instant picture, a SOFORT Photo Presenter which can be filled with photos and put on display, or a classic SOFORT Photo Album for storing even more of life's tangible instant memories. SOFORT Storage Boxes round off the selection of accessories for conveniently storing your favorite pictures, available in sets of three with each set including mint/black, white/black and orange/black boxes.

The Leica SOFORT will begin shipping to Leica Stores, Boutiques and Dealers in November.

Film (available November 2016)

Color film (pack with 10 exposures)
Color film (double pack with 20 exposures)
Black and White film (pack with 10 exposures)

Technical features LEICA SOFORT
Aperture / Focal length: 60mm f/12.7 (34mm in 35mm equivalent)
Focusing Area: Standard: 0.6m - 3m

3 Focus Steps: 0.3 - 0.6m (Macro) / 0.6m - 3m (Standard) /

3m - infinity (Landscape)

Shutter Speed: 1/8 - 1/400 sec (Mechanical shutter)
Viewfinder: Optical real image viewfinder 0.37x with target spot and parallax compensation for macro mode
Mode Dial / Mode Button: Automatic, Selfie, People & Party, Action & Sport, Bulb, Macro,

Self-Timer, Double Exp.

Exposure / Exposure Comp.: Time automatic / -0.7 EV / 0.0 EV / +0.7 EV
Light Metering: Automatic exposure control LV 5.0 - LV 15.5 (ISO 800)
ISO Sensitivity: ISO 800 Instax film
Self-Timer: 2 sec / 10 sec
Built-in Flash: Automatic electronic flash with auto brightness adjustment.

Modes: Auto, Forced On, Forced Off, Forced On with red-eye reduction

Power: Li-ion battery pack (3.7V, 740mAh, 2.6 Wh) (included)
Battery Life (Approx.): 100 pictures at 20°C
Dimensions (W x H x D): 124 x 94 x 58 mm
Weight: With/without battery: 325g / 305g

About Leica Camera
Passion for creating perfect pictures. Leica represents a union of craftsmanship, design and experience. It is a beautiful collision of art and engineering, and the future of form and functionality. Leica Camera is an internationally operating, premium-segment manufacturer of cameras and sport optics products. The legendary status of the Leica brand is founded on a long tradition of excellence in the supreme quality and performance of cameras and lenses, and the iconic images that artists and photojournalists everywhere captured with them. Leica Camera AG is headquartered in Wetzlar, Germany.

For more information about Leica visit www.leica-camera.com, or follow the brand on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.