Buying a Leica has always, and probably always will be, more about just taking nice pictures. That red dot is a status symbol and a connection to a strong heritage of photographers going back 100 years. For that reason, photographers don’t seem to mind paying what might generously be described as ‘over the odds’ for cameras from the iconic brand. Whether or not the CL deserves it’s very high asking price is questionable, but it’s certainly a more affordable route into Leica ownership than plumping for the M10. One of the best things about the CL is its ease of use. It’s an intuitive handling system, with simple buttons and dials readily on hand to choose your key settings, without having to faff about with menus (quick or otherwise). While image quality is excellent, there are plenty of other cameras out there which also provide great shots - but how you produce them is much more convoluted. For this reason, the CL is a camera you want to get out there with and use - for some, that’ll make it worth the extra investment alone. That’s not to say that the CL is without its drawbacks. A tilting screen would have been useful for composing street type shots even more discreetly, while being able to switch more easily between using the screen to set AF points and using the buttons is a problem that could potentially be fixed with a firmware issue. You’ll still be a reasonably early adopter if you go for a camera like this. As it stands, there are just seven L mount lenses, but they give you a coverage of 11-135mm and you can also use plenty of other Leica lenses (including M, R and SL) with various mount adapters. Still, the fact that Leica is continuing to invest in the system suggests it’s definitely one that’s sticking around. Where to buy Leica CL
Small size and weight; Simple handling; Excellent image quality;
Painful price tag; Screen is fixed; Touchscreen handling niggles;