Today from it’s London Mayfair office, Leica Camera officially announced the new Leica TL2 to the UK photo press.

We were at the event and have had our hands on the camera - keep looking out for our first look video. In the meantime, here are the key things you need to know.

Leica no other

Now the TL2 wouldn’t be a Leica camera without a bit of hype. Unparalleled beauty. Premium materials. Elaborate manufacturing. Yes, we are reading about a camera.

Frankly, we let the TL2 do the talking and what the camera says to us is I’m different. Different in a good way.

It is a compact system camera unlike any other. A concoction of Leica substance with a modern twist.

Machined from a single block of aluminium, the camera is reassuringly weighty and solid. Yet its design is almost unnervingly minimalistic. There are no rear buttons - just four on the top including two control dials.

The back is dominated by a large 3.7-inch touchscreen that operates much like a smartphone. It is a really good thing.

Now all this is familiar to those who have heard of the Leica T from 2014 and the Leica TL from the last quarter of 2016. The Leica TL2 is essentially the third camera in a series. Once again, the TL2 features a similar design and uses the Leica L mount.

But where the changes between the two former cameras were negligible, there appears to be more improvements to this latest iteration.

Leica TL2 - what is new

The APS-C sensor now captures 24-million-pixel images (up from 16-million pixels), complemented by the new ‘Maestro II’ processor.

Overall, the Leica TL2 is a quicker machine. Its start up time is improved. Leica claims the AF system has had an overhaul and is up to three times quicker than its predecessor too.

An electronic shutter is introduced here, so users can benefit from silent shooting, maximum shutter speeds up to 1/40,000sec and an improved burst rate of 20fps.

Filmmakers are catered for too. Video recording modes now include 4k at 30 frames per second (fps) and full 1080 HD at up to 60fps. Unfortunately, neither the camera or the Leica TL lenses feature image stabilisation.

There is much to admire in the new Leica TL2, but it being Leica means it ain’t cheap…

Pricing and availability

Available in black or silver, the Leica TL2 starts at £1,700 body only. If your jaw isn’t on the floor already, how about this. If you want a Leica TL lens, then there are six to choose from and the least expensive is an eye watering £1,325.

Of the six TL lenses in the range, there are three primes lenses and three zoom lenses. However, there is a Leica M mount to L mount adaptor, which opens up Leica’s more comprehensive M mount lens range.

If the Leica TL2’s touchscreen isn’t your thing, Leica offers an optional external Leica Visoflex electronic viewfinder.

Here is a list of the current prices:

Leica TL2 £1,700

Leica Visoflex EVF £390

Summicron-TL 23 mm f/2 ASPH £1,450

Summilux-TL 35 mm f/1.4 ASPH £2,000

APO-Macro-Elmarit-TL 60 mm f/2.8 ASPH £2,050

Leica SuperVario-Elmar-TL 11–23 mm f/3.5–4.5 ASPH £1,500

Vario-Elmar-TL 18–56 mm f/3.5–5.6 ASPH £1,325

APO-Vario-Elmar-TL 55–135 mm f/3.5–4.5 ASPH £1,500

Leica M to TL adaptor £300

For more information on the Leica TL2, please go to the Leica website.