The Leica Sofort Instant camera may not be the best instant film camera for the price, but it certainly is one of the best-looking. It carries the famous Leica red dot branding up front, has an Automatik-Hektor 60mm f/1.27 lens, a square design, and has a rechargeable battery. The camera is compatible with Leica or Fujifilm Instax mini film, which are affordable. If you want to keep your camera stable while you’re taking pictures, read our Lomography Spinner 360 review too.
Why We Like It – Leica Sofort Review
The Leica Sofort is a fun and good-looking instant camera with a colorful square profile. It has a three-zone manual focus lens that’s easy to use and provides good quality images. The camera also features several shooting modes, an optical viewfinder, manual exposure compensation, and a rechargeable battery.
- Automatik-Hector 60mm f/12.7 lens
- Integrated Tripod socket and beautiful design
- Rechargeable Li-ion battery
- Very expensive
- Shutter button placement
Performance
Like most of the Leica digital camera line, the Sofort Leica is a great tool for instant photography, as it features a 60mm f/12.7 lens, which is 35mm full-frame equivalent. Leica has designed a three-zone manual focus system that lets you focus between 11.8 and 0.37-inches. It has an optical viewfinder, as most instant cameras do, but features a target spot for easy framing. The mechanical shutter can be adjusted for speeds between ⅛ and 1/400 seconds. If you’re looking for something that offers similar performance at a cheaper price, the Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 Instant Film Camera is a good alternative.
Design
Leica cameras usually feature a retro design, and that’s exactly what you get with the Sofort. It has a retro square design, similar to the Canon Ivy Cliq, with a faux leather band on the outside. The focus distance controls are available via a ring around the lens, and are easy to use. The body is made from plastic, but the overall design gives it a premium look and feel. However, the square form factor does make it uncomfortable to hold, and we suggest using the included strap. The Polaroid Snap Instant Digital Camera or the Kodak PRINTOMATIC instant digital camera is perfect if you want a modern design.
Value
The Leica Sofort costs a lot of money, especially when compared to other instant cameras with similar features. However, the faux leather wrap, the square retro design, the sturdy build, and the red Leica logo, make it worth the money. It also features several shooting modes such as Self-portrait, Action, Macro, Self-Timer, Double exposure, and Automatic. Another great thing about the camera, is that it uses cheap Instax film, and comes with a rechargeable battery. You could also try the Canon IVY CLIQ, which offers better value for money.
Leica Sofort Review Wrap Up
The Leica Sofort instant camera offers a beautiful design, retro looks, and the infamous Leica branding. It comes with a 60mm f/12.7 lens with a three-zone focus, a rechargeable battery, and an integrated tripod socket. The camera has intuitive controls, and works with the affordable Instax film. On the other hand, the Sofort is quite expensive and also has badly placed shutter buttons that take some time to get used to.
