Leica is not exactly every photographer’s cup of coffee but for the undiscriminating – this brand offers some very interesting all-in-one camera capable of taking creative stills and high quality videos. Their latest offering is the new LEICA V-LUX 3 – a compact digital camera loaded with features and expansion options. Just like a DSLR, this digital camera can use a wide range of lens including the Leica DC Vario-Elmarit 4.5 – a 108 mm f/2.8 – 5.2 ASPH. 24x super-telephoto zoom lens. This lens is capable of covering a wide range of focal lengths comparable to 25–600 mm in 35 mm format. On the other hand, V-Lux 3’s powerful new 12.1 megapixels (MP) CMOS image sensor is capable of capturing images in high resolution and quality in both high and low speeds. By combining powerful zoom with a 12.1 MP sensor, Leica managed to produce a truly versatile camera that’s ideal for shooting or recording landscapes, architecture, sport, travel, still portraits or wildlife.

Those are just the tip of the iceberg – the Leica V-Lux 3 also has one of the fastest burst modes in its class, it can continuously shoot at 12 frames per second (fps) at full resolution or 60 fps at 3.5 MP. A wide range of video functions is also made available for this model. It can record full HD videos in AVCHD format at 60 fps. Recordings can also be done in MP4 format for easier sharing with mobile phones or the web. A stereo microphone with electronic and noise filter is also included for quality audio.

The user interface of the camera and shot previews are displayed on a 3-inch 460,000-pixel LCD screen. The screen can be twisted into different angles to help the photographer shoot at difficult positions. Another great feature is the integrated lightweight handgrip and carefully lain controls that offer ease of operation.

You can also check out the previous version LEICA V-LUX 2 and other accessories here.