In the early 20th century, Leica revolutionized the photography industry with the handheld Ur-Leica 35 mm film camera. Now, almost 100 years later, the German company maintains its focus on compact yet technologically advanced cameras and, with its newest launch, the V-Lux 3, the Leica legacy continues. Ergonomic and user-friendly, the new Leica offers the ability to capture high-speed continuous still photos and high-definition video footage to rival today’s best photo-cum-video cameras. A 24-times zoom, available in both still and video modes, adds to the camera’s appeal, while an integrated stereo microphone with a noise-reducing filter helps keep audio sharp during video capture. The camera also features a newly developed 12.1-megapixel CMOS image sensor that delivers a faster video frame rate. The high-quality still images and videos captured with the V-Lux 3 can then be organized and edited with the Adobe software bundle that comes with the camera. As with all Leica cameras, the new $949 V-Lux 3 comes with an extended two-year warranty. (800.222.0118, www.leica-camera.com)
