Zen and the art of capturing life with Leica

MANILA, Philippines - I am no photography buff. On many occasions, I have often handed over my smartphone to a companion to take a photo for me.

Yet, when a chance came to take the waterproof Leica X-U camera for a shooting adventure I wasted no time in saying yes.

Why? Because it’s a Leica.

Off I went to BGC with Dimitri my ever-willing Schnauzer companion to try to take the best shots of him that I could. I knew I would not fail because I had the Leica with me, of course.

But, before I ventured to take any shot, I asked my Australian-based nephew-in-law, Yang Sim, a camera buff what he thought about the Leica X-U.

“I like this camera because it can be used outdoors and even underwater,” said Yang. “I also like that it does not have a zoom function. This means to take a good close-up photo you would have to walk close to the subject or pull up far away for a good outside shot.”

The Leica Camera AG expands its range of models with the X-U model, which has been designed for outdoor use. Thanks to its exceptionally fast lens with an integrated flash, it allows photographers to capture photos in perfect detail and first-class quality — not only on land, but also underwater at depths of up to 15 meters. 

It makes no difference where the best pictures are captured: snorkel-diving underwater, mountaineering on snowcapped peaks, or on safari in dust and extreme heat. Thanks to its non-slip, TPE-armored body, the camera is always safely held and captures active lifestyle moments in pin-sharp detail. The minimized and intuitive handling concept of the Leica X-U offers photographers the most important tools for pure and unlimited creative freedom — for action and underwater adventures, for travel, architecture and landscape photography or videos in full HD quality.

“We are excited to have this new addition to the Leica family. It is the perfect companion for the adventurer: a camera that will allow us to capture moments in different conditions; whether in land or in water. This is all what we have been waiting for,” said Edith Dychiao, general manager of Leica Store Philippines.

Patient Student

I spent the afternoon at BGC under the watchful eye of Yang.

“Tita Kathy be patient,” he said. “Don’t just click. Wait for the photo to call you in — and then click.”

“Is this a lesson in Zen photography?” I asked Yang.

“Yes,” came his quick reply. “To capture a perfect photo I always make sure that I can feel that it will be perfect before I click. So, be patient.”

Yang sat beside me as I focused the Leica X-U on the buildings around one of the parks in BGC. He looked into the camera and then he asked me to do the same.

“Click when you feel that it’s right,” he added.

I did as Yang told me. The photo I took is here in the article.

Optimum picture quality with the Leica X-U is guaranteed by the familiar, cutting-edge technology of the cameras of the Leica X family. In combination with the professional APS-C format CMOS sensor with over 16.5 megapixels (effective 16.2 MP), its Leica Summilux 23 mm f/1.7 ASPH. premium lens (equivalent to a focal length of 35 mm in 35 mm format) ensures natural color reproduction and maximum detail resolution, even at its closest focusing distance of 20 centimeters. Its fast maximum aperture of f/1.7 also offers the freedom to explore the particularly fascinating creative possibilities of selective focusing. Thanks to its reliable resistance to stray light and flare, the Leica X-U is also the first choice for all indoor and outdoor lighting conditions — at any time of day or night and in any situation.

The stylish and minimized design of the Leica X-U — made in Germany — is not only an absolute eye-catcher, it also ensures concentration only on things that really count: easy and intuitive handling and ultimate precision. The design of the camera was created by Audi Design. With a top plate made from premium aluminum and high-grip TPE armoring, the body guarantees not only an exceptional haptic experience and impressive durability, but also water-resistance to a depth of up to 15 meters. Its non-slip body, an especially hardened protective cover for the monitor screen, and a failsafe double locking system for the battery compartment and memory card slot ensure that photographers can concentrate fully on their subject with no worries at all.

The handling concept and controls of the Leica X-U are reduced to essentials: thanks to its easy-to-use, Leica-typical dial controls, aperture and shutter speed can be set individually in seconds for every picture.

As a single photo is sometimes not enough to capture the dynamic character of a scene in the most moving moments of life, the full HD video function of the Leica X-U makes it easy to capture moving pictures in cinema quality and preserve the moving moments of journeys and adventures for eternity. 

It was an afternoon well spent. I learned to be patient with myself — and with a bit of Zen-like patience, I can take a decent photo or two.

Let the photos here do the talking.

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The Leica X-U is available at Leica Store Greenbelt 5 and Leica Store Shangri-La.