Leica's X-U is waterproof to 49 feet, drop-proof, and costs less than $3,000: a relatively cheap entry in the fancy camera-maker's legendary lineup. Sean O'Kane reviews it at The Verge.
The ruggedized exterior is protecting what appears to be a typically great camera, by Leica's standards. In fact, it's pretty much a dead ringer for the Leica T. The X-U pairs a 16.5-megapixel APS-C sensor with a fixed Leica Summilux 23mm lens and a fast f1.7 aperture. The camera can also record HD video (up to 1080p at 30 frames per second). There is no viewfinder, though, so you'll have to frame up your shot using a 3-inch LCD screen on the back.
It isn't very pretty, though, a key issue for Leica owners.
