Film may be back in style, but instant photography has become the life of the party—thanks to Fujifilm and Polaroid. Now Leica, a name tied to photographic excellence for over a century, has stepped into the ring with the SOFORT 2. The question is simple: Can the masters of precision still deliver when the goal is fun, fast, and instant?
Whether on a road trip, hitting the beach, or a night on the town, the Leica SOFORT 2 is more than just a camera; it’s Leica’s entry into the instant photography world—a sleek and stylish device built around ease of use in an elegant and modern design. More than just an instant camera, it is a hybrid bridging the gap between the analog and digital worlds. The SOFORT 2 offers a unique experience for both professional and amateur photographers. With seamless connectivity using the Leica FOTOS app and its creative features, the SOFORT 2 gives you creative control at your fingertips.
Design and Build Quality
Hands down, the design of the camera is unmistakably a Leica. A sleek exterior with minimal buttons and simplistic menus is part of the magic that makes it easy to use, just like Leica’s other cameras. In terms of ergonomics, it’s not too bad to hold, considering it’s practically a rectangle. Weighing approximately 320 g, you won’t break your back carrying it around all day. The body is constructed with a polycarbonate frame and a polymethyl methacrylate front and back cover. Compared to competitors, it feels about the same, with little difference. Coming from Leica, I expected the camera to be built a little better, but overall, it is not poorly constructed.
Notable Specifications
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Camera type: Hybrid instant camera with print function
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Storage medium: Internal memory (approx. 45 images), microSD/microSDHC card (approx. 850 images with 1 GB microSD)
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Material: Polycarbonate frame with polymethyl methacrylate front and back cover
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Operating conditions: +5°C to +40°C
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Interfaces: USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-C
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Tripod thread: 1/4 DIN 4503 (1/4”) in the base
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Dimensions: 87 x 123 x 44 mm
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Weight: Approx. 320 g (without film pack, with lens cap)
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Sensor size: CMOS sensor, 1/5”
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Filter: RGB color filter
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File formats: JPG (DCF 2.0, Exif 2.31)
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Image resolution: 2,560 x 1,920 pixels (4.9 MP)
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File size: Approx. 1.2 MB
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Color space: sRGB
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Lens: Leica Summar 1:2/2.4 (equivalent to approx. 28 mm format)
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Aperture range: f/2 to f/16 (automatic exposure control)
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Creative function: Normal, Vignette, Soft Focus, Blur, Fisheye, Color Shift, Light Leak, Mirror, Double Exposure, Half-Frame
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Output options: Images stored in internal memory and on the memory card can optionally be printed. The last 50 prints are saved and can be output repeatedly. When connected to the Leica FOTOS app, images can be sent to the camera for printing.
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Output resolution: 1,600 x 600 pixels (800 x 600 pixels via the Leica FOTOS app)
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Compatible film packs: Leica instant film pack (Sofort color film pack [mini], warm white: 19677; Sofort color film pack [mini] Neo Gold: 19678; Sofort color film duo pack [mini], warm white: 19679)
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Output film effects: Normal, Vivid, Pale, Canvas, Monochrome, Sepia, Yellow, Red, Blue, Retro
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Image output time: Approx. 16 seconds
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Developing time: Approx. 90 seconds
User Experience
The camera is about the experience and its ease of use. With a minimalist design, the ease of use comes right along. Instant photography shouldn’t be complicated; it is meant to be a more simplistic process. The SOFORT 2 is more about the user experience, allowing you to create fun images and document stories, all in a lightweight package. When it comes down to speed, be a little patient. When I was out shooting, it was a little slow, to say the least. I knew it wouldn’t be fast, but I was still disappointed that the camera was slow after I took a photo. This may have been because I was using the internal memory and not a microSD card.
When it comes to creativity with the SOFORT 2, the possibilities are endless. The camera features 10 film styles and 10 lens styles, allowing for numerous combinations. The camera is also compatible with Leica’s FOTOS app, enabling seamless connectivity. It provides transfer and printing of all images from the Leica FOTOS app gallery, as well as from other Leica cameras.
Output film effects:
- Normal
- Vivid
- Pale
- Canvas
- Monochrome
- Sepia
- Yellow
- Red
- Blue
- Retro
Creative function:
- Normal
- Vignette
- Soft Focus
- Blur
- Fisheye
- Color Shift
- Light Leak
- Mirror
- Double Exposure
- Half-Frame
The SOFORT 2 is equipped with a 3” TFT LCD, approx. 460,000 dots, and I felt it was an okay screen for this camera. When you’re accustomed to working with much higher-quality LCD screens on current cameras, it is a little hard to get over the screen’s quality. Yet, this screen is fitting for the primary use of this camera. I would like a viewfinder on the camera, nothing fancy, just a simple one to help frame shots in bright conditions, as the screen is easily washed out.
When it comes to the camera, it’s a hybrid that bridges the gap between the analog and digital worlds. When it comes to printing your images directly from the camera, you have a choice. What I loved about the SOFORT is that you can choose whether you want to print your images, and it is easy to print. The camera accommodates Fuji Instax mini film at an average cost of $16.00 for 20 photos, or you can purchase Leica-branded film for $15.00 for 10 photographs. The rumor mill has it that the Leica film is just rebranded Fuji Instax. When it comes to the ease of use of printing, it’s literally the flip of a switch, and out pops a print. The camera features a lever, a throwback to the days of analog photography. With the flip of the lever, a print emerges.
When it comes to printing, we may not want to print every image, as we know not everything is worth printing. With Polaroid or Fuji Instax, every photo is printed with the click of a button. On the SOFORT 2, being a hybrid, you have the choice to print an image or multiple images. Along with all this comes the added benefit of fun. The SOFORT 2 is an excellent camera for everyday use, perfect for capturing a little fun. Use it as your primary camera or load it up with the rest of your gear for added fun at events.
Image Quality
When it comes to image quality, the prints come out like those from any other Instax camera. They have their own unique look. But they are very consistent compared to competitors. Many competitors’ cameras can exhibit varying degrees of exposure variance in their prints. The SOFORT’s image exposures are remarkably consistent overall, and I was pleased with the results.
Pros and Cons
Pros
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Hybrid digital/instant: We don’t need to print all our images, and now in the world of instant photography, we have the choice to print.
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Ease of use: Like all instant photography cameras, it is easy to use. Along with the simplicity that Leica is known for, it offers ease of use, complementing its quality and styling.
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Fun: The camera is a lot of fun to use. You don’t have to worry about all these settings, and the camera has several creative features to make less work on the back side.
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Instax film: Compatible with Fuji Instax film, you are not tied to the Leica-branded film. This allows you to get more bang for your buck. If you run out of film, you can easily find the Fuji Instax film.
Cons
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No viewfinder: It would be nice to have a very simplistic viewfinder, which helps on those bright days, so you could roughly frame a shot.
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Power switch: It could be the loaner that I have. The power switch is not too smooth and has more resistance while trying to turn it on. Again, it may be the loan that I was sent.
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Price: Unfortunately, it runs around $399. Higher than its competitors, this is because it is a Leica, which always comes with a premium price. Although the camera is fun, given its purpose, the higher price will be a turn-off for many who are looking for an instant camera.
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Exposure compensation: I love that it has exposure compensation. The problem is that it’s in the menu. I would like to see a button placed on the camera somewhere.
Conclusion
You can describe this camera with a few words: fun and simple. The SOFORT 2 is unique, marking Leica’s entry into the instant photography world. Though the camera is higher in price than its competitors, the cost could be far worse. Having the ability to choose what you print or don’t print is excellent, as instant film is roughly $0.85 per photo. The camera offers several creative settings that you can combine to create unique images. The SOFORT 2 is light and easy to grab and go, without all the strings of traditional photography. Letting go and not thinking about camera settings, all I thought about was the endless creative images I could focus on and create. Initially, after opening the box, I was skeptical whether this camera was more of a gimmick or something else. After using it for a little over a week, my mind was changed. This is a camera I’ll be adding to my bag so I can have a little fun in the future, and I suggest you do too.