Leica for smartphones: camera manufacturer develops iOS app
The Leica Lux app takes photos in the style of well-known Leica lenses. Access to all the app's functions costs 7.99 euros per month.
A new app is designed to bring the look of Leica lenses to the smartphone.
(Image: Screenshot)
- Robin Brand
The iPhone as a Leica camera: With the Leica Lux app, the camera manufacturer from Wetzlar is presenting an iPhone app that brings the look of well-known Leica lenses to the smartphone. The app will be available as a paid Pro version (7.99 euros per month) and as a free basic version with a reduced range of functions.
The app contains several lenses whose image impression can be imitated for your photos, including the Summilux-M 28 f/1.4, the Noctilux-M 50 f/1.2 and the Apo-Telyt-M 135mm f/3.4. Which lens is available in the app also depends on the iPhone model. For example, the Noctilux75 f/1.25 is available on the iPhone 13 Pro Max, whose telephoto camera shoots at the angle of view of a 77 mm full-frame lens. The Apo-Telyt-M 135 mm f/3.4 is available on the iPhone 15 Pro Max with a 120 mm telephoto lens. The app also calculates the shallow depth of field of the full-frame lenses using the information supplied by the LiDAR sensor, provided the iPhone has one – but you should not expect the natural blurring of the original lenses. Various filters are also stored in the app.
The free basic model gives you access to the automatic photo mode, five filters and you can imitate the look of the Leica Summilux-M 28 f/1.4. Leica offers additional lenses and a total of eleven filters in the Pro version. The company charges 7.99 euros per month for this. The Pro subscription also gives you access to manual control for exposure, focus and white balance, similar to alternative apps such as Halide, ProCamera or Lightroom. Leica is developing the application exclusively for iOS (from version 17); a version for Android smartphones has not been announced.
(rbr)
