In case you missed the interview I posted earlier today, it seems that for now Leica will “skip” the X Vario product line:
Enche Tjin: How about Leica T ? and How about Leica X and X Vario line? I heard that X Vario is your favorite camera.
Dr. Andreas Kauffman: The T system is renamed to TL because SL and TL share the same L-mount. Basically T/TL is the APS-C system. When the T system comes into the market, we have the SL already in focus. That’s why the mount is the same, only for the smaller sensor. So I think you will see certain things with the TL, and the X. We have the X but what we skip is Leica Vario. Unfortunately so because I think it is probably the best zoom lens in APS-C system.
When I travel, I am an amateur photographer, and when I want to travel light I usually take my Leica Vario. It fulfills all of the needs of an amateur photographer. We were in Scotland for instance. I took my X Vario with me, and after that I printed out a photo book for my family; beautiful pictures.
Maybe our marketing for X Vario could’ve been enhanced. And so, at the end we need to decide. Remember we are a small to medium sized enterprise. We have a huge range of products, maybe the biggest in the industry because we still also do an analogue camera. And sometimes you have to decide against your own personal wish. Okay, it is a great product, but it’s is the end of the lifecycle. We need to move on.
The Leica X Vario was announced in June 2013 and quickly turned into one of the “most hated” Leica camera because of the slow lens (18 – 46mm f/3.5 – 6.4). After some price drops, the X Vario was listed as discontinued. The camera is still available for sale on Amazon, Adorama and B&H.
