As a lifelong photography enthusiast, I’ve always wanted to get my hands on a Leica camera, but the high price points have meant they’ve always been inaccessible. As a reviews writer at Tom’s Guide, though, I get to test some of the best instant cameras around. I got to test the Leica Sofort 2 recently and I get the hype now.
The Sofort 2 is Leica’s only instant camera available to buy right now, and it carries the German manufacturer’s trademark minimalist design and premium build. This hybrid digital and instant camera lets you see photos before printing them, and the images are lovely and detailed. You get access to 100 different effect combinations so the creative possibilities are limitless. However, its $399 price tag is difficult to ignore, especially when there’s a near-identical cheaper option available: the Fujifilm Instax mini Evo. And it suffers from the Instax mini Evo’s drawbacks too — namely limited internal memory and photo transfer capabilities.
Is this the best choice for you? Read my full Leica Sofort 2 review to find out.
Leica Sofort 2 review: Specs
Leica Sofort 2 review: Cheat sheet
- What is it? A portable hybrid digital and instant film camera
- Who is it for? For travelers and instant photography enthusiasts… who don’t mind the steep price tag
- How much does it cost? The Leica Sofort 2 is available for $399 / £360
- What do we like? The minimalist design, portability, 100 different effect combinations, the excellent print and image quality, and solid low-light performance
- What don’t we like? It’s expensive compared to the similarly-specced Fujifilm Instax mini Evo. Internal storage is limited to 45 photos, and you can only transfer printed photos to your phone
Leica Sofort 2 review: Price & availability
The Leica Sofort 2 has a steep price tag of $399 at Leica U.S. / £360 at Leica U.K., making it the most expensive instant camera I’ve tested so far. On the other hand, it’s the cheapest Leica camera money can buy. It’s available in three lush colors too: red, white, and black.
There aren’t many cameras in the same price range as the Sofort 2. However, it is virtually identical to the Fujifilm Instax mini Evo ($199) — from the specs to the user-interface. Does the Sofort 2, then, justify its price? I’m not entirely convinced, as the two cameras are near-identical. If you want a fantastic-looking camera, then sure, the Sofort 2 should be right up your alley, but it isn’t like the mini Evo is ugly — quite the opposite. Basically, this comes down to: are you willing to pay extra to be seen using a Leica?
Leica Sofort 2 review: Design & build quality
The Leica Sofort 2 is the sophisticated photographer’s instant camera. Unlike the Fujifilm Instax mini Evo which borrows styling cues from old film cameras, the Sofort 2 oozes with modern minimalism. It’s clean thanks to the premium-feeling glossy glass on the front and rear, and it looks expensive. I tested the black model which looks gorgeous, with the red Leica badge on the front adding a subtle pop of color.
This is a great instant camera to go traveling with, thanks to its compact body. It measures 4.84 x 3.38 x 1.73 inches so I could easily slip it into my winter coat’s pocket. Weighing just 11.28 ounces (without film pack and lens cap), I was comfortable carrying it around my neck. However, it is slightly heavier than the Instax mini Evo, which weighs 10.05 ounces.
Another thing I love about the Sofort 2 is the magnetic lens cap. The Instax mini Evo doesn’t come with a lens cap so it’s nice to see Leica provide one, and it’s even better that you don’t need to twist it on. Simply pop it onto the lens and the cap magnetically snaps firmly into place, which feels very satisfying.
Leica Sofort 2 review: Lens & viewfinder
The Leica Sofort 2 is fitted with a Leica Summar 1:2/2.4mm fixed-focus lens, which is equivalent to a 28mm full-frame camera. This means that the camera is well-suited for group portraits, landscapes and selfies. It has a variable aperture of f/2 to f/16 which the camera automatically adjusts. The f/2 aperture performs well in low-light conditions, and it’s got a built-in automatic flash that has an effective range of 50cm-1.5m to aid you in situations where lighting is far from ideal.
Similar to the Fujifilm Instax mini Evo, the Sofort 2 doesn’t have a viewfinder to look through, and that’s because it’s fitted with a 3-inch TFT color LCD screen. The screen takes up most of the space on the back so it’s big enough to frame your shots and I didn’t miss having a viewfinder. It’s very rare that an instant camera will include both a viewfinder and an LCD screen, so you’ll need to decide which you prefer. If you want an instant camera with a viewfinder, I’d recommend the Fujifilm Instax mini 12 ($79) instead — a simple camera that’s fantastic value for money.
Leica Sofort 2 review: Controls
I own a Fujifilm Instax mini Evo so getting accustomed to the Leica Sofort 2’s controls didn’t take me too long. While the controls appear muddled at first glance, they feel fairly intuitive once you spend some time with the Sofort 2.
Let’s talk about the front first. You’ll find the shutter button right above the lens, which gives good tactile feedback when pressed. The power button is also located next to the lens, and unlike modern “hold to turn on” buttons, it resembles the Leica M11’s power switch instead. There’s an easy-to-turn dial around the lens which lets you choose from 10 different effects, such as fisheye, mirror, double frame, and more.
Now to the Sofort 2’s top plate. There’s an effect reset button, another shutter button (points for ergonomics), and the film dial which lets you choose from 10 different filters, such as sepia, vivid, monochrome, and more. Combine these with the 10 lens effects and you get 100 creative combinations — just like the Instax mini Evo.
The print lever is also located on the top plate, and it resembles the winding lever on old film cameras. On the Instax mini Evo, this is one of my favorite controls so I had zero complaints when I saw it on the Sofort 2. It’s fun to use and feels much more satisfying than pushing a button.
The back of the camera is mostly taken up by the LCD screen. Here, you’ll find the film door and lock, navigation, menu/OK, function and playback buttons. I love how bright the LCD screen is and how responsive the buttons are as they make using the camera a breeze.
Leica Sofort 2 review: Image & print quality
While the Leica Sofort 2 has the Leica name attached, you get the same shooting capabilities as the Fujifilm Instax mini Evo, as the Sofort 2 takes 4.9MP photos too. So if you’re expecting the same quality as Leica’s rangefinders, think again.
The Sofort 2’s image and print quality are great, and I’ve had a lot of fun shooting with it. Thanks to the LCD screen, you can choose the images you want to print. Internal memory is limited to 45 photos but this can be extended as there’s a slot for a microSD/microSDHC memory card too.
Images taken in bright conditions turn out fantastic, and the 100 effect combinations give you many opportunities to get creative. The photos above were shot outdoors. A selfie mirror located right above the lens lets you see exactly how the photo will turn out, and I love the selfie of my partner and I. I had a lot of fun with the double exposure mode too, which can create trippy images.
The second slide includes two more examples of the filters you can apply while shooting — color shift and soft focus — and while I’m not a huge fan of the latter, it’s good to know that there is something for everyone.
As I mentioned before, the Sofort 2 has an f/2 aperture which suits low lit environments. Photos taken in these conditions turn out just as good as the Instax mini Evo. Despite the wide aperture, I still recommend leaving the flash on in low-light conditions. The photo of my partner, of the train tracks, and the houses, all turned out detailed and sharp, as you can see above.
The flash also works really well on subjects close to the camera. You can see a couple of examples above. I love that you can see the plant’s leaves’ veins very well in the first photo.
Leica Sofort 2 review: App
The Leica Sofort 2 is compatible with the Leica FOTOS app, available on both iOS and Android. This app supports most modern Leica cameras and is very easy to use. Pairing is quick, and you can use the app to remotely trigger the shutter, print photos from your phone, and transfer printed photos from your camera to your phone. However, I have the same gripe as I did with the Fujifilm Instax mini Evo: you can only transfer digital copies of printed images to your smartphone, which is extremely annoying. Considering you’re paying nearly $400 for the Sofort 2, I’d have liked to be able to transfer all images to my phone.
The Fujifilm Instax mini LiPlay ($169), on the other hand, uses the Instax UP! app and lets you transfer all images to your phone — printed or not.
Leica Sofort 2 review: Film cost & yield
Much like the Fujifilm Instax mini Evo, the Instax mini LiPlay and the Instax mini 12 ($79), the Leica Sofort 2 uses Instax mini film — either black and white or color. You’ll pay $14 at Amazon U.S. / £14 at Amazon U.K. per double film pack (20 pieces of film). Each print costs 75¢.
Instax mini film is relatively cheap compared to Polaroid Go film used by the Polaroid Go Gen 2 ($79) costs $19 / £18 for 16 pieces of film.
Leica Sofort 2 review: Battery life
Equipped with a rechargeable Lithium-ion battery, the Leica Sofort 2 will last for 100 shots depending on usage conditions. I wasn’t able to drain the battery in my testing, though. There’s no battery percentage indicator as you only get bars. After printing 10 photos, I still had three bars left.
It takes two hours for the camera to charge from zero to 100% when it’s turned off, and this jumps to three hours if you’re using the camera while charging it.
The Sofort 2’s battery life is the same as the Fujifilm Instax mini Evo’s and the Fujifilm Instax mini 99’s ($199). It’s much better than the Polaroid Go Gen 2’s, which lasts for 18 shots, while the Kodak Mini Shot 2 Retro ($159) lasts for 20.
Leica Sofort 2 review: Verdict
If you have $399 to spend, the Leica Sofort 2 is an excellent instant camera for those who can afford it. It carries Leica’s trademark modern look and premium construction, and it’s highly portable for traveling. With 10 lens effects and 10 filters, you get access to 100 different creative looks, so there’s something for everyone. Image and print quality are excellent, and you get great low-light performance too.
But let’s talk about the elephant in the room: its price. Yes, $399 gets you some fantastic features but its closest competitor, the Fujifilm Instax mini Evo, does everything the Sofort 2 does but for half the price. This wouldn’t have been as much of a sore point if the Sofort 2 didn’t suffer from exactly the same flaws: limited internal memory and only allowing you to transfer photos you’ve printed to your smartphone.
If you can’t afford the Sofort 2, then you’ll be just as happy as the retro-looking Instax mini Evo. So how much is the red Leica badge worth to you?
