German camera icon Leica has recently announced its latest large-sensor compact camera model --- the extremely interesting APS-C-sensor-based Leica X Vario, which is fairly akin to the company's current Leica X2 prime-lensed, large-sensor compact.

The new Leica X Vario is a notably distinctive compact camera which includes a 2.5x zoom lens and an SLR-sized 16-megapixel APS-C image sensor; and ships with a full copy of Adobe Photoshop Lightroom.

The lens of the $2,850-priced Leica X Vario - which is now available to order from Leica dealers - has a manual zoom ring as well as a manual focus ring. The lens also supports the `autofocus' capability which can be engaged simply by twisting the focus ring to a marked AF position.

Boasting a Leica-worthy design, the 1.5-pound Leica X Vario - measuring 2.9 x 5.2 x 3.7 inches (HWD) - comes with physical aperture and shutter speed dials; with the top plate of the camera machined from solid aluminum, and its body made of magnesium and aluminum. The camera is covered in a soft leather trim.

According to Leica's European-market press release, the Leica X Vario campact camera is "the world's first compact camera to combine a large, APS-C format, CMOS image sensor with a zoom lens."