Shooting with the Leica T was quite an experience. It's not inconspicuous -- everyone from partygoers to construction workers noticed the camera every few minutes. Tourists stopped walking so I could finish taking a picture. One gentleman nearly tripped trying to duck below my subject. It's clear that to passersby, I was no longer just another schlub taking pictures. I was a photographer. The T will definitely attract attention, making it either the best or worst camera for street photography on the market, depending on what you're going for.

It's clear that to passersby, I was no longer just another schlub taking pictures. I was a photographer.

One Leica rep I spoke to envisions the T being a hit with design-oriented professionals. Architects may use it to photograph their buildings, or an advertising executive could use it for casual shots while filming a campaign. Professional photographers could carry the T, too -- it'll certainly fit in at a high-end destination wedding -- and for consumers that have the cash to spare, it's without a doubt one of the most desirable mirrorless cameras you can buy.

Clearly, Leica's primary focus is on the T's physical design, but its capture capabilities have not been overlooked. There's a 16.3-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor -- the same size you'll find in many other mirrorless cameras, like Fujifilm's X-T1 (another pricey model) or Sony's Alpha 6000. It can shoot 1080p video at 30 frames per second and still photos at 5 fps (for up to 12 consecutive frames). Physical controls are limited to a power toggle, shutter release and two dials on the top, so you'll use the 3.7-inch 1.3-million-dot touchscreen to frame shots and control nearly all of the camera's settings.

The screen is relatively bright (it adjusts automatically based on ambient light), but limited viewing angles make it difficult to use in sunlight. Fortunately, you can add on an electronic viewfinder, but that accessory will run you a whopping $600. Part of Leica's justification for the shocking price tag is that the EVF includes an integrated GPS module (the T's all-aluminum housing wouldn't make it easy to find a signal otherwise), but WiFi connectivity is integrated within the body. Compared to other mirrorless cameras, image quality is excellent. Details were sharp; exposures were typically spot-on; and the T focused quickly. Again, glare can definitely be an issue in bright daylight, so you'll want to add on the EVF in order to confirm settings and verify proper exposure when shooting outdoors.