twhittle
Established
I have been recently considering entering the digital game. A mixture of running low on film, film companies discontinuing film, not making it to the dark room enough and needing to upgrade my scanner have prompted this.
I was thinking of getting my friends well used M8, but have just seen the X-Pro 1 promotion. The camera plus the 18mm for £999, with the option to get a FREE 27, 35 or 60.
Is anyone else tempted by this?
As a Leica M2 user I feel that I will find all the digital bells and whistles on the X-Pro too much to handle. . . . Any converts with positive experience?
I was thinking of getting my friends well used M8, but have just seen the X-Pro 1 promotion. The camera plus the 18mm for £999, with the option to get a FREE 27, 35 or 60.
Is anyone else tempted by this?
As a Leica M2 user I feel that I will find all the digital bells and whistles on the X-Pro too much to handle. . . . Any converts with positive experience?
kbg32
neo-romanticist
Do you have a link? I don't see anything on the Fuji website?
ray*j*gun
Veteran
Not a bit.
twhittle
Established
Its on the ffords home page
nongfuspring
Well-known
You mean this one?: http://www.fujirumors.com/x-pro1-massive-price-drop-body-18mm-another-xf-lens-for-999-uk-roi/
Seems a good deal, you're basically getting the body for 100 pounds. I'd think about it if I didn't already have an X-E1. But having said that if you're not interested in two/either of those lenses you're better off buying elsewhere since X-Pro bodies have come down in price a fair bit.
Before I got my X-E1 I shot primarily on manual, meterless rangefinders. I can't say much for the X-Pro since I haven't used one enough, but Fuji controls in general are great and the transition to and from film is easy. To me the controls feel similar to Contaxes.
One thing though is that if you like shooting legacy lenses and don't mind the crop factor you might want to wait for the X-E2 since it has digital split image focussing. So long as you can live without an OVF.
Seems a good deal, you're basically getting the body for 100 pounds. I'd think about it if I didn't already have an X-E1. But having said that if you're not interested in two/either of those lenses you're better off buying elsewhere since X-Pro bodies have come down in price a fair bit.
Before I got my X-E1 I shot primarily on manual, meterless rangefinders. I can't say much for the X-Pro since I haven't used one enough, but Fuji controls in general are great and the transition to and from film is easy. To me the controls feel similar to Contaxes.
One thing though is that if you like shooting legacy lenses and don't mind the crop factor you might want to wait for the X-E2 since it has digital split image focussing. So long as you can live without an OVF.
Great deal on a great camera. I paid full price and do not regret it. If you are into this camera, the deal is a no-brainer.
honozooloo
Established
twhittle,
It sounds like you've got a choice between a 7 (soon to be 8) year old camera/sensor and a contemporary one. Cost notwithstanding, based on technology and image output alone the Fuji is objectively the better option. I own an M8 and the X Pro, and if you just look at output, the X Pro clearly "wins." Period.
That being said, a brand new camera with all the bells and whistles does you no good at all if you can't/don't like to work with it, so perhaps renting, borrowing, or stealing an X camera for a week would help make your mind up? Even though most people I know who have tried the X Pro have said it's flaws "weren't as bad as they read they were online," you wouldn't know for sure if you play nice with the X Pro till you've tried it.
One last thing to consider: I love my M8 but know that given the rising cost of repair (assuming Leica will even be able to repair it when it dies), to me the M8 just wouldn't make sense as a purchase in 2013. If you've got the kind of disposable income it would take to pay for a used M8 and a major M8 repair, you might as well shop around for a nice used M9. If not, and if budget is keeping you in M8 territory, then your money would likely be better spent on a brand new Fuji that will give you years of enjoyment at a body-only cost that would probably be cheaper than the M8's repair bill.
Personally, I love the X Pro and feel that it's a great platform with incredible image quality. I think that as long as you work with it well, you couldn't go wrong.
It sounds like you've got a choice between a 7 (soon to be 8) year old camera/sensor and a contemporary one. Cost notwithstanding, based on technology and image output alone the Fuji is objectively the better option. I own an M8 and the X Pro, and if you just look at output, the X Pro clearly "wins." Period.
That being said, a brand new camera with all the bells and whistles does you no good at all if you can't/don't like to work with it, so perhaps renting, borrowing, or stealing an X camera for a week would help make your mind up? Even though most people I know who have tried the X Pro have said it's flaws "weren't as bad as they read they were online," you wouldn't know for sure if you play nice with the X Pro till you've tried it.
One last thing to consider: I love my M8 but know that given the rising cost of repair (assuming Leica will even be able to repair it when it dies), to me the M8 just wouldn't make sense as a purchase in 2013. If you've got the kind of disposable income it would take to pay for a used M8 and a major M8 repair, you might as well shop around for a nice used M9. If not, and if budget is keeping you in M8 territory, then your money would likely be better spent on a brand new Fuji that will give you years of enjoyment at a body-only cost that would probably be cheaper than the M8's repair bill.
Personally, I love the X Pro and feel that it's a great platform with incredible image quality. I think that as long as you work with it well, you couldn't go wrong.
FrankHarries
Well-known
Only for British or Irish residents? Otherwise, I would be tempted....
MCTuomey
Veteran
You've got the lenses, you like shooting an M, so buy the M8. If it fails, it's likely your ticket to an M9/ME/M, given Leica policy on non-repairs. You know its history if you're buying from a friend, right?
*Honozulu* mentioned trying the fuji first. Good suggestion. Fuji is a much bigger stretch from an M2 than an M8, imho.
*Honozulu* mentioned trying the fuji first. Good suggestion. Fuji is a much bigger stretch from an M2 than an M8, imho.