Has any Leica X1 user tried the new firmware?

akarin

akarin

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The press release mentioned improvements in manual and auto focus. I would really like to hear your opinion whether there are any noticeable changes, better or worse.

Thank you!
 
Updated, it seems promising. Easier manual focusing. Camera remember where the focus was after you switch off and on again. It is late here now, I'll go out shooting tomorrow.
robert
 
I updated today, manual focus is very good. Manual lock is handy, finally it shoots faster. It makes a good camera great. Easy install also.
 
The manual focus is much better, as it gives you the DOF for the chosen aperture. Autofocusing seems much faster. No idea about the promised jpg improvement . . . Maybe I'm just not that choosy.
 
I updated mine today -- I agree the manual focus is much improved. The AF is maybe a touch faster, but much so when refocusing at a similar distance. My only disappointment is that they didn't fix the jpeg artifacts I've seen with high contrast edges. Every time I shoot something with these edges (buildings, power lines etc.), they have a sizeable artifact. Boo. Ahwell -- I should use DNG anyhow.
I do really like the camera though -- I just purchased the finder for it, its really bright and big.
Cheers,
Jim
 
The manual focus is now much better, although mostly useful for prefocusing. If you need to focus fast the AF is still a better choice. The AF is also a bit faster now, but it's still a lot slower than most high end point and shoot cameras out there. Even if I love my X1, my biggest complaint is still that it is a very slow camera in general. Something as simple as turning it on takes those extra annoying moments more compared to, say my wife's Canon G12, which is really quick. But the MF improvement makes the camera a LOT more usable on the street.

Still, there are some things I just can't understand why they didn't change. My two favorites being: 1) A DNG only shooting mode. and 2) Why on earth do you have to take the lens cap off when you want to use the playback mode only?

I guess I was hoping for an even bigger improvement of the AF, but I guess there's a limit on how much a firmware upgrade can do... It's a slow camera, but the images are still great, so I'm not selling mine :)
 
arnulf said:
and 2) Why on earth do you have to take the lens cap off when you want to use the playback mode only?
Click to expand...

You don't. Hold down play while turning on the camera.

I guess I was hoping for an even bigger improvement of the AF, but I guess there's a limit on how much a firmware upgrade can do... It's a slow camera, but the images are still great, so I'm not selling mine :)
Click to expand...

I agree. The MF improvements at least allow for easy zone focusing now. However, the AF is still too slow. I cannot say that I will not sell mine. Been eyeing the M9, so... it may have to go.
 
jsrockit says: "You don't. Hold down play while turning on the camera."

Thanks ! Usefull information!
robert

PS went out shooting today, manual focus ok, autofocus improved.
 
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Well, the download and install were without incident. After rebooting, the thing was faster to start up and it seems faster to focus. I rarely manually focus, so that is not an issue for me. If my spring weather ever gets beyond the dull gray stage, I'll spend some time with it.
 
Today Wow!

Today Wow!

Hi, just updated firmware, at first glance:

The AF works really faster when distances are alike, when you go from 50cm to 5 metres it´s slow but faster than previous firmware.

Manual focus gets smarter the scale shows dof markings just like the lx3 but horizontally.
The dial can be rotated fast or slow to get short to long distances quick or accurate focus.

Lock manual focus great you don´t miss the spot.

And great also is the fact now it shows on the screen the selected iso when shutter release is half drepessed.

Great improvements, AF not as fast as others but never mind when in the streets i use autoiso, aperture @ f8 and focus between 2 and 3 metres.
Also got a helios viewfinder and what can i say i´m quite happy with the X1.

Bye!
 
elmer3.5 said:
Great improvements, AF not as fast as others but never mind when in the streets i use autoiso, aperture @ f8 and focus between 2 and 3 metres.
Also got a helios viewfinder and what can i say i´m quite happy with the X1.

Bye!
Click to expand...

With the manual focus set to a specific distance, is there any shutter lag present?
If both aperture and shutter speeds are set manually, along with manual focus, is there any shutter lag?
Wondering if setting shutter/aperture manually as opposed to using 'A' mode for either, whilst in manual focus mode, has any effect on shutter lag.
 
The shutter diaphragm closing down can cause a slight lag. Remember, the X1 uses f/2.8 to manually focus even if you are using f/16. At least that's how I understand it to work.
 
jsrockit said:
The shutter diaphragm closing down can cause a slight lag. Remember, the X1 uses f/2.8 to manually focus even if you are using f/16. At least that's how I understand it to work.
Click to expand...

How did your ricoh gxr (28mm a12) compare, in manual focus mode?
(I understand that the CDAF for the 28mm module is considerably quicker)

thanks
 
DougFord said:
With the manual focus set to a specific distance, is there any shutter lag present?
If both aperture and shutter speeds are set manually, along with manual focus, is there any shutter lag?
Wondering if setting shutter/aperture manually as opposed to using 'A' mode for either, whilst in manual focus mode, has any effect on shutter lag.
Click to expand...

Hi, i always use shutter speed on A, and no, there´s no shutter lag.
I find this settings ideal to say the least.
In fact one of my problems was i never knew what iso was bieng selected, but now it´s shown on the screen!

It´s not only resemblance to older leicas, it´s a very hyperfocal camera. Once i tryied setting it with sunny 16 rules, but dinamic range won´t allow it, AE will do!
When you need to isolate background the x1 does it vey nicely, but in the streets broad daylight there´s no need to focus!

Bye!
 
Interesting.
I would like to see a test performed with these cameras in manual focus mode. Set the cameras to the same distance (2m), aperture and shutter speeds; measure shutter lag.
Leica IIIf or M2,3,4 or 6 (baseline)
Leica X1
Sony nex3/5 w/kit lens and with adapter m-mount lens
Ricoh GXR 28mm
Fuji X100

Maybe someone like Steve Huff would perform this test. Call it the 'zone focus - 2 meter shootout'.
Also, test the shutter lag when either or both of the shutter/aperture settings are placed in 'A' mode. (in MF mode)
 
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