Is the Sony RX1R II a Leica Q killer ?

[Godfrey]

I played with a friend's RX1R some years back and came away completely unimpressed. Just didn't talk to me at all, like most Sony gear.

Sony makes good sensors.
Leica makes fine cameras.

I know which I prefer to make photographs with. 😀

G

 

[benlees]

I played with a friend's RX1R some years back and came away completely unimpressed. Just didn't talk to me at all, like most Sony gear.

Sony makes good sensors.
Leica makes fine cameras.

I know which I prefer to make photographs with. 😀

G

Similar experience: played with one at an airport for quite awhile. One of the least ergonomic cameras I've ever held. Combined with its small size but substantial heft, it removed itself from my fantasy list. Thankful for that! This was years a go; maybe the newer ones are better...

 

[sepiareverb]

Likely the usual complaints: menus are just horrendously confusing, interface is in general pretty non-intuitive coming from Ricoh, Nikon, Hasselblad or Leica. Was very hopeful that this would be a good fit for me with it's native square aspect ratio and fixed lens. Super slow start up as well. Just not my cup of tea.

Probably didn't help my opinion that I could not make the thing focus in any mode, nor clear the viewfinder of a layer of "information" more suited to a fighter submarine. Just let me out!

 

[DwF]

It sounds like from your earlier post, you bought the camera. If so, and if you are willing to spend a bit more time before tossing it out the window!

Initial start-up is slow but Leica M10 is not immediate as M cameras of old. Once it's on, start-up from sleep is quicker.
​

Getting rid of extra info on screen is easy to cycle through and then leave it parked in simple screen mode.
​

Cycling through ISO if you don't set to auto is quite simple and programming it once will allow quick access actually to ISO and other useful functions.​

Auto focus works fine for my purposes, not sure what the issue is there.​

Switching to B&W or Vivid should that interest you is a breeze with the thumbwheel.​

As for handling, obviously this is personal, but I find with addition of thumbs up (and maybe also a grip), the camera feels really good and is beautifully constructed. Unlike the Leica Q, Sony provides nice molded rubber for the thumb and then for fingers on front of the body. The grip eliminates access on the front side. The RX1RII easily finds a place with any camera I've had for a variety of applications and is nice companion when I want one camera/lens along without taking up much space -to say nothing of image quality.

David

 

[Ted Striker]

For the life of me, I can't imagine at all being confused by a camera menu. Do people really give up that easily?

 

[raid]

Yes, they usually do, Ted.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Rubber? Does Q has any? Any camera with rubber ending up looking slightly trashed due to white on the rubber. They say here is cure for it, but...

 

[sepiareverb]

For the life of me, I can't imagine at all being confused by a camera menu. Do people really give up that easily?

After having set multiple things three times without effect, yes.

Not worth the effort for me. Even worse than the XPro2, which I reluctantly keep around despite touching it and having settings change.

 

[sepiareverb]

It sounds like from your earlier post, you bought the camera. If so, and if you are willing to spend a bit more time before tossing it out the window!

Initial start-up is slow but Leica M10 is not immediate as M cameras of old. Once it's on, start-up from sleep is quicker.
​

Getting rid of extra info on screen is easy to cycle through and then leave it parked in simple screen mode.
​

Cycling through ISO if you don't set to auto is quite simple and programming it once will allow quick access actually to ISO and other useful functions.​

Auto focus works fine for my purposes, not sure what the issue is there.​

Switching to B&W or Vivid should that interest you is a breeze with the thumbwheel.​

As for handling, obviously this is personal, but I find with addition of thumbs up (and maybe also a grip), the camera feels really good and is beautifully constructed. Unlike the Leica Q, Sony provides nice molded rubber for the thumb and then for fingers on front of the body. The grip eliminates access on the front side. The RX1RII easily finds a place with any camera I've had for a variety of applications and is nice companion when I want one camera/lens along without taking up much space -to say nothing of image quality.

David

No, not worth the effort here. I'm close enough to done that I really don't want more frustration.

 

[benlees]

For the life of me, I can't imagine at all being confused by a camera menu. Do people really give up that easily?

All of technology (and I mean from stone tools on up) is about convenience. You make something that the old thing does but make it faster and easier to use then that's 'better'.

Modern camera makers also aspire to 'more'. If convenience gets lost because of 'more' becomes 'too much' then they have broken the technology covenant. People really want less choice. Sadly, this almost always means a much higher price tag.

 

[DwF]

Bob,

I understand, no worries here but hope you find something that works for you. I will say FWIW the X-113 Leica (also fixed lens) is way easier to operate and a very nice sleeper of a camera.

David

 

[sepiareverb]

I do like the X cameras a lot, but no native square. I know just cropping after the fact is a thing, but I like composing squares in camera.

 

[Michael Markey]

For the life of me, I can't imagine at all being confused by a camera menu. Do people really give up that easily?

Seems to be a reoccurring theme.
I`m all for simplicity and as a Sony user am the first to admit their menu`s are messy but eventually you work through it.
My Canon`s are simple in comparison and my film M`s simpler still 🙂

 

[Ted Striker]

Seems to be a reoccurring theme.
I`m all for simplicity and as a Sony user am the first to admit their menu`s are messy but eventually you work through it.
My Canon`s are simple in comparison and my film M`s simpler still 🙂

I' own Canon, Sigma, and various Fujifilm digital cameras. All of their menus are different, as are the physical controls. It takes a short time to get used to it, but in every case, it's entirely manageable. I just can't understand those who whine and cry about camera menus. They just arent that hard.

 

[DwF]

I do like the X cameras a lot, but no native square. I know just cropping after the fact is a thing, but I like composing squares in camera.

Ah, Bob, I forgot you mentioned the "square" and have enjoyed many of your images here on the forum. Not recalling square format, I went to your web-page....nice work!

I see now why Sony RX1R popped up for you. In fact in some weird way, even though I don't set for square format that camera has always reminded me of the Rollei. It's just something in the quality of how the images render.

Anyway cheers!
David

 

[sepiareverb]

I just can't understand those who whine and cry about camera menus. They just arent that hard.

Sorry, I’ll try to be harder.

Ah, Bob, I forgot you mentioned the "square" and have enjoyed many of your images here on the forum. Not recalling square format, I went to your web-page....nice work!

I see now why Sony RX1R popped up for you. In fact in some weird way, even though I don't set for square format that camera has always reminded me of the Rollei. It's just something in the quality of how the images render.

Anyway cheers!
David

Thank you. I too liked what I saw from the camera (online anyway). Zeiss glass, so I guess it’s in the genes. Just too dumb for so many of these new “features”. The main reason I like the Leica and X1D, they ignore most of what cameras have become. I guess I will just not bother with something small for now.

 

[Michael Markey]

I' own Canon, Sigma, and various Fujifilm digital cameras. All of their menus are different, as are the physical controls. It takes a short time to get used to it, but in every case, it's entirely manageable. I just can't understand those who whine and cry about camera menus. They just arent that hard.

Totally agree .