Leica M3 vs Fuji X-Pro1 Speed?

[kshapero]

Leica M3 and CV 50/1.5
Versus
Fuji X-Pro1 and Fuji 35/1.4

Even though the Fuji has auto focus and built in meter, I find I can not take a GOOD shot with the Fuji any faster than with the M3.
The M3 is more intuitive and less controls to fiddle, most of them I preset anyway. The X-Pro1 has many more controls which balances out the speed of the auto-focus. This test is done when I am shooting in a delibertive fashion, where shadows and lightning are crucial.

My 2 cents.😀

 

[thejameskendall]

I'm the opposite. But I do wear glasses.

 

[kshapero]

I'm the opposite. But I do wear glasses.

Opposite of what? 😕 I also wear glasses.

 

[f16sunshine]

The art of good business is being a good middleman as they say.

In the case of taking photographs the photographer is the middleman between the camera and subject.
It's not surprising some tools are "better" than others for different "middlemen".
I too prefer the M for capture over the Xpro1 (M5 in my case or Rolleiflex for that matter).
For output though the Xpro certainly has it's advantages.
So I guess in the "wash" of which one is faster. Considering time to results and delivery. The Xpro is still faster.

 

[NicoM]

I feel the same way, though it maybe have just me being impatient with the AF of the X-E1 I used to own. I felt that I was waiting. When I MF, I'm fully involved in the whole process and I know that any miss focus or slow focus in on me and (usually) not the camera.

 

[B-9]

I've been liking my Xpro and 18mm, AF isn't lightning quick, but it's usually accurate. Still, manual focus is a little longer 😉 I'm not a huge fan of the fly by wire focus.

Now with Legacy lenses on the Xpro, I've got an equally quick process of focus and composition as any Leica M, focus peaking on the Xpro could be more pronounced (just a feeling) nothing beats a contrasty rangefinder patch for manual focus.

 

[Sparrow]

Leica M3 and CV 50/1.5
Versus
Fuji X-Pro1 and Fuji 35/1.4

Even though the Fuji has auto focus and built in meter, I find I can not take a GOOD shot with the Fuji any faster than with the M3.
The M3 is more intuitive and less controls to fiddle, most of them I preset anyway. The X-Pro1 has many more controls which balances out the speed of the auto-focus. This test is done when I am shooting in a delibertive fashion, where shadows and lightning are crucial.

My 2 cents.😀

At last! a test for goodness ... this is what we have all been waiting for!


... joke, sorry :angel:

 

[semilog]

Leica M3 and CV 50/1.5
Versus
Fuji X-Pro1 and Fuji 35/1.4

Even though the Fuji has auto focus and built in meter, I find I can not take a GOOD shot with the Fuji any faster than with the M3.
The M3 is more intuitive and less controls to fiddle, most of them I preset anyway.

You have probably put a lot of time into becoming skilled with the M3.

Have you put an equivalent amount of time into becoming skilled with the X-Pro?

I shoot with both Fuji and M-mount gear, and I'm quick with both. This is with the X-E1, a functional equivalent to the X-Pro1.


13. Basketball at Roberto Clemente Park, Miami by Semilog, on Flickr

 

[semilog]

I feel the same way, though it maybe have just me being impatient with the AF of the X-E1 I used to own. I felt that I was waiting. When I MF, I'm fully involved in the whole process and I know that any miss focus or slow focus in on me and (usually) not the camera.

A missed shot is a missed shot, friend.

 

[NicoM]

A missed shot is a missed shot, friend.

I'm not sure how that has to do with my comment? Of course "a missed shot is a missed shot".

This thread is not about that, it's about SPEED of operation of one camera vs another.

 

[froyd]

Leica M3 and CV 50/1.5
Versus
Fuji X-Pro1 and Fuji 35/1.4

Even though the Fuji has auto focus and built in meter, I find I can not take a GOOD shot with the Fuji any faster than with the M3.
The M3 is more intuitive and less controls to fiddle, most of them I preset anyway. The X-Pro1 has many more controls which balances out the speed of the auto-focus. This test is done when I am shooting in a delibertive fashion, where shadows and lightning are crucial.

My 2 cents.😀

I find the lock and recompose center weighted metering technique slower in use than metering in advance (built-in or handheld). I also tend to second-guess myself more if I pre-meter with a built in meter and then have blinking leds angrily warning me that I'm off by 2 stops just because I might be shooting against the light or catching a reflection from a bright object.

 

[jsrockit]

I've most likely used the M for a longer amount of time than the X series, but I'm a lot faster with the X system due to setting up automation the way I like it. However, when I've tried to use manual focus lenses on the X, I am slower than with the RF. To me, the RF still works best for manual focusing. However, that probably is due to what Semilog is stating... time spent learning to deal with a camera.

 

[MCTuomey]

I'm looking forward to finding out for myself, awaiting an x-t1 + couple lenses ("good gawd, what have i done?") in the mail. Will shoot my M-body alongside the fuji in my usual places: dark clubs, street/urban, travel.

 

[thejameskendall]

Opposite of what? 😕 I also wear glasses.

sorry, misread - thought you said you were quicker with the M3. I'm quicker with my XE-1 than my M6 as it takes me a while to focus. I think not having my eye right in the viewfinder doesn't help.

 

[kshapero]

BTW I enjoy both cameras a lot. It was just an observation of my individual techniques.

 

[semilog]

BTW I enjoy both cameras a lot. It was just an observation of my individual techniques.

When I need to shoot fast and the light is simple, I put the X cameras into matrix and compensation to -1/3, and shoot in aperture priority. When the light is more complicated, I either work in averaging and use compensation with aperture priority on the fly, or I just meter the scene and shoot in full manual.

For focus, I use a mixture of pre-focusing and AF.

My keeper rate with the X cameras is at least as good as with the M — and I've been using the X cameras for ~18 months, and the M for almost 15 years. (Much longer, in fact — I first used my dad's M3 when I was a little kid, under close supervision).

Anyway, both systems are extremely capable, but they have different strengths they and reward (and punish) different techniques.

 

[kshapero]

When I need to shoot fast and the light is simple, I put the X cameras into matrix and compensation to -1, and shoot in aperture priority. When the light is more complicated, I either work in averaging and use compensation with aperture priority on the fly, or I just meter the scene and shoot in full manual.

For focus, I use a mixture of pre-focusing and AF.

My keeper rate with the X cameras is at least as good as with the M — and I've been using the X cameras for ~18 months, and the M for almost 15 years. (Much longer, in fact — I first used my dad's M3 when I was a little kid, under close supervision).

Anyway, both systems are extremely capable, but they have different strengths they and reward (and punish) different techniques.

Well said. I do a lot of the same things.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

To me fast focusing with RF (Leica included) isn't even related to RF, but with distance scale focusing at small aperture.

But if I need it at 1.5 and object is moving, even slowly...
Nothing is going to be in focus, wear I glasses, superman coat and italian handmade shoes or not.

All I'll grab instead is my 50L USM and one of my Canon EOS (D)SLR older bodies.

 

[willie_901]

I'm looking forward to finding out for myself, awaiting an x-t1 + couple lenses ("good gawd, what have i done?") in the mail. Will shoot my M-body alongside the fuji in my usual places: dark clubs, street/urban, travel.

I use both the X-Pro 1 and X-T1.

As JR mentioned, when the X-Pro 1 is set up they way that suits your MO, it can be quick... Especially with the more recent primes (faster AF motor technology).

The X-T1 is another story altogether. Once you become familiar with the focus options and methods it can be very quick. I set all 4 D pad buttons to move the focus-region box. This way I can avoid focus and recompose when direct focus could be more effective. The dual screen mode can be a significant advantage for many focusing scenarios.

 

[hepcat]

You have probably put a lot of time into becoming skilled with the M3.

Have you put an equivalent amount of time into becoming skilled with the X-Pro?

I suspect that for some of us old-timers, that's exactly the issue... decades with the M bodies and months with the electronic ones.

the bigger issue for me when I had my XPro-1 was that while using the OVF I never knew for sure what it was focusing on when the focus-confirmation light was lit. That was a real problem. I finally gave up and moved back to Leica. At least if I miss focus now, I have nothing to blame but my poor technique.