Leica X Typ 113

[Archiver]

I'm surprised that no one else has mentioned this yet. What a lovely thing to present at Photokina!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JJ1LMC4aTo

http://www.dpreview.com/articles/6139702522/leica-announces-updated-x-typ-113-with-f1-7-lens

Using the body of the X Vario, it sports a 24mm f1.7 lens, which is the fastest in its class of camera. The same Sony 16mp sensor as the X2, and a non-extending lens! Finally! No more of the awful mechanical screeeech or worries about the barrel breaking. The lens barrel also has a manual focus ring with distances, like the X Vario. It can also focus down to 20cm, which is very nice.

All the usual controls are available, including a shutter speed dial, EV comp dial, etc.

My only concern about this camera is shooting wide open with close up subjects. In short, you can't. Apparently the lens automatically stops down to f2.8 at minimum focus distance of 20cm to 'preserve best image quality'. This suggests that like the Fuji X100, the lens has some kind of aberration or glow when shooting close subjects wide open.

This behaviour also applies at distances starting at 1.5m, although the aperture closes less at those distances. So if you want to shoot fairly close portraits wide open, you won't be able to. Bummer.

Apart from that, it looks like a great camera and I am looking forward to trying one out.

 

[rbelyell]

i used the original x100 for years and it never exhibited any 'aberration or glow' when doing close photography. i cannot speak to the x100s or other subsequent models. my take is sometimes gaining 1/2 stop over the 5 year old x100, which had all the analogue controls and a nonextending lens, is maybe not such a huge technological leap, and may account for the lack of enthusiasm. it is pretty though.

 

[c.poulton]

If only it had a built in viewfinder, it might have garnered more interest?

 

[Mcary]

If only it had a built in viewfinder, it might have garnered more interest?

+1

The new Leica D-Lux comes with a 4/3 sensor and a 2.8 MP EVF...Make you wonder they didn't/couldn't have the same EVF in the Leica X.

 

[kzphoto]

This was also or the cameras that piqued my interest. I agree with the EVF statement, but I wonder if the lens is truly manual or if it is another fly-by-wire attempt at manual focus?

 

[jsrockit]

+1

The new Leica D-Lux comes with a 4/3 sensor and a 2.8 MP EVF...Make you wonder they didn't/couldn't have the same EVF in the Leica X.

Because Panasonic didn't make the Type 113.

 

[jsrockit]

This was also or the cameras that piqued my interest. I agree with the EVF statement, but I wonder if the lens is truly manual or if it is another fly-by-wire attempt at manual focus?

You expect too much... of course it is isn't true MF.

 

[shadowfox]

Because Panasonic didn't make the Type 113.

And I am really glad this is the case.

+4 for the built in viewfinder.

 

[Lss]

This is a considerably prettier, considerably less powerful implementation of the Sony RX1/RX1R type of camera. Even the list price is in the same ballpark.

 

[robert blu]

As an x1 owner I find this camera interesting, at least for what we know now. Having it in the hands, trying the manual focus, trying the autofocus is essential for a further evaluation. Having had dust issue with the x1 probably due to the extending lens I appreciate the fix barrel. Now the size...
robert

 

[Archiver]

i used the original x100 for years and it never exhibited any 'aberration or glow' when doing close photography. i cannot speak to the x100s or other subsequent models.

You must have had an exceptional copy of the X100. My X100 exhibits a lot of glow when shooting close subjects wide open, particularly in macro. It's fairly commonly recognized that the X100's lens needs to be stopped down to eliminate the softness when close.

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3472091#forum-post-51286941

The following thread shows the difference in softness between the X100S and the Sony RX1. The way the X100s renders in these photos is exactly like what I get with my X100.

http://www.*****************/index.php/topic/14612-x100s-very-soft-wide-open-rx1r-comparison/

 

[rbelyell]

your link refers to that issue with the x100 S, not the original x100. my main point however was not the quality of my x100, but how much of advance (or lack thereof) this camera is over it 5 years later. this is especially so if one does in fact consider later arriving similar cameras like the rx1, which certainly moved the ball forward from the x100 for fixed lens 35mm fov cameras.

 

[xdayv]

Because Panasonic didn't make the Type 113.

+1.

and +5 on the viewfinder.

😉

 

[Addy101]

i used the original x100 for years and it never exhibited any 'aberration or glow' when doing close photography.

My main point however was not the quality of my x100, but how much of advance (or lack thereof) this camera is over it 5 years later.

Well, you opened with saying how great your X100 is :bang:
And the X100 has the same lens as the X100s, what goes for one, goes for the other.....

I have a completely different look on the EVF thing. In a lot of situations composing on the rear screen is just as good as with an EVF, and in some it is even better. Also, not including the EVF allows the camera to be smaller and if you want one, just get the add-on EVF.

By the way, this is the link to Leica: http://en.leica-camera.com/Photography/Leica-X/Leica-X

 

[Godfrey]

The Leica X (Type 113) now takes the same EVF as the Leica T, which is a big upgrade from the X2 and X Vario (essentially Olympus VF-2). The Leica Visoflex EVF uses the same LCD panel as the viewfinders in the Olympus E-M1, Fuji X-Ti, and Sony A7/r/s series cameras.

The fact that the lens stops down to f/2.8 in the close range focus distance is no big deal to me. You need the additional DoF in that range anyway, and most ultra-fast lenses like this produce crummy results wide open in the close focus range anyway. I'm not very intrigued by using a 35mm effective FoV lens for ultra-shallow DoF at extreme close distances in portraiture anyway...

Jono Slack did a nice write up on the Leica X (Type 113):
http://www.slack.co.uk/2014/Anna-Louisa.html

I would be interested, but I still have my Leica X2 and don't really feel the need for another camera of this type and class—although that non-extending f/1.7 lens does give me a bit of Magpie Syndrome. HOWEVER, if I save the money for the X Type 113 and put it towards an M-P (Type 240), then I can share my VF-2 between the X2, the M-P, Olympus E-M1, and E-PL1 bodies.

... Or maybe I should sell all of them and put the money towards a Leica M Edition 60. There are just too many neat cameras that would be fun to work with.

G

 

[rbelyell]

i didnt open by saying how great my x100 was, i replied to a post that incorrectly stated the x100 lens exhibited 'glow and aberration' shooting wide open at close range. that simply was not a characteristic feature of that lens/sensor combo, and the cited web example was incorrect as well, cute headbanging icons notwithstanding. it was however a characteristic of the x100S, and seemingly of this new leica camera.

addressing the DOF issue, while i firmly dislike the modern obsession with 'shooting wide open' at every opportunity, from a purely technical pov shooting a 24mm lens at 2.0 is the same as shooting a 50mm lens at 4.0, so i personally do not see any DOF issues shooting portraits wide open with either this leica or the same fov x100 lenses. if that is ones artistic choice, there is plenty of latitude for having critical subject areas in focus to yield generally pleasing results from a DOF perspective. that this camera will not give you that choice may be a real issue for some.

 

[totifoto]

I want one, slap an optical viewfinder in that hotshot and I´m good to go 🙂

 

[robert blu]

... There are just too many neat cameras that would be fun to work with.

G

Yes, so many nice (sometimes expensive!) options. Main complains about the x1 were the slow autofocus, difficult manual focus, and extending lens (I had dust on sensor problem, fixed in Solms still under warranty but it took 4 weeks).
In my opinion the new X typ 113 should have overcome these difficulties, at price of a larger size. Ok, it took a few years to react but we say better late than never 🙂
I don't think to upgrade now, but...
I would for sure upgrade from my x1 if the optical engineers of Leica would study an add on for the lens to bring at 75 or 90 mm equivalent for full face portraits...that would be great for my use. In this case I would upgrade without doubt.

robert, still shooting his x1 ...but that M-P is also so nice...

 

[Archiver]

i didnt open by saying how great my x100 was, i replied to a post that incorrectly stated the x100 lens exhibited 'glow and aberration' shooting wide open at close range. that simply was not a characteristic feature of that lens/sensor combo, and the cited web example was incorrect as well, cute headbanging icons notwithstanding. it was however a characteristic of the x100S, and seemingly of this new leica camera.

Even back in 2012, users recognized the softness of the X100 lens at close range, wide open:

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3157774#forum-post-40815625

The writer at Minimally Minimal makes mention of the softness of the X100 wide open as well:

http://www.minimallyminimal.com/blog/2012/5/4/fuji-x100-the-extended-review.html

And again on Petapixel:

http://petapixel.com/2013/06/23/switching-to-the-fujifilm-x100-from-the-world-of-dslrs/

And here:

http://blog.baquephoto.com/?p=3138

I did say that my X100 exhibits exactly the same softness shown in the X100S samples of the second thread I posted. And not only is it soft, but very glowy.

If I and these others are mistaken, and either the X100 does not have softness or glow at widest aperture or we all have defective cameras, I would love to know so I can rework my shooting technique or otherwise mitigate this effect.