aizan
Veteran
Don't forget DHL.
boojum
Ignoble Miscreant
If no other positive thing comes from this it has certainly stimulated conversation on international shipping. It sure is a mess out there and it seems for a combination of reasons. In my experience that is usually the case. Rarely is it "the dog ate my homework" but rather a psycho-drama of shredded book parts and notebooks vanishing into the netherworlds.
That said, my psycho-enthusiasm has dropped several notches. I am just content now to wait for the box to show up. I am hopeful I will have the sweet Pixii in the next week or so. Life is what it is and to quote the revered Sun Tzu, "Fight only the battles you can win." I yield to UPS International and retire from the field.
I hope all of you took notes on the international shipping discussions. It will be on the final. ;o)
That said, my psycho-enthusiasm has dropped several notches. I am just content now to wait for the box to show up. I am hopeful I will have the sweet Pixii in the next week or so. Life is what it is and to quote the revered Sun Tzu, "Fight only the battles you can win." I yield to UPS International and retire from the field.
I hope all of you took notes on the international shipping discussions. It will be on the final. ;o)
Godfrey
somewhat colored
Not my experience ... I've articulated my recent experience two posts up from yours and have to say, I've never once lost a package with USPS.
But I'd rather see some discussion of the camera, not the miserable shipping stuff.
G
oldwino
Well-known
Not my experience ... I've articulated my recent experience two posts up from yours and have to say, I've never once lost a package with USPS.
But I'd rather see some discussion of the camera, not the miserable shipping stuff.
G
Unfortunately for those of us in the USA, the shipping (mis)adventures seem to be part of the Pixii experience. It is not their fault, obviously, but it IS part of the overall experience. Just like sometimes poor customer service is part of the Leica experience.
They (Pixii) could maybe look into other shipping options, or at least offer options.
ptpdprinter
Veteran
Not my experience ... I've articulated my recent experience two posts up from yours and have to say, I've never once lost a package with USPS.
But I'd rather see some discussion of the camera, not the miserable shipping stuff.
I have had bad experiences with all of the carriers, including USPS, though USPS is my current carrier of choice. Of course, each of our experiences are merely anecdotal.
We'll have to wait until boojum receives his Pixii for further camera comments, unless you have additional information and/or impressions to add.
boojum
Ignoble Miscreant
The latest with UPS International is that I refused delivery and the camera is being returned to France. "Refused delivery"! I tried to get it sent back from PDX but now only the shipper, Pixii, can affect any change.
As for other shipping options. Do you not think that Pixii is aware of these problems? Do you not think they wish there were a reliable carrier? But wait! You know the carrier and were just waiting for me to ask you. So give it up, who is the carrier, what is the reliable solution? I am sure everyone else here would also like to know your solution. And please send it on to Pixii, they would really love to hear from you.
Leica can control their customer service. Pixii has no control over international shippers. You are connecting two dissimilar things.
boojum
Ignoble Miscreant
Yeah, that's what you're saying now. But when you are deluged with photos and impressions you may want to try another forum for a while. I am sanguine about the camera because of what current owner/users have said and posted. The non user/owners are legless men teaching running. This is all simple enough: aim it, focus it, push the button. My Schipperke can be a stand-in for me on that. The trick is, of course, getting something that maybe someone else would want to look at.
It is kind of like sailing. You can learn to sail in half a day: just don't run the sharp end of the thing into anything harder than it is. Then spend the rest of your life trying to get good at it.
Bless Pandora, she was able to save Hope.
boojum
Ignoble Miscreant
Just so you patient and supportive folks know a bit of what has been going on here are the UPS messages first to me and now to Pixii. Note that this starts from present and works its way backward. Maybe I am a real simpleton but I think this is a pretty complicated effort to get a 1 Kg package from A to B.
Which one of these guys is Curly?
05/05/2022
5:48 P.M. On the Way
UPS initiated contact with the sender to obtain clearance information. Once received, UPS will submit for clearance. / The information requested has been obtained and the hold has been resolved.
Louisville, KY, United States
05/05/2022
12:26 P.M. Warehouse Scan
Louisville, KY, United States
05/05/2022
1:21 A.M. Cleared Import Customs
The package is at the clearing agency awaiting final release.
05/04/2022
5:02 P.M. UPS initiated contact with the sender to obtain clearance information. Once received, UPS will submit for clearance.
Louisville, KY, United States
05/04/2022
10:16 A.M. The package is at the clearing agency awaiting final release.
05/04/2022
3:32 A.M. Import Scan
Louisville, KY, United States
05/04/2022
3:20 A.M. Warehouse Scan
Louisville, KY, United States
05/04/2022
1:52 A.M. Arrived at Facility
Louisville, KY, United States
05/03/2022
6:52 P.M. Departed from Facility
Portland, OR, United States
05/03/2022
6:25 P.M. Arrived at Facility
Portland, OR, United States
05/03/2022
5:49 P.M. Departed from Facility
Portland, OR, United States
05/02/2022
11:21 P.M. Origin Scan
Portland, OR, United States
05/02/2022
5:31 P.M. Returning to Sender
The package was refused and will be returned to the sender.
Warrenton, OR, United States
Shipper created a label, UPS has not received the package yet.
Canada
05/02/2022
5:31 P.M. Returning to Sender
The package was refused and will be returned to the sender.
Warrenton, OR, United States
05/01/2022
2:18 A.M. Import C.O.D. (ICOD) charges have been paid or billed.
04/29/2022
6:55 P.M. The package has been rescheduled for a future delivery date.
Warrenton, OR, United States
04/29/2022
3:30 P.M. This package is being held for a future delivery date.
Warrenton, OR, United States
04/29/2022
10:03 A.M. Out For Delivery Today
Warrenton, OR, United States
04/29/2022
9:46 A.M. Processing at UPS Facility
Warrenton, OR, United States
04/29/2022
7:39 A.M. Arrived at Facility
Warrenton, OR, United States
04/29/2022
5:37 A.M. Departed from Facility
Portland, OR, United States
04/29/2022
4:15 A.M. Arrived at Facility
Portland, OR, United States
04/29/2022
3:49 A.M. Departed from Facility
Portland, OR, United States
04/28/2022
10:56 A.M. Processing at UPS Facility
Portland, OR, United States
04/28/2022
10:50 A.M. Arrived at Facility
Portland, OR, United States
04/28/2022
9:16 A.M. Departed from Facility
Louisville, KY, United States
04/28/2022
9:00 A.M. A mechanical failure has caused a delay. We will update the delivery date as soon as possible.
04/28/2022
1:35 A.M. Import Scan
Louisville, KY, United States
04/28/2022
12:11 A.M. Arrived at Facility
Louisville, KY, United States
04/27/2022
8:55 P.M. Cleared Import Customs
Your package has cleared customs and is on the way.
04/27/2022
10:30 P.M. Departed from Facility
Koeln, Germany
04/27/2022
5:05 A.M. Import charges are due for this package. Select Pay Now (where available) or pay at delivery.
04/27/2022
5:05 A.M. Duties or taxes are due on this package.
04/26/2022
11:15 P.M. Arrived at Facility
Koeln, Germany
04/26/2022
10:03 P.M. Departed from Facility
Colombier-saugnieu, France
04/26/2022
3:59 P.M. The package is at the clearing agency awaiting final release.
04/26/2022
9:01 P.M. Export Scan
Colombier-saugnieu, France
04/26/2022
8:43 P.M. Your package is on the way
04/26/2022
8:23 P.M. Arrived at Facility
Colombier-saugnieu, France
04/26/2022
5:30 P.M. Departed from Facility
Thise, France
04/26/2022
5:19 P.M. Origin Scan
Thise, France
04/26/2022
4:12 P.M. Pickup Scan
Thise, France
04/22/2022
4:05 P.M. Shipper created a label, UPS has not received the package yet.
France
Which one of these guys is Curly?
05/05/2022
5:48 P.M. On the Way
UPS initiated contact with the sender to obtain clearance information. Once received, UPS will submit for clearance. / The information requested has been obtained and the hold has been resolved.
Louisville, KY, United States
05/05/2022
12:26 P.M. Warehouse Scan
Louisville, KY, United States
05/05/2022
1:21 A.M. Cleared Import Customs
The package is at the clearing agency awaiting final release.
05/04/2022
5:02 P.M. UPS initiated contact with the sender to obtain clearance information. Once received, UPS will submit for clearance.
Louisville, KY, United States
05/04/2022
10:16 A.M. The package is at the clearing agency awaiting final release.
05/04/2022
3:32 A.M. Import Scan
Louisville, KY, United States
05/04/2022
3:20 A.M. Warehouse Scan
Louisville, KY, United States
05/04/2022
1:52 A.M. Arrived at Facility
Louisville, KY, United States
05/03/2022
6:52 P.M. Departed from Facility
Portland, OR, United States
05/03/2022
6:25 P.M. Arrived at Facility
Portland, OR, United States
05/03/2022
5:49 P.M. Departed from Facility
Portland, OR, United States
05/02/2022
11:21 P.M. Origin Scan
Portland, OR, United States
05/02/2022
5:31 P.M. Returning to Sender
The package was refused and will be returned to the sender.
Warrenton, OR, United States
Shipper created a label, UPS has not received the package yet.
Canada
05/02/2022
5:31 P.M. Returning to Sender
The package was refused and will be returned to the sender.
Warrenton, OR, United States
05/01/2022
2:18 A.M. Import C.O.D. (ICOD) charges have been paid or billed.
04/29/2022
6:55 P.M. The package has been rescheduled for a future delivery date.
Warrenton, OR, United States
04/29/2022
3:30 P.M. This package is being held for a future delivery date.
Warrenton, OR, United States
04/29/2022
10:03 A.M. Out For Delivery Today
Warrenton, OR, United States
04/29/2022
9:46 A.M. Processing at UPS Facility
Warrenton, OR, United States
04/29/2022
7:39 A.M. Arrived at Facility
Warrenton, OR, United States
04/29/2022
5:37 A.M. Departed from Facility
Portland, OR, United States
04/29/2022
4:15 A.M. Arrived at Facility
Portland, OR, United States
04/29/2022
3:49 A.M. Departed from Facility
Portland, OR, United States
04/28/2022
10:56 A.M. Processing at UPS Facility
Portland, OR, United States
04/28/2022
10:50 A.M. Arrived at Facility
Portland, OR, United States
04/28/2022
9:16 A.M. Departed from Facility
Louisville, KY, United States
04/28/2022
9:00 A.M. A mechanical failure has caused a delay. We will update the delivery date as soon as possible.
04/28/2022
1:35 A.M. Import Scan
Louisville, KY, United States
04/28/2022
12:11 A.M. Arrived at Facility
Louisville, KY, United States
04/27/2022
8:55 P.M. Cleared Import Customs
Your package has cleared customs and is on the way.
04/27/2022
10:30 P.M. Departed from Facility
Koeln, Germany
04/27/2022
5:05 A.M. Import charges are due for this package. Select Pay Now (where available) or pay at delivery.
04/27/2022
5:05 A.M. Duties or taxes are due on this package.
04/26/2022
11:15 P.M. Arrived at Facility
Koeln, Germany
04/26/2022
10:03 P.M. Departed from Facility
Colombier-saugnieu, France
04/26/2022
3:59 P.M. The package is at the clearing agency awaiting final release.
04/26/2022
9:01 P.M. Export Scan
Colombier-saugnieu, France
04/26/2022
8:43 P.M. Your package is on the way
04/26/2022
8:23 P.M. Arrived at Facility
Colombier-saugnieu, France
04/26/2022
5:30 P.M. Departed from Facility
Thise, France
04/26/2022
5:19 P.M. Origin Scan
Thise, France
04/26/2022
4:12 P.M. Pickup Scan
Thise, France
04/22/2022
4:05 P.M. Shipper created a label, UPS has not received the package yet.
France
Godfrey
somewhat colored
So sorry to see you going through this crap with UPS, boojum. It's just amazing that they can stay in business if this is what they do on a regular basis.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
I started to write a rather verbose sum-up but decided it was better to be more succinct.
After about 1000 or so photos with four/five lenses evaluation, I decided that the Pixii was not for me, despite it being a very nice camera that can make excellent photographs. I've sent it back to Pixii SAS after informing them of my decision not to keep it.
—
Okay, the more verbose discussion of what I liked and what I didn't follows now.
What's good for me:
- The viewfinder/rangefinder is clear, crisp, bright, and accurate with all the lenses I tested on the camera. That included the Color-Skopar 21mm, MS Optics 24mm, Pentax-L 43mm, Summilux 35mm, Summicron 50mm, and Tri-Elmar-M 28-35-50mm (MATE). The frame lines are accurate, I have no trouble seeing the RF in sunlight or dark, and it worked well with the Ricoh GV2 accessory finder for the FoV provided by 21mm lens. I more briefly tested the Summarit 75mm, M-Rokkor 90mm, Hektor 135mm, HyperWide 10mm, and Color-Skopar 28mm, primarily to see compatibility with the RF window and feel: all worked fine in that respect.
- The sensor produces excellent quality DNG raw files in color and monochrome. They are sharp and detailed, and easy to render in Lightroom Classic.
- The feel of the camera is very high quality build of good materials. I love the simplicity of the controls presented, it's an easy camera to learn and remember.
- I'm particularly taken with the quality of the monochrome DNG files. They capture a great range of gradation and very good detailing, particularly in FINE mode.
- The use of an inexpensive and easily sourced battery is a big positive.
What didn't work for me:
- The controls are a good design, but their action isn't to my liking. The main exposure time dial is an example: one marking for Auto, the rest manual exposure times, good; but the dial is a bit short and difficult to get my fingers on securely at eye level, and I found myself knocking it off the Auto setting or a chosen manual time setting too easily. Another example: The settings dial similarly has light clicks in its action, but its operation is variable speed so you have to keep watching the settings in the top LCD or viewfinder carefully so as not to overshoot the desired setting.
This necessity to keep watching the display for feedback is one of the worst issues for me. I tend to work my cameras mostly by feel ... the number of clicks or amount of distance I turn a focusing ring, etc. I want to glance at a display to get my base of what I am, and then adjust things by feel afterwards. The Pixii with present firmware does not do that for me.
- The in-viewfinder informational display needs some polishing: the manual exposure readout is a bit flickery, it takes some work to choose the EV compensation readout, the other displays didn't really net much use/advantage to me.
- The top deck information display works brilliantly indoors and when not in the sun or no bright sky above. However, in the sun and when there's a bright sky above, the LED illumination is too dim, and too small, for me to see easily with my glasses on. Since one of the notions of using the Pixii is to overcome the difficulty I have seeing the viewfinder in the Leica CL in bright sunlit environments, I see little sense in trading an inability to see the viewfinder display for another inability to see the configuration settings ... Both can be overcome with the same workarounds (using a deep shade to reduce surroundings glare).
- The Pixii's firmware is still young and immature. Metering isn't 100% accurate at ISO settings below 200; the frame counter is sometimes there, sometimes not; etc.
- The feel and surety of making an exposure is inconsistent. The shutter release button has a very light touch and a quiet audio accompaniment to signal its operation, but out of doors and trying to shoot quickly, it proves inconsistent such that I'm not quite sure if or when my exposure has been made. I lost several exposures due to this issue.
This feel and surety is another critical issue to me. I need to be able to release the shutter and know that the exposure was made with certainty, at a particular point in time.
- The Pixii power management needs work. Other, similar cameras that I have using similar batteries can run easily 250-350 exposures on a charge with little effort to keep turning the camera off and on, etc.; the Pixii takes some management to achieve anything close to that. I found myself running a full battery to empty on every walk, where on my similar walks with the Leica CL or Hasselblad 907x I can go two to four walks without even thinking about the battery, and come back with 2x to 3x the number of exposures. I'm not averse to carrying several batteries, but this seems a area that needs significant work.
- Two of my often-used lenses (the latest version Color-Skopar 21 and the MS Optics 24) are a relatively poor match to the Pixii sensor, where the same two lenses work without significant issues on the CL and even the 907x sensors. This isn't a deal breaker, but it was surprising.
- I had problems with the Pixii app allowing me to see the captured exposures regardless of whether it was connecting via WiFi or Bluetooth. It seemed that it would show some of the exposures, and put markers in for others, but I couldn't really tell what was there. This is another situation where it leads me to mistrust the camera because it limits my ability to know what I've captured, or not captured.
- There are other, more minor issues that I'm sure the next softeware revision will correct, like the difficulty in holding onto settings when you change a battery. As I said above, the software is young and a bit rough at present; I'm sure it will all smooth out in due course.
These issues together made using the camera difficult, and I lack the patience to persevere with things as the camera matures. It's a little too young for me, at the present time, and other choices available promote what I want to be doing more at this time ... which is making my photographs, not developing a camera. I looked at the Pixii because it raised certain possibilities at an accessible price, and I think it a fine piece. It just needs some development and maturation, and it will be there.
But that isn't my situation at present. I need the right camera to do my photography now, not in a revision or two.
The monochrome DNG, Fine mode, of the Pixii was my favorite part of the camera. Set on Auto-L and manipulating exposures with the EV Compensation, it produced excellent photos for me. I've long wanted a Leica M Monochrom for this very experience, and using the Pixii in this mode confirmed that desire for me.
I bet you can guess what happens next.
best, G
After about 1000 or so photos with four/five lenses evaluation, I decided that the Pixii was not for me, despite it being a very nice camera that can make excellent photographs. I've sent it back to Pixii SAS after informing them of my decision not to keep it.
—
Okay, the more verbose discussion of what I liked and what I didn't follows now.
What's good for me:
- The viewfinder/rangefinder is clear, crisp, bright, and accurate with all the lenses I tested on the camera. That included the Color-Skopar 21mm, MS Optics 24mm, Pentax-L 43mm, Summilux 35mm, Summicron 50mm, and Tri-Elmar-M 28-35-50mm (MATE). The frame lines are accurate, I have no trouble seeing the RF in sunlight or dark, and it worked well with the Ricoh GV2 accessory finder for the FoV provided by 21mm lens. I more briefly tested the Summarit 75mm, M-Rokkor 90mm, Hektor 135mm, HyperWide 10mm, and Color-Skopar 28mm, primarily to see compatibility with the RF window and feel: all worked fine in that respect.
- The sensor produces excellent quality DNG raw files in color and monochrome. They are sharp and detailed, and easy to render in Lightroom Classic.
- The feel of the camera is very high quality build of good materials. I love the simplicity of the controls presented, it's an easy camera to learn and remember.
- I'm particularly taken with the quality of the monochrome DNG files. They capture a great range of gradation and very good detailing, particularly in FINE mode.
- The use of an inexpensive and easily sourced battery is a big positive.
What didn't work for me:
- The controls are a good design, but their action isn't to my liking. The main exposure time dial is an example: one marking for Auto, the rest manual exposure times, good; but the dial is a bit short and difficult to get my fingers on securely at eye level, and I found myself knocking it off the Auto setting or a chosen manual time setting too easily. Another example: The settings dial similarly has light clicks in its action, but its operation is variable speed so you have to keep watching the settings in the top LCD or viewfinder carefully so as not to overshoot the desired setting.
This necessity to keep watching the display for feedback is one of the worst issues for me. I tend to work my cameras mostly by feel ... the number of clicks or amount of distance I turn a focusing ring, etc. I want to glance at a display to get my base of what I am, and then adjust things by feel afterwards. The Pixii with present firmware does not do that for me.
- The in-viewfinder informational display needs some polishing: the manual exposure readout is a bit flickery, it takes some work to choose the EV compensation readout, the other displays didn't really net much use/advantage to me.
- The top deck information display works brilliantly indoors and when not in the sun or no bright sky above. However, in the sun and when there's a bright sky above, the LED illumination is too dim, and too small, for me to see easily with my glasses on. Since one of the notions of using the Pixii is to overcome the difficulty I have seeing the viewfinder in the Leica CL in bright sunlit environments, I see little sense in trading an inability to see the viewfinder display for another inability to see the configuration settings ... Both can be overcome with the same workarounds (using a deep shade to reduce surroundings glare).
- The Pixii's firmware is still young and immature. Metering isn't 100% accurate at ISO settings below 200; the frame counter is sometimes there, sometimes not; etc.
- The feel and surety of making an exposure is inconsistent. The shutter release button has a very light touch and a quiet audio accompaniment to signal its operation, but out of doors and trying to shoot quickly, it proves inconsistent such that I'm not quite sure if or when my exposure has been made. I lost several exposures due to this issue.
This feel and surety is another critical issue to me. I need to be able to release the shutter and know that the exposure was made with certainty, at a particular point in time.
- The Pixii power management needs work. Other, similar cameras that I have using similar batteries can run easily 250-350 exposures on a charge with little effort to keep turning the camera off and on, etc.; the Pixii takes some management to achieve anything close to that. I found myself running a full battery to empty on every walk, where on my similar walks with the Leica CL or Hasselblad 907x I can go two to four walks without even thinking about the battery, and come back with 2x to 3x the number of exposures. I'm not averse to carrying several batteries, but this seems a area that needs significant work.
- Two of my often-used lenses (the latest version Color-Skopar 21 and the MS Optics 24) are a relatively poor match to the Pixii sensor, where the same two lenses work without significant issues on the CL and even the 907x sensors. This isn't a deal breaker, but it was surprising.
- I had problems with the Pixii app allowing me to see the captured exposures regardless of whether it was connecting via WiFi or Bluetooth. It seemed that it would show some of the exposures, and put markers in for others, but I couldn't really tell what was there. This is another situation where it leads me to mistrust the camera because it limits my ability to know what I've captured, or not captured.
- There are other, more minor issues that I'm sure the next softeware revision will correct, like the difficulty in holding onto settings when you change a battery. As I said above, the software is young and a bit rough at present; I'm sure it will all smooth out in due course.
These issues together made using the camera difficult, and I lack the patience to persevere with things as the camera matures. It's a little too young for me, at the present time, and other choices available promote what I want to be doing more at this time ... which is making my photographs, not developing a camera. I looked at the Pixii because it raised certain possibilities at an accessible price, and I think it a fine piece. It just needs some development and maturation, and it will be there.
But that isn't my situation at present. I need the right camera to do my photography now, not in a revision or two.
The monochrome DNG, Fine mode, of the Pixii was my favorite part of the camera. Set on Auto-L and manipulating exposures with the EV Compensation, it produced excellent photos for me. I've long wanted a Leica M Monochrom for this very experience, and using the Pixii in this mode confirmed that desire for me.
I bet you can guess what happens next.
best, G
boojum
Ignoble Miscreant
Sorry that you were disappointed in the camera. Truly sorry.
Some of the problems are firmware which will be corrected. This is just a Linux computer with a lens. The controls may have honked you off and that can be a major annoyance. So the shoes did not fit and you sent them back. That's what the 15 day window is about. I do have a feeling that even the electro-mechanical controls will be remedied. After all, they want to send the camera out and not get it back. And thanks for the in-depth review. An empty review does not help us. And I am sure that David Barth will note your complaints.
I hope to experience mine. The latest I have from the UPS postings is that it has "Cleared for import" which I am going to guess means it is on its way back here from Louisville. I guess. UPS has some weird terminology when one is awaiting explicit words saying the camera will be delivered. I will ask David at Pixii to make it explicit to UPS that they hold it at the local UPS facility for my pickup.
Then I can try it with more prosaic lenses which will hopefully work better than those you tried. Time will tell. Best of luck with your next purchase.
Some of the problems are firmware which will be corrected. This is just a Linux computer with a lens. The controls may have honked you off and that can be a major annoyance. So the shoes did not fit and you sent them back. That's what the 15 day window is about. I do have a feeling that even the electro-mechanical controls will be remedied. After all, they want to send the camera out and not get it back. And thanks for the in-depth review. An empty review does not help us. And I am sure that David Barth will note your complaints.
I hope to experience mine. The latest I have from the UPS postings is that it has "Cleared for import" which I am going to guess means it is on its way back here from Louisville. I guess. UPS has some weird terminology when one is awaiting explicit words saying the camera will be delivered. I will ask David at Pixii to make it explicit to UPS that they hold it at the local UPS facility for my pickup.
Then I can try it with more prosaic lenses which will hopefully work better than those you tried. Time will tell. Best of luck with your next purchase.
boojum
Ignoble Miscreant
So sorry to see you going through this crap with UPS, boojum. It's just amazing that they can stay in business if this is what they do on a regular basis.
G, it is what it is. I can do nothing about it. I just have to wait for the camera to return. Not every day is Sunday.
agentlossing
Well-known
I can understand the complaints you had which led you to decide not to keep it, G. In fact some of what you mentioned are things I wondered about when looking at the design and operation of the camera. The lack of feedback that comes from an electronic-shutter only, coupled with too quiet of an indicator sound (and really, who likes the camera playing a sound to indicate shutter? Sounds like a smartphone, ugh), I kind of wish they could incorporate some haptic feedback into that shutter button, or at least just make it more resistant, with a stronger click when you fully depress it. And the control dial on the top, why doesn't it just have shutter speed markings on it? And variable speed scrolling for the other dial, I really hate that. These may be minor things, but when they're things you interact with whenever you use the camera, they need to be pleasant or at least easily functional. So I'll continue to await others' reactions about these details.
The things that are more firmware related, I wouldn't be as worried about. Those can be updated in a relatively short time. I guess the one observation I could make, perhaps impractical, is: why return the camera, instead of reselling it? you could leave that sale profit in Pixii's hands to continue improving their product and probably not lose out on much of the cost selling it to another enthusiast. Although I could see worries about warranty transfer on a new type of product like this.
The things that are more firmware related, I wouldn't be as worried about. Those can be updated in a relatively short time. I guess the one observation I could make, perhaps impractical, is: why return the camera, instead of reselling it? you could leave that sale profit in Pixii's hands to continue improving their product and probably not lose out on much of the cost selling it to another enthusiast. Although I could see worries about warranty transfer on a new type of product like this.
Emile de Leon
Well-known
Why support a camera company that sends you a dog of a camera
boojum
Ignoble Miscreant
Surveys with an observation of one are notoriously inaccurate.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
Emile,
Well, it's not a "dog of a camera"; it's a very good camera just as it is, despite the things that didn't work for me personally. I've owned many good cameras that didn't work for me, and ultimately sold them off as a result. I knew the Pixii had some issues when I bought it, and I bought it in part because it was offered with the agreement to return it for a full refund after a test period. I did my testing, provided feedback to the makers, and I returned it because it doesn't suit my goals at present.
The folks at Pixii SAS are great to work with, responsive, and I will continue to track their product development. A Pixii with some revisions, in the future, could well be just what I want.
If you don't try things that are new and provide honest, objective, critical feedback about them, how are the maker supposed to know how to improve the products?
agentlossing,
The incorporation of a stronger half/full click on the shutter release button would go a long way, along with a bit of active touch feedback. The lack of markings on the shutter time dial isn't much of an issue since the top deck display is right next to it, although they would net a more instantaneous feel since you'd know which way to turn the knob without turning the knob itself ... That's one of those interesting subtleties that would help. The variable speed scrolling dial ... Well, I know some folks have commented that they like this feature. One person's opinions are simply that: one person's opinions. There are a lot of opinions out there...
boojum,
I hope your time in UPS Never Never Land is short and you get your camera soon. I hope you find it to your liking ... I think it's a lovely camera, just needs some refinement. I'm just the wrong person at this point in time to work through that refinement, that's all.
Of my lenses, the two that performed poorly in testing are mostly symmetrical lens designs of very short focal length. These have always been the most difficult lenses for digital sensors to work with well.
And thanks for the good wishes on my next camera. It arrived yesterday, I'll start testing it today. I similarly have a couple of weeks to determine whether it is "the right one"...
G
Well, it's not a "dog of a camera"; it's a very good camera just as it is, despite the things that didn't work for me personally. I've owned many good cameras that didn't work for me, and ultimately sold them off as a result. I knew the Pixii had some issues when I bought it, and I bought it in part because it was offered with the agreement to return it for a full refund after a test period. I did my testing, provided feedback to the makers, and I returned it because it doesn't suit my goals at present.
The folks at Pixii SAS are great to work with, responsive, and I will continue to track their product development. A Pixii with some revisions, in the future, could well be just what I want.
If you don't try things that are new and provide honest, objective, critical feedback about them, how are the maker supposed to know how to improve the products?
agentlossing,
The incorporation of a stronger half/full click on the shutter release button would go a long way, along with a bit of active touch feedback. The lack of markings on the shutter time dial isn't much of an issue since the top deck display is right next to it, although they would net a more instantaneous feel since you'd know which way to turn the knob without turning the knob itself ... That's one of those interesting subtleties that would help. The variable speed scrolling dial ... Well, I know some folks have commented that they like this feature. One person's opinions are simply that: one person's opinions. There are a lot of opinions out there...
boojum,
I hope your time in UPS Never Never Land is short and you get your camera soon. I hope you find it to your liking ... I think it's a lovely camera, just needs some refinement. I'm just the wrong person at this point in time to work through that refinement, that's all.
Of my lenses, the two that performed poorly in testing are mostly symmetrical lens designs of very short focal length. These have always been the most difficult lenses for digital sensors to work with well.
And thanks for the good wishes on my next camera. It arrived yesterday, I'll start testing it today. I similarly have a couple of weeks to determine whether it is "the right one"...
G
boojum
Ignoble Miscreant
G., my drama, UPS, drags on. The package is currently stuck in Louisville, still. This is a bad dream.
I will be putting more ordinary lenses on it so that is one problem solved. The little operational software quirks I can deal with as they are being fixed "as we speak." With those major things out of the way I think I will be pleased with the Pixii.
No camera is perfect. They all have problems and a look at what is popular and touted here on RFF will reveal that. So I will deal with whatever shortcomings this one may have unless they make me nuts. I will also shoot a lot to see how it works. And how it stacks up against my old M8.2.
Cheers
I will be putting more ordinary lenses on it so that is one problem solved. The little operational software quirks I can deal with as they are being fixed "as we speak." With those major things out of the way I think I will be pleased with the Pixii.
No camera is perfect. They all have problems and a look at what is popular and touted here on RFF will reveal that. So I will deal with whatever shortcomings this one may have unless they make me nuts. I will also shoot a lot to see how it works. And how it stacks up against my old M8.2.
Cheers
intangiblethings
Member
I haven't been around here long but I feel like every single morning somebody has taken a huge poop in Emile's coffee. I picture him as a quintessential Karen lmao.
But regarding the camera, if you've ever built anything (a company/brand) or worked in manufacturing you realize that any sort of "time in the game" + careful process assessment is how things get better. Fairly certain I wouldn't expect a < 5-year-old company to have the same polish as a multi-decade company. But if we don't give small brands the opportunity, there will NEVER be a chance for them to be competitive. If price is not on your side, admit it, it's out of your price range, and move on.
But regarding the camera, if you've ever built anything (a company/brand) or worked in manufacturing you realize that any sort of "time in the game" + careful process assessment is how things get better. Fairly certain I wouldn't expect a < 5-year-old company to have the same polish as a multi-decade company. But if we don't give small brands the opportunity, there will NEVER be a chance for them to be competitive. If price is not on your side, admit it, it's out of your price range, and move on.
Yokosuka Mike
Abstract Clarity
Godfrey
somewhat colored
I know I'm not the greatest on current vernacular, I'll have to see if I can figure out what a "Karen" is.
Yes, there's no getting around the fact that current day digital rangefinder cameras are expensive. The choices are few—there's Pixii, and then there are Leica M10 and M11 bodies at 3x the price. So if you want one of this kind of camera, NEW, there's no point in complaining about the price; there's only whether you can afford it and whether the particular camera suits you. There are also used cameras in the category which can be a hefty savings if they suit you ... but they're not "cheap" either. So you pays your money and you makes your choices.
It is what it is. :angel:
G
Yes, there's no getting around the fact that current day digital rangefinder cameras are expensive. The choices are few—there's Pixii, and then there are Leica M10 and M11 bodies at 3x the price. So if you want one of this kind of camera, NEW, there's no point in complaining about the price; there's only whether you can afford it and whether the particular camera suits you. There are also used cameras in the category which can be a hefty savings if they suit you ... but they're not "cheap" either. So you pays your money and you makes your choices.
It is what it is. :angel:
G