Opinion on Leica X1

[sper]

http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/pho/2085842795.html

Here's a guy who's asking $650 dollars for an EPL-1 with a 17mm ƒ2.8 lens (e=35mm), and the optical finder, and the electronic finder. That's a great deal. This combination will give you very high quality pictures, and allow you to use your M lenses should you purchase an adaptor. Also, everyone seems to say the Panasonic 20mm lens is fantastic and lets not forget the Voigtlander 25mm ƒ.95.

Here is a great arts based charity where you can spend the $1,345 you didn't spend on the "red dot"

http://art-start.org/

 

[Archlich]

In a personal opinion I strongly suggest you to wait. Wait until you could have a direct comparison between the X1 and X100.

Both would be significantly larger than your pocketable T3; before then just enjoy your negs a little longer.

 

[iwaki]

The X1 and the X100 are nearly the same size:


Leica X1-Fujifilm X100 size-comparison by Koekjeman, on Flickr


Leica X1-Fujifilm X100 size-comparison by Koekjeman, on Flickr

I just don't see the appeal. It's like with Apple computers. They're more expensive than competitors and often times they offer something special, with key limitations (iPad, no flash, iPhone, bad service), and great design. Okay, that's cool with me. I'll pay for that, I bought the iPad, the iMac. I drink the cool-aide. But Leica does the same thing with one key difference. They make specialized products with good design, yet key limitations that enthusiasts are willing to deal with. Only Leica equipment isn't just more expensive, it's exponentially (and in my opinion irresponsibly) more expensive. Carl Zeiss and Cosina prove that products like say, a basic, but very high quality 50mm f2, does not need to cost $2k Leica's 50mm 1.4 costs $5000 dollars. How does anyone stomach that? I don't care how good it is, it's not as good as it's price tag.

Do I resent this stuff because I can't afford it? Yeah, I do. I'm a young fine artist who loves street photography and I get by working in a camera store. Day in and day out I sell Leica products to people who more often than not, don't understand why Leica doesn't make zoom lenses in M mount. While Carl Zeiss and Cosina release fantastic, albeit slightly more expensive specialized camera's and lenses, and they're IN REACH of people like me.

I say let Leica return to financial insolvency, maybe Panasonic will buy them and make a proper M digital for 4 or 5K, and talented artists will use these great tools to continue the spirit of street photography and the social landscape.

Sorry to rant a bit off topic, but I don't get to say this stuff to my customers at work. Sometimes I gotta vent.

the last thing i want to see is an electronic giant taking over Leica.
I hope they stay in the niche market, and stick to their purist ideals. For those wishing Leica to be something else should get something else and not a leica. Leica being unaffordable is a shame, i totally agree, but if that keeps them alive then i'm afraid that's the price that we have to pay.

Mainstream gears come in mainstream price.

now let's wish Cosina can deliver our dream FF digital RF at a price point lower than the M9.......
Keep in mind that even the 6 years old R-D1 still costs over 2000 bucks new.

 

[sper]

In the world of me, which often bares no resemblance to the real world, I think the X1 is a 1,200 dollar camera, the M9 a 5,000 dollar camera.

The S2 is priced about right.

 

[jsrockit]

In the world of me, which often bares no resemblance to the real world, I think the X1 is a 1,200 dollar camera, the M9 a 5,000 dollar camera.

The S2 is priced about right.

I'd even say that the X1 is a $1000 camera and the M9 is a $4000 camera. 😀

 

[elmer3.5]

Hi, at last i measured the size of my IIIg with the elmar collapsed, and compared it to the x1 measures.
In all my pockets the iiig fits perfectly, even use it a lot in my jeans back pockets so the x1 will also do.

That was it!

Yesterday ordered the X1. I believe it will help me best with my kind of shooting.

I have to thank you all for the advice, i think the Fuji X100 will be a kind of revolution, it´s hybrid VF is brilliant.

Cheers!

 

[jsrockit]

Cool, let us know how you like it. I love mine.

 

[DougFord]

i think the Fuji X100 will be a kind of revolution, it´s hybrid VF is brilliant.

Cheers!

Fuji’s optical viewfinder concept could be implemented into the next X1.x.
Without increasing the size of the camera, Leica could position the projecting LCD in the top of the camera, at the location of the hot shoe, pointing up. The external bright line finder would encase the prism and viewfinder lens. Now you could have projected, moveable frame lines and all the other camera data that you’d want projected into the optical finder. Perhaps make the finder fixed, but appear as though it’s a standard external finder.

 

[hteasley]

I have found my X1 much more enjoyable by getting the Voigtlander 35mm viewfinder for it, and not using the screen. I really don't like composing and shooting with the camera at a distance from me, and with the slow AF and shutter lag, I found that that sort of shooting just wasn't working out for me with the X1. With a viewfinder, I use it entirely differently, and I'm much more effective with it.

I was surprised how much difference the viewfinder made: it's not actually doing anything to the camera's functions, but I behave entirely differently, and entirely to the good, as far as my success rate goes.

 

[gilpen123]

I understand there is a green light focus confirmation on top of the LCD which is useful when using a VF. How do you know where the camera focus?

 

[washy21]

The X1 is fantastic. The images are superb, and much better than any other compact I have owned: Canon, Nikon, Ricoh, Fuji, Olympus, Pentax.

The focus is slow, and I'm not too convinced about the overall build quality, particularly the battery door. the Canon G10 and Ricoh GRIII are much sturdier.

My opinion is that Leica lens defines this products excellence and I guess they know this is their trump card. There is a 'Leica look' and it can only be defined in abstract terms.

 

[jsrockit]

The focus is slow, and I'm not too convinced about the overall build quality, particularly the battery door. the Canon G10 and Ricoh GRIII are much sturdier.

Not to mention the pealing covering. Should not have quality issues in a $2000 camera. Oh well, still love it.

 

[washy21]

Not to mention the pealing covering. Should not have quality issues in a $2000 camera. Oh well, still love it.

That's how I feel. The cover on mine hasn't peeled yet so fingers crossed.

I still love it as well and the IQ is of this world.

 

[gilpen123]

The X1 black is now available, anyone got this already and is there a marked difference in focus speed?

 

[jsrockit]

The X1 black is now available, anyone got this already and is there a marked difference in focus speed?

The black one shipped with the old firmware.

 

[robert blu]

I found a black one under the Christmas tree ! Beautiful ! I'll give my impressions after a few days of use !
robert

 

[jsrockit]

Nice X-mas present... the black one is one of the most beautiful cameras ever built IMO.

 

[dave lackey]

I would love to replace my D40 with a Lecia X1 but it simply is not possible at this time.😡

So, I wonder why the Leica X1 does not have it's own sub-forum like the Fuji that is not even here yet?😕 At least, those of us wanting the X1 would have a better organized forum for information if there was one.

 

[elshaneo]

A friend of mine has it, and I had the chance to use it for a few hours, the only thing that impressed me was the output image quality, the rest was very disappointing, for the money, my Olympus EP2 is a much better value overall and much more versatile.

I would recommend you to wait for the new Fuji X100, I'm pretty sure that it will be a better value overall than the Leica X1...

 

[dave lackey]

Considering that I cannot afford anything, it is a moot point at the moment.

But, do I want another Japanese camera? No, a dozen Nikons are enough. Nor do I want a new system. I am happy with Leica and I have sold all of my Nikons except for an N60 given to the grandkids by Pitxu and a 4004s which I have used for 30 years all around the world after being gifted by my wife on our anniversary.

It is similar to why I chose to ride BMW motorcycles versus a Honda Gold Wing. Soul. The GW has none... zero. But it is a great motorcycle for sure.😉

My wife still has a Nikon D40 which does a great job but it has no soul, and I would be happy to get another 5 years out of it. For that matter, except for the S3 2000, none of my Nikon equipment has ever had soul...including the pro bodies.

If the X1 has soul, then, I would like to own one down the road. The M3 has soul. But, having never touched an X1, I don't have a clue. Time will tell.

Then, again, at my age, I am looking to keep what I buy for the rest of the "end game"... I am not one who likes to keep up with the megapixel, bells and whistles race. So, value means little, especially as it applies to electronics. Meaning, I will buy what I want for whatever reason, I don't have 30 years to try out everything anymore.

YMMV...🙂