L Collins
Well-known
Thinking about buying a used X1.
The Cliff Notes version: not interested in chasing the latest. Completely uninterested in pixel peeping. Simply want a digital with the form factor and ease of use of an M6. Shoot B&W exclusively, mostly for documentary projects.One of the early adopters of the M8, which I liked alot.now thinking of the X1 with a 35 mm external viewfinder.
1. How is the Elmarit?
2. Autofocus? If its as "good" as a Contax G1 That's enough.
3. High ISO? Acceptable to 3200?
4. Build quality?
5. Sensor Issues? Banding, dead pixels, dirty?
The Cliff Notes version: not interested in chasing the latest. Completely uninterested in pixel peeping. Simply want a digital with the form factor and ease of use of an M6. Shoot B&W exclusively, mostly for documentary projects.One of the early adopters of the M8, which I liked alot.now thinking of the X1 with a 35 mm external viewfinder.
1. How is the Elmarit?
2. Autofocus? If its as "good" as a Contax G1 That's enough.
3. High ISO? Acceptable to 3200?
4. Build quality?
5. Sensor Issues? Banding, dead pixels, dirty?
dave lackey
Veteran
Simply put, it is the best overall camera I have ever owned. Period. Perfect? Hardly? Perfect enough, absolutely.
What would I change? Get rid of the stupid LCD. Can't use it in bright daylight so I turn it off most of the time.
Comparing exactly the same images with an M8 and a D6...cannot really tell the difference with my eyes. The camera is a beauty and a joy to use.
Your specific questions:
All good to excellent except for AF. I have no idea about a Contax. It is far better than any of the old digital Nikons I own and not as good as the X2. It is no problem as I work around any cameras deficiencies.
Anyone who disparages the X1 is full of it.
What would I change? Get rid of the stupid LCD. Can't use it in bright daylight so I turn it off most of the time.
Comparing exactly the same images with an M8 and a D6...cannot really tell the difference with my eyes. The camera is a beauty and a joy to use.
Your specific questions:
All good to excellent except for AF. I have no idea about a Contax. It is far better than any of the old digital Nikons I own and not as good as the X2. It is no problem as I work around any cameras deficiencies.
Anyone who disparages the X1 is full of it.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
I've not owned or used the X1, I have been using the X2 for nearly a year. It's become my 95% "grab and go camera" ... it's always out, on my desk, ready to pick up whenever I'm leaving the house.
- The lens is the same and it's terrific.
- AF on the X2 is reportedly a bit quicker than the X1. The X2 is good enough for most things I shoot. Sometimes, when I want more responsiveness, I set an aperture and focus zone with the camera on manual as that is faster. I don't remember what the AF speed on my Contax G2 was like, but I often did the same with that.
- The X2 sensor is very very clean at high ISOs up to and including ISO 12500. See my high ISO tests at
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/25268645/x2-noise/index.html
The X1 sensor is the older 12Mpixel version, and is likely just fine at ISO 3200.
- The X2 feels great, nicely made and very solid.
- Haven't had any sensor issues at all with the X2.
There are two big differences between the X1 and X2 aside from the sensor. The more important one is that the X2 has stronger detents on the shutter speed and aperture selector dials which makes it more difficult to accidentally shift your settings when handling the camera (taking it out of a bag or pocket, etc). That's a good improvement IMO. The other difference is less important if you are primarily going to use an optical viewfinder: the ability to use an EVF. I use an optical viewfinder most of the time, but when light levels are low or I want to use the lens wide open, the EVF allows the option to be more precise about what is being focused on for situations where the LCD is at a disadvantage due to light conditions, etc. This isn't so terribly important most of the time ... the LCD is quite good as a viewfinder ... but there are times I've been happy to have the EVF with me.
I was very tempted by the X1 when I first saw it, but I'm glad I waited for the X2 to come out. I think both are very good cameras; I'd recommend hunting up a used X2 instead however.
G