The Leica X Vario

[Godfrey]

Ding! Ding! Ding! As someone who shoots a lot indoors, at night and in other poorly lit locations and has to make trade-offs regarding ISO, I find it disheartening when someone says just increase the ISO. Dynamic range and signal-to-noise ratio are all worsened with each increase. Increasing the ISO is not cost-less or consequence-free especially for prints. If the X-Vario has the high-ISO performance of the M [240], I wouldn't want to go much beyond 3200.

I can't compare against a new Leica M, but this is what the Leica X2 produces at ISO 800 to 12500:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/25268645/x2-noise/index.html

Seems fine to me, it's the same sensor as in the X Vario I believe. I don't expect to make noiseless 16x20 inch prints at ISO 12500, however.

G

 

[willie_901]

I can't compare against a new Leica M, but this is what the Leica X2 produces at ISO 800 to 12500:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/25268645/x2-noise/index.html

Seems fine to me, it's the same sensor as in the X Vario I believe. I don't expect to make noiseless 16x20 inch prints at ISO 12500, however.

G

I thought the M-Mini used a CMOSIS APS-C sensor?

The M240's CMOSIS sensor performs in the highest range of 24x36 mm sensors tested by DxO Mark. So the M-Mini should too compared to other APS-C cameras if it uses the same technology.

 

[Godfrey]

I thought the M-Mini used a CMOSIS APS-C sensor?

The M240's CMOSIS sensor performs in the highest range of 24x36 mm sensors tested by DxO Mark. So the M-Mini should too compared to other APS-C cameras if it uses the same technology.

The name of the camera is X Vario, not "M-Mini". That was the tease. It's shape and controls look and feel a lot like an M, that's all.

Based on everything I've read about it, the X Vario uses the same Sony APS-C 16Mpixel sensor that's in the X2. Far as I'm aware, CMOSIS is only producing the full frame, 24 Mpixel sensor for the M Type 240 camera at present, and doesn't produce any APS-C format sensors. There's really no need for the customized CMOSIS sensor with its special microlenses when you're designing a fixed lens camera - you design the lens to suit a standard sensor microlens array.

G

 

[jcrutcher]

My X Vario is shipped!!! I'm excited to have it. Josh at Dales Photo in Florida (are we allowed to plug a business? not sure with all these rules this week) shipped it yesterday, will have it on Monday. (if we are allowed this to plug a business I would recommend them highly) I already have the EVF from my X2 so I'm not sure on which accessories I'll purchase. Maybe the strap and body protector. I wonder if Luigi makes one yet? I plan on trying it without the shade since that adds to its size. Anyways I'm exited and will post some of my first photos for all you naysayers to attack, haha... Life is good in Leica land!

Jim

 

[kdemas]

My X Vario is shipped!!! I'm excited to have it. Josh at Dales Photo in Florida (are we allowed to plug a business? not sure with all these rules this week) shipped it yesterday, will have it on Monday. (if we are allowed this to plug a business I would recommend them highly) I already have the EVF from my X2 so I'm not sure on which accessories I'll purchase. Maybe the strap and body protector. I wonder if Luigi makes one yet? I plan on trying it without the shade since that adds to its size. Anyways I'm exited and will post some of my first photos for all you naysayers to attack, haha... Life is good in Leica land!

Jim

I look forward to not only seeing your images Jim but also getting your first hand impressions. Enjoy!

 

[giellaleafapmu]

I come late and I am not sure that I can give any answer without involving the company and so on anyway... I really don't like the camera specifications, the company, their pricing and their designs, I have a few film Leicas which I almost never get myself to use as I find almost all their cameras unreliable and unconvenient BUT every time I actually use on of them I always end with a big smile. Recently I tried a early Digilux (not mine), small sensor, slow lens, everything I in principle don't like and even in that case the pictures I got were, in my view, just great. I won't buy this camera and I don't like the design but I wish I had the money to try it because I don't exclude that I could have some nice surprice...

GLF

 

[mfunnell]

My X Vario is shipped!!! [..snip..] Anyways I'm exited and will post some of my first photos for all you naysayers to attack, haha... Life is good in Leica land!

Jim

Jim, all the best with your new camera and I look forward to seeing your photos. Despite all the fuss around here the serious reviews I've read (by those who have used the camera, like Sean Reid and others) suggest that the controls are good to work with, that the lens is (optically) exceptional (notwithstanding the comments about it's narrow apertures) and the sensor renders well. If a large-sensor fixed-zoom point and shoot with intuitive controls is what you want then this camera sounds like it will do the business.

While it isn't the camera for me, I hope it is for you and that you take lots of fine photographs with it.

...Mike

 

[Godfrey]

My X Vario is shipped!!! ...
Jim

Good luck with it, Jim! I look forward to seeing your photos.

G

 

[jcrutcher]

I apologize I meant to thank Stephen for hosting this site. I've purchased may lenses from Camerquest and have been more than satisfied. Lately I look at all the complaints RFF gets and I can't help but wonder, isn't this a free no charge site he provides for us? If it really is free (I'm never sure what I pay for or not) than I would suggest we all pitch in somehow..... financially or some type of support. Yes he makes a small commission on what he sells but lets face it running this site is a pain in the butt. Whatever you suggest Stephen I'll support within reason.


Jim

 

[user237428934]

My X Vario is shipped!!! I'm excited to have it. Josh at Dales Photo in Florida (are we allowed to plug a business? not sure with all these rules this week) shipped it yesterday, will have it on Monday. (if we are allowed this to plug a business I would recommend them highly) I already have the EVF from my X2 so I'm not sure on which accessories I'll purchase. Maybe the strap and body protector. I wonder if Luigi makes one yet? I plan on trying it without the shade since that adds to its size. Anyways I'm exited and will post some of my first photos for all you naysayers to attack, haha... Life is good in Leica land!

Jim

The developing of the DNG files will be interesting as long as there is no real support in the raw converters.

I downloades three raw files yesterday but the result did not look so good. Color fringing etc. Let's hope that this is only the result of ACR using the default DNG profile because there is no appropriate profile yet.

Keep us informed about your results.

 

[mfunnell]

Sean Reid has an article on The Luminous Landscape regarding the X Vario that accords with many of my thoughts about the camera:

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/waiting_for_monroe.shtml

...Mike

 

[daveleo]

My X Vario is shipped!!! . . . . I'm not sure on
which accessories I'll purchase. Maybe the strap and body protector. I
wonder if Luigi makes one yet? . . . . Jim

Hey have fun with that camera!. I am sure that passing its images through
software and netbook monitors will not do the camera justice. Although it is
not my kind of camera, I'll wager it makes wicked nice (printed ! ) pictures .

Luigi must already be working on the half case 😀

 

[jsrockit]

My X Vario is shipped!!! I'm excited to have it.

Since you appear to be its only fan on RFF, you'll have to let us know what you ultimately think once you use it for awhile. Outside of the slow aperture at 70mm, it doesn't appear to be all that bad.

 

[Godfrey]

Sean Reid has an article on The Luminous Landscape regarding the X Vario that accords with many of my thoughts about the camera:

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/waiting_for_monroe.shtml

Good piece ... yes, aligns with my ideas about it too.

I've been considering two camera bodies in this size class (NEX 6 and E-P5) and the XV is the least likely to be what I want based on the zoom and price. But I really like the control layout quite a lot and I'm quite sure that the lens performance will be up to the task. The other two would be used with my existing M-mount lenses and the XV could indeed outperform them, if not in lens speed.

G

 

[Harry Caul]

Sean Reid has an article on The Luminous Landscape regarding the X Vario that accords with many of my thoughts about the camera:

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/waiting_for_monroe.shtml

...Mike

If they had the camera for months for testing it must have been painful to watch Leica mis-hype it.

 

[Godfrey]

If they had the camera for months for testing it must have been painful to watch Leica mis-hype it.

Weeeelllll ... It does look like a "Mini M".. Which is likely what their marketing genius was responding to. 🙂

G

 

[chrishayton]

Well i was a doubter ( still am about the lens speed) but I handled one today at the local Leica dealer (he insisted) and its actually very nice. Excellent handling, Manual focus is perfectly implemented with magnified central area. LCD is as clear and crisp as I have seen. Overall it would be a lovely camera to use
The lens is still far to slow should have been 2.8-4.

 

[doolittle]

It's hard to be objective about the X-V after the hopes the misguided mini m marketing campaign raised.

Putting aside my crushed dreams of the modular FF, hybrid evf, interchangeable M with iPhone integration and optional film module, my take on the Maxi-X is:

- It's an attractive looking camera. Styling is an improvement over the previous X series cameras. It looks solidly built. Lots of metal. I'm sure it feels nice in the hand.
- Nice old school controls for setting aperture and shutter speed. Not sure about dial for changing aperture rather than ring on lens though.
- I think their decision to write 35mm equivalent focus lengths on the lens barrel is good
- Rings for focusing and adjusting zoom look good too
- Good no nonsense menu system
- Max aperture definitely disappointing. However knowing Leica the lens will perform well wide open and won't need to be stopped down like many other lenses to achieve more acceptable quality
- Size of the lens and camera combined is the biggest problem. I know it is built as a unit and if not lens might protrude more still or image quality might suffer. It just looks so clunky. If this was the same camera, but the lens was removable and there were a few nice small primes, it would be different (I know, it would be a different camera..).

I wouldn't consider buying it new or second hand. Photography is all about limitations and we all make our choices around them. I would take the size and weight penalty of a dSLR with 24-70 2.8 any day over it or travel light with a smaller mirrorless camera. I can see why others will decide otherwise. Unlike the Lunar it gets compared too sometimes, it isn't another camera in fancy dress.


It might be a good camera for video, with the ring controls for zoom and focus and aperture dial.

Will be interesting to see what sort of shutter lag and time from power on/stand by and battery life the camera has.

Anyway, kudos to anyone who buys it. I don't think anyone is getting at them. The outcry is more for Leica not delivering on the hype.

 

[Doug]

... - Max aperture definitely disappointing. However knowing Leica the lens will perform well wide open and won't need to be stopped down like many other lenses to achieve more acceptable quality...

Some good points, and in regards to lens speed...

There have been comments about the slow zoom lens. Yes, it’s slow, but f/6.4 is faster than f/6.9... by a little 🙂 Backing up a few years for recollection, the Fuji GA645Zi was a zoom followup of two similar fixed-focal 6x4.5cm models, wide and normal. It had a permanently mounted 55-90mm/f4.5-6.9 Fujinon lens, and like the predecessors featured auto-focus and auto-exposure, like a bigger point-n-shoot.

Does this sound a bit like the X Vario? The Fuji was pretty popular, the lens was excellent but slow. I had the 45mm f/4 Wide version, GA645Wi and did think about the Zi, considering how I could best use it. Vacation pics in good light? The zoom could be useful, but I concluded it was just too slow for me.

The Vario X is also an attractive camera for some tasks. As with the Fuji, the lens is slow... but, as they say, “it is what it is” and it might serve its purposes well.

 

[Lss]

It might be a good camera for video, with the ring controls for zoom and focus and aperture dial.

With no image stabilization and a fixed screen, I don't really see it as a useful video camera out of the box.