Where Are the Leica X2 Rumors?

[dave lackey]

Seems like a good sensor and UI hindered by slow auto-focus. Since it already has some manual knobs, Leica could go one step further and put a real rangefinder on an X2 -- make it like a IIIh lol -- and sell a pile to the faithful.

It would be an attractive and novel option... complete manual control.

Now THAT would be the best start of Leica X2 Rumors! So, let's spread Frank's suggestion as a rumor and maybe Leica will hear about it!!!! One can only hope.🙂🙂

Oh, and one thing that needs to be emphasized, NO SCREEN. It is rare that I ever looked at the screen on my digital cameras in the past 10 + years. Make this thing as near to a Barnack as possible!

 

[iwaki]

Am I missing something here? Does anyone really believe potential M9 buyers will get the X100 instead? The X100 looks to be a nice camera but from the looks of it (and from what I've read) it is a bit plasticky. That and it's a fixed lens, crop sensor camera.
Many would probably like to compare it to a Bessa but to me it seems more like a digital version of a Canonet or something similar. It will probably be quite popular but the people who have the money and appreciate the quality will still buy an M9.

i'm an M9 owner, and call me crazy, but i was actually considering selling my M9 and just get the x100. Sometimes i just still can't believe that i spent that much for a camera is all, since i mainly shoot film, it kinda made me feel bad.

It is very possible to sway M9 potential buyer for sure!

 

[rxmd]

i'm an M9 owner, and call me crazy, but i was actually considering selling my M9 and just get the x100. Sometimes i just still can't believe that i spent that much for a camera is all, since i mainly shoot film, it kinda made me feel bad.

It is very possible to sway M9 potential buyer for sure!

Well I wouldn't call you crazy for considering to sell the M9 for an X100, but I would ask why you bought the M9 in the first place if you mainly shoot film.

I guess the X100 can be an alternative for some of those M9 buyers who have a bad conscience about buying an M9.

 

[jsrockit]

Seems like a good sensor and UI hindered by slow auto-focus. Since it already has some manual knobs, Leica could go one step further and put a real rangefinder on an X2 -- make it like a IIIh lol -- and sell a pile to the faithful.

It would be an attractive and novel option... complete manual control.

This would be the best thing Leica could do... but would you pay $4000 for it? Leica would jack up the price big time.

 

[Jamie123]

i'm an M9 owner, and call me crazy, but i was actually considering selling my M9 and just get the x100. Sometimes i just still can't believe that i spent that much for a camera is all, since i mainly shoot film, it kinda made me feel bad.

It is very possible to sway M9 potential buyer for sure!

But have you handled one? I haven't but I've read a few accounts of people who have and found it a bit cheap feeling. I think the appeal of Leica M camersa was always the solid build and quality lenses. Now I'm sure the M9 is not quite up there in build quality with some earlier film models but it still feels relatively solid.

Of course, if you don't use your M9 much it maybe makes sense selling it and getting an X100. Just like it makes more sense for someone who doesn't shoot much film to get an M6 instead of an MP.

Anyways, as someone who has no real interest in any kind of digital rangefinder I find it highly amusing to see how much hype is generated for the X100. From what I've seen it looks like a decent camera but there's no way it can live up to the expectations. Soon enough people are going to buy it and start complaining about everything that's wrong with it.

 

[Matus]

This would be the best thing Leica could do... but would you pay $4000 for it?

Good question - my answer would be .. "no" ..

 

[jsrockit]

The X1 feels cheap compared to the M series as well... but it's not that cheap. I suspect the X100 falls into this category as well. The plus side is that these cameras are light as hell. It kills me that people expect Leica metal construction in a camera 20% of the price of an M9.

 

[dave lackey]

This would be the best thing Leica could do... but would you pay $4000 for it?

The price would definitely be high. But who would pay $3-4k? I would even though my networth is about $46 and change at the moment and for the foreseeable future. I see it as an equivalent to the Leica III versus an M. Maybe a little less expensive, but certainly not cheap. 🙂

It is, after all, a Leica.😉 And we all know there is no such thing as a cheap Leica.

 

[jsrockit]

DL, I may as well... but $3-4k with a fixed lens may be a little much in 2012. However, if they add a m mount, then it'll be even more. Perhaps if the fixed lens didn't look like a P&S lens as the X1 does, then maybe.

 

[dave lackey]

Oh, and why would I pay a dear price for a digital Barnack? One with interchangeable lenses? Because there would be nothing on the market like it at any price. And at the price it would be on the market, it would still be cheaper than a used M9 for a long time.

There are many photographs to be made in the time that it would take for an M9 to depreciate to that level. Besides, life is too short to wait. 😀

 

[dave lackey]

That chimping thing...tell me again why someone would need to do that? Why do we need a freaking screen?:bang:

 

[hteasley]

That chimping thing...tell me again why someone would need to do that? Why do we need a freaking screen?:bang:

I'm coming around to that point of view. Five, six years ago, there was still a need to husband the memory on the SD/CF card, because they weren't all that big. I wanted to check my shots.

With a 16GB card, I almost never chimp now. I just shoot. Get rid of the screen and you could save a ton of manufacturing cost, and have better battery life.

You could, now that I think about it, put bluetooth in the camera, make an android/iphone app to go with the camera, and chimp with your phone when you absolutely, positively have to.

 

[rover]

That chimping thing...tell me again why someone would need to do that? Why do we need a freaking screen?:bang:

Because a hystogram is a very useful tool.

 

[ronnies]

That chimping thing...tell me again why someone would need to do that? Why do we need a freaking screen?:bang:

Probably for the same reason that we used to use polaroid backs. Sometimes it's too important to wait till you get home to find you've made a pigs ear of it. 😉

Ronnie

 

[iwaki]

Well I wouldn't call you crazy for considering to sell the M9 for an X100, but I would ask why you bought the M9 in the first place if you mainly shoot film.

I guess the X100 can be an alternative for some of those M9 buyers who have a bad conscience about buying an M9.

Yeah, I kept asking myself the same question too honestly, bad conscience it is!!! Actually I try to shoot both medium as much as I can, but with my working time it's just difficult, so the M9 doesn't get as much use as i expected it to.

Well from how I see it, the X100 is not a rangefinder, it will never replace an M9, nor is it a real alternative to a digital rangefinder. But it's cheap enough to just throw in a bag, scratch, drop, etc. 😎

 

[dave lackey]

Yeah, I have heard that before... but I have used Nikon DSLR's for over 12 years now with no reason to ever chimp. Histograms mean nothing to me and my successful use in my professional work confirms that I do not need them.

Menus? We really could use something simplistic like the original Barnack...no screens needed.

If someone feels the need or is more comfortable with chimping, okay by me, but it really is not necessary.🙂🙂🙂 YMMV.

 

[jsrockit]

That chimping thing...tell me again why someone would need to do that? Why do we need a freaking screen?:bang:

Why shouldn't we do it? I don't get this line of thought either. Some like it, some don't. Why do we all need to use our tools the right way.

 

[kshapero]

Yeah, I have heard that before... but I have used Nikon DSLR's for over 12 years now with no reason to ever chimp. Histograms mean nothing to me and my successful use in my professional work confirms that I do not need them.

Menus? We really could use something simplistic like the original Barnack...no screens needed.

If someone feels the need or is more comfortable with chimping, okay by me, but it really is not necessary.🙂🙂🙂 YMMV.

I'll take a digital Nikon FM3a or Digital M6 anyday. Simple well built, elegant.

 

[jsrockit]

Oh, and why would I pay a dear price for a digital Barnack? One with interchangeable lenses? Because there would be nothing on the market like it at any price. And at the price it would be on the market, it would still be cheaper than a used M9 for a long time.

Oh don't get me wrong, I'd love one too. However, I'm think it'll be over $4000 for sure if Leica ever did it. Could work though at that price point.

 

[rxmd]

Oh, and one thing that needs to be emphasized, NO SCREEN. It is rare that I ever looked at the screen on my digital cameras in the past 10 + years. Make this thing as near to a Barnack as possible!

For purity give it a wind knob once you're at it.

And you should have to chip a corner off the memory cards so that they'll fit in the slot.