X1 spec right from the marketing guy's desk

rover

rover

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Exceptionally fast wide angle, Leica Elmarit 1:2.8/24 ASPH Lens
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The world is coming to an end if Leica is going to call a 2.8 lens exceptionally fast.
 
"exceptionally fast" is a subjective term.... At least they did not say it was the fastest (objective) lens....
 
Man, this could be a cool camera. But 2.8 for 2k just seems a little out of whack. I'm not sure who they think their target market it is with this. It's not like m series shooters would gain a size advantage, there's no reason to have this in their bag really. If they're trying to appeal to non-leica owners, 2k is way too much. It seems like they're going after the DP and GRD types, but the price seems about $500-800 too high, even with the Leica tax.
 
agreed! calling f2.8 exceptionally fast is really taking the piss.. Shame because 35mm is the only length I need in a camera, so being fixed otherwise wouldn't have bothered me.

I'm pretty disappointed by their decision, if it was an f2 lens I very probably would have bought it, as (wishfully thinking) a sort of digital Hexar AF. But f2 is the slowest I'd go these days - 90% of the time I use the f1.2 nokton, always at 1600 iso, so f2.8 is just too slow to be useful for my available light nighttime shots.
 
I think the I/S makes all the difference. If this has good high ISO performance it could be a winner.

I'll be having a play with one on Sunday, but so far, I like it.
 
effectively a 36/2.8 lens - now the crop factor adds about 1 stop to the DOF - it will limit the selective focus quite a bit based on my DSLR experience.
 
Camera makers have lost their way. They are kind of doing the whole GM thing..."we are making what the customer should want" kind of thing.

Remember the days when lenses had f numbers that sometimes had a 1 in them? And when there was a 0 in the f number it wasn't behind a 4....
 
If it had an f/2 lens, people would be complaining that the price is even higher.

If it had a f/1.x lens, people would complain that the lens is too big.

And so it goes...
 
I rather have the sigma dp2. its has big sensor and 24mm f2.8

2.8 is not fast at all.

I miss the day when cameras are being sold with free standard lens f1.8
 
Bobfrance said:
I think the I/S makes all the difference. If this has good high ISO performance it could be a winner.

I'll be having a play with one on Sunday, but so far, I like it.
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I hear your thoughts, but I think this is just rationalization. IS is a work around in this case. Regardless of how good the X1's high ISO performance is, it's low ISO performance will always be better. IS is an additional feature, not a crutch for other short comings.

At least that is what I think.
 
I would assume it has CDAF autofocus, which should work with an f/2 lens just as well. More than likely the camera was built with an f/2.8 in order to hit the $2k price point. OK, I know what kind of statement that sounds like, but we *are* talking about Leica are we not? :) Bear in mind, the 24/3.8 Elmar-M is $2395 just for the lens.
 
Not what I wanted. I wanted a small body, without mirror or rangefinder, with a Leica M mount and not greater than 1.5 crop ratio. It could have an image magnifier on the LCD screen to aid focusing. That shouldn't have been much of a challenge. Pretty much like a micro-4/3 but with a larger sensor.
 
The I/S could make a big practical difference though and make 2.8 more usable in lower light. On my canon 30D with the 17-55 2.8 IS i've gotten some amazing lower light stuff at 800-1600ish, all because of the IS.

I'm also really interested to see what these 3200 shots look like. Hopefully better than the M9's 2500...
 
rover said:
I hear your thoughts, but I think this is just rationalization. IS is a work around in this case. Regardless of how good the X1's high ISO performance is, it's low ISO performance will always be better. IS is an additional feature, not a crutch for other short comings.

At least that is what I think.
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I think increased noise reduction and image stabilisation shouldn't be perceived as a crutch when it simply enables you to achieve more DOF in low light situations.
In an autofocus camera with no viewfinder this seems like a sensible compromise. The chances of getting a properly focused shot in the dark at f2 or below using an LCD screen is pretty slim I imagine.
 
Canon's S90 (coming in October) has a F2.0-4.9, 28 - 105 mm (equivalent) lens.

Apples and oranges, I admit, due to the sensor size difference, but I can't wrap my brain around the X1 and its price tag. The IQ is going to have to be phenomenal. Canon realized that everyone wants a faster lens on these things. I guess Leica missed that memo?
 
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