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Yesterday I bought a Leica X1. Today I took it back and exchanged it for an X100 and a store credit. Here is the story, which I am telling here because DPReview Fuji Talk is a wasteland of idiocy, and I am loathe to upset the faithful in a Leica forum.
I've had my eye on both cameras for a while. I bypassed both of them for years because the X1 was AUD$2500 and the X100 was fraught with buggy firmware and aperture blade issues.
The X1 has recently gone on special for AUD$1890, and the X100 has had the bugs ironed out. So I went to my local pusher, er, camera dealer, and tried them out. And I left with the X1.
When I got home, the problems began. First I found that the shutter was considerably louder than I thought. Lots of people say that you can barely tell when the X1 has taken a photo. Well, I am saying that those people are either deaf or hard of hearing, because the X1 is more audible than the Ricoh GXR aps-c modules, which aren't the quietest of the bunch. I wanted something I could shoot in a silent art gallery, and the X1 wasn't it. The X100 I handled in the shop was much more quiet, but I had my heart set on the X1, so I conveniently ignored the sound, much to my detriment.
Then I figured, hey, what about the image quality? It doesn't have to be a silent camera if the images are good. So I shot a bunch of test photos against my Ricoh GXR, which I absolutely love. I was shocked to see that the Ricoh produced better image quality, particularly in terms of detail, highlight retention, and naturalness of colour. The Leica lens did produce some nice bokeh, but I liked the GXR (both 28 and 50 modules) better in every other regard.
Focus speed! The GXR disturbingly overtook the X1 in every circumstance. I had read that the X1 was a bit slower, but I wasn't expecting a very noticeable difference. And that was with firmware 2.0 installed, too.
There were only two operational factors where I liked the X1 over the GXR: startup speed and quietness. The GXR 28mm module starts slowly and makes an awful grinding screech as the lens extends. The X1's lens zips out quickly and efficiently.
But then the other noises began. All digital cameras adjust the aperture for changing exposure situations. But the X1's aperture was one of the most intrusive and annoying I've ever heard. It was a repetitive TICK TICK TICK TICK TICK that drove me crazy! None of my many cameras sound anything like that!
Add to that the fact that the camera appeared to have been used. There were two images in the internal memory dated from last November (it is now late Feb). A potted cactus and a window thick with rain. And the file number was something like 30076! There goes the idea of a pristine new camera. The body was in pristine condition but somehow it had someone else' photos in it, and a wacky file number.
My dealer was very attentive and told me to bring it back, and that it was okay to exchange it for something else if I wanted. I had another good play with the X100 and I was sold. Everything that bothered me about the X1 was fine in the X100. It was quick and quiet, which is exactly what I want. I placed an order for the black limited edition model and the waiting has begun.
Thank you particularly to David Manning for his delightful X100 work. I guess I helped you decide to get that Contax T3. Now you are returning the favour with the X100.
I've had my eye on both cameras for a while. I bypassed both of them for years because the X1 was AUD$2500 and the X100 was fraught with buggy firmware and aperture blade issues.
The X1 has recently gone on special for AUD$1890, and the X100 has had the bugs ironed out. So I went to my local pusher, er, camera dealer, and tried them out. And I left with the X1.
When I got home, the problems began. First I found that the shutter was considerably louder than I thought. Lots of people say that you can barely tell when the X1 has taken a photo. Well, I am saying that those people are either deaf or hard of hearing, because the X1 is more audible than the Ricoh GXR aps-c modules, which aren't the quietest of the bunch. I wanted something I could shoot in a silent art gallery, and the X1 wasn't it. The X100 I handled in the shop was much more quiet, but I had my heart set on the X1, so I conveniently ignored the sound, much to my detriment.
Then I figured, hey, what about the image quality? It doesn't have to be a silent camera if the images are good. So I shot a bunch of test photos against my Ricoh GXR, which I absolutely love. I was shocked to see that the Ricoh produced better image quality, particularly in terms of detail, highlight retention, and naturalness of colour. The Leica lens did produce some nice bokeh, but I liked the GXR (both 28 and 50 modules) better in every other regard.
Focus speed! The GXR disturbingly overtook the X1 in every circumstance. I had read that the X1 was a bit slower, but I wasn't expecting a very noticeable difference. And that was with firmware 2.0 installed, too.
There were only two operational factors where I liked the X1 over the GXR: startup speed and quietness. The GXR 28mm module starts slowly and makes an awful grinding screech as the lens extends. The X1's lens zips out quickly and efficiently.
But then the other noises began. All digital cameras adjust the aperture for changing exposure situations. But the X1's aperture was one of the most intrusive and annoying I've ever heard. It was a repetitive TICK TICK TICK TICK TICK that drove me crazy! None of my many cameras sound anything like that!
Add to that the fact that the camera appeared to have been used. There were two images in the internal memory dated from last November (it is now late Feb). A potted cactus and a window thick with rain. And the file number was something like 30076! There goes the idea of a pristine new camera. The body was in pristine condition but somehow it had someone else' photos in it, and a wacky file number.
My dealer was very attentive and told me to bring it back, and that it was okay to exchange it for something else if I wanted. I had another good play with the X100 and I was sold. Everything that bothered me about the X1 was fine in the X100. It was quick and quiet, which is exactly what I want. I placed an order for the black limited edition model and the waiting has begun.
Thank you particularly to David Manning for his delightful X100 work. I guess I helped you decide to get that Contax T3. Now you are returning the favour with the X100.
