nyckylim Posted June 9, 2010 Share #1 Posted June 9, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi all, I know that there has been alot of debate regarding the slow AF of the X1. However As I'm ready to abandon: video recording capability, price, zoom lens, I have several final questions before I hit the GO button. How slow is slow ? I understand that SLOW is something that is subjective. However, I do have a panasonic LX3 on hand. So can someone review the speed of the AF and overall speed of the camera as compared to only the LX3 ? please do not compare with other cameras like G11, GF1, etc also, please do not tell me to use the X1 as a secondary camera and a SLR for hi speed photography. The reason why I'm buying the X1 is because I want to have ONE camera that I can use overall. I want a camera that is able to be used as a travelling companion, car launch events, birthday parties, etc So, kindly advice before i finally decide. I can't try the camera because it's sold out everywhere in Singapore. Thank you all for your help. P.S I'm kind of excited to join the leica family. Regards nycky Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted June 9, 2010 Posted June 9, 2010 Hi nyckylim, Take a look here Final questions before I get the x1. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Grancy Posted June 9, 2010 Share #2 Posted June 9, 2010 Hi, usually my X1 takes around 2 to 3 seconds to focus, using 1H mode (I don't like the 11point mode) that is really slow most of the time and the weakest point of this camera. I'm happy to have it nevertheless, it's my only digital camera. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NZDavid Posted June 9, 2010 Share #3 Posted June 9, 2010 Nycky, to summarize a whole heap of threads and posts, the X1 is fine handling camera with excellent ergonomics and image quality let down by slow AF. For landscapes and static shots it excels, especially in low light. For parties and people it's tricky to focus accurately, unless subjects are holding still. YMMV. Sorry, I really wouldn't recommend buying sight unseen without being able to try it first. Can't you ask a local camera dealer in Singapore to put it on hold for you? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
reginaldwatkins Posted June 9, 2010 Share #4 Posted June 9, 2010 Nycky, I have the D-Lux 4 and the X1's AF is noticeably slower. The image quality of the X1 is worth the step up. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pvak Posted June 9, 2010 Share #5 Posted June 9, 2010 I would say that the LX3 focuses about 50% faster most of the time. If the primary purpose of your camera is going to be taking "posed" pictures of either travel scenery or snapshots of friends and family then the slow autofocus of the X1 will not be an issue. However, if you are into candid photography of people and events, then you will need to learn how to use pre-set manual focus because the auto focus will most likely let you down a number of times. The action will just move on before a focus lock is achieved. If you can live with that then the X1 will give you superb images. If you usually rely on autofocus cameras then the Panasonic GF1 may be a better choice for you. Excellent images and fast autofocus with the ability to have other lenses. The GF1 with 20mm lens is about the same size as the X1. In any case, before buying the X1, you need to have it in your hands and use it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsrockit Posted June 9, 2010 Share #6 Posted June 9, 2010 The action will just move on before a focus lock is achieved. If you can live with that then the X1 will give you superb images. If you usually rely on autofocus cameras then the Panasonic GF1 may be a better choice for you. Excellent images and fast autofocus with the ability to have other lenses. The GF1 with 20mm lens is about the same size as the X1. In any case, before buying the X1, you need to have it in your hands and use it. I agree with this... Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nei1 Posted June 9, 2010 Share #7 Posted June 9, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) It's a real puzzle and a disappontment,are there any engineers out there who can explain this focus issue? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephen.w Posted June 9, 2010 Share #8 Posted June 9, 2010 There are a few videos on YouTube from which you can get a pretty good idea of what the auto focus speed is like. In bright conditions it can lock pretty quickly, but it is still slower than the other cameras mentioned above, and no where near the lightning fast GF1 + 20mm lens. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted June 9, 2010 Share #9 Posted June 9, 2010 It's a real puzzle and a disappontment,are there any engineers out there who can explain this focus issue? What's to explain? Regards, Bill Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pvak Posted June 9, 2010 Share #10 Posted June 9, 2010 It's a real puzzle and a disappontment,are there any engineers out there who can explain this focus issue? The slowness of the focus has to do with the imaging chip hardware. Leica chose the imager for its image quality and not necessarily for its speed. The speed (or lack of) of the processor is the reason the X1 is slow. Contrast detect is always slower than phase detect anyway but in the X1 it is further hampered by the processing speed. Unfortunately this is not likely to be helped by software upgrades. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nyckylim Posted June 9, 2010 Author Share #11 Posted June 9, 2010 (edited) Thanks all for your help. As much as i'm interested in the GF1, i would still very much like to be a proud owner of the 5 powerful letters; LEICA. But now everyone seems to be recommending GF1 which is making me really confused. Advice ?? Anyway, Based on the one of the above poster, the bottom bar is meant to compare the AF speed between the LX3 (Dlux4) and X1. Slow ------------------------------------------------] Fast 1----------------------5--------------------------10 X1 ------------------ LX3 Hope this would help confused members like me. Cheers Nycky Edited June 9, 2010 by nyckylim Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pvak Posted June 9, 2010 Share #12 Posted June 9, 2010 Thanks all for your help. As much as i'm interested in the GF1, i would still very much like to be a proud owner of the 5 powerful letters; LEICA. Pride of brand ownership aside :-) we are all suggesting (based on our perceived understanding of your needs) that you may be easier and better served with the Panny GF1 over the Leica X1. If you do decide to go for the X1 (after having handled it in store) then you should be prepared for a learning curve to get the best out of this camera. It is NOT (contrary to popular belief) a point-and-shoot camera in the usual sense. Using it in all auto mode will not get you the results you expect! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pretzel logic Posted June 9, 2010 Share #13 Posted June 9, 2010 As someone who is also close to purchasing an X1 (subject to selling a Digilux 3), I'd be interested to hear if any news has leaked out about the 'potential' updates for X1 at Photokina in September which Steve Huff mentioned a while back? The last thing I'd want to do is buy a camera which gets quite abit of stick for its AF ability, for something to be released in the next few months which is more capable... Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted June 9, 2010 Share #14 Posted June 9, 2010 (edited) There's always another Photokina just around the corner... You can live your whole life not buying stuff, waiting for something 1. better and 2. cheaper, to arrive. It usually does. Unless it's got Leica on the front, in which case adjective 2 above doesn't apply Edited June 9, 2010 by andybarton Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom0511 Posted June 9, 2010 Share #15 Posted June 9, 2010 As someone who is also close to purchasing an X1 (subject to selling a Digilux 3), I'd be interested to hear if any news has leaked out about the 'potential' updates for X1 at Photokina in September which Steve Huff mentioned a while back? The last thing I'd want to do is buy a camera which gets quite abit of stick for its AF ability, for something to be released in the next few months which is more capable... the camera is so new and Leica usually has long product circles. Thats all I can say. I hope for some AF improvement by firmware (Oly did improve their AF by firmware) even though I understand it cant reach the speed of m4/3 due to the sensor read out speed. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramses Posted June 9, 2010 Share #16 Posted June 9, 2010 (edited) Not an easy decision. But if autofocus is most important,then the X1 is not a good choice. Forget it. Autofocus suck. Its really slow. Slower than every other camera, and it's no point in comparing to the LX3. Autofocus is very presice though. I was at the kindergarden yesterday with seasoning closing(or whatever right word is in english) and I took only the X1 with me. My canon 1D4, and Oly E-p1 was left at home. E-P1 is much faster. But then again I'm glad i took only X1 with me. I got great shoots. And the "autofocusproblem" is only there if you want it to be there. If i'd taken the canon I'd probably ended up with 50-60 pictures when I only wanted a few. The advantage with X1 is that you have to plan better what you want. And the slow autofocus is not really a problem. But it is a problem when things move around. Continue-focus is a joke. If you want a sportscamera then anything else will do. Why buy a X1 when you could get a Canon 550D for half the price. Or even the much better 7D. I've been using my E-P1 a lot and there's nothing the X1 can do better. Well exept when lights are low. Then the X1 shine. Indoors the X1 rules. But only then Lets be honest, the only reason to buy this camera is coz og the red Leica logo. Edited June 9, 2010 by Ramses Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramses Posted June 9, 2010 Share #17 Posted June 9, 2010 test x1 on top and ep1 bottom Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/123307-final-questions-before-i-get-the-x1/?do=findComment&comment=1347592'>More sharing options...
huzel Posted June 9, 2010 Share #18 Posted June 9, 2010 Look at the picture I have sent to the thread under the heading: "no zoom as an asset, rather than the lack of one" X1 has become my primary camera. (ps I have several M's) Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramses Posted June 9, 2010 Share #19 Posted June 9, 2010 some more shoots And again, if sports and children running playing is what you want to shoot, then this is not your thing. For anything else the X1 is very good. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/123307-final-questions-before-i-get-the-x1/?do=findComment&comment=1347610'>More sharing options...
h00ligan Posted June 9, 2010 Share #20 Posted June 9, 2010 Ramses, pretty much mirrors the testing I have done with gf1 vs x1. Not much in it till printing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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