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Lock ups, missed focus, slow operation and lousy firmware


Dan States

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Sound familiar? Except this time it's on the new Fuji X100. To put it in perspective, folks bashed Leica about the operational details of their first two in house digital cameras (x1 and m8) to no end, yet we have an experienced producer of digital cameras flubbing the job spectacularly

 

I'm sure Fuji will fix up the firmware and mechanical problems in due time, but let's keep this all in mind when we are complaining that the x1 is not the camera of our dreams. Looks like dreams are harder to make than we thought.

 

Between the excellent new firmware for the x1 and the x100 hype settling quickly back to earth, I think Leica is looking more competitive by the day.

 

Fujifilm SLR/X100 Talk Forum Forum: Digital Photography Review

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No, my point is not that the Fuji is bad or good...I don't own one. Only attempt to put some perspective on the negative pontification that swirls around pretty much any Leica product launch.

 

We now have the nex, the nx, dp2, x100 and more to come. Weve been told that all of them were the cameras leica SHOULD have made...and yet....

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You are damned right, Dan. I think the point is and will be for all times the Leica price tag. People tend to think Leicas are status symbols for the nouveau-riche and don't realize how difficult and expensive it is to built a RF camera of decent quality. It is a niche market and you have to know your customers and their needs very well to survive.

 

The first announcement of the X100 seemed to prove that Leica was just ridiculously overpriced and clinging to some outdated concept which could be easily enhanced by some "innovative" camera builder.

 

Reality shows the truth now, as you stated. Fuji has to yet to learn their lesson and solve a couple of problems. And they still have to prove their camera also sells beyond the hype and makes money for the company.

 

What remains for me is the certitude that Fuji - however well they will fix the problems and however successful they will sell their X100 - has a completely different philosophy in constructing a rangefinder-like camera.

 

That more gadgetry philosophy may generate a lot of lucky customers: But it is the same Philosophy that made me sell all my former DSLR and digital equipment and finally buy a Leica. I never regretted it. For others i can't speak.

 

Mike

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Right, but my point is that the majority of information and content in th post is about the fuji.

 

I don't really mind either way.

 

Anyway, to the topic (was waiting in case of a merge so it didn't get confused)...

 

I've been keeping track of the x100 since I placed my preorder. The preorder is cancelled. I felt it was not great on output to start with, now with issues...well, it's not for me.

 

I sold my x1 to get more Dslr gear, for pocket cams I'll be sticking to things that can really fit in any pocket. For me personally I can't see tying up that much money in the x100 as a 'toy' though I'm sure some great pros will make it sing. Given the size increase over the x1, the early adopter woes, price, availability, etc...to me the x1 is the better camera..and were I to what a high quality compact again, I'd probably get another. Or maybe a gxr 28/50 setup.

 

My x1 sale just funded a 35L. I live in a lace where everyone drives everywhere, and I am young-ish, in good health, and not shooting nature...so I should be able to deal with the Dslr bulk most of the time. Given more disposable income, I'd have kept the x1. Actually that's not quite right... Given a desire to spend more disposable income on my hobby... :) I still like other thing too though.

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When X1 supply could not meet demand many were hard on Leica.

 

When the X1 AF was deemed slow many deemed it useless.

 

Now fuji has some problems with alignment in the OVF many are quick to defend it as not too bad a mistake c'mon isnt the revolutionary VF THE main thing? They bungled that up? it doesnt matter??!!

 

Sounds like total double standards.

 

Of course leica deserves bashing always, so does the X1. Anyone who states anything contrary is wrong, defending fuji even for inaccurate AF, softer lens, slow buffer clearance, VF misalignment, convoluted menu system is right, well of course fuji will fix it. Leica is high and mighty it dun give a hoot about customers. So they say.

 

Well, truth is out now. More truths will unravel. Nice soap opera to see many jump to its defense. The nex is forgotten, the same trolls lurk in the X1 forum slamming it and singing high praises for the NEXT BIG THING. Laughable. Some people never give up!:rolleyes:

 

The fuji forum must be a stinker, honestly. I wonder why. Ditto the nex forum, the ricoh forum, etc,etc. This must be the singular best forum in the world, and attracts the most non-leica users declaring their love for XXX camera.

Edited by phancj
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Hasn't the new X1 firmware sorted these problems? Just need to fix the flimsy strap lugs and shutter buttons now.......
It suspect it was brute force which caused the strap lug to come off the camera pictured in the other thread. My X1 (with handgrip and metal viewfinder) hangs around my neck on one lug all day.
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I don't want people to think I'm bashing the x100, I'm sure they will get it sorted out in time. I think it IS a reminder however that building a really good, SMALL digital camera with a big sensor is hard. I think it's amazing that a company the size of leica, with a pretty short history of in-house digicam design did as well as they have with the x1. Just putting together a bunch of components does not add up to excellence...

 

I'm still interested in the x100, but I'll wait until the smoke clears. I'd never give up my x1 for it however...Now, if an x2 came out....

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Leica is making top notch hardware these last 3 years. And not just top notch, but stuff that means business, that has substance. They clearly focus more on miniaturization and high quality output, less in bells and whistles which doesnt mean a lot in the final result.

X1 was blessed with superb quality and small size. Even though it was/is expensive the product is a success. A year later and this firmware gives a new perspective marking it as a tool for streetwork too. One can't expect more from a manufacturer, especially given his current size yet he delivers.

Fuji's advantage with the X100 is it's viewfinder (optical), but Leica already has in place the M9 for this. And at a much better quality.

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It suspect it was brute force which caused the strap lug to come off the camera pictured in the other thread. My X1 (with handgrip and metal viewfinder) hangs around my neck on one lug all day.

 

No it wasn't used force at all! You have to read the thread again.

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It suspect it was brute force which caused the strap lug to come off the camera pictured in the other thread. My X1 (with handgrip and metal viewfinder) hangs around my neck on one lug all day.

 

So, if it falls to the ground one day with a crash and a smash, you won't come running here crying about it?

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It is very simple: "You pay for what you get"

 

"If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys"

 

Both Leica and it's customers that demand quality understand very well how that works..........period.

Now let's take some photos and let all the rest follow....................our lead.

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Good advice Ferry.

 

I will be mostly in the photo forums/LFI now, this X1 forum stinks not because of the forum itself (it's great, if not the best out there) but rather more is said about other cameras or how bad the X1 is. It's an X1 forum, I like to discuss the camera and how to make the best of it, sadly that is the least emphasis now.

 

It's like the M9 forum where someone just demonstrated how an uprezzed x100 file is better than M9 file??!! Uprezz?? TOtally irrelevant. It should be in banack's corner or somewhere else.

 

I feel there should be a "OTHER CAMERAS" section in the leica forum, just so anyone who wishes to look at alternatives or discuss should visit the consolidated section. It's like "leica rumors" or "nikon rumors" so one can seek the relevant interest IN THE DESIGNATED PLACE.

 

You are a wise man Ferry. I will seek to do the same.

Edited by phancj
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It's like the M9 forum where someone just demonstrated how an uprezzed x100 file is better than M9 file??!! Uprezz?? TOtally irrelevant. It should be in banack's corner or somewhere else.

 

 

You may have missed the implication of the date that thread was started ;)

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