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Who would like an interchangeable-lense X2?


felipe-m

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The X1 seems like a very fine "compact" camera, the design is gorgeous and it will likely deliver image quality.

 

However, IMHO, the same camera with interchangeable lenses, (hopefully mostly primes :)) would be even more attractive because of the versatility and also greater M back-up capability.

Leica were immensely busy with the S2 and M9, so probably they just couldn't yet pull off a small "X System". So maybe this is just the first step. Just 3-4 lenses with key focal lengths could be enough, say 24, 35, 50 and 90? Your favourites?

 

I would buy such a camera in a blink, but the presumed price of ca. 2000 Euro (right?) is too much for me for a fixed 35mm camera.

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Dale Photo's got the price at $1995 (Dale Photo & Digital).

 

It looks cool.

 

For me the announcement of the X1 is bigger news than the pricey M9. But I've checked everywhere and cannot find a list price (in dollars). Does anyone have a firm price?

And yes, an X2 with interchangeable lenses would be a true successor to the M legacy.

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Dale Photo's got the price at $1995 (Dale Photo & Digital).

It looks cool.

 

Ok, thanks also to deus_ex_machina.

ca. 1550 Euros sounds more reasonable, although being a retractable lens makes it indeed less attractive...

 

For an X2 system with interchangeable ( & non-retractable :rolleyes: ) primes, maybe the design of the already existing C lenses (for the CL) could be used, at least as a starting point, to facilitate development...?

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colorfoto calls a price of 1550€ without the vf

 

Colorfoto, das Magazin für digitale Fotografie - colorfoto.de Leica

 

bad that you cannot use a polarizing filter on the cam

 

Colorfoto also mentions in the last sentence of their article that in the future there might be X-cameras with zoom or interchangable lenses.

 

"Für die Zukunft schließt Leica weitere X-Modelle mit Zoom- oder Wechselobjektiven nicht aus."

 

Now that makes it interesting. At the moment, with a fixed lens, I am absolutely not interested. I just cannot do with a camera that has only got a 24 mm lens. That is just rediculous to me.

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However, IMHO, the same camera with interchangeable lenses, (hopefully mostly primes :)) would be even more attractive because of the versatility and also greater M back-up capability.

 

I'm not a marketing guy, but it seems unlikely to me that Leica will ever head down this path because it has too much potential to cannibalise M9 sales.

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I'm not a marketing guy, but it seems unlikely to me that Leica will ever head down this path because it has too much potential to cannibalise M9 sales.

 

This was also said about the leica-Minolta CL... However, the CL was both "full frame" and rangefinder, which made it a real internal competitor to the Ms.

 

An X2 with interchangeable lenses would be *neither*. In fact, if it could take M-mount lenses (like the Cs) it could actually increase M lens sales. It would be:

1) A real intermediate between the D-lux and M.

2) The perfect bait to attract new users to Leica and the M system

3) A good, professional back-up to the M.

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The X1 seems like a very fine "compact" camera, the design is gorgeous and it will likely deliver image quality.

 

However, IMHO, the same camera with interchangeable lenses, (hopefully mostly primes :)) would be even more attractive because of the versatility and also greater M back-up capability.

 

There is a whole market out there that Leica needs to re-establish (upper middle class, mobile, educated -- the folks that used to by film Leicas and walk around Ashland, Oregon and Paris). Those folks aren't interested in interchangeable lenses, nor in M backups.

 

Maybe interchangeable some day, but first a moderate range, high quality zoom, and perhaps an EVF.

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At the moment, with a fixed lens, I am absolutely not interested. I just cannot do with a camera that has only got a 24 mm lens. That is just rediculous to me.

 

I don't mind the single focal length at all. Back in the film days, quality fixed-lens 35mm cameras were common (Minilux, Nikon T35, Konica Hexar, etc.). I do wish, though, that the X1 lens was one stop faster.

 

Jim B.

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IF the lens module is modular enough, perhaps Leica could offer a A-La Cart offering with say 28, 35, 50 versions. Anything longer in focal length may no pack into the body

 

I wouldnt want the X1 to be interchangeable lens, this would make the cost skyrocket.

Edited by meatboy
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I really don't mind the 35 mm lens....there is simply a tradeoff for speed and size, and I rememver many 35 mm compact cameras with a similar kind of lens. i really think the large sensor is worth the difference.... And the easy capability to adjust f-stop and shutter speed to create certain effects is worth a good chunk of money from my wallet. Still, $2000 is a lot of money for a high-quality compact p&s....

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I got to handle a dummy X1 at the dealer yesterday.

 

Basically it's a highend point and shoot like a Ricoh GR-D with an APS-C sensor.

 

It's probably the best of it's breed, but also the most expensive. At $1999 it's almost twice as expensive as the Panasonic GF1 and then you still have to add the 35mm brightline finder, which knowing Leica will probably cost between $300 and $450 dollars. (VC makes a great 35mm finder for $150)

 

The X1 is NOT the entry level M (CL-D) everyone has been waiting for. It's a highend P&S.

 

I would buy an X2 that had the RF unit from the CL and a manual focus 35mm lens.

I would prefer f2, but that would probably never happen, so I would settle for a 2.8.

I wouldn't care if the lens was fixed.

 

They could also make a version with the equivalent of a fixed 50mm.

 

Interchangeable lenses would be great, but I'm not going to hold my breath.

 

I've never thought that a CL-D would be a threat to the M9.

 

- APS vs full frame

- Lower MP count (12MP vs 18MP)

- The RF unit would be good, but not as good as the M-series.

- Limited set of framelines (35/50/90 or 28/35/50/75)

- If it had a fixed lens, it would not have the flexibility of the M-series.

 

D300 sales have not killed the D700.

D700 sales have not killed the D3 or D3x.

50D sales have not killed the 5D-II

The 5D-II has not killed the 1Ds-III

 

And then of course they would have to price it in reach of mere mortals.

 

Where's my CL-D, Leica?

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To answer the original question of this thread, I specifically don't want interchangeable lenses. I'm perfectly fine with a non-interchangeable, non-zoom lens and in fact that's what I've been waiting for. (I would have bought the Sigma if it weren't so slow.)

 

If you want interchangeable lenses, there are plenty of options with varying prices and sizes, including the M8/M9, the Micro FourThirds system, and of course all the SLRs out there.

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