Search the Community

Sharing my short article shooting Paris with classic Leica X1: https://www.juliuspictures.com/blog/2020/11/13/exploring-paris-with-leica-x1 I found this little old camera is amazing. I hope you all enjoy it.

Hello, There is a used Leica X2 in our area selling at US$650, There is a significant wear & tear on the LCD and got a light scuff on the chrome body. I'm wondering if this is a decent or fair price with this condition and if there ways for me to address these cosmetic issues to make it look pristine. Please also advise if it's worth replacing the LCD or just use an EVF and if there is a cost effective way to restore the light scuff on the body? Is there anything I need to watch out or look for when buying a used Leica X2? Appreciate your feedback. Thanks in advance.

This is my first post. I love my Leica X1 and took it all over Israel and Jordan this summer with fabulous results. However I am curious as why Israeli Airport security found my X1 and the leather case to be a "Security Threat" when it was scanned at the airport. Has anyone else had this problem? During the standard Israeli interrogation before check-in at the the airport (this is before I left for Israel, with the Israeli security at check-in) they ran my X1, with a lens cap and SD card inserted and the Leica X1 Camera case (the stock Leica dark brown leather case with the form-fitted soft padded interior and neck strap) through a scanner and told me "Your camera is a security risk" then proceeded to use that as an excuse to take me in a private room and strip search me. I gave them the Leica charger and an extra battery in case they needed to do more checks or turn it on. They spent about 30 minutes running the camera through a scanner in the room over and over again, arguing about the image on the screen (the lens cap intrigued them) and kept looking at the leather case, especially where the lens covering protrudes, the padding inside, and muttering in Hebrew. At the end they said they had to ship my $2000 Leica in an envelope and a box, and the leather case had to be shipped in another box, which I could collect in Tel Aviv. Upon my arrival in Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, the two packages arrived about 15 minutes after my luggage on the conveyor belt. I normally NEVER check a camera in my luggage as I have had them stolen before, so I was happy to see the box arrive. They had put everything in tightly wrapped plastic inside a box and an envelope. I noticed they had forgotten to pack the Leica charger and the Leica battery. At this point I just wanted to get out of the airport. Of course I could not find a replacement charger in Israel, at least not in a few days, and have now ordered a new battery and $100.00 charger on my return. I may send Israeli Airport Security a letter, but I doubt I'll get a refund. I was quite surprised and delighted as the single charged battery lasted quite a while during my trip to Israel and Jordan, at least for 200+ shots, which was wonderful. On my way out of the country I packed the leather case in my luggage and kept the camera with me in my carry on and had no extra searches beyond the regular intensive luggage scanning, opening, bomb searches, etc. So the case and camera together may have been the problem? Has anyone had this problem, in particular with the Leica leather case? I think they may have been using this as an excuse to strip search me...I was travelling alone, although I really don't fit the standard terrorist "profile", having a UK background with a USA passport, catholic and with a Scottish last name. Please don't let this become a thread about the necessity for heightened security checks and current political situation. I'm just curious if people have had this problem with the Leica padded leather cases when travelling. For me, this was the first time ever, and I used to travel with an M6. At most they used to ask me take my electronics and camera out of my carry on, but I have never had my camera deemed a "Risk" before. Thanks! And the camera arrived OK. =)

Hallo zusammen, da ich mich über meine Neuerwerbung sehr freue, muss ich dies hier kund tun. Ich habe zuletzt etliche Jahre mit einer Leica X1 fotografiert, dann bin ich vor 5 Jahren auf eine M9 umgestiegen. Damit fotografiere ich regelmäßig und es macht mir eine Menge Spaß. Als Erbstück von meinen Eltern (meine Mutter war Fotografin) habe ich eine Leica IIIc (Baujahr 1949) mit einem Summitar (von 1951) 5 cm, 1:2, die sich - damit Objektiv - in einem sehr schönen und voll funktionsfähigen Zustand befindet. Damit habe ich in den letzten Wochen 2 Filme belichtet, um zu sehen, ob ich überhaupt noch analog und jede Automatik fotografieren kann. Es hat funktioniert. Da die Schraubleica nicht wirklich einfach in der Handhabung ist (Sucherfenster und Entfernungsmesser separat) habe ich über die Anschaffung einer M3 oder M2 nachgedacht. Für die M3 spricht, dass Sie über einen besonders großen Fenster verfügt. Für die M2 sprach ihr Aussehen (sehr schlicht - sehr schön) und die Tatsache, dass man mit ihr problemlos ein 35 mm Objektiv nutzen kann. Nun ist es eine M3 - Kauf per Ebay (trotz grundsätzlicher Bedenken) geworden und ich kann meine Leica-Optiken (meistgenutzt: 50 mm) für den Oldtimer nutzen. Ich bin gespannt darauf, sie in der Hand zu halten und den ersten Film zurück zu erhalten. Beste Grüße Dieter M.

Der einsame Mundharmonikaspieler in der Corona-leeren Einkaufsstrasse Leica X1

Leica x1 : still works

Taken by my wife when we were drawing back home with the 8 years old Leica x1 which we always have in the car when traveling.

Hello Forum, My name is Jorge aka Tom Ripley a little pseudonym from one of my favorite movies the Talented Mr. Ripley. I wanted to share a blog post in its entirety I wrote on my blog (Ledesma Photography) recently. ------------------ Leica X1 a new journey Followers of this space know I’ve been on an extended hiatus for quite a while – a year plus but I’ve been pondering the megapixel marathon all that time playing with my Lightroom library (40K) and processing a few hundred images from the multitude of cameras (31 total) I’ve owned over the last 7 years. My personal conclusion, megapixels are just not that important to create the imagery I want and what’s more important are the haptics and ergonomics of the actual camera body and control themselves that really give me the edge. Actually, when I shot with the D610 and its glorious 24 megapixels, yes I had an insane ISO capatilies and tons of resolution to crop but I quickly found out that I don’t really crop all that much (2-3%), I rarely print (something I’m definitely going to start doing but that’s another post), and I’m really ok with the ISO capabilites of most of the cams I’ve shot with. “C’mon Jorge are you serious” absolutely, when I scan my favorite images they usually are from smaller compacts and smaller apsc cameras. I won’t lie to you all and tell you I didn’t love the D700 (and other full frames I’ve had), I did but that kind of photography worked out great for me in more control scenarios and when being inconspicous wasn’t all that important, you know the type, family shoots, portraits, etc but for my main style which is more along the lines of pure documentary photography and street photography, or what I like to call “quotidian photography”. Along the path I became well versed varous aspects of photography flash on and off camera, diffusers, soft boxes, etc etc but those are more application type of photography, they were not passion and that’s another reason why I became stagnant, I veered of the path and dove down into other styles and my passion slowly got put to a side. Regrets, I have none, I consider this a learning path in a long road, sort of like an apprentiship where you have to learn all aspects of photography before actually picking the one you love the most. Relatedly, wedding photography is actually quite interesting because it combines both my passions with various aspects of more technical photography including strobes et al, so I quite enjoyed the few weddings I shot. Anyway, fast forward to September 2016 (all 31 cameras sold except the GRD4) and I decided to finally give attention to the camera that’s been whispering in my ear for the last 5 years – the Leica X1, a digital homage to the famous Leica A to Leica IIIf famously nicknamed “The Barnack”. It has an apsc sensor, no anti alias filter (or practically reduced to athin layer), 12 beautiful megapixels, and a lens to die for – the Leica Elmarit, oh its from 2009, so its considered a tyrannosaurus rex, an instinct breed which is no longer relevant in today current photography standard of insane ISO, 24 megapixels, and super sonic ballistic speed autofocus. So there you have it the unadulterated truth of my photography and the start of a new journey and a new artistic path which removes all the nonsense from my camera addicted personality of the past. Well, I actually think I’m quite lucky because these realization took only 7 years. See you next time. With the Leica X1, I have all that I need and everything I don’t to create the type of photography that sparkles my creativity and passion. All images captured with the Leica X1 and processed in Capture One Pro 9 Some BW conversion from RAW (native DNG format) all manually focused or zone focused ------------------------------------ Thanks for reading guys and I hope to contribute to forum. I'm planning on doing a review of the Leica X1 from a documentary/street photographer in the months to come which I have not really found one online with lots of imagery. Cheers, JL

Hallo, hab zwar schon im Forum gesucht, da wird aber meist über Sinn und Unsinn von Drittanbieter-Akkus gesprochen, bzw. dem Sparfaktor vs. Stress mit Defekten. Wenn man nach Drittanbietern sucht, laufen einem immer wieder die Firmen Patona und VHBW über den Weg. Kann jemand ganz nüchtern eine Feedback abgeben? Ohne auf den Preis einzugehen Vielen Dank

Bilder vom Schützenfest 2013 in Hildesheim...

Bilder vom Schützenfest 2013 in Hildesheim...

A walk in the wood

Hallo, ich habe mir einen Original-Akku für die X1 als Ersatz gekauft. Ist es sinnvoll, diesen zunächst komplett zu leeren und dann vollständig zu laden? Besten Dank, Hans-Jürgen

Mit der X1 immer noch ein Vergnügen! Harpa und X1 sind etwa gleich alt. Alle Bilder OOC.

As this forum is still one I visit often, thought some of you might enjoy this; Yesterday’s News: The Leica X1 Review by Adam Grayson | STEVE HUFF PHOTOS AG

As I type, my D800 and lenses are at one of the big NYC photo stores waiting on an appraisal. For the most part, I use my Nikon with the Sigma 35 1.4. Love the quality, look, color, and all that. Don't love the weight, the "I'm taking a picture" and the in your face. I have an 85, 50 and old 80-200. My appraisal should net me some money. I have a good deal on an NEX 7 and i've used it a little for the last two days but not too much as I may return it. I'm not in love. Many menus, choices, and I can't seem to get that &^%& focus point where I want. I keep hitting the exposure adjustment button. I do not have large hands by any means. I like the sony but am not enthralled by it. I can get a used X1 for a bit less then the NEX 7kit, it has the focus length I like, no more lenses to buy (or go gaga over), about the only thing it needs is a snooty 1/2 case and an optical viewfinder. The X2 interests me but it is 3x the cost of a used x1. I don't think it is 3x the camera. Used is 2x. I don't shoot sports, for the most part I use it to walk around and document my life and surroundings. X1 users, let me know how and why you like yours!

Leica X1. Russian Orthodox Monastery near Pskov.

Leica x1

Hi, when I try to photo group of people or one person, my images have a something blurred on them. Everything is good, but I feel some kind of shadow on them. So do you know any solution of settings which I need to change to have more sharpen photos? I need to picture something important for about a week, please help me. Thank you.

Hi There is an almost new Leica X1 for sale here in Sydney for $900. I have read lots of negative reviews of this camera but do love the look of it and the way it feels in my hand. Would appreciate some feedback from users of the X1 as other forums just bleat on about the price. Is it worth getting?

I shoot both film (M7+35+50+75 + Nikon SRL) and digital (my only camera Leica x1). Depending on the project and circumstances I choice if film or digital. I'm now planning to add a small size high quality digital camera beside the x1 (of which I'm satisfied) to use when I need a moderate tele (postraits in available light) or not really macro but let say close up shots. After thinking, looking for infos the final match is between Olympus OM-D and Fuji XE-1 . I appreciate in the Oly the camera/lenses smallsize and the I.S. and I feel not sure about the sensor size and do not like the 3/4 ratio. Of the Fuji I'm interested in the new sensor type which for what I read seems very promising. Unfortunately I have no chance to try and or compare the two cameras, shops here seem pushing the Oly and not the Fuji (in three different shops they did not have one charged battery! for the Fuji, I suspect there is a minor mark up!). I do not print large than A3 /A3+ (approx. 12 x 16 inches). Easy manual focusing (50 or 75mmlenses) and uncomplicated menu is...desired! Has anyone here any suggestion or comment? I thank you in advance. robert PS: sorry for long post but necessary to define my needs/desires...

Newbie needing advice here.. :-) I'm trying to choose something to jump in with... X1 demo w/full warranty - $1500 X2 - $2000 Ricoh GXR + M-Mount + lens - $2500+ Used M8 + lens - $3500+ Any/all advice welcome! (BTW, Leaning towards the X1 for some reason)

Two years with a X1. [Disclaimer: please don't take this post too seriously... it's just to decompress the tension immediately before the 10/05/12 event...] Please allow me to share my experience of two years with an X1. I bought my X1 in May 2010. Since then, I have had a love&hate relationship with this camera, which I realize is not an original feeling at all.* Although I'm seriously into photography (I'll have a photobook published next month) I am a "backup camera" guy. Let me explain: my "main cameras" have been what most photographers call backups. Since 2005, my cameras were a Sony DSC/R1 (which I still use), a DLUX4 (which I don't use anymore), a Leica X1 (which I use almost everyday) and a NEX 5N (that I sold recently) plus a Leica 35mm Summicron v4. I tried to sell my X1 twice, for different reasons. The first time, in the beginning of 2011, I decided that I could not support anymore that miserable, unreliable camera (...) and take the opportunity to change my (photographic) life... As I couldn't afford, or even justify the investment in an M9, I decided myself for a surrogate of it: to cut a long story short, I ended up with a NEX5+summicron 35mm v4. And I wanted to sell the X1 to finance this, but nobody made me a fair offer for it. Sudenly I gave up to sell the X1 as I realised how complementary would be a 35mm and a 50mm, fostering two very different ways to photograph.* One year passed and the 10th May fever rised. Two months ago I was attacked by a temptation to buy a second-hand M9, looking for some mad guy or girl that wanted badly to buy an M10 (or whatever M it comes/came) and was drunk enough to sell his/her M9 for less than 3500€... No way, of course (and, thinking better, rangefinding is not my way to photograph, I'm more into the Hasselblad way... that's why I ordered an NEX 7 for my Summicron...). But the 10/5 fever attacked me too and I thought it would be a good idea to upgrade... to an X2. Thus, I am trying to sell the X1 again, for the second time... Let me finish by saying that I love my X1. A lot. I hope nobody gives me enough for it... .*It has quirks: I hate when I miss a shot due to the slow AF and I hate when the image results out of focus due to focus not locked at infinity. But I still love it.*As far as accessories, my X1 is equiped with a ThumbsUp and a home-made sling. Both increase substantially the usability of the camera. The setup accomodates quite nicelly in my hand, leading to a very flexible use for different situations. I really like the feelling: right thickness, weight, size, handling.* Ah, forgot to say... it gave me, and stills gaving me, an outstanding image quality. Regards and happy 10/05/12 António. PS. If the X2 has similar form factor, a summicron or summilux, better AF, and an even better sensor... oh my...

Hey guys, Just received my used x1 frm ebay, and I just noticed that instead of the ring on the lens with lens marking (ie the front of the lens with 1.28/24 ASPH) mine is just s silver ring. Does that mean this camera has been to unauthorized service? Is it possible to get that replaced? I think the silver ring is really ugly. Thanks