Is it true X1 is very light and made with alot of plastic instead of metal?

[artspraken]

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I refer to this review: Leica X1 Hands-on Preview - chanandrew.com

 

Can someone kindly comment on the construction/build of the X1 and its lens and confirm whether the X1 is very "light" and plasticky? Is the plasticky X1 a pre-production model, or is the retail version going to be the same?

 

I did not like the camera at first glance. I just thought it was expensive and Leica could have done much better by using better materials for the lens barrel for the price. I never seen so much plastic on a Leica lens before!!!

(emphasis added)

[ceflynn]

But plastic is the latest thing:

 

Business & Technology | Dreamliner makes history with plastic, outsourcing, design — and delays | Seattle Times Newspaper

[NZDavid]

As long as the lens itself is glass I wouldn't worry. Black M and R lenses also have plastic barrels and the optics are no different from the chrome versions. The X1 body is apparently magnesium alloy which is strong and light -- same as mag wheels?

[artspraken]

I see. Not that bad then. That remark in the review got me concerned about the build. I do not think lightness is a bad thing as long as construction feels solid. I am familiar with Magnesium alloy - its the same metal used for Ricoh GRD series. Its very solid and light. That is good enuf for me.

[rjrose]

Which M and R lenses have plastic barrels? I have numerous black M and R lenses and not a single plastic barrel in the lot. Several plastic lens shades, but no plastic in the barrel.

 

. . . Black M and R lenses also have plastic barrels . . .

[NZDavid]

I should have checked, my mistake. I thought some components on the barrel only of black models were plastic while of course the focusing helicals are brass or brass on aluminum. But, according to Günter Osterloh (Leica M Advanced Photo School) "metal surfaces are chrome-plated, titanium-plated, anodized, or lacquered." Black lens barrels are anodized aluminum while silver ones are chrome or titanium-plated brass. Which explains why silver lenses are heavier than black ones. The ultra fine tolerances of Leica construction are formidable. But it's the glass itself that makes Leica lenses truly special.

[jsrockit]

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The X1 brochure says:

 

Its robust, all-metal construction, the feel of its leather trim, its clean lines:

all these attributes combine to create a feeling of compact capability and the quiet confi-

dence of being able to get the absolute best from the camera at any moment. It radiates the

certainty that it will never let you down or leave you wanting. The X1 is comfortably compact and disappears discreetly into a jacket pocket but, when it reappears for shooting, its superior qualities soon come to the fore.

[bradhusick]

I should have checked, my mistake. I thought some components on the barrel only of black models were plastic while of course the focusing helicals are brass or brass on aluminum. But, according to Günter Osterloh (Leica M Advanced Photo School) "metal surfaces are chrome-plated, titanium-plated, anodized, or lacquered." Black lens barrels are anodized aluminum while silver ones are chrome or titanium-plated brass. Which explains why silver lenses are heavier than black ones. The ultra fine tolerances of Leica construction are formidable. But it's the glass itself that makes Leica lenses truly special.

 

To complete this information, Leica now makes three M lenses in a silver finish that are NOT brass. The 24 Elmarit, 35 Summilux and the 28 Summicron are available in Silver Anodized finish over aluminum, just like their black counterparts. They weigh the same (or within a few grams) as the black versions. The 24 Elmarit is available only with the Safari M8.2 or the White M8 kits (the white kit lens has white lettering - a little hard to see). The new Hermes M7 kits contain the 35 Summilux Silver Anodized lens - as far as I know the only way to get the 35 Lux Silver Anodized.

[grduprey]

No plastic barrels in any of my M and R lenses - Verified!

[peterb]

No plastic barrels in any of my M and R lenses - Verified!

 

Whew! I'm glad THAT'S now settled.

[Dan States]

The internal lens mounts of some R lenses including the 50 F2 have a plastic collar. This was of much discussion back in the early 80's when the lens was updated. At the time Leica stated that the plastic mount was a better choice due to it's temperature resistance.

 

By the way, there are no plastic parts in Zeiss ZM lenses and most all of mine developed a wobble eventually. Just because something is metal it doesn't mean it's better made.

[jaapv]

I should have checked, my mistake. I thought some components on the barrel only of black models were plastic while of course the focusing helicals are brass or brass on aluminum. But, according to Günter Osterloh (Leica M Advanced Photo School) "metal surfaces are chrome-plated, titanium-plated, anodized, or lacquered." Black lens barrels are anodized aluminum while silver ones are chrome or titanium-plated brass. Which explains why silver lenses are heavier than black ones. The ultra fine tolerances of Leica construction are formidable. But it's the glass itself that makes Leica lenses truly special.

Read old Erwin Puts: The mechanical precision and stability of the lens mount are as important as the optical construction for image quality. I'm sure that Leica has used metal where needed for stability and precision in this case, but in general plastic in a lens barrel is not an indicator of a high standard of quality.

[georg]

The stiffness and durability of metal is crucial for lens-barrels. Plastic is "floating" (I don't know the scientific English term) and not very stiff, every kind of mechanical pressure would likely cause lens misalignment (especially after several years). I seriously hope that the X1-lens-barrel and mechanics are metal. Which doesn't mean that you couldn't build a bad metal lens...

[luigi bertolotti]

To complete this information, Leica now makes three M lenses in a silver finish that are NOT brass. The 24 Elmarit, 35 Summilux and the 28 Summicron are available in Silver Anodized finish over aluminum, just like their black counterparts. They weigh the same (or within a few grams) as the black versions. The 24 Elmarit is available only with the Safari M8.2 or the White M8 kits (the white kit lens has white lettering - a little hard to see). The new Hermes M7 kits contain the 35 Summilux Silver Anodized lens - as far as I know the only way to get the 35 Lux Silver Anodized.

 

Sorry, you said right but I think you meant 28 Elmarit asph (which indeed is available in silver only on Safari and "White"). Elmarit asph 24 in silver is a classic chrome-on-brass : 388g vs. 290g for the black version.

Not to be pedantic... but my 24 chrome is one of my lenses I like more.

[luigi bertolotti]

About plastic in X1... let's not forget it has an AUTOFOCUS mechanism... this means to move part of lens barrel with tiny servomotor(s), trying to keep low power consumption, and all of this into a camera which clearly has been engineered with low weight as a goal: so I wouldn't be surprised of some plastc parts in the lens : is a fixed one, and if properly built, with right materials, plastic could prove a good and durable solution.

[earleygallery]

The lens barrel is plastic, for the reasons Luigi has explained. Metal would be too heavy. However I do wish that they had gone with a fixed lens barrel design instead, be it metal or plastic! Those moving parts are more liable to break, and have a way of working dust in to the camera over time, which cannot then be cleaned off the sensor without a trip to the workshop.

[Rona!d]

The plastic will survive the camera´s general lifetime anyway

[Guest stnami]

........... gets in all aspects of cameras see below

 

Bulldust; Fine red dust found in desert regions of Australia................. blatantly false statements

[bradhusick]

Sorry, you said right but I think you meant 28 Elmarit asph (which indeed is available in silver only on Safari and "White"). Elmarit asph 24 in silver is a classic chrome-on-brass : 388g vs. 290g for the black version.

Not to be pedantic... but my 24 chrome is one of my lenses I like more.

 

Thank you for the correction - you are 100% right. I meant to say 28 Elmarit.

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Hallo,

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[FastFashnReloaded]

I refer to this review: Leica X1 Hands-on Preview - chanandrew.com

 

Can someone kindly comment on the construction/build of the X1 and its lens and confirm whether the X1 is very "light" and plasticky? Is the plasticky X1 a pre-production model, or is the retail version going to be the same?

 

(emphasis added)

 

I have a $5000 bicycle made mostly of plastics...

 

Who cares? This isn't Bakelite