X1 reviewed by Steve Posted

[NZDavid]

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Why is everyone so obsessed with zone focussing? What a hassle! Best and simplest manual focussing is with a RF, and the X1 won't beat the M6. It's designed as an AF camera. Unfortunately it's a slow one.

 

Overall a good review with some nice real world pics. For me, IQ is definitely the most important thing. I wouldn't totally dismiss scientific evaluations and lens charts, though -- they tell me more than the packaging! And I don't think a camera can be "very unique".

 

Leica should review the main points here and work on improving them, especially AF speed, impression of robustness, and dial detents.

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[Ecaton]

I'm not so sure about that... most cameras in 2009-2010 don't have depth of field scales do they?

 

I don't disagree. But e g Sigma's DP1 and DP2 have focus wheels with focus distance, not requiring to look at the screen and making mf/zone focusing pretty easy. With the DP2 I already have a pocketable camera with an excellent lens, great IQ up to ISO 800 and some warts otherwise. But it wins the mf/zone focusing question and costs a fraction.

[waileong]

That sounds simple but the problem is there is no way to know the distance the focus is set to the way there is on a true MF lens where you can read the focus distance off of the scale on the lens barrel.

 

No? My old Canon G2 LCD display tells me what distance I'm focused to when I use manual focusing.

 

Shame on Leica.

[jsrockit]

The GF1 does if you use a MF lens.

 

Well, of course... but that isn't what I meant. You are right about it being better on the lens vs. the body. From some of the responses, I'm not so sure a few people posting here know what true zone focusing is though...

[jsrockit]

Why is everyone so obsessed with zone focussing? What a hassle! Best and simplest manual focussing is with a RF, and the X1 won't beat the M6. It's designed as an AF camera. Unfortunately it's a slow one.

 

The last two sentences you wrote explains why people are obsessed with zone focusing. If it had a true depth of field scale with aperature markings, this would allow a workaround the slow AF.

[JGW]

I don't understand why Leica frequently get things so wrong. Why should this camera have slow auto focus? Why is there no decent manual focus facility? Would it really be so difficult to have these essential points working well? I'm beginning to wonder whether these limitations are deliberate.

 

I do expect that the auto focus can be used by half pressing the shutter to focus it and then waiting for 'the moment' before pressing it further to get the shot. I used this way of working with an Olympus c5050 professionally (by choice) for many years. Isn't this the obvious way to use auto focus cameras? What is more concerning is the slowness of the lower light auto focussing after disabling the red light. I would also like to know whether the focussing speed is at least as fast as the Digilux2, which it really ought to be able to beat by now. A camera's ergonomics are just as important as the resulting IQ. I believe they're more important as long as the IQ is reasonable. After all, it's the barrel distortion and almost useless 200≧ iso and slow raw use that spoils the D2.

[jsrockit]

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I do expect that the auto focus can be used by half pressing the shutter to focus it and then waiting for 'the moment' before pressing it further to get the shot. I used this way of working with an Olympus c5050 professionally (by choice) for many years. Isn't this the obvious way to use auto focus cameras?

 

No one has said you can't do this with the X1... this is standard on any camera. The videos Steve Huff posted in his review were showing the worst case scenario.

[JGW]

No one has said you can't do this with the X1... this is standard on any camera. The videos Steve Huff posted in his review were showing the worst case scenario.

 

Yes. The reason I mention this is because of everyone's concern about this camera's slow focussing ability. Therefore the 'best case scenario' is to use the camera in the 'standard' way. I'm still concerned in its ability to focus in low light without resorting to the red beam, which would render the camera close to useless for some work.

[jsrockit]

I'm still concerned in its ability to focus in low light without resorting to the red beam, which would render the camera close to useless for some work.

 

True, it will definetely hunt in low light... but in bright light, it'll work fine.

[skimmel]

Have read the review yet, but the boxing/packaging of the X1 is remarkable! (Camera would probably be $500 less without the fancy boxing! )

 

http://leicarumors.com/2010/01/06/leica-x1-get-unboxed-and-reviewed.aspx/

[peterb]

Seems awfully expensive for a digital daguerrotype. So why do I want it? I need therapy.

[rob_w]

I think Steve has done a great job in his review except for the autofocus section. In trying to be conscientious about this point he has somewhat distorted the rest of his story.

 

To level-set the autofocus discussion:

 

1) Any camera must be focussed before the shot is taken. There is always a lag; and that always requires anticipation. Over on the M9 forum there was even a recent thread about shutter lag that did not take into account focusing time as well. So you are always going to have to anticipate focus time and that's part of good photography.

 

2) Pocket cameras have always been slow. According to reported tests the X1 focuses just as fast as every other pocket camera except the GF1 and just as fast as its film predecessors (which I have owned).

 

3) IQ is the decisive criterion. If you are prepared to compromise IQ lots of other camera choices become possible and/or preferable. And you can beat up the X1 with all of them: smaller, cheaper, faster, lighter, etc. But will you take those cameras with you if you know the images they capture are always going to be 'second best' to your best equipment (be that SLR or RF)? If you are completely comfortable with 'second best' then don't buy an X1. But in that case, why are you reading a Leica forum anyway?

 

My 2c

 

Cheers,

 

Robert

[pappde]

I think Steve has done a great job in his review except for the autofocus section. In trying to be conscientious about this point he has somewhat distorted the rest of his story.

 

To level-set the autofocus discussion:

 

1) Any camera must be focussed before the shot is taken. There is always a lag; and that always requires anticipation. Over on the M9 forum there was even a recent thread about shutter lag that did not take into account focusing time as well. So you are always going to have to anticipate focus time and that's part of good photography.

 

2) Pocket cameras have always been slow. According to reported tests the X1 focuses just as fast as every other pocket camera except the GF1 and just as fast as its film predecessors (which I have owned).

 

3) IQ is the decisive criterion. If you are prepared to compromise IQ lots of other camera choices become possible and/or preferable. And you can beat up the X1 with all of them: smaller, cheaper, faster, lighter, etc. But will you take those cameras with you if you know the images they capture are always going to be 'second best' to your best equipment (be that SLR or RF)? If you are completely comfortable with 'second best' then don't buy an X1. But in that case, why are you reading a Leica forum anyway?

 

My 2c

 

Cheers,

 

Robert

 

Right on Robert. Totally agree with you.

[jsrockit]

Over on the M9 forum there was even a recent thread about shutter lag that did not take into account focusing time as well.

 

Shutter lag due to focusing on the M9?

[peterb]

I was really intrigued with Steve's review. The images (at that size anyway) were incredible. But as he pointed out...and let's not kid ourselves here....ZONE SUCKS. Sean Reid may feel it works but from what I could tell only if you're REALLY REALLY lucky. At f8 the shutter is going to be slow in many situations even at high ISO. Get used to getting a lot of blurry shots going that route (or being content with relatively low noise BW). And the skitchy focus wheel doesn't offer much consolation. Most I figure will probably set the camera to "P" or at "A" (and set it at f2.8).

 

That said, there is generally universal agreement that (as I've also concluded) that basically Leica has coupled a large sensor with a superb lens to provide incredibly sharp, contrasty images that my guess is will require minimal tweaking in post. The images on nearly EVERY review exclaim unsurpassed IQ for this camera. (Interestingly while Steve felt the jpgs coming out of the camera while aggressive sharpened apparently were pretty good by his standards while DPreview felt otherwise). Steve even went so far to say that the quality rivalled the M8.2 and at times the M9 (not surprising since the sensor is reputed to be identical to the one used in Nikon's breakthrough D300).

 

With its pokey (by ALL other $2K AF cameras and scores of $1K ones anyway) AF the X1 will still be extraordinary for scenics and well-anticipated street or 'decisive moment' shots. The shutter lag after AF lock from finger press to firing from what I can tell is what the M6 used to be at .33 sec. But, as Steve found out from his own 3 week experience while initially you may miss a bunch of shots once you get used to the camera's handling and behavior the ratio of keepers to losers should improve dramatically.

 

Finally Steve had the opportunity to describe what it would be like using the grip (for an additional $125). And confirmed what I suspected, that despite it's rather diminutive size (it's like an M9 with the rangefinder apparatus sawed off) and lightness the grip will give it a little more substance in use.

 

I was disappointed to see that the finish was described as 'fragile'. (Oh well.)

 

But I still want it.

[biglouis]

I thought the IQ on the images was extremely good and reminded me very much of my long-gone (and much lamented) 24 Elmarit on my M8. I was hoping the IQ would be equivalent and it looks that way to me.

[jsrockit]

(Oh well.)

 

But I still want it.

 

Haha, yeah, me too...

[grober]

What country is Steve located in?

 

-g

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[yanidel]

I don't disagree. But e g Sigma's DP1 and DP2 have focus wheels with focus distance, not requiring to look at the screen and making mf/zone focusing pretty easy. With the DP2 I already have a pocketable camera with an excellent lens, great IQ up to ISO 800 and some warts otherwise. But it wins the mf/zone focusing question and costs a fraction.

Had Leica implemented a similar wheel on the X1, it would be winner for zone focusing and street.

They did not, so I'll stick to the DP2.

[stevem7]

Hey guys! Thanks for all of the comments and discussion on my X1 write up. I had fun with the camera and it's IQ is wonderful. While it's not a lean, mean, street machine it is a compact that is capable of IQ results equaling an M8 and 24 Elmarit combo.

 

Yes, the AF is slow but as someone here pointed out, all compacts are slow. This camera seemed more responsive than the Sigmas and has more resolution and better high ISO.

 

Also, just as I thought I already miss it. When it was in the bag next to my M9 they seemed to make a great pair.

 

For what I shoot (mostly static subjects) the X1 would have been perfect, but my wife loves her E-P2 and the fact that it was $900 less than an X1. IQ wise though the X1 beats the m4/3 cameras.

 

With the IQ of the X1 it would have been unstoppable if a few things were different but hey, thats why its the X1! I am betting an X2 will have some improvements. Also, I bet that once the X1 gets in to the hands of some of the people on this forum we will see some superb images and the true potential of the camera.

 

One thing I did not mention is how comfortable it is to wear around your body. It kind of fits flush against you and is so light you do not even know its there.

 

Steve