USA and X1

[jsrockit]

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Not only is patience a virtue (sadly lacking in the US), it can be a blessing as well.... ....But it sure as hell won't be about delivery delays; it will be about the quality of the product that finally arrives in your hands.

 

Yep, the US and its people, as usual, are so horrible and the rest of the world is so great. We are the only country that is impatient, the only country that commits murders, doesn't have respect for its elders, the only country that has corrupt politicians, the only country whose people spend on frivilous items, etc. Shame on us...

 

The VF not being available is not going to kill me, but the fact that on a bright sunny day I'm making photos blind, because the LCD isn't up to par, is not exactly a good thing. The VF, which is a simple item, would solve this issue. Instead, Leica lost sales of this VF to Voigtlander.

 

Delivery delays do hurt companies... especially, as you say, if other competitors come to market with similar products.

[nippa]

The lack of patience remark could apply to most of the western world so don't get too upset JS:)

 

Over the last 5 years I've spent a lot of my time in Ca/Tx/Fl and what is noticeable is that high tech stuff is not getting through to the States. There seemed to be a change about 2 years ago.

When I've been looking for the latest camera or computer gear I can find it here in the UK or Germany but not Stateside.

Even B&H and Adorama can't offer the latest cameras unless it's Nikon/Canon I found both stores very disappointing when I visited them before Christmas.

 

The Leica Dealer in West Palm Beach had a viewfinder three weeks ago. Frankly I thought that the optical quality was poor and declined to purchase and left the store with a battery and transit case.

Clearly supplies are getting through but having used the camera a little now I'm finding that the use of the LCD is almost essential to check focus and exposure so I might not buy a genuine leica viewfinder at all.

[jsrockit]

The Leica Dealer in West Palm Beach had a viewfinder three weeks ago. ...

 

...now I'm finding that the use of the LCD is almost essential to check focus and exposure so I might not buy a genuine leica viewfinder at all.

 

Yeah, I missed that shipment and am in line at that store. They have no clue when they'll get more.

 

I wouldn't even care about the VF if I could see the LCD on a sunny day. I actually like composing with an LCD.

[h00ligan]

You should see the impatience about the iPad from UK residents still at least it's not FOUR months behind announced availability. I keep checking this thread expecting many satisfied owners but still nothing. Disappointing.

 

I'm probably doubly impatient since I'm a Brit in the USA.

[Leicaiste]

In Belgium (Brussels), the first X1 arrived last week and there is not a single accessory available.

 

FYI, it is a 3,5 hours drive from Solms.

 

[nippa]

I must have the knack for getting kit as I've now acquired the camera ,viewfinder , hand-grip and ERC from Harrisons in Sheffield and a Spare Battery and Transport Case in Florida.

 

Very disappointed with the Ever Ready Case in ghastly grey.

Unlike the Dluxe 4 version there is no strap which means using the camera straps.

Use the camera straps and you can't use the Transport Case which is already too tight around the lens area and causes the lens cap to come off.

The leather case for the viewfinder ( with the ERC ) doesn't seem robust enough to hold something that valuable in daily use ; the magnetic catch looks like it could open unexpectedly.

The viewfinder (Japanese) seems clearer than the one I rejected at the Florida Dealer's Store and I now like it:)

 

Looking at what I've bought I would say the only item worth adding to the basic package is a spare battery.

The Leica cases are very poor and not up to the quality of those for my DLux4.

 

I've thought of Luigi Cases and I know they are highly regarded but to my eye they look too homemade!

That's the end of my buying for the X1..definately.

[jsrockit]

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The viewfinder (Japanese) seems clearer than the one I rejected at the Florida Dealer's Store and I now like it:)

 

 

Can you explain the japanese part of this? Thanks.

[SJP]

does it take pictures?

[nippa]

No the viewfinder doesn't take pictures but the camera does

 

The viewfinder is made in Japan.

It is exactly the same as the stock I saw in Florida so if there's a German made version I've not seen it.

[wda]

I must have the knack for getting kit as I've now acquired the camera ,viewfinder , hand-grip and ERC from Harrisons in Sheffield and a Spare Battery and Transport Case in Florida.

 

Very disappointed with the Ever Ready Case in ghastly grey.

Unlike the Dluxe 4 version there is no strap which means using the camera straps.

Use the camera straps and you can't use the Transport Case which is already too tight around the lens area and causes the lens cap to come off.

The leather case for the viewfinder ( with the ERC ) doesn't seem robust enough to hold something that valuable in daily use ; the magnetic catch looks like it could open unexpectedly.

The viewfinder (Japanese) seems clearer than the one I rejected at the Florida Dealer's Store and I now like it:)

 

Looking at what I've bought I would say the only item worth adding to the basic package is a spare battery.

The Leica cases are very poor and not up to the quality of those for my DLux4.

 

I've thought of Luigi Cases and I know they are highly regarded but to my eye they look too homemade!

That's the end of my buying for the X1..definately.

Nippa, I think you are being unduly harsh in your judgment of the accessories. I have the ERC and mine is extremely well made with uniform stitching and precise fitting. You would need to be very clumsy accidentally to open the viewfinder case. Regarding the strap, I quickly developed a practical way of using the camera with the case fitted. At first I thought the outer flap (when open and suspended) dangled too clumsily. But when I folded it into the attached part, it became more compact and provided a secure camera grip for shooting.

 

Unlike you I quickly grew to like using the supplied strap. It provides extra steady bracing when using the LCD for composition, and security when out-and-about. An extra strap on the case would be superfluous and get in the way of operation.

 

"Ghastly grey" - your words not mine; well that is a matter of opinion. It is certainly different to classic brown leather but, in many ways, it tends to be less obtrusive which can be a beneficial feature.

 

I guess that as you have changed your mind over the clarity of the supplied viewfinder, with perseverance you might grow to like the package you are lucky enough to possess.

 

I know these judgments are subjective, but I only think it fair to register my satisfaction with the products.

[erure]

The waiting is so painful D: It's so weird that Korea is getting a lot more X1's... There are people there that put themselves on a list in March and already got them, while there are people in the States who preordered before 2010 and are still sucking their thumbs... I keep calling my poor dealer every week to find out news... I'm next on the list but who knows when they'll get one... I guess the popularity of M9 has a factor in this too; my dealer told me they are concentrating on producing M9's a lot more than X1's?

[jsrockit]

I don't believe anything when it comes to Leica. They obviously can't keep up with demand from a niche market. That's a bit pathetic IMHO. I know, I know, they are small and things are hand made and blah, blah, blah... Man, hire some new people and get down to business. Sure, sometimes making people wait creates a fervor, but in this case, many people just went and bought a Panasonic GF1 I bet. Even something as simple as a viewfinder, that isn't made by Leica in Germany, isn't even being shipped in decent quantities. I don't get it.

[stunsworth]

Man, hire some new people and get down to business.

 

If only it were so simple.

 

Firstly how do you train them and how long would it take? Secondly what do you do with them once the initial demand has gone?

 

Making highly engineered products isn't like turning on a tap, and it's naive to think that all you have to do is hire some extra people.

[jsrockit]

Understandable stunsworth, but is the current solution working? Does it look like Leica will catch up with demand anytime soon? Did they really think that they could handle all of their repairs, plus handle the manufactuering and release of three brand new cameras without hiring some new people? Were they hoping that these cameras didn't sell? Seems like they should have been optimistic and hired a few more people a long time ago and trained them...in anticipation of good sales. I know Leica isn't a call center which can just hire any old fool off the street and train them a for a week or two. However, their current system is not working that well for its customers. Repairs in the US take months. Cameras ordered months ago have no ETA. Accessories are an afterthought. If Leica would communicate better, it wouldn't be such a big deal.

[Dan States]

What are the regulations in Germany around hiring and laying off staff? If they are difficult to let go once hired it would force companies to understaff.

[jsrockit]

What are the regulations in Germany around hiring and laying off staff? If they are difficult to let go once hired it would force companies to understaff.

 

You may be on to something here. I have heard that is one of the reasons Leica doesn't hire.

[dkCambridgeshire]

I would not be surprised if Leica contract out the X1 final assembly because they have more than enough on their plate with other products eg the S2 and M9 - and Leica (Leitz) have in the past contracted out other production eg slide projectors and lenses. Has anyone actually seen an X1 production line in Solms?

 

dunk

[SJP]

So long as demand is > supply Leica can't be doing badly from their point of view. Same applies to Apple where they are very clever at keeping the same equilibrium.

[jsrockit]

So long as demand is > supply Leica can't be doing badly from their point of view. Same applies to Apple where they are very clever at keeping the same equilibrium.

 

The difference is that Apple gives clear dates as to when their customer's will get their products and generally meets that date. Leica over-promises and under-delivers.

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[jmschuh]

The difference is that Apple gives clear dates as to when their customer's will get their products and generally meets that date. Leica over-promises and under-delivers.

 

For the US you are right. Here in Germany Apple over-promises and under-delivers. And I know, what I´m talking about. I´m apple dealer since 15 years……

 

Michael