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X1 after 3 weeks....


ck1

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Another outing for the X1, this time to Berlin, but mainly using it in low light

 

Berlin - a set on Flickr

 

Some of these are heavily cropped - many at 1600 and 3200 and shot in very dark surroundings

 

Thoughts:

1. Chews through batteries - 3 needed for a (very) full day + chimping

2. Most of above pics used with MF which works well with this camera - on street leave it on f4 and a notch to the right of 6 feet. Used AF only for the close up stuff.

3. Prefer to leave LCD off when shooting, just using Voigt VF

4. 1600 and 3200 work very well, esp in B&W

5. Lightroom 2 currently a better convertor than LR3 Beta

 

 

A great little camera

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  • 2 weeks later...
A comment on batteries. In my experience it takes longer than three weeks for batteries to reach their full potential. I am sure capacity will increase gradually.

From a technology viewpoint that is very odd, providing a proper drain and charge or two - that should be all that's needed. I wonder what else could be happening later to cause that phenomenon.

 

edit - david - how did that bimmer wind up on those stairs!

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I like the kind of work you're doing and I have some questions for you. I have been using the M8 and M9 and lots of PS cameras over the years, including many Nikons and Canons. I love the images from the X!, which I've had about a month, but I find it the worst camera ergonomically that I've ever ever used in my life. I've tried the grip (even worse and really bulky too) and about five different hand positions on the thing. I feel like they designed this camera to look like an old Leica and forgot to try actually using it. I often come home after using this camera in an irritated mood.

 

So where do you put your thumb without moving the manual focus wheel or pushing on the four way switch?

 

How do you keep it from going to sleep and losing the focus position?

 

How do you keep from turning the aperture switch by accident?

 

In short--where are you putting your friggin right hand?!?!? I'm asking you because you look like you're actually able to use this camera out on the street.

 

Thanks, Dan

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Hi Dan

 

Sorry to hear your having difficulties with the X1.

 

The first thing that really helps is an optech wrist strap (I don't have the grip) This allows the camera to almost dangle from your wrist, while keeping your fingers lightly on it. Hard to explain, but using the strap this way makes this the most natural camera to carry, almost hidden

 

(This is the one, I think)

Op/tech Cam QD Straps

 

The aperture dial rarely turns by accident now I use the the wrist strap. With a bit of care, it's maybe once a week I accidently press a button (I usually shoot for at least an hour a day with it)

 

I set the auto off to 10 mins, and have got into the subconscious habit of half pressing the shutter button every few mins to re-start the 10 min cycle. It's quite natural now.

 

I've also started using af again - it's really ok for most of the street stuff I do.

 

Persevere - I also have an M8 which I went back to today after a few weeks - it now feels huge and heavy in comparison.

 

This really is a camera that gets easier to use the more you use it.

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From a technology viewpoint that is very odd, providing a proper drain and charge or two - that should be all that's needed. I wonder what else could be happening later to cause that phenomenon.

 

edit - david - how did that bimmer wind up on those stairs!

Edward, I seldom us one camera all day every day, even when on tour. So one battery usually lasts me more than one day. Others may have a more intensive usage rate and a totally different experience. But my comment relates to other non-camera lithium-ion batteries where it invariably takes longer than three weeks before I get claimed performance from such batteries.

 

Forgive me, but I don't understand your final comment or how it relates to anything I have written.

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Hi Dan

 

Sorry to hear your having difficulties with the X1.

 

The first thing that really helps is an optech wrist strap (I don't have the grip) This allows the camera to almost dangle from your wrist, while keeping your fingers lightly on it. Hard to explain, but using the strap this way makes this the most natural camera to carry, almost hidden

 

(This is the one, I think)

Op/tech Cam QD Straps

 

The aperture dial rarely turns by accident now I use the the wrist strap. With a bit of care, it's maybe once a week I accidently press a button (I usually shoot for at least an hour a day with it)

 

I set the auto off to 10 mins, and have got into the subconscious habit of half pressing the shutter button every few mins to re-start the 10 min cycle. It's quite natural now.

 

I've also started using af again - it's really ok for most of the street stuff I do.

 

Persevere - I also have an M8 which I went back to today after a few weeks - it now feels huge and heavy in comparison.

 

This really is a camera that gets easier to use the more you use it.

 

Cyrus, thank you. I'm digesting. Dan

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Edward, I seldom us one camera all day every day, even when on tour. So one battery usually lasts me more than one day. Others may have a more intensive usage rate and a totally different experience. But my comment relates to other non-camera lithium-ion batteries where it invariably takes longer than three weeks before I get claimed performance from such batteries.

 

Forgive me, but I don't understand your final comment or how it relates to anything I have written.

 

Perhaps I should have explained further - as a technologist. Your comment related to it taking weeks to achieve full capacity of a battery and that should not be. The batteries included in today's electronics can be 'taught' with a simple full discharge and recharge plus drain. I wasn't trying to pick nits - merely to explain that expecting a battery to take multiple weeks to reach potential could be overcome with proper conditioning techniques. No offense was meant, simply a primer on batteries. Perhaps this link can help clarify.. fta

 

"Although lithium-ion is memory-free in terms of performance deterioration, batteries with fuel gauges exhibit what engineers refer to as "digital memory". Here is the reason: Short discharges with subsequent recharges do not provide the periodic calibration needed to synchronize the fuel gauge with the battery's state-of-charge. A deliberate full discharge and recharge every 30 charges corrects this problem. Letting the battery run down to the cut-off point in the equipment will do this. If ignored, the fuel gauge will become increasingly less accurate."

 

it may not be a perfect explanation but here's the link. How to prolong lithium-based batteries

 

I am sure there are better resources as I'm tired, but my point was only that three weeks to attain full charge potential seemed long - I apologize if my post came off as abrasive in any way.

 

The final comment was an aside regarding the spectacular photo of the bmw on the stairs of the building - as an M3 owner I have to think someone went overboard! I should have been more clear I suppose.. apologies. http://www.davidaskham.com/photo1289507.html

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