2nd thoughts about buying the x1

[jsrockit]

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Oh ok, when you said build quality and referred to the knobs, I assumed you meant cheap.

[jpmac55]

so when the x1 was announced- i wanted the camera so bad I could taste it.....then as time went by i felt that my current gear was good enough and that the x1 wasnt that big a leap for the money... then as delivery dates were announced i started to get reinvigorated with the thought of getting the x1 (a near m quality prime lens w/equivalent body) and what i could do with it.... now that x1's are few and far between and i have had some time to think about it.......

 

i have looked at virtually every online photo allegedly taken by an x1 and i dont see that "leica look" in any of them....is it me? or is it missing?

 

i am not concerned about the $2000 price- if the photos have that "look"

 

Yes i know i can get a used m8 for about 2500 but when you add a lens then the price is just beyond my wife's tolerance level (and you know what they say- "happy wife- happy life")

 

can the x1 be my "poor man's m?"

 

As you know, the pattern for most digital camera's is the value drops way down once next years model is announced. Good lenses though retain much more of their value and in some cases, are immune to depreciation. So your 'family' problem is somewhat complicated if you ever decide to sell off or trade up. Lenses are a better investment than a digital camera but you'll need both. Shooting film is also an option.

 

I don't consider the X1 a poor man's anything. I have referred to it as M8 Jr. but mostly in appearance. Still, the X1 truly is a Leica product, much more than the Dlux4. Both good cameras but you'll be a card carrying Leica member with the X1. It will probably retain more of its original value should you decide to sell it someday. Some folks have sold off their lenses changing cameras to buy the X1. Simplicity at its best.

[hg2303]

Got mine X1 a month now and deeply felt in love with it. No regrets at all. I guess I sell my other cameras and lenses.....

Just made some nice pics in Spain, check the pics on the site if you please.

[prk60091]

As you know, the pattern for most digital camera's is the value drops way down once next years model is announced. Good lenses though retain much more of their value and in some cases, are immune to depreciation. So your 'family' problem is somewhat complicated if you ever decide to sell off or trade up. Lenses are a better investment than a digital camera but you'll need both. Shooting film is also an option.

 

I don't consider the X1 a poor man's anything. I have referred to it as M8 Jr. but mostly in appearance. Still, the X1 truly is a Leica product, much more than the Dlux4. Both good cameras but you'll be a card carrying Leica member with the X1. It will probably retain more of its original value should you decide to sell it someday. Some folks have sold off their lenses changing cameras to buy the X1. Simplicity at its best.

 

the simplicity and the lens is what is drawing me to the camera my only concern is the lens "leica enough"

[prk60091]

Got mine X1 a month now and deeply felt in love with it. No regrets at all. I guess I sell my other cameras and lenses.....

Just made some nice pics in Spain, check the pics on the site if you please.

 

being a dumb american i cannot recognize spain- which photos on your site are the one's you are referring to- they are all very pretty images and they make me want to visit...

[magnolio]

Got fed up of waiting for the Leica X1 so got a Panasonic GF1 instead and so glad I did as after testing the Leica demo in my local shop I found it to be slow on everything focus, write speed, review time, and battery life, power on/off also the leather was peeling off the demo camera and the dials felt slack too.

The only thing I found better on the Leica was Hi ISO and the silent shutter.

 

GF1 20mm/1,7 pancake JPEG straight aout of camera

magnolio

http://monimag.eu/upload/428/profondeur-champ.jpg

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Could not be happier with my X1...I had cold feet when I got it an was offered way over what I paid for it and turned it down once I had a chance to appreciate it.

 

Best camera for what it is...Not sure if there is a second place...lol...(dramatic yes but...I have a real appreciation and love for my X1)

[h00ligan]

I have both cameras. In terms of picture quality GF1 is a lot grainier than the Leica X1. You should consider selling your GF1 and upgrading to a Leica. Its like a Ferrari and a Toyota. Although both will get you from point A to Point B, everything else is different

 

I recently took my gf1/20/1.7 to the science museum. I was shocked and dismayed at iso 400, yes 400. I am still trying to figure out if i did something wrong, results were horrible. Back to the drawing board. Renewed my interest in the x1 and dp2s.

 

Soooooo much noise, unbelievable, never experienced it before with the gf1. I also just returned the s90, what a horrible camera - despite the lovers ( at least for me). The s90 made the dlux 4 look like a dslr and the handling, at least for those of us with big hands, was aweful. I wish leica could get it together.

[NZDavid]

You are right to be cautious. The X1 is a very good point and shoot (and nothing wrong with that). Image quality at high ISOs sets it apart from other compacts with small sensors. Handling, with those simple aperture and shutter dials as opposed to fiddly menus and modes, is superb. The 35 lens is also superb, but could do with a hood. Focusing is tricky and imprecise in comparison with RF. You need a viewfinder. You really need to give it a spin first. If you want all of the plus points listed above, there really are no competitors. Have another look at what you want out of a camera.

[jsrockit]

You are right to be cautious. The X1 is a very good point and shoot (and nothing wrong with that). Image quality at high ISOs sets it apart from other compacts with small sensors. Handling, with those simple aperture and shutter dials as opposed to fiddly menus and modes, is superb. The 35 lens is also superb, but could do with a hood. Focusing is tricky and imprecise in comparison with RF. You need a viewfinder. You really need to give it a spin first. If you want all of the plus points listed above, there really are no competitors. Have another look at what you want out of a camera.

 

The only thing P&S about the X1 is its focusing... nothing else. Also, I wouldn't put it in the small sensor class.

[jaapv]

i have looked at virtually every online photo allegedly taken by an x1 and i dont see that "leica look" in any of them....is it me? or is it missing?

 

 

You're missing that hoary old chestnut: "it is not the arrow, it's the indian";) As long as the users don't take those photographs, the galleries won't show them. So it's up to you....

[Guest badbob]

The so called Leica look is a bit of a myth these days, maybe it always was and is more about wishful thinking than reality. But as they say it is a gift to be fanatical believer both in religion and leicas, the old it sorta makes life easier for those, keep the blinkers on and push ahead despite all new changes.......

 

I haven't owned any expensive cars, but I wore a Rolex President 18k for eight years, and by comparison, when I took the X1 out of the box, it looked and felt as rich and luxurious as that Rolex watch. I wasn't expecting that, based on the reviews I had read, so the surprise I got confirmed to me that it's no myth. And the Rolex broke down three times in those eight years, so maybe quality and reliability (or perception of such) aren't the same.

[jsrockit]

badbob, I think the "Leica look" refers to what your images look like (due to the Leica lens) and not what the camera looks like.

[Guest badbob]

badbob, I think the "Leica look" refers to what your images look like (due to the Leica lens) and not what the camera looks like.

 

You're right - but since you're paying most of that $2000 for the look of the camera, I figured it would fit there somewhere...

[h00ligan]

GF1 20mm/1,7 pancake JPEG straight aout of camera

magnolio

http://monimag.eu/upload/428/profondeur-champ.jpg

 

 

I assume that is an x1 shot,,,?

[patrick parker]

A moving subject shot with a compact camera with large sensor. Guess which one.

 

iphone?

[jdlnmia]

This was my experience as well with the GF1/20mm. Could not believe the graininess of the images. X1 is on the way...

 

 

I recently took my gf1/20/1.7 to the science museum. I was shocked and dismayed at iso 400, yes 400. I am still trying to figure out if i did something wrong, results were horrible. Back to the drawing board. Renewed my interest in the x1 and dp2s.

 

Soooooo much noise, unbelievable, never experienced it before with the gf1. I also just returned the s90, what a horrible camera - despite the lovers ( at least for me). The s90 made the dlux 4 look like a dslr and the handling, at least for those of us with big hands, was aweful. I wish leica could get it together.

[Guest Chris M]

Are you sure your not doing something wrong here? I only ask because I've been researching the Canon S90 and (GREATLY) to the contrary to your findings, I'm seeing hearing rants and raves about this little cheap Canon cam, that it is absolutely stunning. The files are even being compared to that of the M9 at Ken Rockwells website Reviews. You must have got a bad cam?? because what your saying, and the (full Files) I'm viewing and pixel peeking at are remarkable for the most part, considering its sensor size, and believe me, I know great files when I see them, I've been shooting Leica cameras for 40 years, ie; IIIc/f, M6 M7 and the M8 since they came out, and am very anal about Noise, DR and Color. Sorry about your disappointment. I'm thinking of the New Sony NEX 3 for a compact cam that shoots RAW with the Sony DT 50-250mm lens I'm still researching though.

 

chris m.

[Guest badbob]

I've been researching the Canon S90 and (GREATLY) to the contrary to your findings, I'm seeing hearing rants and raves about this little cheap Canon cam, that it is absolutely stunning. The files are even being compared to that of the M9 at Ken Rockwells website Reviews.

chris m.

 

I just did a little research and found that the Canon sensor size is about 43.3 mm^2, whereas the X1 sensor is about 372.1 mm^2. That makes the X1 sensor about 9 times larger than the S90 sensor. So what you're seeing and reading about are true "miracles" as they are called in the camera business. Now Leica does some amazing things, but True Miracles are not among them. So if you can get that miracle from Canon, blessings to you.

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[h00ligan]

Are you sure your not doing something wrong here? I only ask because I've been researching the Canon S90 and (GREATLY) to the contrary to your findings' date=' I'm seeing hearing rants and raves about this little cheap Canon cam, that it is absolutely stunning. The files are even being compared to that of the M9 at Ken Rockwells website Reviews. You must have got a bad cam?? because what your saying, and the (full Files) I'm viewing and pixel peeking at are remarkable for the most part, considering its sensor size, and believe me, I know great files when I see them, I've been shooting Leica cameras for 40 years, ie; IIIc/f, M6 M7 and the M8 since they came out, and am very anal about Noise, DR and Color. Sorry about your disappointment. I'm thinking of the New Sony NEX 3 for a compact cam that shoots RAW with the Sony DT 50-250mm lens I'm still researching though.

 

chris m.[/quote']

 

My experience with the s90 was very unfavorable. The quality can be compared to the lx3 dl4 which is good for a pas. That said, the rear wheel which can be reassigned but not turned off gets knocked with every hand shift, the added zoom was nice but the images at the long end were not so great. The main issue I had with that cam was the handling, it was just awful I'd take the lx3/dl4 over it again without doubt.

 

I'd like to clarify, I am a beginner, which is why I am talking about egonomics. I also have relatively large hands with long thin fingers..the enemy of handling compact devices. That said, the dl4 is a very similar shape, and what really killed it was the rear dial that juts pins and spins and spins. Should you go with the s90 just know you will be checking that you didn't knock off settings very very regularly (although there are 'hacks' to make it spin less easily). There are no detents on the rear wheel, it spins completely freely and lies inline with where most peoples thumbs would go. Maybe richard's grip helps with that.I sent it back as it was such a massive design flaw. I also found the 'barrel' wheel to be annoying, a smaller wheel positioned on the back would have been better (like the gf1) IMHO.