2nd thoughts about buying the x1

[h00ligan]

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I think it's premature to assume all new x1's don't have this issue with peeling skin, especially without some idea of a cutoff date. Some members here have returned the camera to Leica only to receive it back with the same issue reappearing in days.

[mGEEx]

I know at least five people (myself included) who bought the x1 in the last month, and none of them are having the issues the earlier models suffered from. Maybe all five of us just got lucky? ha.

[msbel]

Peeling skin, misaligned battery door, slow AF, and other peculiarities can be overlooked in a less expensive camera but for $2K USD that is a pretty bitter pill to swallow.

 

I remember hearing this about the M8 after I had just bought one...

 

Bad Cyan drift and IR - "Unacceptable!"

Have to buy UV/IR filters at a hefty price to fix it. - "Leica blew it!"

Have to send pre-M8 M lenses in to get coded to get most out IQ? - "Ridiculous!"

Weak VF - "Why could they not make one like the MP-3!"

1.3x lens conversion: "Infuriating!"

Too much noise above 400iso - "Major failure!!"

Too expensive = "What!! Pay that much for this?"

Auto White Balance - "Sucks!"

 

And on.

 

And well, it was the first Digital Rangefinder for many of us (RD-1 owners excluded), and when it got in my hands and I could start using my M lenses with digital, you had to pry it out. I LOVED shooting with it. I did not care if it was a pain in the *** to deal with. A money pit of coding and filters and accessories to boot.

 

Yes, the M9 fixed a lot of this for good. Can't afford one right now.

 

Now comes the X1. First in category. I received the X1 early before this skin and battery bulge news came out. Mine had the latter, and Leica replaced it right away. New one had it. Oh well, it's under warranty if it pops off.

 

I love the thing. It goes everywhere. The AF for how I shoot is not that bad. Like any challenging analog exposure reading, I take two readings and average it out with the dials. I want the IQ in a small camera, and that is end of story (for me.) This has been said over and over.

 

I switch cameras based on moods daily, so not one or the other scenario on this end.

 

I am sure an X2 or whatever is a couple years will address these imperfections, and for now this is it, and I am glad Leica had the balls to do it.

[pauljude]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and feedback. You've been most helpful. I'm pretty sure that I can live with the slow AF (can't be any worse than the Ricoh, which doesn't bother me too much). Also it is reassuring to know that Leica will stand by it's cameras with quality support regardless of the problem. I'll sleep on it.

 

Thanks again,

 

Paul

[h00ligan]

I know at least five people (myself included) who bought the x1 in the last month, and none of them are having the issues the earlier models suffered from. Maybe all five of us just got lucky? ha.

 

More than 5 people who bought before recently haven't experienced the issue either. A sample set of five out of thousands is hardly scientific. The odds are as good you are all lucky as there has been a definite fix.

 

Anecdotal evidence is not reality, that's all I'm saying. Maybe they have fixed it, but in my opinion is far too soon to state that with certainty.

 

There are reports on here of higher serial numbers having the issue.

 

Finally, there was nothing in my post that solicited unnecessary sarcasm.

[msbel]

More than 5 people who bought before recently haven't experienced the issue either. A sample set of five out of thousands is hardly scientific. The odds are as good you are all lucky as there has been a definite fix.

 

Anecdotal evidence is not reality, that's all I'm saying. Maybe they have fixed it, but in my opinion is far too soon to state that with certainty.

 

There are reports on here of higher serial numbers having the issue.

 

Finally, there was nothing in my post that solicited unnecessary sarcasm.

 

Agreed Edward. My replacement (serial # 38238xx) has the bulge, though much less pronounced then my early one 381xxxx .

 

It is roulette. You are right.

 

If the original poster really wants to know, call Leica and ask if they have an official fix for the bulge. I already know the answer.

 

To all - Slap a Artisan & Artist half-case and silk strap on it, start shooting, and forget about the rest.

[meLeica]

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My wife's water broke at 9pm last night. We were both caught completely off guard since she was scheduled for a C-section on July 20th. I grabbed my car keys and the first camera (w/ fully charged batteries) I could lay hands on, which happened to be the X1. My original plan was to bring a D700 + 85mm 1.2 lens, but all I could think of was getting to the hospital on time. Did I regret taking the X1? Surprisingly my answer is NO. The X1 certainly cannot compete with a D700 / 85mm 1.2 combo, but it has its own charm. Part of that charm is being able to produce top notch pics from a compact body. This comes in very handy (like when you are in an operation room with an anxious wife, a bunch of doctors, and you are trying to take pictures of a once (maybe twice) in a lifetime event). Anyways, I netted 100 pics since last night. I would say that around 10% of my shots were unusable due to being out of focus, but the remaining 90% were very nice.

 

Some may argue that the Panasonic GF-1 is a better choice / value proposition. I happen to also own the GF-1 w/ the 20mm 1.7 lens and it has been a great vacation camera. However, I just prefer the picture characteristics of the X1 and am willing to pay the extra $$ for it. I have owned a ton of other cameras and lenses (5D Mk2, 7D, D300, Canon 35mm 1.4, 100 mm 2.8 macro, 135 mm F2, Nikon 17-24, Nikon 70-200, etc.) Each one of those cameras / lenses has had trade offs. The Leica X1 is no different. I don't think Leica is competing on value and I am so thankful that Leica management didn't take a GF-1 body and slap a Leica badge on it. To me the X1 is a $2k Leica lens w/ a camera thrown in for free.

[jsrockit]

The Leica X1 is no different. I don't think Leica is competing on value and I am so thankful that Leica management didn't take a GF-1 body and slap a Leica badge on it. To me the X1 is a $2k Leica lens w/ a camera thrown in for free.

 

Truth... and while it might not be as good as an M lens, it is damn good. I've been using my X1 (for the last few months) with a Nikon D700 and a Leica M4. I feel like, for the first time since the 90s / digital age, I have all bases covered camera wise. I'm a small format guy...though adding a Hasselblad to the mix wouldn't hurt.

[Ecaton]

Agreed Edward. My replacement (serial # 38238xx) has the bulge, though much less pronounced then my early one 381xxxx .

 

It is roulette. You are right.

 

If the original poster really wants to know, call Leica and ask if they have an official fix for the bulge. I already know the answer.

 

To all - Slap a Artisan & Artist half-case and silk strap on it, start shooting, and forget about the rest.

 

Is the little bulge on the front side of the A&A half-case doing its job as a "handgrip"? I use the Leica grip, but find it makes the camera unnecessary bulky. So any other grip solution, particularly such an elegant one as the A&A half-case is welcome.

[msbel]

Is the little bulge on the front side of the A&A half-case doing its job as a "handgrip"? I use the Leica grip, but find it makes the camera unnecessary bulky. So any other grip solution, particularly such an elegant one as the A&A half-case is welcome.

 

Yes. Subtle. Certainly not like a pronounced hand-grip like Leica's. The leather and bulge together let me use one hand and feels great.

 

Added an A&A black silk cord to the rig, and good to go.

 

Here is a pic (por-n I know) And that's dust on there, not a scratch

 

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[RichardM8]

While looking very good, I'm kinda struggling to get the point of a half case. It seems like the parts of the camera that are protected need the least protection. I guess I'm missing something here?...

[jsrockit]

No RichardX1, you're not missing anything.

[Danielsan]

While looking very good, I'm kinda struggling to get the point of a half case. It seems like the parts of the camera that are protected need the least protection. I guess I'm missing something here?.

 

ok Richard i will explain it to u, if u put the camera in a half case its protected from ur very own fingers, fat and sweat. U only touch the leather instead of the camera body when u take pictures, u only have to touch the wheel and shutter release, i think half case is nice to prevent a "wear off". But a full case is even better cause it prevents from dust coming inside when u are not using the camera. I buy one of those Luigi full cases, but he is not answering my mails yet sorry for my english

[RichardM8]

Ok so it's more a cosmetic thing than functional.

 

I've been in contact with Luigi about a full case for the X1. I send him a wish-list with features and pictures from his various cases combined into a one for the X1. Everything was possible and he expects to able to take orders in aug/sept. Being Italian, add 1 or 2 months.

 

Richard.

[msbel]

Ok so it's more a cosmetic thing than functional.

 

I've been in contact with Luigi about a full case for the X1. I send him a wish-list with features and pictures from his various cases combined into a one for the X1. Everything was possible and he expects to able to take orders in aug/sept. Being Italian, add 1 or 2 months.

 

Richard.

 

The half case looks nice, yes, but the X1 on it's own looks better in my opinion. Still, I like the feel and (half) security of the wrap.

 

I have a Kameraleder full case from for my M6, and rarely use the cover unless I am throwing it in a suitcase for a trip. Too much in and out while walking around. And the Kameraleder is the best M case in my opinion.

 

Using external viewfinders also makes it clumsy for me.

[ezc203]

Personally, I find the half-case quite convenient in terms of protecting the cosmetic integrity of the camera. When you have it hanging around your neck (on in a wrist strap), the bottom half of the camera is most vulnerable to bumps and scraps. At least, that's my experience. Thus a half case is the perfect solution for me