Is the Lens, the light, or??

[jmteno76]

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My first digital camera that I loved was the Panasonic LC! - I still have photos framed from that camera. There is quality of the picture that is very distinctive that I really like. Occasionally, I will get that quality out of D700 with 50 1.4. I read Steve Huff review of the Leica X1 - one shot reminded me of the LC1 --So I splurged on the X1 (as one friend said, you could have gone to St. John). Yet, I really like the IQ out of this camera. So is this the lens, light or something else?

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[lct]

Honestly the pic above could have been shot with a lot of APS cameras (and could be sharper IMO). What you like here is perhaps the swallower DoF than that of small sensor cameras.

[jmteno76]

One thing that I forgot to mention is that it is significant crop. I was struck by level of detail particularly in his chin area. You are right the eyes are soft. It is not just dof. For me, there is something distinctive about the detail and clarify even when you doing a substantial crop.

 

My other camera that I carry with me with Cannon S90 - I don't think I would get this level of detail.

 

Joan

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[jsrockit]

I would think lens and sensor give you clarity.

[lct]

...My other camera that I carry with me with Cannon S90 - I don't think I would get this level of detail...

The S90 is a small sensor camera as well. APS-Cs are different beasts IMHO but the Elmarit of the X1 is close to the Elmarit-M 24/2.8 which is one of the very best 24mm available so far.

[len_gee]

My first digital camera that I loved was the Panasonic LC! - I still have photos framed from that camera. There is quality of the picture that is very distinctive that I really like. Occasionally, I will get that quality out of D700 with 50 1.4. I read Steve Huff review of the Leica X1 - one shot reminded me of the LC1 --So I splurged on the X1 (as one friend said, you could have gone to St. John). Yet, I really like the IQ out of this camera. So is this the lens, light or something else?

 

Greetings,

 

Looks a tad OOF to me and nothing exceptional. Like it has been said, picture could have been taken with a Canon G series camera, and maybe would be a bit sharper?

 

Regards.

[lct]

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...picture could have been taken with a Canon G series camera...

DoF would have been way wider. Difficult to get optical blur with small sensor cameras.

[Guest badbob]

My first digital camera that I loved was the Panasonic LC! - I still have photos framed from that camera. There is quality of the picture that is very distinctive that I really like. Occasionally, I will get that quality out of D700 with 50 1.4. I read Steve Huff review of the Leica X1 - one shot reminded me of the LC1 --So I splurged on the X1 (as one friend said, you could have gone to St. John). Yet, I really like the IQ out of this camera. So is this the lens, light or something else?

 

What it is (that I see) is it looks less digital than most digital cameras - which is real good.

[ijam]

People who owned the X1 knows how was the IQ. X1 produce a good image -IMHO.

[jsrockit]

I heard it was just magic that makes the X1's photos look different.

[SJP]

When people see the red dot they instantly become less fuzzy:D

[Dan States]

I heard it was just magic that makes the X1's photos look different.

 

Yes, but there is not as much magic in the X1 as there is in the M9. They could put more in but the price would go up..It's about $1000 per ounce on the wholesale magic market.

 

Resolution is not what makes an image pop. Color depth, rendition of highlights and shadow detail are much more important. x1 files have gobs more flexibility and handle high contrast scenes much better than those from micro sensor cameras.

[jsrockit]

It's about $1000 per ounce on the wholesale magic market.

 

I heard Ricoh got theirs on the grey market... $500 an oz.

[Dan States]

I heard Ricoh got theirs on the grey market... $500 an oz.

 

Oh, sure, you could do that but who do you go back to the day the magic dies? I'll take my factory backed magic, thank you very much. That same magic also covers bokeh, 3d feeling and "Leitz Glass" for no extra charge.

[wda]

Joan, my advice would be: "Enjoy your X1". If you find the results 'special', that is all that matters. I, also, enjoy the consistent quality results I obtain with my X1. True the camera plays a huge part, but so does the quality and choice of natural lighting and the skill of the photographer. With so many variables it is natural that there will be some owners who will be disappointed while others are elated with the performance and results obtainable from the X1. Enjoy it and continue to strive for even better results. The best pictures have yet to be taken!

[jmteno76]

Thanks. Sage advice that I am following !

 

Joan

[cheewai_m6]

i think in the old film days, the lens was EVERYTHING. at the moment where the photo is recorded on film, the only thing betweet the film and the scene is the lens. nothing else matters. sure there's mirror slap, or shutter blah blah blah. but the only thing between the scene and the film is the lens. that's why japan made cameras to use leica m lenses. affordable camera body, but the lens is all that matters.

 

nowadays, it's the lens, the sensor, the computer that writes the jpg or raw.

[brill64]

i think that what we are used to seeing more and more is a result of the lens, sensor and firmware combo...m8, m9 or x1. it's not really fair to say that its just a lens that gives your x1 image the "leica look", especially when referring to digital images. i'm not sure how typically "leica" the x1 images can be categorised because I have not seen enough first hand but they certainly are striking straight from such a little camera. getting to that image takes some preparation and forethought but then it does with any leica m camera. nailbiting? a little bit but i always liked a bit of "edge" when shooting. crafted images have a place but like anything else, it takes practice and and intuition and this has to be a good thing, doesn't it?. well, it's sometimes the lens and it's often the light but how you see and what you aim to do with what unfolds before all that, then what you decide to do is what makes it special, isn't it?