Anyone else wish the lens was faster?

[phancj]

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You could get a NEX and use it's handheld low light mode. You get incredible 6400 ISO shots at a shutter speed that is very acceptable. I just shot some ISO 5000 at 1/250, f2.8 and they look like they were shot at ISO 400 or better.

 

Hmmmm...iso 5000 shots that looks like iso 400 or better??!! :rolleyes:

Show us those pictures!

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[caimi]

It would be nice if the X1 lens was faster but the image quality at high iso is so good it more than makes up for it. Here's an example shot at iso1600.

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[h00ligan]

Thanks for the replies all.

 

Caimi - it's tough to see anything in the photo you posted, it's a bit small

 

John, that's quite a claim! Let's see some shots.

[barjohn]

I am traveling today but I will post some shots for you this evening or tomorrow. I know it is hard to believe but it is true. I will make the original JPGs available to anyone that wants one.

[h00ligan]

Thanks John, looking forward to seeing it(them).

[Cerrito Kid]

Nope -- not for me. I like a bit of depth of field. Because the X1 is --to say the least-- a bit slow in auto focus, I tend to use manual focus, when I can. With a 36mm lens using a medium f-stop, I have a lot of depth of field and don't focus every shot -- I do a lot of street photography where being fast is critical. So far I have had very few problems in this approach. If I see that my shutter speed is getting rather slow, all I do is to up the ASA.

[wda]

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In answer to your title question: No!

[Nicoleica]

Just did a search to see if anyone had discussed the idea of using a monopod or not. I'd like something that is lightweight and easy to carry - monopod or tripod but of a good height for someone who is about 5' 9" to use. Since I often have my dog with me while I'm walking, I figured a monopod might be the easiest and could double as a coyote defender. I'm sort of kidding about the coyotes though our town in Westchester County, NY, had two coyote attacks on children this summer. Very strange and I am not at all a vigilante about these displaced animals.

 

Any suggestions as to something of an appropriate height? And then there is the question of "heads" which I know very little about, though I think a ball head is the thing to go for?

 

Hi. I use a Gitzo G1560 MonoTrek monopod. It extends up to eye-level for me (And I'm 6 foot.) but collapse down to a couple of feet for storage. It doubles as a walking pole/stick and has a handy strap. At the top is a slip-off cover that reveals a small ball head that takes moments to attach to any camera. It's really handy and travels everywhere with me.

 

Edit: Mine is a few years old now. The current version is this one. http://www.gitzo.com/cms/site/gitzo/monopods/?code=GM1130MT#a

[BB W]

Thank you very much Nicole, I'll definitely check this out!

[h00ligan]

Since i've never used a monopod, just tri, two quick questions. How much does it help, maybe in stops? Is it unrealistic to find on that won't make me bend over much at 6'5" (I'm guessing so but the less the taller guys have to bend over the better!)?

[BB W]

Good questions, Edward. I'll be interested to read the answers.

 

Just FYI, a photography friend gave me this link to a site called Outdoor Eyes Extreme, where there's an article about How To Use The Monopode & Multi-Purpose Tripod that may be helpful.

[brill64]

f2.8 is already very good on the x1 with a very pleasing bokeh, it's not really a portrait focal length so i don't miss it wider there. it already takes some skill and a steady hand to manual focus down to 30cm, for example. at 1.8 this would become more tricky when trying to do things hand held and quickly. surely an extra stop would be difficult to engineer at such a small size and within price range? personally speaking, i slightly crave f22 or smaller to make better use of the x1's brilliant sensor in low light. it's already a lovely little lens.

[jsrockit]

I'm ok with it as is... but faster would be nice. It may have added to the distortion of the lens though...

[Guest badbob]

Since i've never used a monopod, just tri, two quick questions. How much does it help, maybe in stops? Is it unrealistic to find on that won't make me bend over much at 6'5" (I'm guessing so but the less the taller guys have to bend over the better!)?

 

I take many monopod shots with the thing fully collapsed, to 18 inches long. I get about 2 stops advantage that way, which is partly due to the weight, and partly to the design. With more extension, it may get better, kind-of like the balancing rods that high-wire artists use. I'd recommend something in the $100 to $250 (u.s.) range.

[Nicoleica]

Since i've never used a monopod, just tri, two quick questions. How much does it help, maybe in stops? Is it unrealistic to find on that won't make me bend over much at 6'5" (I'm guessing so but the less the taller guys have to bend over the better!)?

 

I don't know if I could quantify the extra stability in terms of stops, as it all depends upon how stable you are to start with. But it can make a big difference. If you are able to prop/rest/lean one against a solid object such as a railing, low wall or bench, or even your own foot, it can be almost as stable as a tripod.

 

The MonoTrek that I use should be plenty tall enough for you. I'm 6'+ and it reaches my eye-level when I'm wearing heels. If you needed a few extra inches, you could use the Leica ball head instead of the one fitted.

 

I hope that the above may be of help.

[prk60091]

I don't know if I could quantify the extra stability in terms of stops, as it all depends upon how stable you are to start with. But it can make a big difference. If you are able to prop/rest/lean one against a solid object such as a railing, low wall or bench, or even your own foot, it can be almost as stable as a tripod.

 

The MonoTrek that I use should be plenty tall enough for you. I'm 6'+ and it reaches my eye-level when I'm wearing heels. If you needed a few extra inches, you could use the Leica ball head instead of the one fitted.

 

I hope that the above may be of help.

 

monopods help a lot.... i used a cheap monopod/walking stick that i purchased from REI when i went to the grand canyon hiking 3 years ago.... made my D2 shots very clean even at sunrise/sunset (the D2 was very noisy above ISO 200- so u had to shoot at ISO100 which makes dark shots difficult to say the least)

 

when i wasnt shooting with the monopod i was using it as a walking stick.... and it collapsed to about 2 feet- fit in my luggage

[RichardM8]

I think it's pretty obvious that everyone would like a faster 2.0 or 1.8 lens. But keeping the same optical quality as the current lens would mean MUCH more expensive, bigger and heavier. And I guess that at least 2 out of these 3 are not really wanted...

 

The size of the lens is relative to the size of the sensor so it's not possible to make a small and fast lens like from a point & shoot for the large sensor of the X1.