Leica X1 Vulcanite: Needs Improvement

[davidhunternyc]

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There are already enough posts on the Leia X1 skin. Though the skin is technically not "vulcanite" (a hard nonresilient rubber), I call it that because the word has become synomous with the wrapping on cameras. The vulcanite on the X1 is instead made from some kind of plastic or vinyl. The posts, so far, on the X1 vulcanite have been about how it peels away from the camera. Granted, this is an alarming concern for a camera with the name "Leica" attatched to it. I have yet to have problems with my vulcanite but I have not had much heavy use with my camera yet.

 

This post has to do with the lack of quality that Leica has given to the X1 vulcanite. I remember the first time I uwrapped the X1 and was quite enamored with the whole process of opening the glorious X1 box (well, if cardboard can be "glorious"; we are not talking hardwood with dovetail joinery here). Then when I actually got to the camera, even before touching it, I was impressed with its teutonic efficiency (perhaps a bit let down by the plastic lens barrel). Yet, when I picked up the camera for the first time, I remember clearly being very disappointed with the feel of the vulcanite. It felt like hard plastic and was not at all satisfying to the touch. I immediately tapped it with my finger nail and the sound was what I expected; a hollow, high pitched, dull thud, like something you would hear by tapping a 99¢ beach pail. Dragging my finger nail across it was like scratching a chalk board. This, on a $2000 camera.

 

Well, image quality is the X1's trump card, isn't it? In a word, yes. For some, the fact that the X1 is the world's first compact camera accepted by Getty Images is justification enough of Leica's name. I do not agree. Leica's greatness is not only because of its photographic excellence but because of its industrial design pedigree. Leica's len's are lengendary. In this light, the vulcanite on the X1 is a catastrophic failure. It's like a M3 running through a Poloroid that kept on going.

 

To add insult to injury, I just discovered "JnK". They make beautiful and affordable full leather skins for micro 4 3rds cameras, and the prices are affordable. The backing of these real "leather" skins are made by 3M. This JnK skin makes the X1 skin look and feel a homework assignment in junior highschool. It's too bad. I am hoping that Leica will do a better job in the future, but I am not counting on it. Every once in a while the teacher needs to become the student. It's about time that Leica attends class:

 

!

 

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[RichardM8]

Somebody I know replaced the skin from his M8 with a softer, more grippy skin. Was some 'kit' pre-cut for the M8 like in the video. Maybe this can be done with the X1 too at some point. Must say the skin in the video makes the Oly look even more tacky than it already does...

 

I have no problems with the X1s skin btw.

[jsrockit]

Yes, I'm a bit disappointed by the pealing vulcanite, but it is easily solved by a third party...so, it isn't the end of the world. The Leica CM had this issue as well by the way.

[RichardM8]

I think all Leica products with a skin have - and had - this. The M8 I mentioned above had the same issue. So it can't be a price-thing I'd say...

[jsrockit]

I've never seen this happen with any M I've had unless it was 30-50 years old.

[wda]

...The Leica CM had this issue as well by the way.

I never suffered any trouble with the skin or any other aspect of my CM. Its finish surpasses that on the X1.

[jsrockit]

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I never suffered any trouble with the skin or any other aspect of my CM. Its finish surpasses that on the X1.

 

Not every X1 suffers from this as well. I've seen two CM's with the peeling problem.

[davidhunternyc]

I understand that people are still talking about the peeling vulcanite on the X1. There is a post about this. I only referred to the peeling vulcanite in my opening paragraph as a way to specifically talk about the material of the vulcanite. Apparently, I seem to be the only one unhappy with a plastic wrapped $2000 camera. Well then, Leica, carry on as before.

[phancj]

Things are never perfect, right now for compacts the X1 is king, so unless another one rises we are stuck with it?

[yurisius]

I agree totally with you davidhunternyc. the big problem of the leica x1 is build quality.

 

this is a great camera. great lens and great sensor . But for 2000$ I want a more robust construction. Don't you?

 

things are never perfect, ok.. but for 2000$ we have a plastic camera, so easy of ruin and with battery door so delicate.

 

(and I say nothing about the display quality ....)

 

 

I'd buy this camera again , anyway..

the single almoust pocket-size camera with reflex picture quality.

[jsrockit]

Is it really plastic? I actually think the light weight of the unit is an advantage.

[davidhunternyc]

I agree totally with you davidhunternyc. the big problem of the leica x1 is build quality.

 

this is a great camera. great lens and great sensor . But for 2000$ I want a more robust construction. Don't you?

 

things are never perfect, ok.. but for 2000$ we have a plastic camera, so easy of ruin and with battery door so delicate.

 

(and I say nothing about the display quality ....)

 

 

I'd buy this camera again , anyway..

the single almoust pocket-size camera with reflex picture quality.

 

Yes, this was my point all along. The Leica X1 isn't technically a "plastic" camera but because of the vulcanite it "feels" like plastic. When industrial designers design objects, the feel of the objects or the hand of the materials used are a very important design consideration. What's more, what gets me about the X1, is that we are literally talking about a matter of a few dollars here to either make the vulcanite out of real leather or real vulcanite. This is a case of of being penny wise but pound foolish. Leica knows that our hands and fingers touch all the surfaces of the camera. We can discern a cheap feel from a quality feel. Yes, too, the display quality is subpar, and the powder coated metal finish is far too delicate and vulnerable to scratches. I have already read complaints about scratches in the threads of the dial screws! This is crazy. I wish that Leica would have manufactured the X1 that was more like the prototype. The prototype looks like it was designed without compromise and the manufacturing cost differential would have been pennies; no powder coating, no plastic lens barrel, and though it is difficult to tell in photos, probably higher quality vulcanite.

 

With that said, I too, love the X1 for its ergonomic simplicity and DSLR picture quality.

[earleygallery]

The X1 has two deal breakers for me, lack of a proper built in finder and that motorised lens. The one on my C lux is starting to give problems and I'm probably going to have to bin the camera soon. They also help to suck dust inside and onto the sensor.

[mjh]

The Leica X1 isn't technically a "plastic" camera but because of the vulcanite it "feels" like plastic.

Vulkanit is plastic, and always has been … On the other hand, I don’t remember Leica ever claiming they did use Vulkanit on the X1.

[davidhunternyc]

Vulcanization or vulcanisation is a chemical process for converting rubber or related polymers into more durable materials via the addition of sulfur or other equivalent "curatives". These additives modify the polymer by forming crosslinks (bridges) between individual polymer chains.[1] The vulcanized material is less sticky and has superior mechanical properties. A vast array of products are made with vulcanized rubber including tires, shoe soles, hoses, and hockey pucks. The process is named after Vulcan, Roman god of fire. Hard vulcanized rubber is known as ebonite or vulcanite and is used to make hard articles such as bowling balls and clarinet mouth pieces.

 

This was mentioned in my first post.

[Guest badbob]

Vulcanization or vulcanisation is a chemical process for converting rubber or related polymers into more durable materials via the addition of sulfur or other equivalent "curatives". These additives modify the polymer by forming crosslinks (bridges) between individual polymer chains.[1] The vulcanized material is less sticky and has superior mechanical properties. A vast array of products are made with vulcanized rubber including tires, shoe soles, hoses, and hockey pucks. The process is named after Vulcan, Roman god of fire. Hard vulcanized rubber is known as ebonite or vulcanite and is used to make hard articles such as bowling balls and clarinet mouth pieces.

This was mentioned in my first post.

 

The peeling issue far outweighs any considerations of how it feels, especially in terms of Leica's reputation for quality and how that's called into question by all of the "peeling" postings.

[mjh]

Vulcanization or vulcanisation is a chemical process for converting rubber or related polymers into more durable materials via the addition of sulfur or other equivalent "curatives".

That is all very well, but “Vulkanit” as used by Leica is just a fancy name for a certain type of plastic. And it is not what is used for the X1. Neither is it vulcanized rubber, for that matter.

[davidhunternyc]

Please read my second sentence.

[mjh]

The second sentence … “These additives modify the polymer by forming crosslinks (bridges) between individual polymer chains.” Well, that’s neither here nor there. The skin employed by Leica to provide that grippy feel has nothing to do with the vulcanization process as invented by Goodyear, nor with the Roman god of fire. “Vulkanit”/“Vulcanit” (on M cameras) is plastic, and so is the X1’s skin, even when it isn’t Vulkanit. Your original complaint “The vulcanite on the X1 is instead made from some kind of plastic or vinyl.” makes it sound as if it had ever been different.

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[davidhunternyc]

" Though the skin is technically not "vulcanite" (a hard nonresilient rubber), I call it that because the word has become synomous with the wrapping on cameras."

 

From opening paragraph.