X1-The greatest travel camera ever!

[ravinj]

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I see a lot of sourpuss faces around here. Why is that?

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[chrispatel]

I went out on the proverbial limb and sold my Nikon dslr and purchased an X1. I rarely used my dslr due to size and complexity. Anyhow, the X1 is perfect for travel. I have not been on an extended trip with it but I had a Cubs Game weekend with it and wow was it fun to use.

 

No one seemed bothered my candid photos versus my big nikon taking aim and being light it was easy to keep with me at all times. The camera is laid out well and I had no problems navigating the settings due to the well thoughout buttons and dials.

 

I missed some photos due to the AF but man the keepers were great!

 

All in all this camera is a keeper and has brought fun back into photography, The funny thing is I tend to be alot more creative with the fixed lens and use of an lcd.

 

Chris

[phancj]

I see a lot of sourpuss faces around here. Why is that?

 

Yup that always happens.

 

I see it as being overly judgmental. Well, if we are all childish or naive then so be it. Life is too short not to have fun, however silly the fun may be, like some threads in this forum. I wouldnt want to be overly pompous and judgmental on how others may want to have fun. My work is sporadic but very long hours each day so I see this forum as nice and healthy diversion to unwind in between. Ya we may not talk about saving the world or getting the Nobel prize so what?

[phancj]

I went out on the proverbial limb and sold my Nikon dslr and purchased an X1. I rarely used my dslr due to size and complexity. Anyhow, the X1 is perfect for travel. I have not been on an extended trip with it but I had a Cubs Game weekend with it and wow was it fun to use.

 

No one seemed bothered my candid photos versus my big nikon taking aim and being light it was easy to keep with me at all times. The camera is laid out well and I had no problems navigating the settings due to the well thoughout buttons and dials.

 

I missed some photos due to the AF but man the keepers were great!

 

All in all this camera is a keeper and has brought fun back into photography, The funny thing is I tend to be alot more creative with the fixed lens and use of an lcd.

 

Chris

 

Yes Chris, so much so that now I am looking at investing a good 35mm for my DSLR too!

[jsrockit]

I like the X1 a lot...but I have to agree with the "sourpuss" gang... Every review about this camera is saying the same damn thing almost every day. How does that add to anything?

 

I think the devide happens when many people here are serious about Photography (and all the processes this entails) and want to make great photos and there are others who just want to make photos of their dog, friends, and family without any post-processing. The X1 does both well... but the latter group is who posts the most photos here. Nothing wrong with that, but I believe that is why so many are critical of the enthusiasm of the group towards this camera.

[phancj]

I like the X1 a lot...but I have to agree with the "sourpuss" gang... Every review about this camera is saying the same damn thing almost every day. How does that add to anything?

 

I think the devide happens when many people here are serious about Photography (and all the processes this entails) and want to make great photos and there are others who just want to make photos of their dog, friends, and family without any post-processing. The X1 does both well... but the latter group is who posts the most photos here. Nothing wrong with that, but I believe that is why so many are critical of the enthusiasm of the group towards this camera.

 

I think it is wrong to criticize just because of differing personal preferences. Anyhow I am finding the photo forum much more invigorating!

[h00ligan]

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Yes Chris' date=' so much so that now I am looking at investing a good 35mm for my DSLR too! [/quote']

 

Same just happened to me, I went 'sensibly' and bought the sigma 30/1.4. So far it's great, and maybe sharper than the x1....and cost around $400 new. I gather there is some copy to copy variation, but that seems to be true for most photo gear.

[phancj]

Same just happened to me, I went 'sensibly' and bought the sigma 30/1.4. So far it's great, and maybe sharper than the x1....and cost around $400 new. I gather there is some copy to copy variation, but that seems to be true for most photo gear.

 

Yup I will probably buy it as a trial but bottom line still is the dslr is too frighteningly big for me right now, having used the X1 almost exclusively I may have some muscular atrophy maybe carrying my dslr gear will be tough haha...

[andym911]

I used the X1 a while but didn't really work for me.Mainly the shooting experience , am just more comfortable with a bit more heft in a camera.

 

As a travel camera I normally like to use 2 lenses, a 90mm and a 35mm, or a zoom.

 

My last 'big trip' I found the 350d and a zoom to be perfect.Good quality for prints and 'heavy' enough to hold steady and light enough to carry up the hills.

 

For those shots where I wanted top quality I had the film leica and a 35mm.

 

So whilst everyone travels differently, I would need a bit more flexibility than the X1 gives.

IQ is without doubt very very good, up there with the best.

 

Is it the perfect travel camera?

 

Not for me, but really depends what you shoot and what your priorities are and what you shoot.

 

Now stick an M mount on it and we are talking

 

good shooting

 

andy

[phancj]

I used the X1 a while but didn't really work for me.Mainly the shooting experience , am just more comfortable with a bit more heft in a camera.

 

As a travel camera I normally like to use 2 lenses, a 90mm and a 35mm, or a zoom.

 

My last 'big trip' I found the 350d and a zoom to be perfect.Good quality for prints and 'heavy' enough to hold steady and light enough to carry up the hills.

 

For those shots where I wanted top quality I had the film leica and a 35mm.

 

So whilst everyone travels differently, I would need a bit more flexibility than the X1 gives.

IQ is without doubt very very good, up there with the best.

 

Is it the perfect travel camera?

 

Not for me, but really depends what you shoot and what your priorities are and what you shoot.

 

Now stick an M mount on it and we are talking

 

good shooting

 

andy

 

Hey Andy, of course not all will have as good a time with the X1 as me.

 

I for one do not wish for heft but hey thats me.

 

I pop the little thing in my waist pouch and feel free to enjoy myself without being encumbered.

 

I am not sure if I want interchangeable lenses for a travel camera now, having used the X1 for half a year I do not miss my big zooms at all.

 

Now my trusty nikon is for macro and sports photography (very rarely).

 

maybe its my fast advancing age haha, I want things simple, small and easy. The X1 is such.

[andym911]

sure, all about priorities.

 

enjoy

 

andy

[msbel]

Let's see...the more I think about it..

 

If I were to leave today for a two week travel vacation (fat chance that is really happening any time soon!)... a couple other focal lengths may be a good idea for portrait and close up work.

 

So...in a small bag a la Billingham smaller Hadley.

 

X1 - Nice street shooter for wandering/hunting. More than capable of artistic shots and subsequent archival prints. Would not leave my side.

 

M6/ 75 and 21. As someone mentioned, when intention is the key - I am going somewhere I know I will want to do some closer and/or wider work on film. If I was lazy, M8 instead of an M6 with the 75/2 or 50 1.4 and 15/4.

 

Still, the M would be in the hotel room most of the time (I cannot believe I said that!)

[phancj]

Hey Michael,

 

Yes, the lack of effective macro is a bummer, but thankfully I do not take macro shots on holiday, for that occasional close up the X1's length will suffice, or simply crop more. There are those who still believe 5MP is sufficient so no probs...

 

For portrait I seriously believe the X1 is an incredible portrait allowing me to take gorgeous (at least to me!)shots of people consistently. if anything I think the X1's main strength to me is portraits!

 

I do not see myself toting a brick of dslr anytime soon, and I am not a pro photographer so I am not on assignment so just having fun.

 

Therefore, the X1 is the greatest travel camera ever, since I do not shoot birds:D

[phancj]

Oh Michael, I will drop the Billingham too, it's too bulky, a little waist bag will do hahah...and an extra SD. I do not see the need for the extra battery I bought so far...

[stephen.w]

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[hteasley]

I just posted about the X1 in the X1 Photos thread, given my recent trip to China. I was hoping to enjoy the X1 as a travel camera more than I did, but the shutter lag on button presses really caused me to miss a lot more shots than I ever would have expected. I found it frustrating: moments of real genius, lots of very bad photos because I instinctively behaved as if it were a more typical P&S camera, because of its build.

 

One can say, "You're not using it right," and I would be the first to agree: it's great when you use it the way it demands to be used. But I'd say that its spectrum of utility is a lot narrower than it should be. Certainly a lot narrower than what it feels like it should be.

 

It could be a lot better. Image IQ is excellent, but overall performance of shooting should be better than it is.

[prk60091]

I just posted about the X1 in the X1 Photos thread, given my recent trip to China. I was hoping to enjoy the X1 as a travel camera more than I did, but the shutter lag on button presses really caused me to miss a lot more shots than I ever would have expected. I found it frustrating: moments of real genius, lots of very bad photos because I instinctively behaved as if it were a more typical P&S camera, because of its build.

 

One can say, "You're not using it right," and I would be the first to agree: it's great when you use it the way it demands to be used. But I'd say that its spectrum of utility is a lot narrower than it should be. Certainly a lot narrower than what it feels like it should be.

 

It could be a lot better. Image IQ is excellent, but overall performance of shooting should be better than it is.

 

Could you be a little more specific as to what you mean by "I instinctively behaved as if it were a more typical P&S camera, because of its build." and " it's great when you use it the way it demands to be used".

Thanks

[ravinj]

Therefore, the X1 is the greatest travel camera ever, since I do not shoot birds:D

 

You can "shoot" birds very nicely with the X1:

 

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/nature-wildlife/139191-birds-x1.html#post1438042

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[Guest stnami]

it's great when you use it the way it demands to be used. But I'd say that its spectrum of utility is a lot narrower than it should be. Certainly a lot narrower than what it feels like it should be.

........ pretty much as sums the camera up and this has been mentioned numerous times in one form or another, ....... most understand this except for those working within a very narrow band of needs photographically eg a still bird.............. not birds in the distance, high up in a tree, flying, soaring, moving quickly etc

[ravinj]

Did anyone see Night of the Living Dead? A certain poster here reminds me of those zombies in the movie - you take one out and out comes another. Except that this person is all those zombies combined into one. But hey, he does have enough time to analyze X1 pictures posted on the forum. Now, if this zombie was a real pro he wouldn't have time to sit here and analyze pictures taken by a very limited camera - he would be busy with his pro work, i.e., birds in the distance, high up in a tree, flying, soaring, moving quickly etc. The fact that he just sits here and comments makes me believe that he is not a pro, but just an amateur trying to sound like a pro.

 

At least other posters do not pretend to be pros.

 

May this zombie should refer to: http://www.english-sayings.com/a-bad-workman-always-blames-his-tools/6