Leica X1 - Summary of Topics

[charliecruise]

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Firstly, let me say hello to each of you.

 

Secondly, let me explain the reason for this thread - to summarize what appears to be the primary topics in this forum in one place, as there appears to be considerable duplication of issues and solutions amongst a number of topics. Please feel free to add your 2 cents if you think I've missed anything.

 

The following list has been sorted alphabetically.

 

Battery Options

The standard Leica battery will likely offer the most security re potentially damaging your camera. However, it’s pricy and competitors offer cheaper solutions at, what could be seen as being, a higher risk. It’s a trade up between price and peace of mind.

Cases

Decide whether you need / want a half case, a travel case or both as they’re not the same thing. Half cases are aesthetically pleasing but don’t provide full camera protection, while full cases are less convenient but offer full protection. There are a number of options depending on your budget and requirements (e.g. do you intend to have a hand grip and optical viewfinder as that will change the dimensions of any case you require). For your interest the following case manufacturers are the most widely used: Luigi, Leica, Billingham, LowePro, & Fogg. Consider what you’ll be brining on an excursion (e.g. extra battery, strap, lens pen, etc.) and how long your excursion will be. After that, consider your budget and find the best priced option.

Dials

Top plate shutter speed and aperture dials: These are very easy to move by mistake. Always check before each exposure.

Firmware Updates

There are no current updates for the X1 currently available as of 06/09/10.

Focus Speed

No, the X1 does not have lighting fast auto focus speed. If you are used to shooting fast moving subjects then this would not be the camera for you. However, if you're patient and accept that you may have to take the shot again, then you'll be just fine with this camera.

Handgrip

Yes the camera looks a bit daft with it, but many agree that it adds to the camera’s comfort while shooting. Negatively, it’s pricy and makes gaining access to the battery and memory card slot a bit of a pain. If you’re a former DSLR shooter, you may feel a bit amiss without it.

Lens Cap

Yes the lens cap can come off quite easily. Take care and you’ll be fine.

Lightroom 3

Yes, it’s free with the purchase of the camera.

Optical Viewfinder

You really have two essential options: Leica or Voigtländer. The primary differences include price (Leica is twice the price), appearance (Leica is square and black while the Voigtländer is round and silver) viewing dimensions (Leica has a 36mm viewing field while the Voigtländer has a 35mm viewing field), and construction materials (Leica is a composite while Voigtländer is fully metal).

Screen Protector

There are many after-market options available. All in all, it’s a piece of plastic or glass covering the screen. Some are easier to put on than others and naturally they vary in price. Consider how you treat your belongings (e.g. with kid gloves or not). If you’re the former, then you’d be wise to purchase one from any camera shop.

Straps

There are many alternatives here from manufactures such as Luigi, Leica, Artisan & Artist and Nintendo (a Wii controller strap). The primary differences involve price, materials and craftsmanship. Decide how much you want to spend and find the best priced option.

[NZDavid]

A good summary. One important addition is:

 

Top plate shutter speed and aperture dials: These are very easy to move by mistake. Always check before each exposure.

[phancj]

Yup, I thought a while ago about the duplicating threads too, thanks for the summary.

 

By the way, David, is everything ok your end? Read the news about the quake. Wishing you and everyone around you well:)

[BB W]

Wow, thanks so much for this! I really appreciate your efforts very much!

 

P.S. I think that for those of us who wear glasses that the Leica optical viewfinder has the rubber piece on it, while the others do not, which could be important to some.

[ravinj]

Thanks for your efforts, but you missed the main topics of this forum:

 

1. How X1 is very slow and GF1, Nex and others are superior to it.

 

2. I can't imagine I spent $2,000 on this cr@# and it is so slow. Why did I not do research before spending the $$$? Oh, I bought it because of the red badge.

 

and the MOST important: 3. You can't shoot birds with X1, in particular the ones that are a mile away

[phancj]

Thanks for your efforts, but you missed the main topics of this forum:

 

1. How X1 is very slow and GF1, Nex and others are superior to it.

 

2. I can't imagine I spent $2,000 on this cr@# and it is so slow. Why did I not do research before spending the $$$? Oh, I bought it because of the red badge.

 

and the MOST important: 3. You can't shoot birds with X1, in particular the ones that are a mile away

 

Sorry Ravinj, you missed some important ones:

 

Peeling vulcanite

Worst LCD

too fragile, breaks sometimes if you drop it

Poor fitting optional leather case

no panorama, video capture, etc, etc

etc, etc.

 

Try to be more exhaustive in nature, ok?

 

hahahhaha!

[bill]

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Instead of bickering in a thread, why don't you lot capture this useful information in the Wiki...?

 

Regards,

 

Bill

[bill]

Do you understand what the Wiki is?

 

YOU write it. YOU contribute content. YOU shape it. YOU put in detail about the X1.

 

*shakes head*

[bill]

I know mine is. The OP had a good idea, I merely suggested a better vehicle for the knowledge.

 

Regards,

 

Bill

[erl]

Language and attitudes are getting out of hand in this thread. There are two options.

1. Clean up both the aforementioned, or

2. I close the thread.

 

I'm off to bed now. If things have not improved or ceased by morning, close it I will.

[JanCderidder]

Sweet dreams Erl ...

[RichardM8]

Gosh this forum is amazing... I've been on a few but never on one like this.

 

I am a passionate (KTM) motorcycle piston-head. You might expect rude/roughness, nasty language, attitudes and a**holes in abundance on forum with 'dirty-aggressive-black-leather-knuckledragging-neanderthal-bikers' right? (still the common image & stereotype)

 

I have never seen anything remotely like this on any motorcycle related forum as on this forum about 'elite' and exquisite Leica cameras and photography.

 

Unbelievable...

 

 

(a general observation, not aimed at anybody in particular)

[JanCderidder]

Richard,

 

it is getting out of hand, almost entertaining actualy, no... entertaining, forget the "almost"...

 

Why? ... I have thought about that, Leica has always sold instrument which can be used for photo graphical purposes at very high prices, but at very high quality as well.

These instruments were bought by a variety of people, definitely not by everyone whom thought he or she would need/want one for the simple fact that it was unfordable for most.

Owners were often seen as snobs, rich folk, posers etc.

 

Leica introduced their Panasonic range aimed at real and genuine amateurs who loved the idea of being able to shoot with a Leica camera at not to high expenses ... this is generally a happy bunch of users, and rightfully so because most of the Pana-Leica's are great cameras.

 

Then they added the dark-horse, the in-between cheaper, but equally attractive to the original Leica range... namely the X1 ..... Whom is this bought by/marketed at ... well at first not the folk whom buy 20K of leica gear, talk about it on the web and photograph theirs collection of swiss watches, chattering about how their newly acquired noctilux 0,95 beats the shit (whoops sorry) out of their 5 copies of 1.0 noctiluxes ... The X1 was received by a totally different group of photographers, whom actually take picture/images as a hobby and take it seriously, seeing the X1 as a quite affordable substitute for an M9 for the purpose it has been produced ... namely PHOTOGRAPHY! ... also these new Leica users, mostly young, are able to afford an X1 ... not automatically, but implying that they can afford it, and they know what they are buying, and also having the means to do so, implying again that they have OK jobs, proper/adequate education and therefore not taking any shit (whoops sorry) from "old farts" (whoops sorry again) telling them how to use their equipment, They know this already, have gone through a number of digital camera, have chosen for the X1 because of its quality rather than it's "badge" quality .... and rightfully so.

 

Leica introduces a new target group very successfully I must say, the LUF should waggle along where ever possible and not get stuck to "old value" photography ... HCB is dead, the decisive moment is surpassed by 10 fpm cameras ... and people will do their own thing ... producing an image which one likes is the most important part.... even for HCB

[ravinj]

Then they added the dark-horse, the in-between cheaper, but equally attractive to the original Leica range... namely the X1 ..... Whom is this bought by/marketed at ... well at first not the folk whom buy 20K of leica gear, talk about it on the web and photograph theirs collection of swiss watches, chattering about how their newly acquired noctilux 0,95 beats the shit (whoops sorry) out of their 5 copies of 1.0 noctiluxes ... The X1 was received by a totally different group of photographers, whom actually take picture/images as a hobby and take it seriously, seeing the X1 as a quite affordable substitute for an M9 for the purpose it has been produced ... namely PHOTOGRAPHY! ... also these new Leica users, mostly young, are able to afford an X1 ... not automatically, but implying that they can afford it, and they know what they are buying, and also having the means to do so, implying again that they have OK jobs, proper/adequate education and therefore not taking any shit (whoops sorry) from "old farts" (whoops sorry again) telling them how to use their equipment, They know this already, have gone through a number of digital camera, have chosen for the X1 because of its quality rather than it's "badge" quality .... and rightfully so.

 

Leica introduces a new target group very successfully I must say, the LUF should waggle along where ever possible and not get stuck to "old value" photography ... HCB is dead, the decisive moment is surpassed by 10 fpm cameras ... and people will do their own thing ... producing an image which one likes is the most important part.... even for HCB

 

Jan has nailed it. This nonsense about the decisive moment is irrelevant today as is endless whining about the X1's "limited utility". People who bought the X1 (most of them, that is) knew about what it could do. Apart from a small minority, they did not buy it and then suddenly discovered that its utility was limited (again in their own eyes).

 

Feature for feature and $ for $, the best of Nikon and Canon will blow away the M8 and M9. D700's weatherproofing and build makes the M8 seem like cotton-candy. But we don't want to get into this debate as it is pointless.

 

Show us what you have done with your X1. We can not interested in the shots that you missed or could not take because of lack of any perceived feature.

[bill]

Show us what you have done with your X1. We can not interested in the shots that you missed or could not take because of lack of any perceived feature.

 

Hoo-rah.

 

Somebody gets it. Instead of endless wringing of hands and cod psychology about who has bought what and why, about old and new, about youth and experience, and other divisive nonsense, why not focus on showing the world what you can do with your chosen tool.

 

There are a million excuses from techno-tubbies why a particular camera is "not fit for purpose"; in the meantime photographers get on with capturing the image. Barriers, constraints and insecurities are in the mind, not the camera.

 

So is talent.

 

Regards,

 

Bill

[bernie.lcf]

2. I can't imagine I spent $2,000 on this cr@# and it is so slow. Why did I not do research before spending the $$$? Oh, I bought it because of the red badge.

 

Basically you pay the price for the excellent Elmarit 2.8/24mm lens. The camera is an ok add on.

 

If you are looking for Canon and Nikon lenses in this league, you will have to buy the Nikon 24/1.4 ED or the Canon 24/1.4L. Both cost more than the X1 and do not include the camera.

 

Yes, both the Canon and Nikon have max. apperture 1.4, but they just don't make good lenses at this focal length with 2.8.

[BB W]

I may be wrong but aren't ravinj's and phancj's postings "tongue in cheek" due to the various naysayers who like to complain about the X1 in the other threads where many of us who enjoy our Leica X1 cameras discuss the attributes we do like and are discussing?

 

I realize I'm quite new here but I keep feeling as though people are misunderstanding each other's posts.

[charliecruise]

To be honest guys, I'm a bit disappointed by this thread; especially after spending the time that I did to put this together. My intent was to make gathering info re the X1 easier for people, but it appears as if this thread has become a dumping ground for personal opinions as opposed to the facts.

 

I have an X1 and so far am extremely happy with it, but I realize that it's not for everyone. Everyone's entitled to their 2 cents (as I put in my original post), but at the end of the day, it is just that.

 

If all are in favor (including the moderator) I would be happy to include the relevant comments provided (even the unable to take bird pictures remark which I find quite comical if only for the poor lad that bought the X1 for that purpose), under the condition that the other comments be removed so as to leave only the main summary. If that can not occur, then I would agree with Erl in that this thread should be closed as it's lost its original purpose anyway.

 

I would also agree with BB W, I believe the earlier remarks were made in gest but they were lost in translation.

 

Chris

[bill]

Chris,

 

Ignore the signal-to-noise ratio if you can. Please look at, and use, the Wiki. It is specifically there to provide an accessible platform for knowledge such as yours.

 

Regards,

 

Bill

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[Guest stnami]

amazing I don't even need to participate as you guys find a way of bickering amongst yourselves plus moderator intervention ...... just goes to shows that some of you are part of the problem not the solution.............. gotta luvit!

 

Best wishes with the Heckle and Jeckle show, phancie and ranji show, x marks the spot or whatever you need to call it............. Laughing and squirreling outa here