Not to start rumors...

[gar1013]

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but there is one question that I didn't get a "No" answer to at the Leica Akademie: Would Leica be producing an X1 with a different focal length in the future (similar to what Sigma has done with the DP cameras).

 

Of course, I didn't get a yes answer either.

 

Who knows if they're considering such a thing, but perhaps it'd be worth suggesting. I could see there being a market for a 50mm equiv. X1.

[jankap]

but there is one question that I didn't get a "No" answer to at the Leica Akademie: Would Leica be producing an X1 with a different focal length in the future (similar to what Sigma has done with the DP cameras).

 

Of course, I didn't get a yes answer either.

 

Who knows if they're considering such a thing, but perhaps it'd be worth suggesting. I could see there being a market for a 50mm equiv. X1.

 

There were numerous posts to this question in the past. Stereo-X2, Tri-Elmar-X3, Zoomlens-X4, Noktilux-X5, etc. are proposed.

Do you see a market for 1 piece (perhaps you), 10, 100, 1000 or 10.000?

Let them follow their own strategies, is my opinion. If they are ready, you will hear of it.

Jan

[gar1013]

There were numerous posts to this question in the past. Stereo-X2, Tri-Elmar-X3, Zoomlens-X4, Noktilux-X5, etc. are proposed.

Do you see a market for 1 piece (perhaps you), 10, 100, 1000 or 10.000?

Let them follow their own strategies, is my opinion. If they are ready, you will hear of it.

Jan

 

There's obviously a market for it, as Sigma has demonstrated. At the end of the day, the X1 is a high quality competitor to the DP1. Introducing a Normal focal length equivalent is an obvious next step -- I almost passed on the X1 because I wanted something a bit less wide-angle.

 

Customers and potential customers should always feel free to let companies know if they have an interest in a potential product. Unless you are developing a revolutionary product (like Apple's iPad or iPhone), customer sentiment is ignored at your own peril.

[Guest badbob]

The size may be the final determinant. Many of the criticisms about the X1 suggest increasing the size, which is the one unique feature of the X1 - i.e. smallest camera with APS-C sensor. Add a viewfinder, size goes up. Add a zoom lens, size goes up. Add a new model with fixed 90 mm lens, size goes up and sales might be too small to justify. I think Leica could produce a camera as small with a 35-75 zoom for example, using more advanced technology to maintain the X1's quality throughout that range, but I'll bet it would increase the price a lot! Again, sales could plummet.

[gar1013]

I think zoom can be safely eliminated as a direction they will go in for the X1. The response when someone asked about zoom indicated that the compromise in image quality with a zoom wasn't in line with what they were trying to accomplish with the camera.

 

I could see them going to a more normal focal length, and it would probably not result in a noticeable size increase.

 

If I was going to place a small wager, I could see them doing a f2.5 35mm lens on the X1 for a ~53mm equivalent focal length.

[Gilles L.]

a 35 lux would be nice

[DwF]

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I've been carrying mine and happy with it as is....still new and it does what I need but I was thinking the "X2" would be 24mm f2 ....what do I know?

[gar1013]

I've been carrying mine and happy with it as is....still new and it does what I need but I was thinking the "X2" would be 24mm f2 ....what do I know?

 

Given that you'd need an 16mm lens to arrive at that focal length equivalent, I'd bet against that for an X2.

[DwF]

Given that you'd need an 16mm lens to arrive at that focal length equivalent, I'd bet against that for an X2.

 

It is called a 24mm on the X1 which works out to 35mm, or 36mm in actuality. I wouldn't want it wider but if it were f2 and they offered a 28mm, I'd snap it up. For me that is more useful than 50 (in 35mm terms).

[h00ligan]

F2 would definitely be welcome, personally more useful than 50mm

[NZDavid]

Recall Photokina? From the summary of the LUF meeting:

 

Leica said, "The upcoming development concentrates on a successor for the X1...Leica sees much room for a further development, with less interest on contemporary features like HD Video or GPS but classical Leica virtues:

- simple handling

- sublime grace design

- outstanding picture quality."

 

Leica also reported, "The Leica D-Lux5 was highly welcomed and Leica has already taken 14,000 orders."

 

Which goes to show there is definitely strong demand for high quality compact cameras with multiple focal lengths, whether zoom or fixed.

 

I think an X1 with another fixed lens would not go so well. Far better to have a W/A attachment -- ideally down to 21mm-equiv -- and perhaps a 90mm-equiv. tele attachment.

A lenshood would also be welcome!

[jsrockit]

I think zoom can be safely eliminated as a direction they will go in for the X1.

 

Not really... check the history of the Minilux and CM.

[Dan States]

It will be a zoom or they are nuts. You can definitely make a zoom with variable max aperture at a quality level to match the x1. They did it with the Minilux.

 

Best wishes

Dan

[DwF]

I see the X1 camera as a digital Hexar (okay a stretch but it's a start).

 

The Hexar won many Leica shooters and saw the beauty of that design. The camera had a fixed fast/sharp 35mm lens that had a built in hood, accepted filters and offered spot metering as well as center-weighted metering; simple intelligently designed. From what I understand, the designers at Konica , who appreciated the Leica, convinced their bosses to let them develop that camera as a sort of modern Leica and a tribute to a camera they loved.

 

Leica would (IMHO) do better to develop the X1 long the lines of what they've started with a fixed focal length camera and focus on larger aperture, or offer an alternative focal length.

 

On another note, taking my new camera out yesterday, I second the call for a lens hood. I ended up purchasing a cap keeper because I really want the cap on to protect the lens. I don't trust the light spring on that cap and know that it will fly off hence a cap-keeper.

 

I can live with a separate lens cap and trust that the coating handles glare pretty well (my hand will do in a pinch), but a hood and filter thread would make me feel a lot more comfortable walking around with the cap off of the camera.

 

David

[gar1013]

Not really... check the history of the Minilux and CM.

 

But look at the fact that they already have Leica branded zoom cameras in the market.

 

Any new X1 would need to be a product that doesn't compete with any products that they currently produce.

 

My money would be on a different focal length, not a faster lens and not a zoom. A faster lens would equate to an X1 replacement, not an X2 (or X1a or whatever). A zoom would just take away sales from the DLux5.

 

With regards to the hood and being worried about the lens, the coating on the lens is very tough. The Leica rep at the LA Akademie took an X1 and started furiously scratching the lens back and forth. He told us that although some people freak out when he does it, the coating on the lens can handle it. While I'm not going to test that myself, it does give me enough piece of mind to where my X1 (arriving today!) will be allowed to leave my house.

[jsrockit]

But look at the fact that they already have Leica branded zoom cameras in the market.

 

The Leica Mini series of cameras were out the same time as the Minilux series... at different price points. No competition.

[Nicoleica]

The Leica Mini series of cameras were out the same time as the Minilux series... at different price points. No competition.

 

The Leica Mini cameras are very underrated in my opinion. I had a Mini 3, which is now being regularly used by my youngest brother, and it has a beautiful lens that gives great results.

[gar1013]

The Leica Mini series of cameras were out the same time as the Minilux series... at different price points. No competition.

 

So to get an X1 zoom, which they won't be doing, they'd have to price it at $4k. You already have ~$1k Leica branded zoom products. If you priced it anywhere near $2k, you'd destroy sales of the current X1 and alienate existing customers.

 

Of course, by the time you have a $4k X1 zoom, you'd have to have the quality to back it up...at which point, you risk cannibalizing your M9 sales.

 

Again: next version will be fixed focal length. Leica already has some zooms they'd be happy to sell you: the D-Lux5 and the V-Lux2.

[jsrockit]

So to get an X1 zoom, which they won't be doing, they'd have to price it at $4k. You already have ~$1k Leica branded zoom products. If you priced it anywhere near $2k, you'd destroy sales of the current X1 and alienate existing customers.

 

Why would a zoom X1 at $2000 cannibalize sales or alienate current X1 customers? I think you are assuming that most people want a zoom lens in their camera? I'd say that some do, but I sure as hell don't (and I'm not alone). You either like zooms or you don't. Many Leica users don't.

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[gar1013]

Why would a zoom X1 at $2000 cannibalize sales or alienate current X1 customers? I think you are assuming that most people want a zoom lens in their camera? I'd say that some do, but I sure as hell don't (and I'm not alone). You either like zooms or you don't. Many Leica users don't.

 

Given the number of people that seem to think that a zoom lens is the way to go, but have bought an X1 anyways, how could there not be cannibalization / alienation?

 

X1 sales are made up of people that either like having a fixed focal length, or those who are willing to put up with not having a zoom in exchange for the image quality.

 

If Leica were to introduce a zoom X1, a few things would happen: 1) They'd look like a bunch of liars given that they stated that they weren't willing to make the quality compromise on the X1 that goes with a zoom. 2) A fairly sizeable percentage of potential X1 purchasers would go ahead and get the zoom version. 3) Some recent purchasers of the fixed focal length who prefer the zoom would sell their X1s on the second hand market, potentially creating enough of a price differential between new and nearly new to siphon off a significant amount of sales from Leica.

 

Leica is a lot like Porsche: a small German company that has a niche product that it is identifiable with (M-series / 911), that also produces a an entry level product that will always be kept as a second tier (X1 / Boxster & Cayman), and makes use of partnerships with larger companies to make dual branded products (DLux & VLux / Cayenne). With that in mind, they're going to introduce items that carefully slot into their existing product hierarchy so that there's as little potential for overlap as possible.