Lost. Posted November 17, 2010 Share #1 Â Posted November 17, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Yes, it's true. There's a beta version of the new firmware out. I took the Leica X1 Workshop in San Francisco last weekend where the Leica rep had and X1 with the 2.0 software on it. Â I was able to play with it for a few minutes and drill the Rep about what was coming, along with some suggestions. Â The biggest improvement is the auto focus. I did about 20 test shots with my X1 in one hand and his v2.0 in the other. The v2.0 eight times out of ten focused almost two times as fast as v1.0. A great improvement no doubt. Â In v2.0 the manual focus is also improved, they increased the size of the focus scale or bar in the display to nearly fill the display along the bottom, and it now shows the size of the DOF by making the solid green bar that moves change in size with the aperture. Anyways, the whole manual focus software seemed to just work easier. Â They did not make the lens retract immediately upon power down. Â No PNG only option. Though when asked I was answered with a suggestion that the camera needed the JPG for the review/preview and it was not likely change. "but I'm not an engineer".... Â I was explained that this was just a Beta test and all changes were not implemented yet.... Â I was told we should see v2.0 in 6-8 weeks. Â If they just would have the lens retract immediately, added with the nice focus improvements I'll be content with v2.0 as I'm quite happy with this camera and the images it produces already. Â Â Of course in this darkly lit room in a quick moment I didn't capture this image sharply and didn't get a second chance.... maybe with v2.0 I would have captured the shot. Â Â Â Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 17, 2010 Posted November 17, 2010 Hi Lost., Take a look here X1 Firmware v2 Upgrade [Merged thread]. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
timetraveller Posted November 17, 2010 Share #2 Â Posted November 17, 2010 Great! Â How about the file handling? have they improved the speed when entering in "play" mode?? When reviewing images? Â That's another weak point on my X1... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lost. Posted November 17, 2010 Author Share #3 Â Posted November 17, 2010 Honestly I didn't really test anything besides the focus, meaning I didn't do a direct comparison to my camera in file handling. I don't want to spread rumors or any misinformation.... It was a little hectic at the time with others wanting to try it out and asking questions to the Rep. Â The Leica Rep emphasized that this was a Beta and by no means a full version of changes, so don't give up hope! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ravinj Posted November 17, 2010 Share #4 Â Posted November 17, 2010 Joe - Thanks for the update. A lot of armchair theorists here have been insisting that the AF speed is limited by hardware and just cannot be increased. Let us see if they are right when the new firmware comes out. Now, why do I not see the X1 listed on your site in the Electronics list? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strobist Posted November 17, 2010 Share #5 Â Posted November 17, 2010 Wow I can't wait for this to be released! thanks for the mini review ChiTown. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
h00ligan Posted November 17, 2010 Share #6 Â Posted November 17, 2010 Definitely sounds promising. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChiILX1 Posted November 17, 2010 Share #7 Â Posted November 17, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Joe - Thanks for the update. A lot of armchair theorists here have been insisting that the AF speed is limited by hardware and just cannot be increased. Â Good point. I recently put 2 and 2 together and wanted to comment on this. Many self-declared know-it-alls said both that the AF couldn't be increased because of the refresh rate of the sensor, and also that it was the same sensor as the Nikon D300s (or is it 3000- doesn't matter for this point). Â So it's either one or the other because I know that camera doesn't have this AF speed. Â It's good to know the AF speed and MF are both improved- this is the best thread posting in months! Let's hope they read all the threads on the issue in this forum!!! Â ChiTown- did you notice if the aperture constantly adjusted itself like with V1.0? I am really hoping they fixed that at least for having it on aperture priority mode or with the screen off while the viewfinder is attached. It should save battery and add to the manual feel of the camera. And I get that if it didn't have it, it could still be in the final release. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
phancj Posted November 17, 2010 Share #8 Â Posted November 17, 2010 To the naysayers and detractors: Patience is truly a virtue, and meanwhile the X1 still produces nice photos anyway. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lost. Posted November 17, 2010 Author Share #9 Â Posted November 17, 2010 A lot of armchair theorists here have been insisting that the AF speed is limited by hardware and just cannot be increased. Now, why do I not see the X1 listed on your site in the Electronics list? Â Â Â I was told the minimum focus distance was limited by the hardware, but they obviously improved the focus speed via firmware. Â Yeah, I really need to update my site and add some X1 photo's too - been too busy traveling! Â Â Yeah, it's just a mini review - I'm exhausted after a long week of riding and camping with the SF Leica workshop thrown in the middle... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ecaton Posted November 17, 2010 Share #10 Â Posted November 17, 2010 Joe - Thanks for the update. A lot of armchair theorists here have been insisting that the AF speed is limited by hardware and just cannot be increased. Let us see if they are right when the new firmware comes out. Now, why do I not see the X1 listed on your site in the Electronics list? Â We knew this was nonsense. Ricoh has improved the AF speed and accuracy of the A12 module (same sensor as is in the X1) already twice, and with the recent one the GXR with A12 focuses quite snappy. In comparison with the X1 it feels "lightning fast". So if this is what we are going to get with FW 2.0, I start looking forward to Christmas:D. Improved mf functionality sounds nice as well. Faster start up and lens retraction would have been nice, but the af speed is the real issue. If this gets improved significantly, the X1 will feel like a new camera (as does the GXR with recent fm update). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephen.w Posted November 17, 2010 Share #11 Â Posted November 17, 2010 In v2.0 the manual focus is also improved, they increased the size of the focus scale or bar in the display to nearly fill the display along the bottom, and it now shows the size of the DOF by making the solid green bar that moves change in size with the aperture. Anyways, the whole manual focus software seemed to just work easier. Really great news! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roman Tripler Posted November 17, 2010 Share #12 Â Posted November 17, 2010 grrrrrreat. prepared for streets one reason more to change from my nikon d60 to the x1. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tc4237 Posted November 17, 2010 Share #13 Â Posted November 17, 2010 wow! looking forward to the updates! =DD Â thx for the mini review chitown.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ECliffordSmith Posted November 17, 2010 Share #14 Â Posted November 17, 2010 Hi ChiTown, Â Thank you for sharing this information with us. While I had every confidence the AF would be addressed it is good to hear about the MF improvements. The DNG only option would of course be nice but I did wonder why they did not do this already if it were to be simple. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeTexas Posted November 17, 2010 Share #15 Â Posted November 17, 2010 If only the beta firmware would leak to the torrents early the way the iPhone firmware always does. lol Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nemo12 Posted November 17, 2010 Share #16 Â Posted November 17, 2010 this sounds very promising, thanks for the mini review Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsa212 Posted November 18, 2010 Share #17 Â Posted November 18, 2010 I hope it comes out before I go on a Christmas vacation with my family to Europe. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveSFO Posted November 18, 2010 Share #18 Â Posted November 18, 2010 Thanks for the update. Can't wait to give it a try. I gave up my X1 because of the focus speed and the lack of setting for hyperfocal. If it works.... my camera store will need to order me an X1 once again. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stnami Posted November 18, 2010 Share #19 Â Posted November 18, 2010 Good to hear Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsrockit Posted November 18, 2010 Share #20 Â Posted November 18, 2010 I hope this firmware release isn't a complete let-down once available. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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