iwh88 Posted November 10, 2011 Share #1 Â Posted November 10, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) I have recently got my X1 and have really enjoyed going through the X1 members threads, particularly comments on carry case, viewfinders, grip, adapter & filters. It seems everyone has gone into such long before me! I plan to use MF most of the time and I wonder how many use MF and use Hyperfocal Distance. Any tips will be welcome. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 10, 2011 Posted November 10, 2011 Hi iwh88, Take a look here New X1 member. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Steve Lane Posted November 10, 2011 Share #2 Â Posted November 10, 2011 Glad to hear that you have got your X1 . I cannot offer any tips as I am a newbie on this forum, and will hopefully be purchasing my X1 in just over a weeks time. The quality and amount of information I have found on this forum has been superb and I am now fully aware of its strengths and weaknesses. Â The only thing I am on the fence about now is which color to choose... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivan Muller Posted November 10, 2011 Share #3 Â Posted November 10, 2011 iwh88, Â I have had my x for almost a year now... Â I use MF, f11 and auto shutter most of the time. I set the hyperfocal distance so that the line on the lcd is from infinity to about 1.8-2m. I also use the optical viewfinder. This makes for a relatively fast camera and I don't have to worry about focusing at all, which is actually quite nice for a change, becomes a real high quality point and shoot! Â For semi to close-up portraits I usually select f5.6 and put the camera on face recognition, essential if you have the optical viewfinder....all I have to worry about now is paralax - with the optical viewfinder. Â Last one is the high speed single spot focusing with the LCD turned off, this is the fastest set up, according to Erwin Putts. He has written the best review I have seen so far unless you like the Steve Huff type reviews.... Â All three of the above are preset in my menu and is quite easy to recall and quickly change to what I want. I only use aperture priority metering and I find the meter to be very accurate for most situations except backlit were its also easy to change quickly. Â I never use MF except via 'zone' or hyperfocal distance focusing... I find its just too slow, LCD to grainy/low res and the AF is much faster.. Â Iso for above settings is iso400. I only change it if the situation warrants it. Resolution wise its fine for all situations except 'grand' landscapes were I would prefer to use more pixels as the fine detail gets a bit lost...thats where the 5d2 and the ZD comes in... Â It took me about a month to get used to the cameras quirks but now I am fairly confident with it and its actually quite a nice little camera. Also got the grip and a 2nd batt. Â Thus be patient, practice a lot and the rewards will come. IMO its the fastest Leica street camera, because of the easy Zone focus setup, massive depth of field at f11/f8 and because the shutter is silent and because it (without the optical finder) looks most like a mickey mouse consumer digital camera that nobody takes seriously......and most people don't know what a Leica is, never heard of it and don't know that its supposed to be the poshest camera of all.... Â Enjoy...! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted November 10, 2011 Share #4 Â Posted November 10, 2011 iwh88, Welcome to X1 ownership and to the forum! It is pleasing to read that a new member has done some research and found the available information useful. Nothing is a substitute for actual practice so, having absorbed some good advice, go out there and shoot .... shoot ... and ...shoot some more! Â MF is very useful for street photography, not my prime application, and also for repeat subjects which lend themselves to focusing presets. Be aware, however, of the possibility to forget to change your presets when moving on to a different subject at a different distance. Â White Balance is often taken for granted. However do explore setting manual white balance using a calibrated grey card or similar, in difficult lighting colour temperatures; mostly indoors under artificial or mixed lighting. It makes a surprising difference to relying on Auto WB. Â Finally, although not so well set up as with the M9, explore the use of User Profiles (Instructions Page 115). I use these extensively because they provide insurance against inadvertently using inappropriate previous camera settings. It is a good personal camera discipline. Â Oh, and do shoot Raw for the highest quality results! Â Enjoy your new camera! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
iwh88 Posted November 11, 2011 Author Share #5 Â Posted November 11, 2011 Thanks for the tips guys. It looks like a few presets will be a time saving and useful feature for me in similar types of hyperfocal shots. As I live in a sunny and bright part of Australia, the grey/white card process sounds like it might be needed - once I work out how to do it! One item in the forum that gets my attention is the OVF. Will an ovf make that much difference for landscape/travel and portrait photography to justify the cost of my getting one? (Any answers in the positive may be used as evidence when I put any future arguement before my wife). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted November 11, 2011 Share #6 Â Posted November 11, 2011 I would have thought that in the bright parts of Australia an OVF would be very useful. Furthermore, it aids stability, reduces camera shake and lends more intimacy with subjects of your choice. You feel more a part of the act of photography than just holding a camera with outstretched arms. Mine is now a fixture on the camera and has been since the day I bought it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
iwh88 Posted November 12, 2011 Author Share #7 Â Posted November 12, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) David: Thanks for the info. In the past, when I used my Canon point and shoot, there certainly was sometimes a bit of movement trying to balance the camera. So, which viewfinder did you purchase and why that particular one? Also, if you leave it on the camera, do you then have a particular bag to retain everything? Just thinking ahead. Regards, Ian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted November 12, 2011 Share #8 Â Posted November 12, 2011 Ian, my OVF is 18707, the one designed for the camera. Why? I have a 21mm OVF which is well made and clear for easy framing and I just stuck with proven quality. There are cheaper alternatives if cost is an issue. Â I was an early adopter of the X1 and suffered initial delivery delays. In compensation Leica offered me the 18710 X1 Ever Ready Case which I accepted gratefully. That is a good case, but you have to stow the viewfinder in the provided small leather case which is attached to the strap when closing the case. It is grey leather, good quality and smart-looking. I often use the half-case with grip and viewfinder, all of which fits in the next case. Â Much of the time when travelling, my X1 shares a bag with my M camera. Alternatively I have found the Lowepro Apex 100 AW (all-weather) case almost perfect for outings just with the X1. It fixes onto a belt or has a detachable shoulder strap. My only slight criticism is its depth. There is ample room for a spare battery, cards etc. It is well-padded, comfortable to use and recommended. Hope that information helps you decide. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spylaw4 Posted November 13, 2011 Share #9 Â Posted November 13, 2011 Apart from some of the points in the post #8 above (everybody's MMV), I endorse David's recommendations. IMO an OVF is all but essential more so in brightly lit places. Â I use an A&A 1/2 case which I find to be good protection against almost inevitable minor bumps/knocks - also there's no need to remove the OVF! Â I also use the A&A black silk neck strap. This has some slight "give" and also is very comfortable wrapped around one's wrist. Â Whether you go for a Thumbs-up is a matter of personal choice - as are my other points! Â Frankly it's a very good camera - producing excellent IQ results. Enjoy it, the discipline of a single focal length is revelatory! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
iwh88 Posted November 16, 2011 Author Share #10 Â Posted November 16, 2011 Brian: Thanks for the info and details about X1 accessories. I have a brown leather case, Giottos protector, a B&W uv filter on a Kiwi type adapter and I am about to get some SD cards and spare batteries. (There is a place in Australia that guarantees their batteries against possible damage of equipment, so I am checking them out). For Christmas, I hope to get a Lowepro Apex 100 bag that will contain everything. There is an ongoing debate on a forum thread that compares the 2 most popular viewfinders for the X1. I am leaning towards the Leica, but not looking forward to paying the higher cost. An OVF looks a cert, but it will have to wait. Regards, Ian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
symmetron Posted November 16, 2011 Share #11 Â Posted November 16, 2011 I also use a half-case, LCD protector, OVF, and Kiwi tube (no filter). After reading of others' experiences with dust on the sensor and the "not to great" extending lens barrel, I thought the additional protection of the lens was a good move. So far, so good. Â For a case, I picked up a Leica Neoprene M8 eveready case which is a little big (and roomy for the X1 even with OVF), but it offers good protection and easy to get on/off. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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