x-1 Lightroom D'loads and IQ quality

[Oxford]

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I am interested in an X-1, but I have some questions.

1- I saw on the web that a version of L'room 3 was announced about December 20, 2011. Is this different from L'room 3, no suffix? Or did I read the date wrong? If there is something new on the block, will the Leica d'load be for this latest version? If the 3.6 moniker is really for the same version as 3, then never mind. I know that not much time has elapsed since then, but if anyone knows, it would be nice.

2- I have a Lumix FZ 35 and have been disappointed in the IQ - noisy at any ISO over 200, and not great even at 100. Is this due to the lens or the sensors? Does anyone have any experience in this? I have read a good deal of praise for the X-1 at higher ISO's, which would make (any necessary) cropping and enlarging more productive even with the fixed focal length of the X-1. And the menus of the Lumix drive me crazy. I find myself not using the camera much.

3- I used to have a IIIg screw mount with a 50mm summicron. I know that processing counts for a lot these days, but how does the IQ of the X-1 compare with the summicron, given that the print processing is reasonably competent?

 

Thanks in advance for any information.

[nickma]

Re Lightroom downloads from Leica, the v3 upgrades automatically to v3.6 as soon as you install it. Superb processor in conjunction with the incredible fine tuning offered by Nik's Viveza 2 and Silver Efex Pro - available via ebay on downloads for £24 each.

 

Noise of the X1 is really superb up to 400, quite attractive at 800 with a very distinct film-like grain, and isn't so great at 1600.

 

The menus are genius, Steve Jobs-like in their supreme logic, even making low light workarounds due to slow focusing speed in these conditions do-able. For example, focus using AF (slow but uber reliable) switch to manual, the AF distance is retained (even when switching off and on again), fine-tune via a magnified moveable patch if desired, and fire away in M with barely any perceptible lag. This is by FAR the most complex real-world operation; all key photographic functions are at one's fingertips.

[Oxford]

Thanks for the information about L'room 3.6.

As to IQ between a screw-mount summicron and the elmarit in the X-1, I probably should have been more specific - i.e. wondering about a comparison between high speed Ektachrome slides (many of which I still have), scanned and made into 8X10 prints using Lightroom or some good processor, and the IQ of the X-1 at ISOs of 400 and 800, using the same software.

Again, thanks for your reply.

[Peter Branch]

In my experience, I have both types of image, in any comparison of an A4 print from a scanned High Speed Ektachrome, (160 ISO), slide versus one from an X1 file the X1 will give a vastly superior result even if the X1 is used at 400 or 800 ISO.

 

In the case of a Leica IIIg with a 50mm Summicron and High Speed Ektachrome, using what I assume would be something like a Nikon Super Coolscan 5000ED, the X1 image will contain a lot more information and be less grainy.

 

The world has moved on a great deal since the 1960’s

[Oxford]

Thanks for your reply. It told me what I need to know. I'll start saving for an X-1 as soon as I settle some medical expenses - no big deal, but as I'm sure most of you know, it doesn't take a big deal to get a big bill.

[memm]

Noise of the X1 is really superb up to 400, quite attractive at 800 with a very distinct film-like grain, and isn't so great at 1600.

 

I saw a few fantastic X1 photos on flickr (e.g. user Joseph1204). When I look at them closely they look like they have grain, not noise - but other X1 pictures seem to have the typical digital camera blur, I have even seen some that look like from a camera with a small sensor, very smudgy and not nice ...so I thought there was heavy lightroom work involved for the good photos - until I just read your post.

 

I just searched on the web, specifically looking for x1 iso 800 photos and the ones I saw are, again, too good to be true.

 

Would it be possible to upload one or two X1 ISO 800 photos that have not had heavy lightroom work done to them (I believe lightroom has a grain filter that can add film-like grain)? I would really appreciate that..