How to use X1 like a M.

[Shawnyue]

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Hi guys, I am new to this forum and I like this place. I bought my X1 yesterday and It's great. I just wanna suggest an interesting article which was an interview with Otto Schulze. Here is the link:

 

 

Otto Schulze On The Leica X1

 

in this article, Otto said he had the same feeling of using X1 with M. He used the external viewfinder and manual focus all the time. For detail, you can read the interview.

 

Also, in his review of the Fuji X100(you can search that through Google), he mentioned only X1 has the "Leica feeling" when taking photography.

 

I am really wondering what is his way of using X1?? Maybe we can guess and discuss it. We can adopt his method in the future for our own use.

 

Thanks for reading it, please ignore my grammar mistakes if any, since I am a non-native speaker.

 

Shawn

[phancj]

I have been using the X1 for two years and I am very satisfied with the camera.

 

However, the X1 is not an M, and will not behave like one. neither is the x100. The Ms are rangefinders and the whole concept is different.

 

I would draw on the X1's strengths and use it like it's designers intended it to be used. It offers superb image quality and is a real joy to use with its simplistic controls.

 

have fun!

 

CJ

[robert blu]

I use the X1 and the m7. Now if we can use the x1 as an m camera depends on language (please note english is not my mother language) because it must be clear what do we mean. They are different cameras and need to be operated in different way (x1 has no rangefinder). But if we like to photograph in a discrete way, without intimidate our subject I think we can use the two cameras in a similar way. Having the camera with aperture already set, depending on the subject choice autofocus or manual (on the x1 of course) or if use the rangefinder or scale/zone focus (on the m7) and than look around and shoot is my way to operate and in my opinion I do not find a real difference between the two cameras. Many times I have in my bag them both, m7 with an 100 iso film and x1 when I need higher iso. I have to say that I mainly use the 35 mm lens on the M which make easier to switch between the two cameras.

robert

[lars_bergquist]

The X100 is my backup for the M9. And I do use it like a M: Focus on Manual. The AFL/AEL is set to lock both focus and exposure, but with manual focusing, a slight pressure on it focuses the lens on what's inside the focusing box in the finder. And there it stays until I do a new focusing! I never use standard or continuous autofocus.

 

The other method is for street photography, where I set f:8 and manually crank the focus to (usually) abt. 4 meters for zone focusing. Works beautifully.

 

The old man from the Age of the X-Files

[village idiot!]

i also set the X1 to f/8 or f/11 and lock the manual focus at around 9 feet. this works great for street shooting, which is about 95% of what i do. i also have an olympus micro 4/3rds optical viewfinder for a 20mm lens (40mm in 35mm film camera terms), the top and bottom frame line is about right for the focal length of the X1 but you have to to imagine that you'll gain a bit extra on the sides. my only gripe is that the X1 takes frequent naps if it stays idle for more than a few minutes, i've missed a lot of shots at the critical moment because it has to snap out of it's day dream. the only solution i've found to get around this is to press the taking button lightly every few minutes. it works but the battery drains pretty quickly. need to get a spare one of these days.

[paulpp]

I agree about the Olympus viewfinder - paid about £70 for mine and painted in black to match the X1. The guidelines are tighter than the actual picture area but I take the view I can always crop - therefore better that the other way around.

I also agree about having to keep pressing the shutter button to keep it alive.

As for best setting an experimenting with face detection, which defaults to 11 point area if no face is detected.