X! Attitude

[macfast]

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Macfast, I would urge you to follow NZDavid's advice and email Leica Customer Services, either in your country or Solms. Do this in the interests of future potential Leica customers who may not be so enlightened as you are in seeking the truth.

 

I will definitely take this advice on board and consider communicating this to Leica customer service.

 

As NZDavid also mentioned, more Leica boutiques would be fantastic (even just one in Australia) and I would be willing to drive a few hours to visit one where I could get top quality service and advice from someone who knows the product they are selling.

[earleygallery]

What's funnier is he told me they didn't have one in the store to look at (I had only seen it on their website but it's not on display).

 

This is probably the main reason why the salesperson didn't want you to buy an X1. Did they have the other cameras he recommended in stock?......

 

I agree it's bad sales practice. You say he went to ask someone else for advice too?!!

 

The X1 has some drawbacks, but if you had already made up your mind to buy one then he was a fool for trying to put you off. Check the buy/sell forum here as they do crop up from time to time.

[macfast]

This is probably the main reason why the salesperson didn't want you to buy an X1. Did they have the other cameras he recommended in stock?......

 

I agree it's bad sales practice. You say he went to ask someone else for advice too?!!

 

The X1 has some drawbacks, but if you had already made up your mind to buy one then he was a fool for trying to put you off. Check the buy/sell forum here as they do crop up from time to time.

 

That's true, while they may not have had one in their store, I'm sure within a couple of days it could have been there to pick up. Who he asked for advice I have no idea, but it has me thinking, if he didn't know as much as his colleague, why wasn't this person willing to come and discuss the camera with me? Anyways I have received some great advice here on the forum (which is greatly appreciated). I hope to have one very soon.

[earleygallery]

There is a black X1 with viewfinder and case in the for sale section now!

[macfast]

There is a black X1 with viewfinder and case in the for sale section now!

 

I had emailed the owner re: it and he said it was refurbished by Leica. Does anyone know much about what this means?

[earleygallery]

That usually means that it was either an ex demo camera or more likely a customer return, so they check it over and re-sell it with the same warranty as a new camera.

[shard]

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I have 2 X1s, the original grey and later the black one as a backup. I love them to death because they are so simple and yet the picture quality is amazing.

 

I am also of the school that believes that a camera is never outdated. A 2 year old camera will still take the same pictures it has always taken, it won't get worse over time or because something new has been released.

 

My only complaint? The pricing. It was fine when it was first released, with only possibly Ricoh and Sigma as competition, even then they did not come close. Now that there is the X100 and mirrorless systems with APS-C sized sensors from Sony, Samsung, Ricoh and soon Fuji, the market has gotten alot more crowded.

 

I own the X1 now, will I replace them anytime soon? Probably not.

 

BUT, will I buy a X1 now for what it costs, USD1995 (according to B&H)? Probably not, the competition is not necessarily better, but there are alot more options out there and some of those options come with alot of functionality at a lower price point. A Sony Nex 5N body only costs USD599 and a Zeiss E mount 25mm f/1.8 costs USD999. That is alot of camera for only around USD1600.

[tom0511]

Thanks for your comments. What subjects do you find yourself shooting regularly with the X1? You seem to have a lot of choice. I'm just curious how people use the X1.

 

I understand it's targeted towards the professional traveller but it appears to be used a lot more than just that. For me it will (if I can get one) be my only camera.

 

I usually carry it when I want a small camera but still great IQ.

Quite often during vacation (when the bigger camera stays in the hotel room), or on bycicle trips, or when meeting friends, or on business trips.

 

I would say the x1 can shoot everything very well as long as the 35mm FOV works and if you do not need continues/fast AF. Some samples:

 

Some x1 images:

Sunday evening walk, handheld:

 

playing in the garden with kids:

 

Vacation summer:

 

Nature:

 

Vacation Winter:

[wda]

I usually carry it when I want a small camera but still great IQ.

Quite often during vacation (when the bigger camera stays in the hotel room), or on bycicle trips, or when meeting friends, or on business trips.

 

I would say the x1 can shoot everything very well as long as the 35mm FOV works and if you do not need continues/fast AF. Some samples:

 

Some x1 images:

Sunday evening walk, handheld: http://www.pbase.com/tstreng/image/131692592/original.jpg

 

playing in the garden with kids:

http://www.pbase.com/tstreng/image/126129023/original.jpg

 

Vacation summer:

http://www.pbase.com/tstreng/image/141079213/original.jpg

 

Nature:

http://www.pbase.com/tstreng/image/125663714/original.jpg

 

Vacation Winter:

http://www.pbase.com/tstreng/image/141079094/original.jpg

Be aware that your referenced Nature picture is password protected. Others are fine.

[macfast]

That usually means that it was either an ex demo camera or more likely a customer return, so they check it over and re-sell it with the same warranty as a new camera.

 

Thanks for that. I'm really considering the one for sale here on the forum but it's a lot of money without a warranty (it has since expired).

[Paul J]

I was amazed at how many sales people tried to sell me other cameras when shopping for an X1. Usually saying something like - "The Leica is really expensive, there are cheaper options, you know, if you want to spend less and they do exactly the same thing"

 

I hate to generalise but often camera sales people are terrible. I cringe when I walk into camera stores and they try and give you the hard sell and talk *at* you as if you know nothing. It's so easy to have a thirty second to one minute conversation with someone first and find out what playing field the customer is on rather than insult their intelligence or try and change their mind from what they really want. Online shopping is so much better these days!

[earleygallery]

Thanks for that. I'm really considering the one for sale here on the forum but it's a lot of money without a warranty (it has since expired).

 

I'd only buy a s/h digital camera without warranty if it was cheap, and I could check it over first. Most dealers give 6-12months warranty on used equipment, worth paying a little extra for IMHO (I would also prefer to sell expensive digital equipment via a dealer, to avoid hassle if the camera just happened to pack up a week after the new owner has bought it!).

[Ivan Muller]

Actually you are very lucky! Go back with your sd card and take pics with both..you will be able to compare the handling of both at the same time, compare af speed and responsiveness and go home and look at the image quality and sharpness at your leisure....and then you can make up your own mind....and not have to rely on someone else's opinion and that includes the salesmen....what more can one ask for...?

[Ivan Muller]

Your salesperson was probably more interested in selling the X100 for the lucrative accessories and higher margins than possible with the X1. I've had the X1 for over a year now and it still my favorite travel companion. Especially in countries where photographing in the streets is a little problematic (Morocco for example), that beautiful light and compact X1 is also very stealthy. Nobody can hear the click of the shutter and know whether I took their picture or not. Lens is tack sharp and the files are very rich and a joy to edit, leaving plenty of data for some cropping if need to with the fixed lens. Get one and enjoy having it on you all the time.

 

 

I have to agree with everything you said, I have one myself...but all this will also apply to a number of other cameras like the 100 etc etc....

[brill64]

the x100 seems slightly outdated now since it's already been superceded by the x10 and more recently, an x-something else..although i've considered the x100 once or twice, i've kept my x1 and glad i did. it's a fantastic little camera with a tough, brilliant little lens that gives me sturdy images time and again. salesmen are often just that...salesmen and the fact that he had to go off to ask someone else about the x1 suggests he knew nothing about it in the first place. don't be fooled by the red dot when it's stuck on that shop window, they'd sell you anything if you let them. do your research and stick to your guns.

[robert blu]

In my opinion too many seller or are not enough competent or have more interest in selling something else than what the client is looking for. It's a difficult world. Ideal would be if you could find anybody with an x1 near to where you live and spend a couple of hours with him.

It's an excellent camera, but it depends on your shooting style or needs.

robert

[nickma]

Thanks for that. I'm really considering the one for sale here on the forum but it's a lot of money without a warranty (it has since expired).

 

I bought my X1 from the original buyer, and paid £750 ($1200) for the camera and VF. It was less than 3 months old, mint, shipped from Leica with Firmware 2.0 (and accompanying mini manual explaining the 2.0 functions). There had been 350 frames shot.

 

I immediately emailed Leica in Solms, and they were fantastic - they reset the registration of the camera, enabling me to register in my name, and enabled the download of Lightroom software (it had not previously been downloaded). Nothing was too much trouble.

 

This wouldn't have been possible without the original sales receipt and the original warranty card - critical bits of paper to acquire with a second hand camera. Having all the original paperwork and sales receipt gives you a lot more options should anything go wrong, so this would be my advice, especially since Leica customer service is so reassuringly good and straightforward.

[ijporter]

Macfast, I don't know where you live in Australia, but if you're anywhere near Sydney, Foto Riesel in Kent St have a 'boutique' Leica section - they won't muck you around!

 

Ian

[shard]

the x100 seems slightly outdated now since it's already been superceded by the x10 and more recently, an x-something else..although i've considered the x100 once or twice, i've kept my x1 and glad i did. it's a fantastic little camera with a tough, brilliant little lens that gives me sturdy images time and again. salesmen are often just that...salesmen and the fact that he had to go off to ask someone else about the x1 suggests he knew nothing about it in the first place. don't be fooled by the red dot when it's stuck on that shop window, they'd sell you anything if you let them. do your research and stick to your guns.

 

The X100 and X10 are 2 very different camera. One is fixed focal length with a larger sensor and one is a zoom with a much smaller sensor. They are meant for different uses and do not compete in the same market space. If the X100 competes with the X1, the X10 will compete with the DLux5.

 

The X-Pro 1 on the other hand is an interchangeable lens mirrorless camera. Unless the price of a prime lens and body competes with that of the X1, it is also not the same thing.

 

If you already have a X1, I don't see a reason to get another camera anytime soon unless you want video.

 

For all the other bells and whistles, it depends. I shoot in raw so alot of the fancy features do absolutely nothing for me since they only work on jpegs. My line of thought is this, do I want a dinky processor with a small amount of ram attached to a camera to do my processing or a multiple core Mac or PC with tons of ram?

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[nickma]

I shoot in raw so alot of the fancy features do absolutely nothing for me since they only work on jpegs. My line of thought is this, do I want a dinky processor with a small amount of ram attached to a camera to do my processing or a multiple core Mac or PC with tons of ram?

 

Couldn't agree more. Nice to know that the Lenstip test (search Google) of the X1 raw and jpegs show no difference in optical integrity between them: in other words there's no fancy processing in camera to correct lens design shortcomings. So what you get is a fine and pure quality raw file that can be beautifully processed in LR, Aperture and other workflow tools like Nik's software suite with a ton of gorgeous detail. That for me is the bottom line.