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Experiences with the x1 in 3 months India


thfloegel

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Normally I take pictures with a combination of the Nikon D700 and leitaxed Leica-R

lenses, but in October last year I bought a used Leica x1 - only 6 months old - from someone, who needed the money to upgrade to a M9.

 

Some problems I had were my own, some had to do with the camera:

 

1) If you carry around the camera in an inconspicuous cloth-bag like I do, always check the settings of the two wheels before taking pictures. I normally use A-mode, but have taken pictures in all the others, since I didn't check the position of the two wheels every time I took the camera out of the bag.

 

2) Who needs shutter-sound, if one is sure the picture has been taken? But with the not so fast AF of the x1 I was never sure, when the picture was taken after pressing the shutter, so I set the shutter-sound to low just to make sure that it happened.

 

3) Being used to focus manually, I had some problems with the AF of the x1: in strong sunlight I could not see on the monitor where the focus was exactly, which resulted in more photos with incorrect focus than I normally have (and I am 66 years old and wear glasses).Because of these problems with strong sun light, I use the Voigtlaender VF, but don't switch off the monitor, so I can control the focussing point better (unless there is too much light, of course).

 

4) I missed quite a lot of photos, as I forgot that after the automatic retraction of the lens after 2 minutes, I do have to release the shutter twice and not only once to take a picture. So I'd rather run around with two spare batteries and set the time to 5 or 10 minutes.

 

All in all the x1 was a joy to use and the IQ is astonishing. In case you are interested, check my site on

 

Fluidr / madamasu's photos and videos

 

Most of the pictures I recently uploaded were taken with the x1.

 

Having also been to Rajasthan, a very dusty place because of the desert-sand everywhere, I had no problems with dirt on the sensor, so obviously the camera is pretty well sealed.According to my experiences, it is a really reliable camera to travel with, and I'm sure it will be the camera I'll always take with me.

 

After three weeks or so, I lost the aperture wheel, as the screw came loose without me realizing it.It didn't matter much, because I could still change the aperture setting and check it on the monitor.

I sent the camera to Leica Costumer Care on March 7, they started to work on it on March 9 (March 10/11 was a weekend) and sent it back to me on March 13, so after one week I had my camera back in perfect condition. Excellent service!!!

 

Thomas

 

P.S. I live in Frankfurt/Main Germany, so Solms and the Leica CS is not very far, but till I was surprised by their speed.

Edited by thfloegel
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Thomas, welcome to the forum and X1 ownership! And for your first trip impressions report. I love your pictures and note how many were taken in soft lighting conditions with good results.

 

Regarding accidental dislodgement of top dials, I find that the aperture wheel is more prone to accidental change. Because of that, my default setting is 2.8. It is safer then if it moves one position than if left on A.

 

Pleased to read of your excellent service at Solms.

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First of all: thank you very much for your friendly comments.

 

Yes, these are all DNG files that have been converted and slightly PPed in PS4. Some of them had to be de-saturated or the colour-balances slightly adjusted, in some I had to adjust luminance or whatever you call it in English, as I take pictures pre-set at EV -2/3, as I didn't know how the camera reacts to highlights. So some are simply to dark, but at least there are almost no overblown highlights.

 

Thomas

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...as I take pictures pre-set at EV -2/3, as I didn't know how the camera reacts to highlights. So some are simply to dark, but at least there are almost no overblown highlights.

 

Thomas

Thomas, have you given serious thought to using manual exposure settings? Once you have grown to understand the camera histogram and realise it relates only to a derived jpeg file, manual control gives you extra precision in attaining your desired density levels. I rarely use EV adjustments.

 

My default setting is Av priority. Half a pressure indicates the projected automatic exposure; I note the details, set the shutter speed to a desired safe shake-free figure and adjust the aperture guided by the suggested exposure. It takes longer to explain than do, but is worth trying. Succeeding exposures are merely checks and refinements of the determined exposure. Regular practice is the key to success.

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Glad to be of assistance, Thomas. I should add that having switched to manual control, at the end of a shoot I reset the camera to Av. That is purely a precaution to get more accurate exposure if my resumed shooting is in a hurry. Left on the last manual setting is often not correct for a later shooting.

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Personally I would still prefer a AE dial on the top or have the function same as M9 just turn the wheel on the back.

 

It's easy to miss shots with Manual exposure settings, especially on trips like the OP's going from changing light from one second to the next. Under trees, in full sun, under building eaves then backlit etc etc.

 

I find it easy to guess what to set the exposure compensation dial to when looking at a scene. It's instant and easy and only one dial to set which is much fast than setting two. I want the shot right away. Not after messing about with dials. You have to be ready for shots - if you've seen it it's already too late.

Edited by Paul J
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Paul, there is no one correct way to control a camera. We all have our favourite methods and I see nothing wrong with yours..You say you find it easy to guess EV correction; in which case it is equally easy to guess how much to tweak the aperture setting.

 

The disadvantage with reliance on EV adjustments is that you can move from one scenario to another and forget your preset. That is why I prefer to default to Av as my next starting point. But back to your reference to the OP's varying lighting situations, whatever the method, you need to consult the exposure scale to know and correct how much the lighting has changed.

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Hektor, I don't do anything special about the colours. They are mostly as they come out of the cam, sometimes I even have to de-saturize them. Since you cannot shoot RAW alone with the x1, but also have jpegs at the same time, I realized, when openening a folder that the RAW-files always look colourful, whereas the jpegs look drab, grey and almost colourless. I thought that this maybe is a software problem of my camera, and when I sent it to Leica Customer Care, I asked them to have a look at this.

Since I got it back I didn't have the time to take pictures and compare, but will do so.

I hope that helps

 

Thomas

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