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Leica Event May 10th – Live Coverage


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As an X1 user I was looking forward to the release of the X2, however, having just seen that the new camera appears virtually identical to the x1 I am a bit disappointed.

 

The thing I don't like about the X1 is that pop up flash. It has never given me problems but I have read of those who have had difficulty with it failing to lock down.

 

The flash is so easy to unintentionally click up.

 

I was hoping that an X2 would come with a separate flash and fixed or manually retractable lens.

 

John

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You bet! I got a prerelease M Monochrom in March to gain some experience with it and I must say I was impressed. I knew what advantages a monochrome sensor would bring, according to theory, but it’s always nice to see a theory corroborated in practice.

 

If you are allowed to do it... I would like to know more about your experience with the camera...

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Unlike many of you, I started with color. I have grown to appreciate B &W, so I am very interested in the Monochrom. I assume, but am not an engineer, that removing color could greatly improve the quality of low-light photographs, which I find to be the weakness in the M9.

 

For me, buying this new camera is a push, but not out of the question: I will not be on an earlier buyers' list. I want to see the quality in the field, so I await all the comments that will come in August. In short, removing color is not a subtraction if there is a significant increase in image quality. To save time, I fully agree that the M9 produces great images, but for me, above 1600 ISO becomes a problem and I am not always happy at 800.

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There is no "X System". There was one X camera, now there's another one. It's not a. "system" camera. It's just another camera.

 

I have an X1. I won't be buying an X2.

 

Oh I'm so sorry if offended your sense of proprietary vocabulary. You know what I meant. My point was the went from X1 to X1.3 and that is a shame for people who wanted to see an obvious jump in design in order to compete with what's already on the market.

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I must say that as many others here, I am very disappointed. I was actually waiting for at least the specs of an M10 with leading edge resolution and DR and high ISO, but not another niche product etc.

 

I am more than underwhelmed. I stood the last 3 years away from any new Leica product and after this news I fear it might be another 3 years again :confused:

 

Which then means I am not sure if I will finally return to Leica at all.

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Yes good point it's better to buy a M6 or M7 at a fraction of the price, control iso quicker and shoot specialty bw film and send the films to a cheap country like Indonesia or Poland for high quality developing for $1. I know lots of people who do that and the results will be more stunning then the "new" M9 monochrome.

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I think it's bloody marvelous! A lot of my shooting is in low light, and I do a LOT of B&W conversion, as colour is pretty crap at ISO 2500 anyway in very low light.

 

A Nocti, or Lux paired with the new M with low noise and sharpppp images up to ISO 10,000 sounds like a big bag of excellent.

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If you are allowed to do it... I would like to know more about your experience with the camera...

 

They do great prints. My big B&Ws are from them and they are excellent quality prints.

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As an X1 user I was looking forward to the release of the X2, however, having just seen that the new camera appears virtually identical to the x1 I am a bit disappointed.

 

The thing I don't like about the X1 is that pop up flash. It has never given me problems but I have read of those who have had difficulty with it failing to lock down.

 

The flash is so easy to unintentionally click up.

 

I was hoping that an X2 would come with a separate flash and fixed or manually retractable lens.

 

John

 

The flash in the X2 seems to be different. Look at the promotional pictures.

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It's interesting that many people discount the Leica Rumors website as being only 'rumor.' But you have to admit that they seem to be right every time (the D4 and D800 on their Nikon Rumor sister site, too.)

.

 

And they had it right before the M9 was announced, too. Despite the naysayers, I'll put more value in their predictions in the weeks leading up to Photokina than in the postings here...although the latter are always provide entertainment.

 

If the monochrome camera ever becomes available for rent, I will probably try one out to see the results in print, and determine how LR 4 (or whatever iteration exists then) can control (or not) the results. Screen shots, and press releases, don't tell me much. In the meantime, the M8.2 is pretty darn good for the front end to b/w prints.

 

The biggest surprise for me, given the Rumors predictions, is the price of the new 50 Summicron. I'll be interested to see how that lens beats a much less expensive, faster and already great Summilux.

 

Jeff

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I'm told it was sauerkraut und eisenbein, or bratwurst mit kartoffel. And beer.

 

Yuk. What no Cheese & Pineapple on a Stick, Pork Cylinders, Mystery Meat, Hoisin Crispy Owl or Bonbonbonbons?

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Yes good point it's better to buy a M6 or M7 at a fraction of the price, control iso quicker and shoot specialty bw film and send the films to a cheap country like Indonesia or Poland for high quality developing for $1. I know lots of people who do that and the results will be more stunning then the "new" M9 monochrome.

 

I doubt it

Ilford and Kodak 3200 film are as grainy as hell

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I must say that as many others here, I am very disappointed. I was actually waiting for at least the specs of an M10 with leading edge resolution and DR and high ISO, but not another niche product etc.

 

I am more than underwhelmed. I stood the last 3 years away from any new Leica product and after this news I fear it might be another 3 years again :confused:

 

Which then means I am not sure if I will finally return to Leica at all.

What I can't understand is what is wrong with the M8 or M9 in their various incarnations. Certainly the M9 for me seems to be close to the ultimate end of an era, what more do we actually really want?? (NO I do not have one, the M8 is more than good enough for 99% of cases, the M9 is even better I expect but I have no urgent need to find out).

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Oh dear. One puts so much emotion into a camera brand and then one gets this. Tut tut.

 

First, the monochrome M is, at best, a niche product within an already niche market. Maybe a monochrome sensor has special characteristics (I have no doubt the marketing machine will convince us that this is the case) but why not produce a great sensor capable of both improved B&W and colour? Why fiddle with a dated sensor instead of updating it lock stock and barrel? And if this is just a stop gap till the M10 why exploit us so mercilessly by charging such inordinate amounts? This is applying the law of diminishing returns to an obscene degree. Oh, and while I am on a roll, the X2 makes me even more depressed.

 

I am sure the Leica PR machine will bring out some bloggers and reviewers who claim that the M9M is the best thing since sliced bread (at least until the M10 arrives) but for many of us we are putting in a lot of savings when buying an M and I am feeling more than a little alienated from the company and where it is going. Nikon is producing 36MP sensors which are regarded as well within MF territory and Leica is sticking to ageing hardware (both M9M and X2) and charging vast sums for it. What I am witnessing is a market moving at lightning speed (cf the new Fujis and the D800) while Leica spends its money on marketing and selling nostalgia.

 

I love my M (quirks and all) but I want it to be competitive in image terms to "best of breed" cameras. I won't sell my M9 but I might relegate it to occasional use if Leica cannot keep even close to the technological breakthroughs taking place. The M9 pulled the company back but I am fast becoming disillusioned with developments post 9/9/2009. I want it to be more than a luxury brand and I am worried....

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A Nocti, or Lux paired with the new M with low noise and sharpppp images up to ISO 10,000 sounds like a big bag of excellent.

 

I don't think anybody has said 'sharp up to 10,000 ISO', just that the ISO goes up to 10,000, which even a lowly P&S can do nowadays.

 

Steve

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