X2 without viewfinder

[vcore]

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Hi there (first post...) I'm on the fence of buying an X2 but the lack of built in viewfinder holds me back. Adding the EVF hump on top destroys the simplicity and defeats the purpose for me (I want to have something with great IQ in the pocket when I can't bring by DSLR)

 

Of cource the fuji X100 could be an alternative but I would very much prefer to use the Leica afters seeing some of the shots produced and I like that its a camera, not a gadget in the same way as the fuji.

 

Anyway, have anyone of you tried to take photos just using the LCD on the back and would that be OK? I have never taken any serious photo without an VF so I'm not sure It would be ok. On a mobile phone I can live with it but then it's just documentation and similar, not really any artistic value.

 

So, what's your take in this?

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[Avatar]

The viewfinder to me enhances the look of the X2. It's better than I ever expected. The 90 degree tilt is a useful and handy function.

 

I love the way it looks. I've owned the X1 and for me the optional Leica viewfinder was useless (for me at least).

 

I'll add that I loved the X1 and I was able to get used to using the LCD or just as often just using my eye and instincts to get very satisfying results.

[Moonshine]

I really am enjoying using the x2 with the evf. I use the oly evf and really it looks just fine. I'm sure the leica evf will look even better ;-)

 

And having the evf really is the game changer over the x1

[vcore]

Thanks for the input! I think it is really good to have the optional evf of course but it would have been an "Insta-buy" for me with an evf built in. It's not about the look as much as it is about inconvenience and bulk. I want to put it in the pocket of my jacket or in a slick small case. As it is now I assume you have to have a larger camera bag where you put the evf when not in use. Or do you have some other smarter solution for this?

 

I love the look of the X2 without the evf and the image quality seems amazing for such a small package.

Maybe I should just buy it and hope for the best

 

btw, what cases are you guys using? The ever ready or something else?

[Moonshine]

artisan and artist rina case and i just pop it in my handbag with that.

[Spaniard69]

Thanks for the input! I think it is really good to have the optional evf of course but it would have been an "Insta-buy" for me with an evf built in. It's not about the look as much as it is about inconvenience and bulk. I want to put it in the pocket of my jacket or in a slick small case. As it is now I assume you have to have a larger camera bag where you put the evf when not in use. Or do you have some other smarter solution for this?

 

I love the look of the X2 without the evf and the image quality seems amazing for such a small package.

Maybe I should just buy it and hope for the best

 

btw, what cases are you guys using? The ever ready or something else?

 

I would recommend you get the OVF since you think the EVF spoilt the look. The OVF is much smaller but you need to get use to it because it does not show you where is the focusing point unlike the EVF where all the parameters are shown.

[warnica]

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Thanks for the input! I think it is really good to have the optional evf of course but it would have been an "Insta-buy" for me with an evf built in. It's not about the look as much as it is about inconvenience and bulk. I want to put it in the pocket of my jacket or in a slick small case. As it is now I assume you have to have a larger camera bag where you put the evf when not in use. Or do you have some other smarter solution for this?

 

I love the look of the X2 without the evf and the image quality seems amazing for such a small package.

Maybe I should just buy it and hope for the best

 

btw, what cases are you guys using? The ever ready or something else?

 

jnk-handworks.com, or see their Ebay store. I have had them all, and this is the best quality.

[chaimemet]

I have been like a woman in a fashion spree without direction concerning the way to go with the X1/X2. I had the X1 for only a month before trading it in for the X2. First I bought the Leica X1 body case that can fit the X1 with its hand grip. It allowed itself to be used as half case as the top was pretty much useless. The screw on the bottom that attached to the tripod socket was an annoyance. All the time I had looked at my wife's A&A half case for her Dilux 5 enviously. I also had the VOF and found it usefull to frame when I was outside with the Florida bright sun. I thought it added a higher level of sophistication to the X1. The lens cap was replaced with that shutter flutter lens cap. Then I became concerned about an uncovered lens as all my cameras except the Dilux 3 had UV filters ad protection. We spend alot of time on boats and at the beach/shore. The first time I was out with the X1 I got salt spray immediately. So I bought the kiwi tube and attached a B&W UV filter and a hood w/o a cap. Now with the X2 I have the EVF attached and I love it and do not see a reason to detach it. Unlike the VOF on the X1. With the kiwi tube/filter/hood and hand grip I believe the camera is complete. It gives 2 points for steading, the grip and the tube. I just ordered the A&A half case after returning Leica's half case because the tube would not fit under the case. So I have lots of options. I can drop the EVF and hand grip and just go with the A&A and shutter cap or go full hog. I also just placed on the Dilux 5 a panasonic sister tube with UV filter and lens cap. I wanted the protection because my wife uses the camera and I can be at rest when she travels. BTW the shutter lens cap is great except it does not protect from a frontal attack as it will just collapse inwards.

[Avatar]

Thanks for the input! I think it is really good to have the optional evf of course but it would have been an "Insta-buy" for me with an evf built in. It's not about the look as much as it is about inconvenience and bulk. I want to put it in the pocket of my jacket or in a slick small case. As it is now I assume you have to have a larger camera bag where you put the evf when not in use. Or do you have some other smarter solution for this?

 

I love the look of the X2 without the evf and the image quality seems amazing for such a small package.

Maybe I should just buy it and hope for the best

 

btw, what cases are you guys using? The ever ready or something else?

 

I had few expectations for the EVF and my dealer sent it and told me to return it if I didn't like it...(very funny)...I ordered an X2 for a friend at the same time, he didn't go for the EVF, when he picked up the camera from me, within perhaps 10 seconds he was annoyed he didnt' get the EVF and went immediately to the store to get one..

 

It was actually pretty funny.

 

and yes, just get it.

[satijntje]

EVF needed or not needed???

 

I would say that most of the time you do not need an VF.

Only when you have direct sunshine or very bright weather, the visibility of the LCD is still not sufficient to have a full control over the X2. It's more a lottery what you are shooting.

 

I used to have the OVF with my X1, used it once or twice and sold it again. Just didn't like it at all.

 

Now with my X2, and my (Olympus) EVF, although the LCD has improved significantly in brightness, I use it much more often

The OLY comes with a little bag, that can be snapped on the belt of your camera, or alternatively you can put it in your other jacket-bag.....

 

Last weekend I was on y bike tour, and I cannot imagine taking a DSLR with me. X2 with EVF was no problem at all .......

 

 

So go for the EVF, and enjoy shooting with the X2

 

 

John

[Spaniard69]

EVF needed or not needed???

 

I would say that most of the time you do not need an VF.

Only when you have direct sunshine or very bright weather, the visibility of the LCD is still not sufficient to have a full control over the X2. It's more a lottery what you are shooting.

 

I used to have the OVF with my X1, used it once or twice and sold it again. Just didn't like it at all.

 

Now with my X2, and my (Olympus) EVF, although the LCD has improved significantly in brightness, I use it much more often

The OLY comes with a little bag, that can be snapped on the belt of your camera, or alternatively you can put it in your other jacket-bag.....

 

Last weekend I was on y bike tour, and I cannot imagine taking a DSLR with me. X2 with EVF was no problem at all .......

 

 

So go for the EVF, and enjoy shooting with the X2

 

 

John

 

Yes, go for it. Get the Oly one instead. Half the cost.

[vcore]

I went out snapping with my iPhone4s and imagined that it was "my new Leica X2" without a viewfinder. Useless in bright sun as many has mentioned but ok in many other situations. I have been thinking a lot on going for the fuji x100 but that thought doesn't really excite me even though theoretically all checkboxes has been ticked there... So, I guess I should go with the gut feeling. Stayed of the X1 when that was new since there where so many bad reviews but have been looking forward towards a new updated version (the X2). Maybe I have waited long enough?

 

Thanks for your input, If/when I buy the X2 I will definitely be back here!

[Ron Kennett]

I swapped my X1 for the X100 mainly because the absence of the integral viewfinder. Having now seen the X2, I am sure that this was a good decision. I also have the X10 for which I traded my D-Lux4 and my findings are similar. Now we see the Xpro1 reinforcing this challenge to our beloved Leica brand. I would not see the Fuji's as 'gadgets', but they manage to combine intuitive design with versatility. I think that it is quite sad if Leica do not face this challenge.

[pblandino]

Here's the issue with the Fuji X100. In principle, it is a game changer and Leica killer. In practice, not so much. I own both the X2 and the X100. I've tried to love the Fuji X100 because it does so many things right, but I can't because the things it does wrong are so problematic to me that I just can't live with it.

 

Let's start with focus issues. Everybody compares focus speeds between the two cameras. To me they seem nearly identical, with the X2 doing a little better than the Fuji in low light. The real problem for me is not speed, but "freeze." when using the onboard EVF on the Fuji, the image freezes while the camera acquires focus. This is devastating for any kind of moving subject, like kids. With static objects it isn't as much of problem, but forget about shooting street with the Fuji X100 and it's EVF. The optical viewfinder is better in this regard because you always have a live view, like you do with a true rangefinder. The only problem is that, as the subject gets closer to the camera, the visible focus patch diverges from what you're seeing more and more and even with the new firmware that adds a second and even third focus patch, one is prone to get focus misses with close in subjects.

 

Another annoying focus quirk with the X100 occurs when you try and shoot a near field object with something behind it that you intend to have blurred by shooting with a large aperture set on the lens. As an example, say I'm trying to shoot a flower in the near field with a castle in the background. What you'll find is that the Fuji tries to focus on the castle in the background and you must recompose and try multiple times to get it to focus on the flower. Of course there are work arounds, you can switch to the spot focus mode when taking pictures like this, but why should you have to? The X2 doesn't suffer from this malady. I believe this is a design decision that Fuji made in order for the camera to be more "idiot proof," but it only serves to annoy real photographers in the crowd.

 

Lastly, beware of taking your camera on a trip away from your computer and then downloading your frames from the day's shooting to an iPad. The Mac OS (including the iOS) writes files to the card that will render your camera glacially slow the next time you power it up. The fix is to reformat the card, but if you're thousands of miles from home you'll need to use another memory card in order to have a working camera again. This is ridiculous and I've never experienced anything like it with any other camera I've had. Sure Apple probably has some fault here, but why doesn't this issue affect my Nikon or Canon cameras?

 

These are small annoyances, I know, but in aggregate I think they make the X100 a work in progress and not a clearly superior alternative to the Leica X2.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[prk60091]

Lastly, beware of taking your camera on a trip away from your computer and then downloading your frames from the day's shooting to an iPad. The Mac OS (including the iOS) writes files to the card that will render your camera glacially slow the next time you power it up. The fix is to reformat the card, but if you're thousands of miles from home you'll need to use another memory card in order to have a working camera again. This is ridiculous and I've never experienced anything like it with any other camera I've had. Sure Apple probably has some fault here, but why doesn't this issue affect my Nikon or Canon cameras?

 

These are small annoyances, I know, but in aggregate I think they make the X100 a work in progress and not a clearly superior alternative to the Leica X2.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

 

I have never encountered any such issue on any iPad (ipad1 and ipad2) that I have owned and any image from my x1

[Mixalis]

I prefer to use a viewfinder simply because I like to hold the camera to my eye. I can't get on with composing on a rear screen. And, as we know, the screen on the X2 isn't the best in the world.

 

So I have to have a VF: It's a question of which to go for. I agree with others that the Brightline OVF looks much better and actually complements the classic Leica appearance of the X2. I have both OVF and EVF (I bought the EVF with the camera then found the Leica OVF at a good price secondhand). I haven't had enough experience to make a full comparison and can only say that the OVF is cosmetically much more in keeping with the camera design. It also provides a really large, bright image which reminds me very much of my M9's VF. Of course, it is a dumb beast, so no information (other than the green focus light on the back of the camera which is clearly visible when using the OVF).

 

From my limited experience, I like the OVF for quick shots, particularly for street. It is ideal when using manual zone focus between f/16 and f/11 because almost everything beyond 1m is in focus. On the other hand, the EVF gives lots of information and is ultimately preferable. It's nice to have both, but if I had to choose (as I did when I bought the X2) it would have to be the EVF.

 

Many critics have compared the X2's lack of viewfinder with the Fuji X100's brilliant hybrid VF. But a built-in VF would completely alter the appearance of the X2, adding considerably to depth. The X100 may look like a classic Leica at first sight, but on second glance you realise it is out of proportion. I quite like the option of having a very small pocketable camera but with the ability to expand its capabilities by adding the EVF when necessary.

[phancj]

I have used the X1 for over 2 years and never had the VF. IMO it is a great cam as it is and the VF irrelevant for me.

 

Even in bright sunlight the colors on LCD may be washed out but you can still frame the shot.

 

Keeps the cam pocketable without any add-ons.

 

Incidentally I will be at the grand canyon in a month's time and I am bringing the X1 and the D800. Should be fun.

 

CJ

[AJB]

We have an X1 and an X2 and a Leica OVF that came with the X1.

 

It is very useful, looks cool too. The main benefit is obviously in bright sun when the back screen wishes out. I actually prefer an OVF but you do quickly get used to using the back on the X1/2 and it is not a handicap.

 

As others have said, you do have to get used to framing with the OVF. I have been using it for the last couple of weeks in very bright conditions, and even so I occasionally mis-frame a shot slightly.

 

We don't have an EVF for the X2 and will not be buying one as my wife and I don't find its absence a handicap.

 

AJ

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[digitalfx]

I just bought an X2 + Olympus EVF...left immediately for a week vacation at the beach.

 

In my first week of shooting I only used the EVF on two occasions. I did enjoy using the EVF, but found the camera alone with just the back LCD worked for most situations as I am mainly concerned with framing. The size of the X2 alone is so small that I carried it with me everywhere I went and was able to get shots I normally wouldn't strictly because the camera was in my pocket.

 

The camera w/ EVF is no longer pocketable, and I found it awkward caring it around in the little case and installing it as I shoot...so I ended up leaving it behind most of the time.

Those instances that I used it, it was extremely helpful though.