michael friedberg Posted September 26, 2012 Share #1 Posted September 26, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) This was written by a friend, Jack Forster, and discusses far more than the camera but the whole concept of what I consider "Leica photography": X-Philes: The Discreet Charm Of The Leica X2 - Forbes Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted September 26, 2012 Posted September 26, 2012 Hi michael friedberg, Take a look here Interesting X2 article in Forbes.com. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
JackForster Posted September 26, 2012 Share #2 Posted September 26, 2012 This was written by a friend, Jack Forster, and discusses far more than the camera but the whole concept of what I consider "Leica photography": X-Philes: The Discreet Charm Of The Leica X2 - Forbes Thank you so much, Michael --very glad you enjoyed the article and I hope others do as well. Having used an awful lot of digital cameras over the last few years (both for fun and work) I have to say the X2 is just about the most flat-out seductive large sensor compact I've ever held. Takes great pictures too . Jack Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted September 26, 2012 Share #3 Posted September 26, 2012 Thank you Michael and Jack. It is good to be reminded of the refreshing advantages of having a compact tool for a 'thinking' photographer. I have enjoyed using its predecessor the X1 since its inception and it is seldom out of my sight. Either as a 'stand-alone' camera, or a companion to my digital M, it is a worthy accomplice and scarcely creates a stir when I am out and about. Finally, welcome to the forum Jack! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackForster Posted September 26, 2012 Share #4 Posted September 26, 2012 Thank you Michael and Jack. It is good to be reminded of the refreshing advantages of having a compact tool for a 'thinking' photographer. I have enjoyed using its predecessor the X1 since its inception and it is seldom out of my sight. Either as a 'stand-alone' camera, or a companion to my digital M, it is a worthy accomplice and scarcely creates a stir when I am out and about. Finally, welcome to the forum Jack! Thank you very much for the kind welcome --longtime lurker coming in from the cold ;-) . I have two film Leicas --a lovely SS M3 and an M6 TTL, but I just loved the DNG files out of the X2. Trying to decide between that and an OMD-EM5 --my heart says one thing and my head another and my heart usually wins ;-). Jack Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
threeputt Posted September 26, 2012 Share #5 Posted September 26, 2012 Great article, Jack! You hit on a lot of points that I've been having difficulty conveying to some friends Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniard69 Posted September 27, 2012 Share #6 Posted September 27, 2012 Thanks for the article. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spylaw4 Posted September 27, 2012 Share #7 Posted September 27, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) Welcome to the Forum, and welcome to an article that sums up exactly why my favourite camera is my favourite camera! Thanks! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackForster Posted September 28, 2012 Share #8 Posted September 28, 2012 Thank you everyone, I really appreciate the kind words and positive responses --I'm sitting here right now trying to talk myself out of buying one after having had the review sample for three weeks. Traveled with it to Switzerland on business and loved it absolutely to death. God knows for a compact camera for work, there are more practical buys but I kind of don't care . Jack Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fokus Posted September 30, 2012 Share #9 Posted September 30, 2012 Hy Jack, welcome to the forum! It was a joy to read your article. You found the right words for what the concept of the X1 and X2 seems to be: also in my opinion the X2 really is a kind of optical instrument that is ready for you to work with it. It is very small, it is a lightweight and it has a wonderful glass and a huge sensor. The ISO-capabilty is very good for low-light-situations. And: it is a beauty! I am now really thinking about buying it. P.S.:The flash is really funny! Greetings Ralf Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
yanidel Posted October 1, 2012 Share #10 Posted October 1, 2012 Hi Jack, Really enjoyed your review, I wish more people could write about cameras like you do. Less technical and with a text that is just a pleasure to read. I just acquired a new X1 as the X2 price was too steep for me and I did not perceive the extra value for the way I shoot. I added a belt case so the X1 really becomes a take everywhere camera for when I am not specifically out there shooting. Good luck on your purchase decision, never easy an easy one with Leica products. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave.gt Posted October 1, 2012 Share #11 Posted October 1, 2012 Welcome, Jack! Loved the article. My work kit these days is the X1 and the M3. Just spent a week alone with the X1 at the beach and could not be happier, especially when I add the M3 into the work mix on my documentaries. The X cameras have excellent IQ and are extremely nice to work with everyday: About the only thing I miss is....well, there really isn't anything. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/188796-interesting-x2-article-in-forbescom/?do=findComment&comment=2129791'>More sharing options...
threeputt Posted October 1, 2012 Share #12 Posted October 1, 2012 Just spent a week alone with the X1 at the beach What beach Dave? If you were anywhere between Pensacola and Panama city, then I'm upset you didn't call Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave.gt Posted October 1, 2012 Share #13 Posted October 1, 2012 What beach Dave? If you were anywhere between Pensacola and Panama city, then I'm upset you didn't call Jeff Sorry, Jeff...we were in Gulf Shores courtesy of our son's generosity in giving us a free week in the condo. While driving down, I checked and didn't have your number on my phone so I couldn't call...ticked me off as I would have loved a detour to stop by on the way back. I will be in South Alabama soon for more work on the documentary. We can get together then! Bring your X2 and we can have an X-Phile day of shooting! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave.gt Posted October 1, 2012 Share #14 Posted October 1, 2012 Just thinking, Jack, I would love to read more of your articles because I like your writing style and any subject should be quite interesting. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivan Muller Posted October 10, 2012 Share #15 Posted October 10, 2012 hi Jack, I suppose I should also say 'welcome' but being a rather 'new' member I would rather leave that to the older more senior 'Leica' members..so just a friendly 'hi'... Unfortunately I have to disagree with almost everything you say...make no mistake I enjoy my X experience very much...but...., Why is there this 'misconception' that when you 'work harder' the images are better and that you will have this sense of 'accomplishment'. As a photographer my sense of accomplishment comes from looking at a fine print of a fine photograph...the fact that I had to 'work harder' is beside the point, in fact the less I have to think about the camera and its operations the better...I am only interested in the final product...whether I use a totally auto everything plastic Japanese made camera or a finely crafted wooden large format camera...my primary goal is in making fine photographs. The camera, any camera is just a 'tool' to get me there, and the easier and quicker the tool is to use and master the quicker I can get it to do what I want. The process as described above of course has nothing to do with the pleasure of handling the tool. Sure some tools are not 'nice' to handle, does not have a long lineage and costs very little...but what has that got to do with the creative process?...do you mean to say that Picasso when drawing with a pen on a paper or cloth napkin was making 'lesser' art than when he was doing the same thing on a canvass? Personally I tend to disregard the product that I buys marketing and advertising spiel..which loves to tell you how such and such a camera will improve your vision......unfortunately many Leica owners like to perpetuate and persuade the world that its the camera that makes the artist... The question you have to ask yourself is why doesn't Patrick McMullan use a X2 or an M for that matter. Does he somehow not have a sense of 'accomplishment' because the camera was making mundane decisions about exposure and focusing much faster and accurate than he ever could? Are his images less valid? A big 4x5/8x10 etc camera with a upside down image on a focusing screen..on a tripod and dark cloth over ones head, sure that slows the photographer down and he/she 'may' become more contemplative, but that's the nature of the tool, but still nobody cares how slow the focus was and how many movements the photographer had to make on the camera to achieve the final image..if its great its great...if its not the fact that it gave the photographer a sense of 'accomplishment' will not make it great... Personally if HCB lived today he would have used a tool that was the fastest and the quickest to capture his decisive moments...and if he used a Leica still, that's his choice but what would we say if he chose an auto everything plastic Japanese model like Patrick..? regards, Ivan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AbbeyFoto Posted October 18, 2012 Share #16 Posted October 18, 2012 .....Personally if HCB lived today he would have used a tool that was the fastest and the quickest to capture his decisive moments...and if he used a Leica still, that's his choice but what would we say if he chose an auto everything plastic Japanese model like Patrick..? regards, Ivan Ok it's not a good idea to speculate on what HCB would use today. Heck there are a multitude of good and great cameras out there. I am not sure "a tool that was the fastest and the quickest to capture his decisive moments" would well define HCB's choice. As with the rest of us he'd love the available range of choices and he would seek out a camera which worked well if not best for him. In decisive moments the camera should be a natural extension of the photographer, it should "not get in the way of the photographer''. Yet we are all different and what it means to "not get in the way" will differ between us. We certainly need to be comfortable with our tools of choice. I welcome Jack's article as a personal, well felt message. I am not a X2 owner - well not yet - but I found Jack's views helpful and well written. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonki-M Posted October 19, 2012 Share #17 Posted October 19, 2012 thanks for sharing the article, was a good read. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
metalbernd Posted October 21, 2012 Share #18 Posted October 21, 2012 Thanks, I love to read this. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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