X1 & 2 travelling companions

[AJB]

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We are once again travelling, hence once again thinking about cameras. This time we are in Borneo, doing some city / jungle / beach trips over 3 weeks.

 

The X's remain faultless for street and city work. Very good for reasonably stealthy shots in the local markets (with black tape over the red dots). You feel conspicuous as a western traveller here.

 

Pretty useless in the jungle and for any kind of wildlife work. Although both Xs are on latest firmware, X1 is still delivering marginally better images than X2. Despite my previous posts about the dials not being a problem, I have in fact missed a few X1 shots with dials being out of place (and - my fault - forgetting that I am using manual zone focussing a few times!).

 

The reasonably high IQ does not make up for the absence of a zoom for wildlife shots. Often, especially when you are on a boat looking for animals in the trees (orang utan) and on river banks (pygmy elephants and crocs) you really need a system camera.

 

As a result, one of the Leica's will be sold when we get back, and the search will begin for a high quality, small and light compromise for our next serious trip in February / early March.

 

My wife vetoed the M10 intention, as we spent a week with a loaner M9 and she could not get used to the manual focussing, despite my entreaties to give it more time. There is always a compromise with how much gear we have to lug about and the weight of it. Laptop (essential for business reasons), iPad, two pairs binoculars, chargers etc all adds up both when trekking and when going through airport security.

 

So, I am wondering what to suggest next!

 

AJ

[colonel]

Interested in your comparison of the X1 and X2's quality

What specific aspect of the IQ do you think is superior on the X1 ?

Both are Sony sensors, and your remarks also mirror, for example, the many comments in forums about the move from the Nikon D90 to the D7000. However in retrospect, as is my finding, it is just that the Sony 12mp sensors had more sharpening in the firmware, confirmed by their sharpening capacity in PP

 

No Leica lens, except using Visio adaptors until the M comes out, are useful to zoomed wildlife. Saying that, I have seen some pretty good wildlife pictures from M cameras here, can't remember the poster.

 

The problem is the long zooms on CSCs are not terribly fast to focus, if you are relying on AF.

I use a Sony Nex-5N and 50-210mm, not for wildlife, but for long zoom, and its excellent IQ, but some shots are missed due to focus hunting. The Sony 18-200mm is faster IMHO, and gives a wider range, but is heavier.

You might want to try a M4/3s camera. The Panasonic GX1 or Olympus OM-D with the Panasonic 100-300mm is highly rated

 

If speed and ease of use is more important then outright IQ, you could also think of the Leica V-Lux4,a good long zoom companion to the X2. In this case the X2 can be used for high quality close range or landscape type shots.

 

There are so many choices today, have fun choosing!

[wda]

Consider the V-Lux 4 for your travels and need for a zoom lens. It will not match full-frame quality, but life is full of compromises. Compactness, quality and versatility seem to match your travel needs.

[Guest DrPix]

X1 is definitely "sharper". But X2 has some ergonomic advantages. One musn´t forget sensor size. Are you IQ conscious forget small sensors AFTER being "spoiled" by APS-C sensors. If only X-series had "real-live" LCD exposure in Manual Mode, instead of halfpressing the trigger to check if the exposer is/isn't right. - highly irritating! Why can Canon do it?

[s38]

X1 is definitely "sharper". But X2 has some ergonomic advantages. One musn´t forget sensor size. Are you IQ conscious forget small sensors AFTER being "spoiled" by APS-C sensors. If only X-series had "real-live" LCD exposure in Manual Mode, instead of halfpressing the trigger to check if the exposer is/isn't right. - highly irritating! Why can Canon do it?

 

X2 is plenty sharp even wide open!! if I wanted my pix even sharper, I could do it in PP.

[Manashu]

X1 is definitely "sharper". But X2 has some ergonomic advantages. One musn´t forget sensor size. Are you IQ conscious forget small sensors AFTER being "spoiled" by APS-C sensors. If only X-series had "real-live" LCD exposure in Manual Mode, instead of halfpressing the trigger to check if the exposer is/isn't right. - highly irritating! Why can Canon do it?

I meet this myth again and again. Please show some evidence about x1 being "sharper" - compare pictures - give hints, links - thanks

[salim]

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Those who think x2 is not sharp, they definitely have a defected one. My x2 is as sharp as it can get

[Ecaton]

We are once again travelling, hence once again thinking about cameras. This time we are in Borneo, doing some city / jungle / beach trips over 3 weeks.

 

The X's remain faultless for street and city work. Very good for reasonably stealthy shots in the local markets (with black tape over the red dots). You feel conspicuous as a western traveller here.

 

Pretty useless in the jungle and for any kind of wildlife work. Although both Xs are on latest firmware, X1 is still delivering marginally better images than X2. Despite my previous posts about the dials not being a problem, I have in fact missed a few X1 shots with dials being out of place (and - my fault - forgetting that I am using manual zone focussing a few times!).

 

The reasonably high IQ does not make up for the absence of a zoom for wildlife shots. Often, especially when you are on a boat looking for animals in the trees (orang utan) and on river banks (pygmy elephants and crocs) you really need a system camera.

 

As a result, one of the Leica's will be sold when we get back, and the search will begin for a high quality, small and light compromise for our next serious trip in February / early March.

 

My wife vetoed the M10 intention, as we spent a week with a loaner M9 and she could not get used to the manual focussing, despite my entreaties to give it more time. There is always a compromise with how much gear we have to lug about and the weight of it. Laptop (essential for business reasons), iPad, two pairs binoculars, chargers etc all adds up both when trekking and when going through airport security.

 

So, I am wondering what to suggest next!

 

AJ

 

The best compromise between versatility/performance/IQ/size/lenses these days is probably Olympus' OMD. And for a jungle trip its weather sealing might come in handy.

[colonel]

The sharpness arguments are identical to the old ones between 5D and 5Dii users, between 50D and 7D users and D90 and D7000 users

 

All digital cameras need sharpening at some time. The X2 can take more sharpening before destruction then the X1.

 

If you read the best comparisons, eg Reid reviews, you will see that

1. If the X2 picture is down sampled to 12mp it is always sharper then the X1

2. Above ISO 400 the X2 is sharper then the X1

3. Below ISO 800 the X2 appears to have more antialiasing applied. This can be remedied through sharpening, as the detail capture is better.

 

Remember also that photo technique needs to improve as MP increases (in terms of holding the camera steady).

 

Interestingly, Sean Reids detailed testing showed another thing I suspected, that the X100 is not as sharp

 

BTW my above advice covers DNG. I haven't used jpg for 10 years, and apart from journalists have no idea why anyone would. It's like buying a Ferrari and never moving it above 3rd gear!

 

Read Ming Thein's excellent review of the X2:

http://blog.mingthein.com/2012/05/11/leica-review-1/

[NZDavid]

V-Lux 4 sounds very useful for wildlife and versatile for travel. D-Lux 5 is useful but zooms only to 90. M9 is superb but longest lens is 135. Staying with a 35 or 50 can be fine for cities and landscapes but if you want oran utangs, you will need something extra. Why not keep an X and get a V-Lux? Btw, my brother assisted in a village in Borneo and took a little Ricoh and got great close-ups.

[metalbernd]

Maybe the Panasonic GX1 with a nice zoom lens is a option? The GX1 is a small mature camera.

[metalbernd]

Those who think x2 is not sharp, they definitely have a defected one. My x2 is as sharp as it can get

 

My X2 as well, I always take some plasters with me.

[AJB]

I didn't intend to turn this into an X1 v X2 sharpness debate. This is subjective to some degree: my wife and I use the cameras randomly between us and whilst we are travelling dump the SD card reader down onto a MacAir regularly. No processing until we get home. This is not a scientific test, but our subjective opinion is the X2 images are softer.

 

That said, I tend to use manual zone focussing on the X1 and my wife tends to use auto on the X2.

 

That was not the real point. The high IQ substitutes in many circumstances for the absence of a zoom. But not enough for wildlife unless you are really close.

 

The point about weather sealing is absolutely valid. Humidity is very high here (it is monsoon season) and you can go from a cool, air conditioned lodge into a massive temperature and humidity change. Cameras and binoculars are kept bagged for this reason as condensation is an issue. So is rain!

 

I am well aware that we are pushing these cameras beyond their design envelope: ease of carrying is a really significant factor on jungle treks though.

 

Thanks for the suggestions. We do also have a small sensor/long zoom brand new camera with us. The program modes are gimmicks and IQ is poor.

 

I had not previously realised the importance of weather sealing. The next trip will have testing cold: around minus15-20 degrees centigrade. Probably low humidity and precipitation.

 

The big Canon kit will be coming with us (possibly with a new body), but again we will hunt for a high IQ lightweight camera and your suggestions are helpful.

 

AJ