Mini M? [MERGED] AKA X-Vario

[Lee Martin]

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I don't understand the reason for all this sarcasm, which is really tiresome. Clearly, not many photographers here are interested in such a slow lens, particularly f/6.4 at 70mm-e, but it is an attractive camera and Leica is either right or wrong about its estimate of the market. We'll see. But spare me the sarcasm.

 

—Mitch/Bangkok

Paris Obvious [WIP]

Eggleston said that he was "at war with the obvious"...

 

If you look on Leica's web page and at this camera, it describes it as having a " fast lens".

 

I honestly don't think it will sell

[stevelap]

Yes, we should just stick to specs.

 

OK, the specs of the Mock M suck...but ain't she pretty?

 

For goodness sake Stephen (and others, it's not just you of course )....it's your prerogative, but why get so wound up and negative about this? If you don't like it, then don't buy it. I doubt I will either, but I see no reason to gnash my teeth and wail that Leica didn't build exactly the camera that I would have liked.

[jaques]

hmm- little bit fugly?

 

yes- I wanted a cropped sensor M mount digital CL-Monochrome with classic optical RF and live view. With a small rear LCD - that can be covered with a black metal anodised 'dark slide'- entire camera body made from ballistic plastic with rubberized (replaceable) edges- weather proofed - and coming with a new M mount 50mm f2.8 ASPH (or 40mm) weatherproofed standard lens.... Wake me up when Leica (or someone else) make it....

[Guest Essemmlee]

There are, I was contacted last week by a dealer with a black M that had my name on it. (Sadly I had to ask them to let it go to someone else and slide me down the waiting list - I'm a bit strapped for the time being).

 

I'll be happy to have this; if you could just let me know where it is and I'll contact them forthwith.

 

Of course it won't be there any more, because there aren't any. Anywhere. At all. For sale.

[stunsworth]

Couldn't they have taken the amazing Vario Summicron of the Digilux 2 and put it on this thing at least?

 

No. Impossible.

[douglasf13]

Canon Crop is 1,85. What is Leicas? Canon calls it APS-C!!

 

Canon doesn't call the G1-X aps-c. They call the EOS M aps-c, which, like some of their DSLRs, is 1.6x crop.

[dkCambridgeshire]

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If you look on Leica's web page and at this camera, it describes it as having a " fast lens".

 

I honestly don't think it will sell

 

It will sell and the first dealer allocations will probably sell out within a few days - or less. Half of all camera users do not understand lens apertures (or ISOs) and they take all their pics using 'auto everything' settings ... so maximum aperture is meaningless to them ... as is sensor format. The lens is fast enough and the IQ of available sample pics looks very good.

 

But apart from the 'auto everything' users, knowledgable photographers will enjoy using this camera to its full creative potential.

 

Don't let the usual bunch of Leica compact camera bashers on this forum put you off considering the camera - their negativity is totally predictable.

 

dunk

[UliWer]

I don't understand the reason for all this sarcasm, which is really tiresome. Clearly, not many photographers here are interested in such a slow lens, particularly f/6.4 at 70mm-e, but it is an attractive camera and Leica is either right or wrong about its estimate of the market. We'll see. But spare me the sarcasm.

 

—Mitch/Bangkok

Paris Obvious [WIP]

Eggleston said that he was "at war with the obvious"...

 

Well, usually you don't find me too often on the Leica-bashing side of this forum. Though I have to admit that I can unserstand the sarcasm.

 

The very simple assoziation "M" and "mini = small" in Leica's announcement has stifled a lot of interest - perhaps more than Leica's marketing expected. Of course there were many wishlists and unrealistic assumptions mixed up with this interest. On the other hand Leica has shown that they can surprise: the digital M did not seem realistic once and it is still unique - even if it may find many criticism; the S2 is still innovative - even if it develops very slowly; the X1 was a surprise - even if there may be better and cheaper systems around.

 

So Leica underperformed by their own standards. And they did so on a field which usually is their strongest hold: lens-making. I am sure the new lens will be very, very good at f/6.4 and 70mm. Yes there was a time when Leica lenses were good performers at modest openings - 60 to 80 years ago. Since then it was - not alone and rather late - Leica which changed the standards to excellent performers at wide openings. May be this didn't work with a zoom on a small body with a rather large sensor.

 

Yes - it doesn't work. So it would have been wiser to leave out a certain sector of the market to avoid sarcasm.

[AB007]

What a relief! I don't have to buy this mini. I got tired of waiting for the M and ending up buying the black Nikon SP 2005. It would have be torturous if it had a R solution:rolleyes:

[iedei]

for those who wanted a 'cheap' M-mount camera....buy an M8. still a big sensor even compared to these, and one hell of a camera for MUCH cheaper than this miserable little camera.

[StephenPatterson]

For goodness sake Stephen (and others, it's not just you of course )....it's your prerogative, but why get so wound up and negative about this? If you don't like it, then don't buy it. I doubt I will either, but I see no reason to gnash my teeth and wail that Leica didn't build exactly the camera that I would have liked.

 

Did you ever study the whole "New Coke" fiasco? Sometimes it can be a great benefit to a company to hear from loyal customers when they feel a mistake has been made with a product. I don't think I am alone (judging from the comments on Leica's facebook page) when saying that this camera is a mistake.

[AlanJW]

Disappointment is a function of expectation. There were many expectations here, including of a smaller CL digital that could be a back up to an M. I would think that serious M users would mostly be disappointed but some might see this as a smaller travel camera. I wanted a Digital CL without OVF so I am one of those disappointed. Boo hoo but nobody at Solms is going to be troubled by my disappointment. But it is just a camera after all, and saying Leica is stupid to make it is sort of silly. Some people said the M240 was a bad idea (just wait until you get your hands on one). Leica may sell more x varios than we think and I am all for profits to be used for new and better developments.

[earleygallery]

for those who wanted a 'cheap' M-mount camera....buy an M8. still a big sensor even compared to these, and one hell of a camera for MUCH cheaper than this miserable little camera.

 

Fuzzy logic. Factor in 28, 35, 50 & 75 (nearest equivalent) lenses and a dedicated flashgun and even an M8 and Voigtlander lenses works out much more expensive.

 

Whatever, it's not the point, the type of person who will buy the X Vario most likely isn't at all interested in a MF rangefinder camera and a bag full of lenses.

[IWC Doppel]

New article up by Jono Slack on the new Leica X Vario, previously known as Paula and ... ah, let's not talk more about that Mini name :-)

 

The Leica X Vario - previously known as Paula

 

I do hope they don't look to brand the X2 as Micro-M, the X vario as Mini-M and god forbid the S as max-Mi or mega-M

[StephenPatterson]

Leica is getting savaged today on their official facebook page. The negative comments are running well over 90%. Below is one comment from a Mr. Reginald Claridades of Rochester, NY.

 

"Great to see Leica release this camera AND have it be in stock at Leica Boutiques and retailers...especially when the M240 that I pre-ordered in September 2012 is probably still a mess of parts that have yet to be put together. Get your enormous head out of your ass and fill the orders for your existing cameras before taking a fresh dump on your customers with this slow aperture, zoom lens camera. The Sony RX1 or Fuji X100s look like MUCH better alternatives. I have waited several years to upgrade my M8 and now I am getting thoroughly impatient waiting for my M240. Thanks for bringing the snotty self-entitled American out of me Leica. Fail."

[Lee Martin]

Did you ever study the whole "New Coke" fiasco? Sometimes it can be a great benefit to a company to hear from loyal customers when they feel a mistake has been made with a product. I don't think I am alone (judging from the comments on Leica's facebook page) when saying that this camera is a mistake.

I agree

[dkCambridgeshire]

Hands on: Leica X Vario review | Compact cameras Reviews | TechRadar

 

 

 

... it's a positive review and has sample pics.

 

dunk

[IWC Doppel]

Fuzzy logic. Factor in 28, 35, 50 & 75 (nearest equivalent) lenses and a dedicated flashgun and even an M8 and Voigtlander lenses works out much more expensive.

 

Whatever, it's not the point, the type of person who will buy the X Vario most likely isn't at all interested in a MF rangefinder camera and a bag full of lenses.

 

But it's not that much smaller is it in reality with that lens. An M8 and a 50 Elmar-M and a 28 Voigltaner f1.9 from the adds and I would be much happier with that budget. Then again the M8 was £3k+ for the body alone 5 years ago, so not a very fair comparison, but I know where my money would go.

 

This product is not about the 'average' forum member, the fact that I don't undersatnd it's attraction says it all really. I suspect the Leica marketing department are ahead of me here.

[earleygallery]

This product is not about the 'average' forum member, the fact that I don't undersatnd it's attraction says it all really. I suspect the Leica marketing department are ahead of me here.

 

Exactly. Manual focus (on the M) would be a deal breaker for most of the X Vario buyers.

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[andybarton]

Anyone would think reading some comments here (and those reposted from elsewhere) that the production of this camera has any impact on the production of the M240.

 

They will, most likely, be made on different lines maybe even in different factories in Portugal and in Germany, by people who might not have transferable skills to move from one camera type to a completely different one (assembling and setting up a rangefinder is different from assembling an X camera)

 

If people have been waiting for an M240 since pre-ordering in September, I suspect that they might best advised to change their dealer.