Years Later....X1 durability?

[rkp]

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Hi! Im new to the forum and about to purchase my first Leica camera.

 

I was planning to graduate and buy an M-9, but as my fortune (or misfortune) would have it, I am going back to school for a few more years. Thus, I am in the market for an X1. Ive read a lot about this camera on the internet. Ive sent emails to users. I've even had a test day with its competitor. I have my eyes set on one already, which includes a half gariz case and a brown leica case.

 

I was wondering, now that you have owned this camera for a few years can you comment on how the camera has held up through travel, work, and life?!

 

Any comments or advice would be greatly appreciated and I hope to return the favour someday. If it makes any difference, I am most interested in a black X1.

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[wda]

Welcome to the forum, jkp.

I have owned an X1 plus OVF plus Leica hand-grip since it was first released. Apart from slight pealing of covering, which I solved myself rather than lose the camera for a repair in Germany, it has performed faultlessly. It is a simple camera which rewards the 'thinking' photographer while easily satisfying those seeking the easiest route. The results can be excellent provided normal care is taken to avoid normal pitfalls.

 

I have recently been experimenting with HDR and the X1 gives remarkable results.

 

As you are concerned about the camera's survival record, my advice would be to buy one from a good Leica dealer who should offer you his warranty. I wish you well.

[JOM51]

One and a half years ago I sold my Nikon DSLR and lenses and bought a X1.

The best buy I ever did.

I take care of my camera, and my camera is as good as new, and the image IQ is excellent.

 

You won't regret buying one.

J.M.

[Guest]

hi,

i bouhgt my x1 three years ago,and i´m still happy with it.

it´s a well made small nice looking camera(i have add some homemade solutions and so it fits perfect for me)

if you buy an x1,you have to be sure that it is not one of the first series( like mine, 2 times i had to send it to the cs ) most of the problems affect the first (grey) series.

i shoot street,i never preserve this cam,i have no cam-case or something like this;),it has some scratches but it is still working well.

if you know how to handle it will be a quick cam,if not it will be terrible laggard;)

 

btw.just made some black and white prints (100x70cm!) looks nice......go for it

 

 

lambda......

 

you find some examples at the weblink;)

Edited May 27, 2013 by Guest

[rkp]

Welcome to the forum, jkp.

I have owned an X1 plus OVF plus Leica hand-grip since it was first released. Apart from slight pealing of covering, which I solved myself.....

.

 

Can you elaborate on this at all? How did you solve this?

 

Otherwise, thanks for the kind words.

[wda]

Can you elaborate on this at all? How did you solve this?

 

Otherwise, thanks for the kind words.

A widespread experience was a slight lifting of the pseudo-leather skin on the body. In my case the vertical edges. Several owners returned their cameras to have the skin replaced. I applied a smear of adhesive extremely carefully to the raised edges and pressed them back into position. I let the glue set before using. It hasn't lifted since and I have never returned my camera to Solms. For a camera of its specification and quality, I feel that Leica could have chosen a better body covering.

[symmetron]

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I've had mine over 2 years and had only a slight problem with a sticking switch which Leica repaired. Otherwise, very reliable.

 

I use a half-case for a little extra protection and tend not to abuse my equipment (and tools) for that matter. Traveled extensively with the camera and am pleased with the reliability and durability.

 

It's a good time to buy a used X1 as they are half the original price and half the price of an X2. I wouldn't buy a new X2 given the pricing of an X1 these days.

[dave.gt]

Loving my X1...no problems other than an occasional sticky ring on the pad, but rare. Fantastic camera and rides shotgun with my M3 in the Leica Combination Bag. I alternate between using a half case or a handgrip for both the X1 and the M3.

 

These are great cameras!

[Bill Allsopp]

Superb IQ, no regrets.

[prk60091]

3 years in- no problems and it is still taking great images when the operator gets lucky

Edited May 30, 2013 by prk60091

[rob_w]

No dust bunnies?

 

There have been a few reports. I always wonder, what do people do if they get dust on a fixed lens camera and cannot clean the sensor.

[SproetS]

I bought my X1 more than three years ago. It fell down on concrete floors for a few times (4 or 5 times?) from at least more than a meter and a half; BANG! It feels like your hart is breaking. Bang!

 

Now the X1 has collected a lot of dents and scratches. I careful released the flashlight with a screwdriver so it pops out again. The X1 suffers sometimes from strange behaving menu. I repaired the charger my self with some electrical wire. Blowed the sand away again when picked it up from the bolderwagen. It's been sleeping outside for a night or two, three in cold moistures Dutch nights...

 

Well, you see, I'm not a Leica collector. I make pictures every day and take the thing in my backpack, in my pocket, in my hand, in the car on the bike, just where ever I go. Never in a posh (Leica) camera thingy. I just throw it in the back or pocket. That's why it's a great camera. It's small, strong and reliable.

 

Make sure you've got the grip and the view finder.

 

Weak thing is still the slow (but reliable) focus. When you've got the time the manual focus is workable. The camera forces you to think.

 

In the end I hope I will end up with a really good manual focus, a M8 or M9.

 

My budget says for the next three years the X1 will be my camera...

 

... and that's not bad at all!

 

I love it!

Edited May 31, 2013 by SpoetS

[atournas]

I bought my X1 as soon as it was released; until today, no problems at all. You will read various pros and cons, but you will buy your X1 for its large (for a compact) sensor size and its lens--you won't believe the images it produces.

 

The following picture is with X1, hand-held:

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/landscape-travel/275625-shipwreck-beach-2-a.html

 

Paul

[prk60091]

No dust bunnies?

 

There have been a few reports. I always wonder, what do people do if they get dust on a fixed lens camera and cannot clean the sensor.

 

No dust bunnies

[NZDavid]

Excellent IQ even at high ISO, but I got dust on the sensor and had to have it serviced; shortly after a sensor failure, so I had to send it back yet again. Traded towards M9. All digital products need to be treated with caution and are likely to be less durable long term than their film predecessors. Re dust, it seems to afflict all digital cameras, with or without interchangeable lenses -- specially if you use them in the outdoors.

[Mr_Jones]

I've had mine since it's first release and travelled round the world with it, long motor bike tours, city breaks, weddings etc. Like the a lot of X1 owners I really wanted an M9 an after a few years saving bought one and a few lenses.

 

I kept the X1 and my experience with the M9 has made me love the X1 more, it's so light and well made. I have protected it in the hated ever ready case (which I love) and it still travels with me for the times when the M9 is too bulky. I did have the skin replaced with the new style shark skin by Leica as the old one peeled but I have had no quality issues otherwise so far (touch wood).

 

They are selling for a song, they seem like excellent value to me as I payed the full price and have not regretted it.

[enboe]

My X1, purchased when released, has proven flawless. You would not be able to distinguish it from new. Image quality is very, very satisfying as well.

 

I also purchased a number of accessories, each with comments:

- the Leica 36mm optical viewfinder - pricey but very nice. You have to learn to use a little peripheral vision to see the AF confirmation light or use the audible confirmation.

- handgrip - nicely made, functional, bought cheap, not absolutely necessary. Barnack didn't use one on his UR or O-series, and the X1 approximates those body shapes and shooting styles closely, especially with the peep-sight finders of the earliest Leica cameras.

- vertical travel case - pretty, but way too slow for every day use. Good for transporting the camera.

- wrist strap - bought it, tried, it, found I use neck straps more.

- newer-style horizontal travel case - love the vintage look, and is workable for vacation shooting.

- spare Leica battery - works flawlessly.

- Sima cap keeper - works flawlessly. Never lost a cap.

- 3rd-party opening lens cap. - the one epic fail. These caps feature three petals that open under the pressure of the lens extending, a type of automatic lens cap. My issue is that for me and my example, they vignette the built-in flash. Others have reported no problem.

 

So, you don't get that much feedback without having to listen to my other suggestions. Have you put thought into a film M? An M6, M2, M3, M4-2 with a clean 35 or 50 could serve you for a lifetime, and the lenses will carry forward to the M type ### when you graduate and secure your position. I just discovered Costco one-hour develops and prints 35mm for $1.39 + $0.10 per print, which is very, very affordable.

 

Good luck.

 

Eric

[rkp]

These have been great responses. Perhaps an additional advantage of buying a Leica is the "technical support" from other dedicated users. I will definitely consider a film camera as well in the near future.

 

I did buy one recently and am looking forward to using it as a travel camera. Have other users been fairly satisfied with sending their camera's back to Leica for service? Is it very expensive to service Leica digital cameras through Leica?

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[Ivan Muller]

Two and a half years on and its still going ok...some of the grip material is starting to peel at the corners...and I have started to notice a few dust spots on the sensor again....after having had to send it back to solms a few months ago for a sensor clean and repair...personally I feel the premium that leica charges for this camera is not reflected in the build and design quality. I got mine used for a quarter of the price new and at the time it was a best buy, but technology has moved on and the competition has caught up and passed the X's and, well, there are now lots of superb choices out there....

 

Just got myself a eos m and I cannot help notice how 'old technology' the X1 all of a sudden seems to be...the AF is even slower than the Eos M in low light conditions and the body definitely doesn't feel as solid..also a big difference in image quality between the two...

 

BTW, Interesting how the eos M with lens, flash and lens adapter is less brand new now than a used 'old' technology X1 and the Eos M image quality is definitely a notch (or two/three...) higher..

 

but if 12 megapixels is enough and you can get it for a good price then it should be ok for almost all your photography needs. I haven't looked at the prices lately but if I remember correctly they are going for around the 800 usd mark, which I think reflects its true value and capabilities more accurately.

 

The X1 and 2 has one great redeeming feature though, and that is its easy zone focus...without that imo, it becomes much much more difficult to justify....but if the badge is very important and you are willing to pay a premium for it,then its more than capable of taking good photographs.

 

The maximum image size that I have been (just) able to print a medium distant scene like a group photo or near landscape has been about 17 x 20 inch including a wide border...I find the sensor is just too small for distant landscapes or images with lots of detail at that size.

 

I haven't had the fuji X100s in my hand yet but from what I have read it seems to be the one to get...and its just a bit more than a used X1...

[Ivan Muller]

Excellent IQ even at high ISO, but I got dust on the sensor and had to have it serviced; shortly after a sensor failure, so I had to send it back yet again. Traded towards M9. All digital products need to be treated with caution and are likely to be less durable long term than their film predecessors. Re dust, it seems to afflict all digital cameras, with or without interchangeable lenses -- specially if you use them in the outdoors.

 

Agreed, dust on the sensor is one of the biggest problems with fixed lens cameras ...at least with an interchangeable lens you can get to the sensor to clean it....