My Review of the X VARIO

[papimuzo]

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I have posted two images giving - without any adjustement - here:

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-x1-forum/294665-x-vario-users-2.html

I feel that using Capture 1 v. 7.1.3 with the Leica XVario profile generics, there is no need for a strong contrast adjust.

This is my finding. But YMMV.

[tom0511]

I like the images from the x-vario and don't see need for contrast boost in most images.

Sharpness is fine but I think one can see the difference compared to cams without AA-filter.

[stuny]

John -

Thanks for your well-considered comments. They have prodded me to make these two comments, one of which might make you happier with the camera, and the other of which has no immediate bearing:

1. With several Pana-Leica cameras i've used (D2, C-Lux 2, DL5, V-Lux 2 and V-Lux 4) if you zoom in multiple steps during review you do not have to zoom back step-by-step. Press the select button and the camera instantly returns to normal size view.

2. I suspect that a small team of programmers (Leica) vs. a large team (any of the Japanese majors) would not necessarily respond quicker since they probably have a queue of work to do for multiple systems.

[philipus]

I see red edge here?

 

I do too.

[barjohn]

The red edge is a well known issue with the RX-1 though it isn't that visible in images. I shot the same gray wall with the XV and it is smooth all the way across with no color shifting.

[barjohn]

John -

Thanks for your well-considered comments. They have prodded me to make these two comments, one of which might make you happier with the camera, and the other of which has no immediate bearing:

1. With several Pana-Leica cameras i've used (D2, C-Lux 2, DL5, V-Lux 2 and V-Lux 4) if you zoom in multiple steps during review you do not have to zoom back step-by-step. Press the select button and the camera instantly returns to normal size view.

2. I suspect that a small team of programmers (Leica) vs. a large team (any of the Japanese majors) would not necessarily respond quicker since they probably have a queue of work to do for multiple systems.

 

Thanks for the tips. Work arounds are very handy and become second nature once you learn to use them.

[barjohn]

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I have posted two images giving - without any adjustement - here:

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-x1-forum/294665-x-vario-users-2.html

I feel that using Capture 1 v. 7.1.3 with the Leica XVario profile generics, there is no need for a strong contrast adjust.

This is my finding. But YMMV.

 

For some reason, I don't like the C1 conversion. I prefer the Iridient Developer output over the LR 5.2 with no adjustments but after adjustments (different on each program) they can become so close as to be difficult to differentiate.

[barjohn]

Nice review. I also told Leica about the need to modify auto iso shortest exp time.

 

However there is a very good workaround for autosio and also for flash:

the auto iso "problem"

 

1) choose auto iso

2) set exp to the time you like (I often choose 1/125 or 1/250 depending on the speed of the subject)

3) set f-stop to A; here the advantage of the slow lens - if you set f-stop to A normally the camera will first go to the widest f-stop when light goes down, and when it has reached the lens full open it will start cranking up ISO; this works quite well for me

 

 

your flash problem:

When I use flash I often select exp time to 1/125 or 1/250, and f-stop to either A (or set both manually); Here I often set ISO manually to 800 or 1600 to avoid too much noise

 

By the way I agree with other that I do not believe the IQ is better than the RX1; However the IQ seems very good to me, nice neutral color, balanced tones and sharp into the corners

 

Happy shooting;

 

Tom, thanks for the helpful tips. We need more of this kind of information being shared.

[waloszek]

Barjohn,

 

Thank you for your informative and well-written review of the Leica X Vario. I admit that after your first comments on the X Vario, I was surprised to find out that you had bought one. Your review explains the reasons why…

 

I bought an X Vario myself in mid-July. My "point of reference" is neither a Sony nor a Fuji, but a Ricoh GXR A16 24-85, which probably comes closest to the X Vario of all cameras on the market. It covers 24mm (what I like) and has a little more reach at the tele end. Sean Reid regards it as a mediocre lens with an excellent sensor…

 

I prepared already some pages on my own Website (Leica X Vario: Introduction) to present first findings -- mostly from a non-Leica user's point of view -- and this will remain my main platform for presenting my findings and opinions. Interestingly, I published there a similar solution to the Auto ISO issue in my FAQ (Leica X Vario: Frequently Asked Questions)...

 

Best regards, Gerd

 

 

Best regards, Gerd

[barjohn]

Gerd,

 

I just reviewed your site and it is very interesting. Especially, given your perspective from the Ricoh system, you present a different point of reference for various camera ergonomics and operations. I was an early adapter of the Ricoh modular system but did not stay with it when I realized that Ricoh engineers had not looked very far out to the future in designing the base portion. It should have included a much faster processor or processors and better LCD and high speed busses. Then newer modules could continue to use the base without having their performance impeded. Additionally, it wasn't clear whether Ricoh would support the system into the future as sales were never stellar.

 

The concept of a modular camera sounds appealing on the surface until you realize that unless all of the underlying sub-systems are over capable, they won't work with future technologies very well. The EXIF data should still be in the files.

 

Finally, I shot the grey wall in my home at 3 focal lengths to see how the lens performed. Illumination was via indirect fluorescent lights and while the lighting appeared uniform to me, it wasn't a measured uniformity so I can't be sure how uniform the lighting actually was. The images below were converted from the DNGs with no adjustments.

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!

[colonel]

I am not sure why people compare the RX1 to the x-Vario, albeit at a similar price.

The RX1 is a studio quality 35mm camera. The xvario is a good light 28-70mm camera.

I can spec a 6D with a few excellent primes cheaper then the xvario which will have amazing quality but its not comparable.

[barjohn]

I would say that the XV is equally a studio camera. It is about the same speed and with studio lighting it's slower aperture is less of an issue. Blurred backgrounds is the one area the RX-1 beats it but if shallow DOF is not a requirement, it is as much a studio camera as the RX-1 is and it is far more versatile with its high quality zoom lens.

[waloszek]

I would like to briefly comment on the following criticism:

 

Secondly, Auto ISO does not work in manual mode. It defaults to ISO 100 and must be changed manually. There are times when one would like to be able to select Auto ISO and have the camera boost up ISO as needed to allow the aperture and shutter speed to have a range that will allow properly exposed images. The latter is not a critical fault but rather an improvement.

 

Actually, I ask myself what Auto ISO should mean in manual mode. Do I really want the camera to "correct" my manual exposure setting -- with which I might want to achieve a certain effect -- by boosting up ISO? I admit that there may be times when boosting ISO would be nice, but how can the camera know when this is the case???

Anyway, I checked my Ricoh GXR and found out that Ricoh -- nearly -- had the same opinion. For Auto ISO and Auto ISO-Hi, they set ISO to a fixed value for most of their camera units (the value depends on the unit) when these are in manual mode. For the A16 camera unit, though, they chose to boost up ISO for Auto ISO-Hi (for Auto ISO they set ISO to 400). However, this is not documented in the A16 manual -- I found it out myself…

 

Best regards, Gerd

[Guest badbob]

I know there's a lot of criticism goes around on camera menus and how they're either too complicated, or don't offer enough options, but I'd like to suggest something. In the future maybe some of these cameras would offer pseudo-programming menus that would allow you to specify in what sequence some decisions are made. If the ISO is on auto for example, maybe allow the user to specify how it interacts with other things such as Aperture or shutter speed, and which would have priority, and what would be the point where each change would begin, and which direction the camera would search for a new value. Then a one-button action key to tell the camera to continue searching, or whatever works best.

 

This is not a high quality explanation, just a wish to have a menu that allows to configure several things at once and how the camera would sequence its attempts to find the best exposure values.

[waloszek]

>> There does not appear to be anyway to display the ISO selected by the camera prior to shooting a shot and performing a playback when auto ISO is selected. As a result, one can’t make a decision prior to shooting whether to accept the ISO selected by the camera or to manually intervene.

 

I can only second that. It would be very useful to have that information displayed after half-pressing the shutter release button. Even a simple Ricoh can do that...

 

Best regards, Gerd

[Ecaton]

I would say that the XV is equally a studio camera. It is about the same speed and with studio lighting it's slower aperture is less of an issue. Blurred backgrounds is the one area the RX-1 beats it but if shallow DOF is not a requirement, it is as much a studio camera as the RX-1 is and it is far more versatile with its high quality zoom lens.

 

There is more than just DOF control differences. The DR of the RX1 is in another league. And yes I do own both Sony sensors, the FF one in the RX1 and the 16MP aps-c in the Nikon Coolpix A. The latter even benefits from the sensor being AA filter free in comparison to the way it is build into the XV. The Sony aps-c sensor is among the really good ones, but the Sony FF 24MP is a great one, probably currently even the best FF sensor. There is simply no contest between the two.

[barjohn]

There is more than just DOF control differences. The DR of the RX1 is in another league. And yes I do own both Sony sensors, the FF one in the RX1 and the 16MP aps-c in the Nikon Coolpix A. The latter even benefits from the sensor being AA filter free in comparison to the way it is build into the XV. The Sony aps-c sensor is among the really good ones, but the Sony FF 24MP is a great one, probably currently even the best FF sensor. There is simply no contest between the two.

 

I wouldn't disagree that Sony currently makes the best sensors on the market and that the RX-1 sensor is one of the best. While the DR is probably higher that the XV's, that shouldn't be an issue in the studio where you control the lighting completely. Therefore, I stand by my statement.

[barjohn]

I have been doing considerably more testing in my home with the XV. Of course deciding what is pleasing is a very subjective decision. In additional testing in different lighting and conditions I have found that my JPG setting is now set to standard sharpness standard saturation and standard contrast. However, I set my preset film to vivid. I find that this produces an image that is a bit too vivid and exaggerates the reds so I have built a LR 5.2 preset I Named Leica X Vario JPG. The settings are as follows:

Exposure is set to +.30

Clarity is set to +3

Vibrance is set to +5

Red Hue is set to -5

Orange hue to +35

Yellow Hue is set to -7

Green hue is set to -11

 

This setting results in a JPG that closely, but not exactly matches my DNG after i apply my new DNG preset which follows:

 

Contrast +15

Highlights -20

Whites -19

Clarity +4

Saturation +8

Sharpening +52

Radius +1.5

 

Try these setting and let me know if you see similar results if you shoot your JPGs with the settings shown above.

[barjohn]

I have made a few changes to above jpg settings that I will publish later.

 

I have given a lot of thought to firmware improvements I would like to see in the next firmware release. They are as follows in priority order:

 

1. Improved AF speed and accuracy, especially in small spot mode.

2. Make 16x magnification review usable by using super fine resolution jpg instead of low res image.

3. Allow higher min shutter speed in auto ISO.

4. Display ISO selected by camera on 1/2 press of shutter.

5. Provide a means to review images while magnified ( change selected image).

6. Allow for longer display of magnified area during manual focus.

7. Provide support for new Olympus EVF-4, current EVF-2 is too far behind in resolution and contrast.

8. Adjust jpg in all standard to more closely match DNGs.

9. Improve startup time.

 

I may add a few others as I play some more.

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[michaelbrenner]

5. Provide a means to review images while magnified ( change selected image).

 

Being able to switch among review images while magnified with prior view window of each picture being retained would be a powerful and much appreciated feature. For example, one could flip back and forth between shots to see if a particular feature in a shot is in focus.

 

The X1 comes close in that, using the thumbwheel, one can flip back and forth at a given magnification.

 

However, the X1 does not remember on each picture where the view is located so when flipping from one pic to the next some adjustment (to find the correct spot in the picture) is typically required unless both pics were shot exactly the same (e.g. from a tripod).

 

It would be a great feature to have (especially if the prior view window is retained while flipping back and forth) and since the X1 pretty much already has it, I would hope that a firmware update to the Leica X Vario would be fairly straight forward.