Advice about buying a Leica X2

[jenriquegp]

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Hi,

 

I'm new here. Thanks in advance for your comments!

 

I'm thinking about buying a Leica X2 a la carte (it might take around 1 or 2 months to receive it). Will Leica update this model soon or if they will release a new one (x3?)? Would you advise me to go for it or should wait for the next model?

 

Thank you very much for your advices!

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[Guest badbob]

Hi, I'm new here. Thanks in advance for your comments! I'm thinking about buying a Leica X2 a la carte (it might take around 1 or 2 months to receive it). Will Leica update this model soon or if they will release a new one (x3?)? Would you advise me to go for it or should wait for the next model? Thank you very much for your advices!

 

When Leica announced the X1 on 9/9/2009, I ordered one and received it on 3/20/2010, six months later. The X2 is fairly new, announced in May 2012, making it generally available months later I'd guess. So from the X1 announcement to the X2 announcement was 2-1/2 years. Therefore the X3 (if there is one) should be announced about Sept. 2014 and become widely available by March 2015.

[jenriquegp]

Thank you very much for your advice, Badbob...

 

If anyone more could give me a tip about buying a Leica X2, it would be welcome... I hope it camera deserves spending 2,000$. Your experience could be very worthy for me.

 

Thanks!

[spylaw4]

IMO it's worth every penny. X3? Not sure - difficult to see where the X2 could go in its present concept given the arrival of the X Vario.

 

Just remember a new model does not prevent the older one from taking great images, and the X2 does just that! A la carte-ing one does nothing except make it nicer to look at in your eyes, and that's not a put down as I like the idea!

[dkCambridgeshire]

In a recent interview Dr Andreas Kaufman hinted at new Leica products being announced in the fall and next spring. Given the pace at which the digital cameras are evolving, any Leica digital camera model could be subject to revision. I learnt my lesson about buying an older Leica digital model i.e. the M8.2 when within a few weeks the M9 was announced. Recently, the X-Vario was something of a surprise regarding the numbers immediately available i.e no waiting list. Who knows what else Leica might have up their sleeve for the autumn?

 

dunk

[wda]

I would try one at a dealer first, just to make sure you like the ergonomics. I had one of the first X1s which continues to serve me well, on a daily basis even now, despite the X2 and Vario effectively replacing it. Going for an a la carte version shows that you like customising your cameras. Why would you replace it so soon, even if an X3 appeared within the next six months?

 

By the way, welcome to the forum!

[jenriquegp]

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Thanks all for your comments! I would finally go for the a la carte X2. According to the reviews, in spite off the poor LCD screen, phots taken with this camera are great. An IQ is what I'm looking for...

 

Bests.

[dkCambridgeshire]

Have you considered an X-Vario? By the time you've paid up to £400 extra for the à la carte X2 it's almost the price of an X-Vario ... which also has the superb IQ ... but over the entire zoom range.

 

What colour à la carte X2 are you planning to order?

 

dunk

[jenriquegp]

Have you considered an X-Vario? By the time you've paid up to £400 extra for the à la carte X2 it's almost the price of an X-Vario ... which also has the superb IQ ... but over the entire zoom range.

 

What colour à la carte X2 are you planning to order?

 

dunk

 

I'll pay 2.000 euros for the Leica X2 a la carte. X-Vario costs around 2.800... so that's too much.

 

I'm thinking about buying the yellow and silver one... It looks amazing. In anyone has seen the camera in different colors, such as apple green or capri blue -also an option for me-, please give any feedback.

 

Thanks!

[dkCambridgeshire]

A UK dealer has a blue X2 a la carte in stock ... I've sent you a PM ref same.

 

dunk

[jenriquegp]

Thanks all! Anyone had to chance to handle a yellow one? It looks great on pictures...

 

Apart form the camera look, I have seen many pictures taken with the X2 and the IQ is amazing. However, I have read a lot about that it's very difficult to focus. Any experience about it? What about the AF?

[Ecaton]

I recommend to compare it with a refurbished Sony RX1. They are in the same price range as a new X2 and are IQ wise in a different league. I was an early adopter to the X1, which back then was quite an achievement with the largish sensor and excellent lens in a truly compact body. The X2 was too little too late and when you do some web search you will see that many believe that its IQ is inferior to the one produced by the X1. Except for the compact size, i.e. jacket pocket size, and the looks, not too much speaks for the X2 in 2013 in direct comparison to the Sony and Fuji X100s.

[s38]

I recommend to compare it with a refurbished Sony RX1. They are in the same price range as a new X2 and are IQ wise in a different league. I was an early adopter to the X1, which back then was quite an achievement with the largish sensor and excellent lens in a truly compact body. The X2 was too little too late and when you do some web search you will see that many believe that its IQ is inferior to the one produced by the X1. Except for the compact size, i.e. jacket pocket size, and the looks, not too much speaks for the X2 in 2013 in direct comparison to the Sony and Fuji X100s.

 

I beg to disagree with your opinion. The X1 has a better IQ than X2 myth was invented by X1 owners who tried to justify not upgrading. Btw, both X1 and X2 have outstanding IQ. As far as the Sony RX1, I would personally never own any Sony camera, not even one with a fake Zeiss lens.

[Ecaton]

I beg to disagree with your opinion. The X1 has a better IQ than X2 myth was invented by X1 owners who tried to justify not upgrading. Btw, both X1 and X2 have outstanding IQ. As far as the Sony RX1, I would personally never own any Sony camera, not even one with a fake Zeiss lens.

 

I assume you own a X2. Now let me tell you that it has a lot of Sony inside, such as e.g. a 16MP Sony sensor:p.

[CalArts 99]

Except for the compact size, i.e. jacket pocket size, and the looks, not too much speaks for the X2 in 2013 in direct comparison to the Sony and Fuji X100s.

 

I tend to agree that the X2 has now fallen behind compared to what's on the market (and coming on to the market.) And I own the X2 . Although the one thing it does have is a very decent lens (e.g., compared to the Fuji X100s which is good but soft at the corners and edges.) And yes, the X2 has a Sony sensor inside (thankfully )

 

fwiw, I sold my Fuji X100s not too long ago (and for more than I paid for it due to the current high demand and low supply. ) I developed a love-hate relationship with the raw files of the X-Trans sensor. Otherwise the camera itself was really enjoyable to use, and more so for me than the X2. Nonetheless, the X2 is quite capable of producing excellent images. I think it all just comes down to individual preferences and what feels good in one's hands, etc.. But I personally wouldn't compare it with the RX1/R which has a FF sensor and with a higher MP count; I think that's just a different animal altogether.

[jenriquegp]

So... Leica X2 or Fuji X100s regarding IQ?

[s38]

I assume you own a X2. Now let me tell you that it has a lot of Sony inside, such as e.g. a 16MP Sony sensor:p.

 

I said Sony CAMERA, not Sony sensor.

[CalArts 99]

So... Leica X2 or Fuji X100s regarding IQ?

 

I think that they are both equally capable. Some time ago I posted a link to a full comparison of images which I had made so people could form their own opinions. Sorry, I've since taken that comparison down from the off-forum site I had linked. But those individuals who did look at them said they couldn't see any substantial differences.

 

Personally I feel that the lens on the X2 is a bit better and tends to be sharp across the field. I was getting some soft corners and edges with the Fuji. Also the Fuji has a unique X-Trans sensor with a different pixel arrangement which sometimes can make the processing of RAW files of certain subject matter a lot more fussy (you can Google "X-Trans" and find plenty of comments.) Although I think that it's about the algorithms in the convertors than anything inherently 'wrong' with the X-Trans files themselves. ACR doesn't do as good a job as do Aperture, Iridient, or C1. There is also Silkypix which Fuji provides with the purchase of the camera. Again, you can read all about this yourself; there's lots of information out there about the X-Trans sensor design and the differences from a conventional Bayer arrangement.

 

For me, the Fuji was a lot more fun to use. The combination of OVF and EVF was like having a 'quasi-rangefinder' and the camera could be used like one would use a Leica M series rangefinder. I liked using it very much. Personally however, it wasn't about the 'retro' look of the Fuji; I wasn't that enthralled by its appearance as so many other people seem to be. It was simply the ergonomics.

 

I guess in the end I felt the X2 had the better lens overall. Both produce equally excellent image quality and with the processing of the Leica RAW files being a bit more forgiving. However, the Fuji jpegs were superior over the Leica in respect to color and color balance. That's where Fuji got it right and Leica didn't, imho. But the biggest part of the decision to sell the Fuji was based on the fact that I could get back what I paid for it and more since right now they are in high demand with low inventories. So I was able to use it for five months free of charge .

 

I feel that pretty much everything available these days is capable of good results in the right hands. It really comes down to other personal preferences (size, ergonomics, lens focal length, personal aversions to certain brand names, etc., etc..)

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[jenriquegp]

I think that they are both equally capable. Some time ago I posted a link to a full comparison of images which I had made so people could form their own opinions. Sorry, I've since taken that comparison down from the off-forum site I had linked. But those individuals who did look at them said they couldn't see any substantial differences.

 

Personally I feel that the lens on the X2 is a bit better and tends to be sharp across the field. I was getting some soft corners and edges with the Fuji. Also the Fuji has a unique X-Trans sensor with a different pixel arrangement which sometimes can make the processing of RAW files of certain subject matter a lot more fussy (you can Google "X-Trans" and find plenty of comments.) Although I think that it's about the algorithms in the convertors than anything inherently 'wrong' with the X-Trans files themselves. ACR doesn't do as good a job as do Aperture, Iridient, or C1. There is also Silkypix which Fuji provides with the purchase of the camera. Again, you can read all about this yourself; there's lots of information out there about the X-Trans sensor design and the differences from a conventional Bayer arrangement.

 

For me, the Fuji was a lot more fun to use. The combination of OVF and EVF was like having a 'quasi-rangefinder' and the camera could be used like one would use a Leica M series rangefinder. I liked using it very much. Personally however, it wasn't about the 'retro' look of the Fuji; I wasn't that enthralled by its appearance as so many other people seem to be. It was simply the ergonomics.

 

I guess in the end I felt the X2 had the better lens overall. Both produce equally excellent image quality and with the processing of the Leica RAW files being a bit more forgiving. However, the Fuji jpegs were superior over the Leica in respect to color and color balance. That's where Fuji got it right and Leica didn't, imho. But the biggest part of the decision to sell the Fuji was based on the fact that I could get back what I paid for it and more since right now they are in high demand with low inventories. So I was able to use it for five months free of charge .

 

I feel that pretty much everything available these days is capable of good results in the right hands. It really comes down to other personal preferences (size, ergonomics, lens focal length, personal aversions to certain brand names, etc., etc..)

 

Thanks for your thoughtful comment! Very helpful...

[Ecaton]

So... Leica X2 or Fuji X100s regarding IQ?

 

As mentioned before, IQ wise the Sony RX1 beats both by country miles as both, its sensor and lens are considerably superior. And lastly, depending of the country you are based, the Sony comes with 4 years of unlimited warranty.