stuny Posted October 28, 2013 Share #1 Posted October 28, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) Leica is running a four city promotion in which 30 people can sign up for a contest during which they lend you an X Vario with or without the viewfinder and grip for four hours, after which you can submit one photo taken with the X Vario during those four hours. Friday I was one of the 30 in New York, and I went into it with some trepidation based on all the bad press the camera had been receiving on this Forum. My impressions: · The camera is physically nice looking, heavy and solid. It seems to say “Leica.” · The specs and photos suggested to me that as long as one had the external viewfinder attached it was a logical successor to the D2, with the classic controls accessible as in “the old days.” · The auto focus behaved for me in lighting ranging from quite bright to somewhat dim, and always snapped in quickly. · The exposures (I shot aperture priority, spot metering, lens wide open, which is how I take most photos with my other cameras) were either spot-on or exceptionally close to it. · During processing I found no need for sharpening, which has not been the case for me with nine other digital cameras. · For my hands the body with or without the grip (I started without during the pre-shooting briefing and Q&A) the camera was not quite large enough. With my DMR I prefer to carry the camera in my right hand, comfortable with how the camera shape, size and back-of-hand strap make this comfortable and secure. With my V-Lux 4 I carry it similarly, with the neck strap wrapped about my hand. Doing this with the X Vario worked, but not well. · The line of buttons down the rear right edge obviate the need for the most common actions that on other cameras one would find only on the menu. In the four hours I had the camera I accidentally pushed those buttons a number of times. However, I was able to instantly escape the effect by half-pressing the shutter button. · With the camera in sleep mode half pressing the shutter button brought it ready to shoot very rapidly. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 28, 2013 Posted October 28, 2013 Hi stuny, Take a look here Using the X Vario. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
wda Posted October 28, 2013 Share #2 Posted October 28, 2013 Thank you Stuart. Interesting findings. Your slight criticism of its ergonomics has not surfaced before; I like to be able to hold the camera with grip in my right hand. Did you shoot DNG? Your comment on sharpness suggests otherwise. And your conclusion? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guytou Posted October 28, 2013 Share #3 Posted October 28, 2013 I have just bought X Vario + sight EVF2 last Friday 10/25. The instructions are very quickly assimilated and I carried out some photographs around me to check certain points: - The speed and precision of the AF are appropriate to me perfectly, even in weaker light. - Them various adjustments are correctly laid out and very pleasant to use, except the directional paving stone that it arrives to me of touching by error but a pressure on the obturator and it is finished. I perhaps will buy the handle-grip. - The sight EVF 2 is very good and very useful when it makes large sun. - Them first results of the photographs seem excellents, in particular in JPEG, even up to 1600 ISO. For the moment I have only Lightroom 3.6 and did not install version 5 yet. I am very satisfied with my purchase and this device points out to me my Digilux 2 in more current. I let to you and will continue to tame my X Vario… Guy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuny Posted October 28, 2013 Author Share #4 Posted October 28, 2013 David - Yes, I was shooting jpeg only. I arrived at the event with just a small sd card (512 MB) and would have filled it too quickly if I shot raw. Other than my ergonomics comments above I was very pleased with the camera, and as Guy indicates, I the EVF is very nice. I also suspect that I'd get used to the buttons on the rear right, and not accidentally push them. I had no opportunity to test the EVF lag, which just reflects what subjects I was able to shoot during those four hours. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 28, 2013 Share #5 Posted October 28, 2013 I have just bought X Vario + sight EVF2 last Friday 10/25. I perhaps will buy the handle-grip. Guy hello Guy, congratulations !!! handle grip or protector ??? I recommend the protector. br kmhb Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guytou Posted October 28, 2013 Share #6 Posted October 28, 2013 Thank you ! I do not still know which handle or protector to buy... Guy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted October 28, 2013 Share #7 Posted October 28, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) Thank you ! I do not still know which handle or protector to buy... Guy A hand-grip has proved essential to me for several recent Leica cameras. Although the half-case looks attractive, for 100% security I would prefer the hand-grip which allows the camera to be held securely with one hand. I can curl my middle finger around the grip barrel giving me much greater confidence. The remarks are based on my experiences with M8, M9, X1 and D-Lux5 for which I have appropriate Leica hand-grips. The only downside is that you have slightly more bulk to tuck into a carrying bag, but I well prepared to accept that fact. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guytou Posted October 28, 2013 Share #8 Posted October 28, 2013 OK, thank you. I suppose that the handle of X Vario is not identical to that of X2 or X1. Guy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted October 28, 2013 Share #9 Posted October 28, 2013 OK, thank you.I suppose that the handle of X Vario is not identical to that of X2 or X1. Guy Guy, I fear not. None of the earlier X accessories fit the bigger XV body. I meant to add earlier, that my right hand occasionally suffers badly from arthritis and needs it own bracing band. So my emphasis on preference for hand-grips is influenced heavily by that fact. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 28, 2013 Share #10 Posted October 28, 2013 OK, thank you.I suppose that the handle of X Vario is not identical to that of X2 or X1. Guy D-Lux 6 inkl. Handgriff + Bereitschaftstasche - bodyteil - der D-Lux 5 perfekt. XVario inkl. protector* ebenfalls perfekt. guter griff inkl. schutz für camerabody. (*protector plus griff > kombination nicht möglich) br kmhb Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guytou Posted October 28, 2013 Share #11 Posted October 28, 2013 OK, thanks to you, I am going to think about it. Guy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter L Posted October 29, 2013 Share #12 Posted October 29, 2013 I find that the handgrip does not increase the overall size of the camera much, it allows me to shoot one handed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
barjohn Posted October 29, 2013 Share #13 Posted October 29, 2013 I'll add my 2 cents that the handgrip is a worth while accessory. With the hand grip and a wrist strap for now, until or unless the finger loop ever becomes available, it makes one handed carry very easy and you can carry the camera with the finger tips around the grip. It does add about ¼" of height to the camera but it still looks very good. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuny Posted October 29, 2013 Author Share #14 Posted October 29, 2013 The hand grip is also very fast and easy to attach securely and remove. A wrist strap along with the grip would improve handling for me. I also suspect that the finger loop, should it be released, would be even better, thereby removing my larger (though still rather small) objection. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
symmetron Posted October 29, 2013 Share #15 Posted October 29, 2013 I recommend you investigate the protector as it protects the camera and is not bulky or ill-fitting. It has a raised area on the right side which assists in holding the camera similarly to a hand grip. YMMV. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
barjohn Posted October 30, 2013 Share #16 Posted October 30, 2013 I would also suggest a screen protector as the screen can be easily scratched from what others have posted. Thank goodness I don't know first hand as I always put a screen protector on a new camera right away. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guytou Posted October 30, 2013 Share #17 Posted October 30, 2013 OK, thank you. I already put a protection of screen as I do it with my other devices. I have already a small bag of transport and I think of installing a handle rather than the case of protection. Guy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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