Leica X Vario or Nikon DF?

[Guest borge]

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The Df of course. The X Vario is a dud. You are better off with a Fuji x-e2 and the kit zoom than the X Vario.

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The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[jkphoto]

I am liking the feel of this camera (Df) more and more. I offer these very un-scientific, hand-held images. One made from the Df with the 50mm f1.4 AIS lens, the other with the M9, and 50mm Summilux. F8 was used. Base ISO on both cameras (100 and 160).

 

The first image is the Nikon, the second the M9.

Joe

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[zgisterak]

I am liking the feel of this camera (Df) more and more. I offer these very un-scientific, hand-held images. One made from the Df with the 50mm f1.4 AIS lens, the other with the M9, and 50mm Summilux. F8 was used. Base ISO on both cameras (100 and 160).

 

The first image is the Nikon, the second the M9.

Joe

I am having a lot of fun with my DF too. I just got 85mm f/1.8 prime in addition to special addition. Now I have my dream team completed along with Leica X2 as back up...Happy Holidays

[bender73]

1. Buy the Leica

 

2. Buy a Nikon FE on ebay for $125 and scan the film negatives

 

Problem solved.

 

Seriously, though. I love Nikon, but the Df is insanely overpriced and a niche product for those that want a cool looking DSLR. Yes, it has the D4 sensor, but that matters little IMHO unless you want ISO 100,000,000,000.

[zgisterak]

1. Buy the Leica

 

2. Buy a Nikon FE on ebay for $125 and scan the film negatives

 

Problem solved.

 

Seriously, though. I love Nikon, but the Df is insanely overpriced and a niche product for those that want a cool looking DSLR. Yes, it has the D4 sensor, but that matters little IMHO unless you want ISO 100,000,000,000.

Thx for advice.. However, I already have DF and truly enjoying it along with my X2

[bender73]

Thx for advice.. However, I already have DF and truly enjoying it along with my X2

 

oh. well then ignore everything I said and congrats!

[Ecaton]

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1. Buy the Leica

 

2. Buy a Nikon FE on ebay for $125 and scan the film negatives

 

Problem solved.

 

Seriously, though. I love Nikon, but the Df is insanely overpriced and a niche product for those that want a cool looking DSLR. Yes, it has the D4 sensor, but that matters little IMHO unless you want ISO 100,000,000,000.

 

If the OVF equipped, weather sealed, top of the line and unique FF sensor under the hood DF is overpriced @USD2700 how in the world can you seriously suggest to buy a USD 3500 (incl Leica, pardon, Olympus EVF) X Vario with its aging off the shelf Sony aps-c sensor and turtle slow boring range zoom lens. A DF coupled with a Noct Nikkor 58 ais makes even a M & Noctilux look not so special anymore, at a fraction of the price of the Leica outfit, that is.

[bender73]

If the OVF equipped, weather sealed, top of the line and unique FF sensor under the hood DF is overpriced @USD2700 how in the world can you seriously suggest to buy a USD 3500 (incl Leica, pardon, Olympus EVF) X Vario with its aging off the shelf Sony aps-c sensor and turtle slow boring range zoom lens. A DF coupled with a Noct Nikkor 58 ais makes even a M & Noctilux look not so special anymore, at a fraction of the price of the Leica outfit, that is.

 

You can buy a Refurb D600 with video and equal image quality FX for $1400 and the dust issue is way over-blown. People need to clean their sensors and stop pixel peeping blue skies at f/22 100% cropped.

 

As much as I love Nikon and will continue to shoot their gear for paid work, Leica glass is just special...even in the X1. I would pay a premium for their glass, but not for a body.

[zgisterak]

You can buy a Refurb D600 with video and equal image quality FX for $1400 and the dust issue is way over-blown. People need to clean their sensors and stop pixel peeping blue skies at f/22 100% cropped.

 

As much as I love Nikon and will continue to shoot their gear for paid work, Leica glass is just special...even in the X1. I would pay a premium for their glass, but not for a body.

 

This is getting old...

[Stevieozoz]

I own both the DF and the XV!

 

I mainly bought the DF so I fulfil the dream of using all my wonderful, old, pre AI lenses from the early sixties, on a digital camera that looked and handled very much like my treasured Nikkormats and FE's. The Nikon DF is truly a beautiful camera and I just love it. And, it works perfectly with my old lenses which in themselves, all have different 'personalities' that I've grown to love over the past 40 - 50 years.

 

However, when it comes to image quality, you just can't beat a Leica! I've had my XV for a while now and continue to be amazed by that incredible 3D quality you get out of every photograph. I love the XV (and my X2) for what it is - - wouldn't want to change a thing. I don't compare it my other cameras (OMD-EM5, Ricoh GR etc) because the other ones are just for certain jobs whereas the XV is for 'photography'. I have Leicas going back to the early 50's and they all have that certain something in the way they produce images -- nothing else gets close.

 

So, if you really want to get a wonderful, flexible camera - - one that you can carry around all day and that produces images that are incredibly beautiful then by all means, get the Leica XV. But, most importantly, don't get taken in by all the negative comments that mainly emanate from people who have certain expectations of the Leica - - expectations that it was never designed to meet. It's like all those motor journalists who complain about the handling of a certain car because in their heads, everything should be as a good as a Ferrari. Well the Ferrari won't carry 4 people . . . .

 

It takes a good month to start get to know your XV so take your time and work with it. On certain settings, mine likes a a bit of extra contrast and a tad of sharpening whilst with others, it might need +1/3 ev to nail the exposure. But that's just my interpretation of the reality that I see - - we're all different.

[zgisterak]

I own both the DF and the XV!

 

I mainly bought the DF so I fulfil the dream of using all my wonderful, old, pre AI lenses from the early sixties, on a digital camera that looked and handled very much like my treasured Nikkormats and FE's. The Nikon DF is truly a beautiful camera and I just love it. And, it works perfectly with my old lenses which in themselves, all have different 'personalities' that I've grown to love over the past 40 - 50 years.

 

However, when it comes to image quality, you just can't beat a Leica! I've had my XV for a while now and continue to be amazed by that incredible 3D quality you get out of every photograph. I love the XV (and my X2) for what it is - - wouldn't want to change a thing. I don't compare it my other cameras (OMD-EM5, Ricoh GR etc) because the other ones are just for certain jobs whereas the XV is for 'photography'. I have Leicas going back to the early 50's and they all have that certain something in the way they produce images -- nothing else gets close.

 

So, if you really want to get a wonderful, flexible camera - - one that you can carry around all day and that produces images that are incredibly beautiful then by all means, get the Leica XV. But, most importantly, don't get taken in by all the negative comments that mainly emanate from people who have certain expectations of the Leica - - expectations that it was never designed to meet. It's like all those motor journalists who complain about the handling of a certain car because in their heads, everything should be as a good as a Ferrari. Well the Ferrari won't carry 4 people . . . .

 

It takes a good month to start get to know your XV so take your time and work with it. On certain settings, mine likes a a bit of extra contrast and a tad of sharpening whilst with others, it might need +1/3 ev to nail the exposure. But that's just my interpretation of the reality that I see - - we're all different.

I think people got lost in what my original question was. I was wondering whether to add XV or Nikon DF to my X2. My choice was to have Leica X2 and Nikon DF as my "dream team". The more I use the DF, I realized I've made better choice of adding rather then XV. Thanks to B&H I have DF with two primes 50mm f1.8 and 85mm f1.8. In addition, I have Nikon glass from my F3 days.All this for a price of XV (+other accesories). I still love my X2 and it gives me great pleasure to shoot with. However, I do a lot of street photography and AF on focus is a bit slow for quick moving shots. X2 has it own purpose in my bag.

[NZDavid]

Congrats on new camera. Fast focusing, whether AF or MF, is essential for street photography. And not being too conspicuous, so you don't want a hulking great camera. I got some pleasing results with the little D-Lux 5 in NYC. Usually I take the M9. The DF looks like a superb compact sized DSLR with access to excellent lenses. Plus excellent no-fuss ergonomic controls. I'm are you made the right decision for you. Hope you had a good holiday and do post some pictures!