JohnAmann Posted February 22, 2014 Share #1 Posted February 22, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) I traded in my D800 for the XV a few days ago, and received a few strange looks from the manager of my local camera shop, but after using it for a few days I have zero regrets. I have uploaded a few shots to my blog: John Amann Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 22, 2014 Posted February 22, 2014 Hi JohnAmann, Take a look here Leica X-Vario photos. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
firoze Posted February 23, 2014 Share #2 Posted February 23, 2014 I traded in my D800 for the XV a few days ago, and received a few strange looks from the manager of my local camera shop, but after using it for a few days I have zero regrets. I have uploaded a few shots to my blog: John Amann Hello John, congrats on acquiring the XV and welcome to the Leica forum! I've been wanting to get one for myself as well. What made you switch from the D800 to the XV? And what do you like about it - size, handling, image quality etc? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thighslapper Posted February 23, 2014 Share #3 Posted February 23, 2014 Hello John, congrats on acquiring the XV and welcome to the Leica forum! I've been wanting to get one for myself as well. What made you switch from the D800 to the XV? And what do you like about it - size, handling, image quality etc? I have a D300, D700, Fuji X100, Leica M9, M, MM and Sony A7r........... and find the XV by far the best balanced camera of the lot in terms of ergonomics, ease of use, image quality and adequate file size to crop or print from. Apart from the M and MM all the rest are finally heading for eBay as I have finally found my ideal constant companion ...... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
firoze Posted February 23, 2014 Share #4 Posted February 23, 2014 I have a D300, D700, Fuji X100, Leica M9, M, MM and Sony A7r........... and find the XV by far the best balanced camera of the lot in terms of ergonomics, ease of use, image quality and adequate file size to crop or print from. Apart from the M and MM all the rest are finally heading for eBay as I have finally found my ideal constant companion ...... Your comments are interesting to an aspiring XV owner like me. The Sony A7r with Zeiss 25-70 lens is close in price to the XV with EVF. What would you say are the pros and cons of each? I presume you have some good quality lenses to use with the A7r, how does the image quality compare with the XV? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
XVarior Posted February 23, 2014 Share #5 Posted February 23, 2014 I have a D300, D700, Fuji X100, Leica M9, M, MM and Sony A7r........... and find the XV by far the best balanced camera of the lot in terms of ergonomics, ease of use, image quality and adequate file size to crop or print from. Apart from the M and MM all the rest are finally heading for eBay as I have finally found my ideal constant companion ...... as Firoze just did, please I would like to invite you to join us on Facebook. Leica XVario group ;-) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
XVarior Posted February 23, 2014 Share #6 Posted February 23, 2014 I traded in my D800 for the XV a few days ago, and received a few strange looks from the manager of my local camera shop, but after using it for a few days I have zero regrets. I have uploaded a few shots to my blog: John Amann John, If you're on Facebook, please join the Leica Xvario group and start posting your shots there. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted February 23, 2014 Share #7 Posted February 23, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) John, If you're on Facebook, please join the Leica Xvario group and start posting your shots there. Or, better still, post in this forum's X photos thread. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thighslapper Posted February 23, 2014 Share #8 Posted February 23, 2014 Your comments are interesting to an aspiring XV owner like me. The Sony A7r with Zeiss 25-70 lens is close in price to the XV with EVF. What would you say are the pros and cons of each? I presume you have some good quality lenses to use with the A7r, how does the image quality compare with the XV? A7 button placement, controls and menus are badly arranged, over complicated and frustrating 24/36mp sounds great but in reality will you ever need this resolution .... even if you print BIG ? 16mp is enough and the images are at least as good as equivalent M9 ones at 18mp. A7r in particular needs 2x focal length shutter speeds to avoid camera shake. Noise at higher ISO's looks obtrusive compared to the XV and not as easy to get rid of. Exposure, WB and general colour output just seems better than the Sony. I've found AF much more reliable on the XV than the A7r..... despite what some threads have said. XV more comfortable to hold and handle .... if anything the A7 is too small Lens on the XV is fantastic ..... sharp edge to edge and minimal aberrations ..... a lot of 3rd party lenses on the A7 just don't work properly. XV images need almost no post-processing apart from sharpening .... I batch process the lot with sharpening set to 90 in LR when I import them. and the list goes on....... ......basically very few of us who have got an XV have been disappointed...... most of us .... particularly existing M9 and M users ...... have been astonished at how good this camera is .... particularly as the 'reviews' were initially a bit scathing... It's the images that count .... look at the XV photos .... http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/other/288827-leica-x-vario-photos.html Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
firoze Posted February 23, 2014 Share #9 Posted February 23, 2014 ^ Thank you for the detailed reply thighslapper. It clears up a lot or questions I had about the XV vs A7r Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
XVarior Posted February 23, 2014 Share #10 Posted February 23, 2014 ^ Thank you for the detailed reply thighslapper. It clears up a lot or questions I had about the XV vs A7r Firoze, when it comes to chose a camera these days, I think the most essential question should goes beyond the traditional which camera is better question and focus instead on wether we want to cope with multiple lens choices and decide each time we go out which to take along and which to leave behind. Or, if we want a camera that has a superb lens and IQ packed in one package that we take along while confident we will be perfectly covered and satisfied when we get back home and look at our camera output. If you want to be on the exchangeable side, then sony canon and Nikon, just to mention a few, have great products to chose from. If, on the other hand, you're more inclined toward the 1-lens-do-it-all approach, then I can confidently say, nothing compares to the XV. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
XVarior Posted February 23, 2014 Share #11 Posted February 23, 2014 A7 button placement, controls and menus are badly arranged, over complicated and frustrating 24/36mp sounds great but in reality will you ever need this resolution .... even if you print BIG ? 16mp is enough and the images are at least as good as equivalent M9 ones at 18mp. A7r in particular needs 2x focal length shutter speeds to avoid camera shake. Noise at higher ISO's looks obtrusive compared to the XV and not as easy to get rid of. Exposure, WB and general colour output just seems better than the Sony. I've found AF much more reliable on the XV than the A7r..... despite what some threads have said. XV more comfortable to hold and handle .... if anything the A7 is too small Lens on the XV is fantastic ..... sharp edge to edge and minimal aberrations ..... a lot of 3rd party lenses on the A7 just don't work properly. XV images need almost no post-processing apart from sharpening .... I batch process the lot with sharpening set to 90 in LR when I import them. and the list goes on....... ......basically very few of us who have got an XV have been disappointed...... most of us .... particularly existing M9 and M users ...... have been astonished at how good this camera is .... particularly as the 'reviews' were initially a bit scathing... It's the images that count .... look at the XV photos .... http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/other/288827-leica-x-vario-photos.html I'm amazed to hear that from an owner of too many cameras that are rated better than the XV, and specially begin an M9 owner. That confirm my thoughts and own review of the camera. Great input. Thanks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
firoze Posted February 23, 2014 Share #12 Posted February 23, 2014 Firoze, when it comes to chose a camera these days, I think the most essential question should goes beyond the traditional which camera is better question and focus instead on wether we want to cope with multiple lens choices and decide each time we go out which to take along and which to leave behind. Or, if we want a camera that has a superb lens and IQ packed in one package that we take along while confident we will be perfectly covered and satisfied when we get back home and look at our camera output.If you want to be on the exchangeable side, then sony canon and Nikon, just to mention a few, have great products to chose from. If, on the other hand, you're more inclined toward the 1-lens-do-it-all approach, then I can confidently say, nothing compares to the XV. Actually I hate changing lenses In the past, I've had an M3, M6 & R7. All superb cameras. But I found it frustrating to constantly change lenses. That is why when the Digilux 1 came out I sold the others and bought it. I know IQ was not as good but I really enjoyed using that camera and got some amazing photos with it. I remains one of my favourite cameras. Since then, I've had the D-Lux 2/3/4. Not "real" Leicas I know, but I've enjoyed using them. Now this is why I'm so interested in the XV - a real Leica with what I can see is gorgeous IQ. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
XVarior Posted February 23, 2014 Share #13 Posted February 23, 2014 Actually I hate changing lenses In the past, I've had an M3, M6 & R7. All superb cameras. But I found it frustrating to constantly change lenses. That is why when the Digilux 1 came out I sold the others and bought it. I know IQ was not as good but I really enjoyed using that camera and got some amazing photos with it. I remains one of my favourite cameras. Since then, I've had the D-Lux 2/3/4. Not "real" Leicas I know, but I've enjoyed using them. Now this is why I'm so interested in the XV - a real Leica with what I can see is gorgeous IQ. The XV will amaze you then Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjans Posted February 23, 2014 Share #14 Posted February 23, 2014 The XV outperforms my M8. It's an amazing camera, ideal for travel and it takes video too. Best Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnAmann Posted February 23, 2014 Author Share #15 Posted February 23, 2014 Hello John, congrats on acquiring the XV and welcome to the Leica forum! I've been wanting to get one for myself as well. What made you switch from the D800 to the XV? And what do you like about it - size, handling, image quality etc? For me it was simply a matter of size and practicality. I did love my D800 and the image quality as we all know is hard to beat, but for travel purposes the camera just no longer made sense for me. I purchased the Nikon when it was first released and at the time I was not doing much traveling, but a year ago I took a new job where I travel frequently and started lugging the D800 around with me. I took the camera to Istanbul and Shanghai, and after worrying about traveling with numerous lenses and having to dedicate an entire backpack simply to my camera gear I decided to make the switch. I traded in all of my nikon gear to my local camera shop, and originally purchased the Sony RX1-R. I returned it two days later after quickly realizing I hated the ergonomics, and not loving the limitation of just a 35mm lens. The image quality was superb, but I worried that for the money invested it felt a bit cheap and in some ways not like a real photographic tool. So back to the shop I went, and this time I asked to see the X-Vario. The manager at the store definitely gave me the "Why would you do that"? face, but I didn't care. He told me how the sony was the better camera, and that if it was him making the purchase he would stick with the sony. But as soon as the Camera came out of the box, I was in love. The build quality is phenomenal, and too me the camera just begged to be used. The craftsmanship of the camera blew away anything I have seen from Fuji, Sony or Nikon and it just felt like a camera that I could own for a long time. For my purposes these days the focal length that the XV provides is ideal for travel / street photography, on my D800 my standard walk around lens was a 14-24mm 2.8 which I always seemed to shoot at F11, and the weight is at least triple that of the XV in that combination. If you stopped to take a photo, people would stare or ask you what you were doing, and it was impossible to be discrete with that thing. I have spent several days now with the XV in Okinawa Japan as I am currently here for work, and using the camera in public is a whole new experience. The shutter is dead silent, nobody bats an eye when I take a photo in a crowd and the simpleness of the camera is a real pleasure to use. For me the "Slow" lens is a total non issue. I don't do much portrait work, and almost all of my photos are shot at F8 and higher so to me, I could care less about not having a F.1.4 on my camera these days. And for anyone who is worried about the lens being of inferior quality because its not a fixed prime, all I can say is that you have to use the camera and your fears will quickly be put to rest. The lens produces amazing images, tack sharp throughout the entire focal range and from edge to edge. The image quality that comes off the sensor is fantastic, and there is certainly a punchiness / unique contrast from this camera that I never experienced with the Nikon. It's hard for me to explain exactly what the "Leica look" is, but for me this camera delivers. I don't need the 36 megapixels, and the quality of the images that I have seen thus far have more than exceeded my expectations. I honestly feel if I could ensure that this camera would never die, I would be happy to own it for the rest of my life. So for the camera's simplicity in operation, the amazing lens and great image quality coupled with a perfect walk around focal range, its hard to beat this camera. I simply throw it in my bag, barely notice the additional weight and off I go. I also have to mention that not having to worry about sensor dust anymore is a huge relief. The only thing I would change so far with my use is that I wish I could somehow disable the rear navigation dial, as I tend to accidentally press it when framing a shot, and I wish the camera startup time was faster. When the camera goes into sleep mode, it takes about 2 seconds before its operational again, and while this is not a huge deal I think for the money they could have put in a faster processor, this goes the same for the long image buffering time, which needs a full second or two to clear before you can take a second photo. I am hoping that some of this might improve in a later firmware update. I would also have like to seen a larger battery, and a less expensive EVF. So I am extremely happy with my decision to trade in my gear and make the switch. The image quality is superb, and the camera fits all of my needs. I am only disappointed that I did not make the switch sooner. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
firoze Posted February 24, 2014 Share #16 Posted February 24, 2014 ^ @JohnAmann thank you for the comprehensive reply. Very useful to know your thoughts. It shows just how good the XV is, if it can replace the D800 for regular use. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BB W Posted March 5, 2014 Share #17 Posted March 5, 2014 I've bee following the discussions on this camera for a long time, and have recently started considering it again. The new Fuji X-T1 had really caught my interest, but when I think about the costs of all the lenses, plus it has the X trans which as an X100 shooter, I've never experienced... Well, I find myself thinking back to the image quality and build of the X1 I used it have and the price of the X Vario is beginning to seem less out of the ballpark for me. I've enjoyed reading everyone's comments in this thread and others, including seeing real life photos. My guess is that the possible new Leica that has been rumored, I think some are calling it the T, will be way out of my price range. Looking forward to reading and seeing more from you all with the X Vario. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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