barjohn Posted May 31, 2014 Share #1 Posted May 31, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) Here is another review from the Verge Not very positive. I disagree with him on IQ. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 31, 2014 Posted May 31, 2014 Hi barjohn, Take a look here Focusing magnification. (Split from Review thread). I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
barjohn Posted June 3, 2014 Author Share #2 Posted June 3, 2014 I thought I would provide a more extensive counter point to his review: As I have a T and I am known to be critical of Leica when I beleive it is warranted, I think I can provide some perspective on the negatives he called out. On the Camera's speed/responsiveness: The menu system is faster to use than the menu system on the A7 or the A6000 and because of the way Auto ISO is implimented it is faster to use than the XT-1 (I have owned all of thes cameras) It is slower than the foregoing cameras in 1)startup from power off, 2)wakeup from sleep, 3)image review and 4)switching back and forth from EVF to LCD. Auto focus is significantly slower than A6000, XT-1, and slightly slower than A7 in good light with zoom lens (I haven't tested with prime). However, accuracy seems better than all but the XT-1. If there is one area that Leica should have licensed the algorythms from their Panasonic partner it is in this area. The touch screen is quick when it comes to selecting actions and the ability to create your own custom layout is great. The ability to customize the two dials is also very good and the interface is intuitive enough that you don't need a manual for 95% of the things you might want to do, assuming you are already familiar with operating a smartphone like an iPhone or Android. The format function is fast, faster than the Sony A6000 (same memory card). Lastly, I wanted to address IQ. If there is one software area that Leica appears to excel in it is image processing. The combination of their lenses with their image processing software produces images that are unique in their appearance. The XV punched above its weight in this area and the T is slightly better (IMHO). There is a punch, crispness, clarity and three dimensional quality in their images that is simply preferable to me. I would have kept the A6000 or A7 if I could have matched that quality (the A7R didn't have it either). Sony's weakness continues to be its lenses. The RX-1/R is the only Sony camera that comes close and has better resolution but then you are stuck with a single focal length. I have to disagree with the reviewer in this regard. I can show side by side shots of the same subject and the difference is apparent. Leica does not try to mask noise but selects a sensor in which the noise is inherently of the fine grain nature and that allows the detail to come through and lets me judge how much detail I am willing to give up to reduce noise. The Sony tends to use heavy handed noise reduction comapratively. Fuji is even worse in this regard with the XTRAN sensor. Bottom line is images really remind me of Kodachrome like they could be projected up on an 8' screen and look fantastic. These are my honest assessment. If the touch screen were slow or unresponsive I would say so. I use an iPhone 5 daily and I see no difference in responsiveness. Maybe the 5s is a little faster but hardly somthing to worry about. The WiFi implimentation is rudimentary and needs substantial work and the addition of ad-hoc mode. The computer connection needs a storage, not browser mode so one could transfer files from the camera to computer or cloud storage quickly. They need to allow auto review to be turned off (DPR's preview shows a menu structure that included the off capability). MF is a bit clumsy and the ability to select magnification needs to be placed on a dial and not on a touch screen panel (maybe there is a way to do this and I just haven't learned it yet). The fly-by-wire MF on the zoom is no where near as good as the implimentation on the XV. I hope this helps some of you understand the review and place its conclusions in context. -- Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vikasmg Posted June 3, 2014 Share #3 Posted June 3, 2014 ... the ability to select magnification needs to be placed on a dial and not on a touch screen panel (maybe there is a way to do this and I just haven't learned it yet)...-- Thank you for that John. On the magnification selection I spent quite a bit of time with the camera and the manual (first time I really looked at the manual!) and can find no way of selecting it from the dial. It seems like such a no-brainer to do it by scrolling a notch or two further on the dial. - Vikas Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
barjohn Posted June 4, 2014 Author Share #4 Posted June 4, 2014 I just got the Leica lens adapter and with a manual lens, the left scroll button does select magnification; however, not quite like you think it would. When you move the dial you see on the display that the dial can be moved either way and a circle with a plus in it so you think, oh! if I turn it one way it will increase magnification and the opposite way will decrease magnification...PERFECT! But no, that isn't how it works. Instead, it brings up the touch screen selection of 3x or 6x and you must select by touching your desired magnification. Turning the wheel seems to only turn on or off the feature, not change it. The good news is that once you select a magnification it remembers it so now you can turn it on or off with the wheel. Not quite as logical but better than nothing. It only works this way with a manual lens, not with the AF lens set to manual. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
digitalfx Posted June 4, 2014 Share #5 Posted June 4, 2014 I just got the Leica lens adapter and with a manual lens, the left scroll button does select magnification; however, not quite like you think it would. When you move the dial you see on the display that the dial can be moved either way and a circle with a plus in it so you think, oh! if I turn it one way it will increase magnification and the opposite way will decrease magnification...PERFECT! But no, that isn't how it works. Instead, it brings up the touch screen selection of 3x or 6x and you must select by touching your desired magnification. Turning the wheel seems to only turn on or off the feature, not change it. The good news is that once you select a magnification it remembers it so now you can turn it on or off with the wheel. Not quite as logical but better than nothing. It only works this way with a manual lens, not with the AF lens set to manual. Yes I just posted the same comment in the FW thread. A very strange implementation to say the least. Hopefully this will be fixed in the next fw update, as the current function is seriously lacking. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vikasmg Posted June 4, 2014 Share #6 Posted June 4, 2014 I think the implementation of magnification selection is really nuts with that dial just sitting there doing no more than acting like a toggle switch with the icon in the display seemingly promises more! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
barjohn Posted June 4, 2014 Author Share #7 Posted June 4, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) Why not offer the same magnification capability when using an AF lens where you want to fine tune the focus? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanJW Posted June 4, 2014 Share #8 Posted June 4, 2014 It is a no-brainer to have the left dial first notch focus aid on to 3x and second notch 6x. Hopefully this will be in a firmware revision. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonoslack Posted June 4, 2014 Share #9 Posted June 4, 2014 Hi There I quite agree with the focus magnification discussion: 1. it should be available for the left hand dial as an option in MF mode with the T lenses (it already is with M lenses) 2. it should work as one would expect i.e. turn the dial to the right - 1x to 3x to 6x to 1x etc. turn the dial to the left - 1x to 6x to 3x to 1x etc. actually John - I agree with almost all your assesment - excellent all the best Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thighslapper Posted June 4, 2014 Share #10 Posted June 4, 2014 I agree with virtually all of your points ...... both for and against, John ..... and like you I have dabbled with the main alternatives ..... and all the non Leica offerings do have major flaws .... whereas the T has a few niggly irritations and an awful lot to commend it ....... I would add that the 16Gb on camera storage is a potential real lifesaver .... and using this camera in manual mode with the two wheels is a real delight with auto ISO set .... very quick and intuitive. I do miss not being able to review images in the Visoflex (screens are useless in bright conditions) .... and the XVario focus confirmation feature is another thing I used all the time and now really miss........ I'm surprised they didn't incorporate some of the excellent features of the XV ... it's almost like the design teams didn't bother to talk to each other...... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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