Why I'm returning the X Vario

[haroldc]

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I don't suppose these could be shared with the group, as this is my biggest bug-bare with the camera.

 

+1 please.

[Yoki]

+1 please.

 

+1 please..

[Guest DrPix]

I´ve made some tests with Lightroom 5 and 5.7.1 and XVario DNG files.

Very strange - I think these "new" versions are, in my eyes, much much "worse" than my standard LR 3.7 (YES, THAT old). I use Embedded calibration profile and Middle Contrast as defaults with 3.6 and get, in most cases, properly exposed pics with perfect WB and colours. Latest LR versions are maybe "better" for some "newer" Leica cameras but definitely are NOT doing XVario any justice. .

 

 

Thank you everyone for all your thoughts, comments, and suggestions. I appreciate the input very much. It could very well be that I am doing something wrong.

My workflow is always in LR5 with ventures into CS6, as needed. Here is a pair of examples, DNG, and JPG versions, straight out of the camera.

Of course, they are resized here and I am not sure that the illustration is fully successful. But just to give you an idea, I am offering these.

 

[ATTACH]456396[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]456397[/ATTACH]

 

[ATTACH]456398[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]456399[/ATTACH]

 

The raw files seem to lack contrast and are overexposed. I do agree that I can work around this problem easily. But the degree to which each image is overexposed differs

depending on a variety of factors, and setting the EV to -1/3 or so is only a partial solution requiring additional work with at least some of the images.

 

It could be that this particular camera has an issue. I can't tell. All I have to go on is my experience with my other cameras/files.

 

I have no doubt that the optics are superb (I have no technical background to judge this anyway).

It comes down to personal usage patterns and expectations, I think. For example, the bulk of the camera becomes an issue for me on two grounds:

First, sometimes it contributes to my not being able to hold the camera still and achieve successful results at low shutter speeds (notice the acorn above is OOF) without a tripod.

I've never had this problem before; maybe I can get used to the XV if I practice with it long enough. And, second, I can't fit it into any of the padded "pockets" I have that my M9 easily fits.

I use these because I can then drop the "pocket" into any bag I'm carrying and access the camera easily anytime.

I can get a larger padded pocket for the X Vario, of course, but you see where this is all leading me in the end: to question why I should be doing all this extra stuff to be able to use this camera? Is it worth it? Maybe so.

 

As a side note, on some hiking trips I used to carry both my M9 and my DL4 in my backpack with no trouble at all.

I am guessing that the combo with the XV would be too heavy and bulky to carry around (but this is just a hypothesis as I haven't actually tried this).

Like I said, it is a very personal thing (usage patterns and what we expect out of our cameras), and I love the images posted from this camera (that's why I bought it!), and will continue to enjoy seeing them here and elsewhere.

 

BTW, Andrzej, your images are superb! Thank you for the link.

 

Peter, I've never tried the Ricoh GR. Thank you for the suggestion. I will take a look.

 

Ece

[XVarior]

Ece! Either your camera is faulty or your DNG converter. I question all your remarks except silver/white button at the rear (real pain in...). Why is anybody buying such sophisticated photo equipment and shoots Jpeg is beyond me. Enclose some pics... no probs with exposure:)

Zenfolio | Andrzej Poniatowski | Platanias, Crete May 2014

 

 

I agree with you. Someone wrote to me about XV IQ and overexposure thing then we discovered together that his DNG converter was doing automated presets upon download. Problem was solved upon reset.

You images here are superb by the way. XV's trademark style.

[XVarior]

Nothing will beat an M9-You combo, no need for XV or anything else when having and knowing how to use an M9 the way you do.

The m9 feels in my hands even smaller than the XV!

If I had the M9 first, personally I wouldn't get any other system. My XV however goes where the M9 shouldn't be; outdoors sports activities like backcountry skiing and biking. It would be insane to take my M9 and its summilux companions there. The XV can and she come back happy, unaffected and with tons of beautiful images :-)

[asiafish]

Nothing will beat an M9-You combo, no need for XV or anything else when having and knowing how to use an M9 the way you do.

The m9 feels in my hands even smaller than the XV!

If I had the M9 first, personally I wouldn't get any other system. My XV however goes where the M9 shouldn't be; outdoors sports activities like backcountry skiing and biking. It would be insane to take my M9 and its summilux companions there. The XV can and she come back happy, unaffected and with tons of beautiful images :-)

 

Actually the XV has many advantages over the M9 (and of course, vice-versa).

 

I don't own an M9, but have the M Monochrom, and actually shoot often with the X Vario (and now X113) set for black and white instead of the Monochrom. Its all about the lens.

 

The Monochrom (and M9 as well) is a lousy tool for macro photography, which happens to be one area where the XV really excels. For travel the XV is also vastly superior in many applications, most importantly the ability to choose "face detect" AF and pass the camera to a complete stranger and be in some of the family pictures.

 

Then there is the convenience of having essentially four extreme quality, if slow Leica lenses always at your disposal, no lens changes (or carrying cases/bags) required. I bought the X113, in fact, so that I could use the XV by day, and take the 113 at night and never worry about keeping multiple sets of batteries charged or whether or not my non-photographer wife can effortless use the camera.

 

Even when used instead of the fantastic M Monochrom with its equally fantastic 35 Summarit and 50 Summicron lenses, I am never disappointed in the image quality from the XV. Yes, the DNG files from the Monochrom are more malleable, but the XVs are far better than they should, and the OOC JPEGs (high contrast black and white with sharpness and contrast at Medium High) are better than any OOC Jpegs I've gotten from the MM in any of its settings, and often better than I can get the DNGs in LR5 (MM does ever better from DNG).

 

I take my M Monochrom out when on pure photography trips or when I really want to experiment or play with ultimate B&W quality. Often I'll take the M5 with a few rolls of Tri-X or Pan-F instead. For non-photography trips, which includes everything with the family, the X series are far better for me. I use my X Vario more than any of my other cameras, and as such, I get far more keepers from it.

[jaapv]

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Considering this there seems to be an explanation: dynamic range.

High DR raw file conversions straight OOC will always look flat and washed-out.

Trying to compensate by camera exposure will result in shifting the histogram to the left which is underexposure and will lead to noise, but will look nicer on your screen on import.

 

Nevertheless one should always shoot a full histogram for best end results.

Simple solution:

Set your raw converter to apply half a stop of negative exposure on importing, not the camera.

 

This aspect will become a more common cause for complaint in the future. Basically your screen cannot keep up with your camera.

[tom0511]

Considering this there seems to be an explanation: dynamic range.

High DR raw file conversions straight OOC will always look flat and washed-out.

Trying to compensate by camera exposure will result in shifting the histogram to the left which is underexposure and will lead to noise, but will look nicer on your screen on import.

 

Nevertheless one should always shoot a full histogram for best end results.

Simple solution:

Set your raw converter to apply half a stop of negative exposure on importing, not the camera.

 

This aspect will become a more common cause for complaint in the future. Basically your screen cannot keep up with your camera.

 

And try to expose as correct as possible in the first step.

[jaapv]

And try to expose as correct as possible in the first step.

Indeed

Nevertheless one should always shoot a full histogram for best end results.

[nlevasseur]

I'm a newbie to the xv and having come from a nikon d200, digilux 2 (that had a learning curve) and a nikon V1, I'm very enthused and see a learning curve to master, however, thats ok. I'm willing to invest the time though LR or DXO have their own learning curves.

 

Any advice for LR presets or specific camera preferences for different situations are welcome. I would love to see Mike's LR presets posted.

 

Camera preferences are very personal. Reviews of them are like cars, they are opinions and not absolutes. The opinions are useful just as this forum is.

 

Thanks for sharing

 

Noel