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XV it's getting old!


Manoleica

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Hi all, took the XV out yesterday (Thurs) -

just general light hearted stuff.. The images are as always excellent, but I found the blackout between shots and the camera itself is generally slow & clunky.. I have to admit my M-P240 Safari is a much more rewarding tool.. I'll keep the XV as it is an ok camera for general stuff.. Maybe I need a tri lens for the Safari! I've ruled out the SL & S, just to big and heavy... Next week I'm giving my D90/short zoom a day out.. Variety is the spice of life..

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The XV deserves to be replaced with a more modern version. I hope Leica have an upgrade in the pipeline because its concept is ideal for so much photography. Despite its auto-focusing idiosynchrasies and slow performance, I still use mine for subjects which are not too time-conscious with very pleasing results.

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If it was FF the lens would get a bit bulky. However, a Q with FF sensor and a fixed 24-50mm f4 plus decent tele converter would be a buy for me.

 

I would stay within the X family in order to produce a camera with the same form factor as the XV. An improved sensor would increase IQ. I would accept that compromise.
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Erwin seems to be sticking with his XV--he even used it as an optical benchmark in a recent piece on the SL. But I doubt that Leica will produce an updated version.

Why shouldn`t they. They have the zoom lens, the body and the electronics (Q) and all they need is a new aa filter free 24MP aps-c sensor (or how about the 28MP one from Samsung). Modules and component wise they were never closer to assemble an outstanding compact fixed zoom lens digital camera.

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I would buy an updated XV. My wish list (in order of priority) would be:

 

o Updated sensor, preferably another Sony.

o In-body image stabilization. If my XV had this, I'd use it a lot more.

o Built-in EVF. The XV is hard to use in bright sunlight because the screen isn't very bright.

o Decent grip.

 

Few of my pet software peeves with the current XV I wish they would fix:
 

o Can't disable aperture preview

o Only a single focus point size. My other cameras have multiple focus point sizes, which is nice.

o Shutter speed settings are only full EV stops. Would prefer 1/3 EV stops.

o No focus peaking.

o When focus assist is used, it always zooms on the center, which is mostly useless for me.

   It should zoom on the focus point if it's in single focus point mode.

o No zebras for clipping in live view

o Photo review will not use full screen for portrait orientation shots

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The XV may be getting old but so am I. I doubt there’ll be a another one so we’ll grow old together and be happy to do so. However, in the unlikely event that Leica are contemplating a Mark Two XV, these are my thoughts.

 

I wouldn’t want to see the size and shape changed. I find it a perfectly balanced camera that comes to hand just right. I use it perfectly well without a viewfinder. I would prefer a flip down screen to a built in viewfinder to make using the camera from waist height easier.

 

Focus peaking is vastly overrated. I find it annoyingly distracting and wouldn’t use it. Image stabilisation isn’t necessary either in a mirrorless camera in the hands of a halfway competent photographer. If there’s a more suitable sensor for the XV than Sony’s tried and tested 16MP work horse, I’d be happy to give it a try but I see no pressing need for it. As for the full frame fetish, I find it ludicrous. Leica’s model range isn’t short of full frame cameras. Surely, there’s room for a few APS-C models!

 

To my mind the main area requiring improvement is the electronics. The camera would benefit from all its processes being snappier. That’s where there might be something worth carrying over from the Q.

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... Maybe I need a tri lens for the Safari! ...

 

Good idea!

After having photographed a whole day with a Vario-X, I decided to buy a used MATE for my already present digital and analogue Leica-Ms.
Never regretted and still thinking it was the better long term decision.
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I do landscape photography with the X Vario, so that's why I want focus peaking.

You can check the sharpness of the entire scene at once instead of just in a single section.

You may not find it useful, but I would find it useful.

It's super handy.

 

I usually do landscape photography on the coast, and it's frequently very windy.

I usually use a tripod, but even with a tripod the wind does affect it.

So image stabilization would be useful for me.

 

Remember, your use case is not the same as everyone else's use case.

Features which you find useless may be useful to other people.

 

Toshi

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