Leica SL or Hasselblad X1D

[Jeff S]

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All true, but it gives him tremendous pleasure.

 

Absolutely.  No intent to suggest otherwise, only to point out the potential contradiction of his thinking that this was a cost savings opportunity.

 

Jeff

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[Xenia]

Absolutely.  No intent to suggest otherwise, only to point out the potential contradiction of his thinking that this was a cost savings opportunity.

 

Jeff

 

Well, the offer is cost saving a) if he likes it and if he keeps it

[Jeff S]

Well, the offer is cost saving a) if he likes it and if he keeps it

 

Unless he both keeps it (likes various aspects) and ends up buying another system, too, to make up for any shortcomings (or to gain other system advantages) that he didn't fully appreciate upfront.  Just like he's done already.  

 

Not my role to judge....just pointing out his well publicized track record to maybe help produce a better result.  To each his/her own.

 

Jeff

Edited October 24, 2016 by Jeff S

[Xenia]

Hi everybody!

 

I have been following this forum ever since the X1D was announced. Had it be announced earlier, I would probably not have bought my Q. Anyway, my dilemma more or less is to achieve optimal IQ for exhibition prints. Nowadays, galleries like big prints. When I started out in the early eighties, small was still beautiful. I can't remember ever printing bigger than 30x40cm, I am talking wetprints of course.

 

My first Leica was the M4P with the 75 Lux, my first Hasselblad was the SWC/M. As a freelance travelphotographer for monthly magazines I had to sell the Leica and buy the Hasselblad 500ELM. Editors wanted 6x6 so that they could cut the pics matching the textflow. For about two decennier I carried my Hassy, two lenses and a tripod everywhere, but mostly Africa. You find some of my travelpics on xen.photoshelter.com, all in colour of course, because b&w didn't sell other then to artmagazines. In 2005 my agent advised me to go digital, so I bought the Leica Digilux 2, which as Thorsten Overgaard knows, is a wonderful camera and that with only 5MP. By that time, my back was starting to kill me, so the 553 ELX had to go. I still had my XPan and was preparing an exhibition, when the M9 came along. To shorten the tale, for a while I was drawn between analog and digital, between FF and MF, between Leica and Hasselblad. Right now, I am scanning film in XPan format, which is twice the size of FF and on it's way to MF. But still it is not big enough. The XPan scans print very well up to 35x90cm, but the gallery expects me to print at least 50x130cm.

 

That is where the X1D comes in the picture. I have also been looking at the Linhof 612 and 617, but these are monsters to carry in the field. Besides, film is getting more expensive both to buy and to develop. And then I have to take the time consuming scanning and processing to take into account. So, as everybody else here, I am waiting... I haven't still got my demo and I am not too happy to jump on the first edition of the X1D without a trial. My experience with the M9 was not a totally loveaffair. On the other hand I trust Hasselblad to deliver. It is their 75year anniversary and they simply have to. Also I know, because I tried, that the files from the 50MP sensor they use doesn't need much PP to shine. Somebody compared the innovation of the X1D with the IPad. Nobody knew that they needed it, but everybody wanted one.

 

Anyway, it is not an easy and fast decision to make and I - at least - have to sell most of my equipment to afford this baby!

Wish me luck... and to all of you too...

 

Xenia

[steppenw0lf]

If you say you need to sell most of your current equipment, don't you think it would be wiser to wait until the X1D system is officially available, and maybe even well established ?

In the nineties I had Rollei equipment - then the most modern midrange photo gear available. And nobody thought it would end in a cul-de-sac. I actually still have it, but it is quite useless, currently, and almost impossible to sell.

 

Are you really in such urgent need of 50 MP, that you forget minimal precaution ? Always rermember that the age of mirrorless cameras has just begun. I actually expect new, much better priced options any time. So no rush.

 

Well I wish you luck, anyway. But after reading the forum you have seen here opinions of other people that have loads of equipment and probably also quite a big budget. And usually the bigger the budget, the more carefully people use it.  

 

And yes, I like Hasselblad and trust their name - but it is not the old company anymore. And I am not so sure, that they are suddenly the ones to make the right decisions (after the many bad ideas of the last few years).

I will try to avoid to repeat the rollei disaster at any price. And here in the forum I never really know if the people really buy all the stuff, or are just daydreaming about it...

 

I had a look at your gallery, and find that you have a special view, different from the mainstream. I like that very much.

At the same time I am quite sure, that many of these pictures could not be taken with a X1D (certainly not with the current two lenses).

Edited October 24, 2016 by steppenw0lf

[Xenia]

Thanks for replying!

 

First of all, I have not bought the X1D yet and as I said, I will NOT before trying.

Secondly, I am not that young anymore with unlimed time or money on my hands.

Thirdly, if somebody gives me the chance to exhibite, wouldn't it be silly to refuse?

 

Actually, I passed over the Rollei just because of second thoughts.

My Hasselblads never gave me grieve. They worked even in the dust of the Sahara without ever needing service until one got stolen in France and I had to buy another. I had actually more problems with my Leicas including M6 and M9.

 

Also, since I live in Sweden, Gothenburg is never far away. Just because Hasselblad went the silly Sony road, does not prove, the company should be considered deemed forever. Everybody should be allowed one or two mistakes. And as a long time user I must say, they got quite a few thinks right.

 

Good night!

Xenia

[Xenia]

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Sorry about the typos....

[Jeff S]

First of all, I have not bought the X1D yet and as I said, I will NOT before trying.

 

Consistent with my suggestion to Neil, who hasn't yet had a demo, as I recall, let alone an extensive test.

 

Jeff

[Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS]

Consistent with my suggestion to Neil, who hasn't yet had a demo, as I recall, let alone an extensive test.

 

Jeff

tomorrow I'm heading to Phuket Thailand for 10 days shooting with my Leica S and no tripod. I've yet to try this camera out at ISO's in the 3200 but plan to for the next 10 days and see what the files are like when shooting hand held....... we will see

What's that got to do with the X1D..... nothing but will at least convince me whether I need something smaller or not

Edited October 25, 2016 by Neil D

[Jeff S]

tomorrow I'm heading to Phuket Thailand for 10 days shooting with my Leica S and no tripod. I've yet to try this camera out at ISO's in the 3200 but plan to for the next 10 days and see what the files are like when shooting hand held....... we will see

What's that got to do with the X1D..... nothing but will at least convince me whether I need something smaller or not

 

My question exactly.  That would require actually testing the X1D, which by the way isn't the only smaller option.

 

Jeff

[Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS]

My question exactly. That would require actually testing the X1D, which by the way isn't the only smaller option.

 

Jeff

it is for me if the only other option is the fujifilm......... it's ugly like the SL so that's only leaves the X1D.........for me that is

[Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS]

Just to add to that last statement. Ascetics has a big part of the shooting experience. I mean it's alway better walking down the road with a beautiful woman hanging off your arm than an ugly one. Cameras are no different. The difference between the X1D files and say the S007 or the Fuji or even a Sony A7r9 or (whatever version it is now) is that small even Joe blogs can't tell the difference.

The important thing for me is #1 its sexy. #2 it's files IQ is top notch and #3 it's the talk of the town........ he'll I just bought an iPhone 7plus because it's new, nothing wrong with my iPhone 6s .......but it's old hat now.

Will I dump £9k in a new camera with two lenses when I have two dry boxes full of camera gear already....... probably yes and will enjoy the experience [emoji41]

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Jeff S]

it is for me if the only other option is the fujifilm......... it's ugly like the SL so that's only leaves the X1D.........for me that is

 

Lots of medium format film options, with much bigger negs than X1D or S007 sensor size, and in small packages (Mamiya 7, etc...sexy, too).  Even the H6D 100MP, while not a small camera, also offers a significantly bigger sensor (and of course double the MP), of the X1D or S007.  

 

Most importantly, though, you may not like certain things about the X1D that only testing will reveal.  And by the time the X1D rolls out and is tested by others, there may well be some other digital options.  The folks at LuLa will be taking the X1D on their Antarctica expedition.  I'll be interested in practical weather sealing performance.

 

By the way, LuLa just posted their second interview with the Hasselblad CEO, who revealed that there will be 4, possibly 5, more lenses for the X1D (beyond the 3 announced) by the end of 2017.  A roadmap may be announced in Q1 or Q2.

 

Each person has different tastes, preferences and purchase criteria.  Mine relate to form, function and performance, as the print is what counts for me.  Sex appeal (not one of my camera criteria) is subject to taste as well...some might prefer a woman in jeans as much as in Vera Wang....depends on the woman.    

 

Jeff

Edited October 25, 2016 by Jeff S

[Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS]

That's got to be good for the X1D with potentially 6 new lenses.

I'm looking for something smaller than what I already have.

I also look good in both jeans and an amari suite:)

[Jeff S]

I changed the clothing references a bit.

 

It's 4 to 5 more lenses, so 7 total by the end of 2017, possibly 8.  The 30, 45 and 90 have been announced (same FL's by the way as the XPan, another film option).

 

Jeff

Edited October 25, 2016 by Jeff S

[Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS]

I changed the references a bit.

 

It's 4 to 5 more lenses, so 7 total by the end of 2017, possibly 8. The 30, 45 and 90 have been announced (same FL's by the way as the XPan, another film option).

 

Jeff

im also guessing that someone will come out with a V to XQD adapter so that I could use my long V lenses on thevX1D

[Jeff S]

Even if so, no weather sealing and potentially bad balance/ergonomics (and lesser performance).....as the Hassy CEO mentioned regarding the H lenses as well; hence his urgency to get more native lenses.

 

Jeff

[Jeff S]

I'm looking for something smaller than what I already have.

 

 

As I wrote, there are film options...bigger negs....and maybe sexier, too.

 

Jeff

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[steppenw0lf]

im also guessing that someone will come out with a V to XQD adapter so that I could use my long V lenses on thevX1D

 

Yes, and they are so small and sexy.       

And by the way, I hope for a Rollei 6000 adapter. Tell them to do it in one go, it is almost the same effort.

Edited October 25, 2016 by steppenw0lf

[Peter H]

I changed the clothing references a bit.

 

It's 4 to 5 more lenses, so 7 total by the end of 2017, possibly 8. The 30, 45 and 90 have been announced (same FL's by the way as the XPan, another film option).

 

Jeff

I was told by Hasselblad that there definitely will be 5 new lenses to come next year on top of the three we already know about, so definitely 8. Sorry I forgot to mention it.

 

Whether they'll actually be available to buy within the target timescale is probably less certain.