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Leica SL or Hasselblad X1D

MVCG

By MVCG
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Alistairm

Alistairm

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If you’ve already got a Leica setup you don’t need an X1D, and it’s an expensive side trip once you buy a few lenses. I have the X1D and the XCD 30, 45 and 90 lenses. To my eye all are very good lenses, with the 30 and 90 have more bite and a faster falloff of contrast away from the focus point, pushing them into the truly excellent category.

 

Leaving aside much better detail resolution, which may or may not matter for your photography (not hugely for mine), the X1D really shines in post process. I took a shot of a father and son at night that was a gorgeous pose but I duffed the manual exposure, as annoyingly the X1D turned off auto-ISO in switching to M mode at that time - not sure if it still does now with new firmware - and I had not realised. Anyway, I was able to lift the exposure 7 stops in Lightroom - yes 7 - and still have an excellent image with proper colours and no noticeable noise and use the capture.

 

So, for me that’s where the X1D really shines...it is small, the lenses are great and the files off that 50MP mini medium format Sony sensor have depth and latitude in post that just leave our current Leica sensors for dead. Can’t comment on whether the S has the same latitude in post - the system is too big and too expensive to tempt me.

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Peter H
Peter H

I get the feeling that a lot of people here talk about the X1D in the same way athat a lot of DSLR users talk about Leicas.   They concentrate on all the things it doesn't do as well as their DSLR

Alistairm
Alistairm

I have been enjoying playing with my new X1D.    A few observations, which should be taken as preliminary for now and are only based on what I find important so may be completly irrelevant to you. 

Gsmith08
Gsmith08

First, let me say I am former Nikon D810, non-professional landscape photographer that 6 months ago switched to the Leica SL and zoom lenses.  Today I went to the X1D road show demo in Rockville, MD a

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Peter H

Peter H

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If you’ve already got a Leica setup you don’t need an X1D, and it’s an expensive side trip once you buy a few lenses. I have the X1D and the XCD 30, 45 and 90 lenses. To my eye all are very good lenses, with the 30 and 90 have more bite and a faster falloff of contrast away from the focus point, pushing them into the truly excellent category.

 

Leaving aside much better detail resolution, which may or may not matter for your photography (not hugely for mine), the X1D really shines in post process. I took a shot of a father and son at night that was a gorgeous pose but I duffed the manual exposure, as annoyingly the X1D turned off auto-ISO in switching to M mode at that time - not sure if it still does now with new firmware - and I had not realised. Anyway, I was able to lift the exposure 7 stops in Lightroom - yes 7 - and still have an excellent image with proper colours and no noticeable noise and use the capture.

 

So, for me that’s where the X1D really shines...it is small, the lenses are great and the files off that 50MP mini medium format Sony sensor have depth and latitude in post that just leave our current Leica sensors for dead. Can’t comment on whether the S has the same latitude in post - the system is too big and too expensive to tempt me.

 

 

 

This exactly echoes my experience and thinking when testing out the X1D almost 18 months ago now. It's a very impressive camera.  At that point I opted for a new M10 because it suited my needs and I love Ms and have al the M lenses I need or want. But it was a close call. 

 

If it wasn't for all the other things I've had to spend money on recently I'd definitely have bought one, with the same three lenses you have. And I'm still very, very tempted. It would be very useful for a number of projects I'm working on now, two of which will require very large prints....I knew stepping back into this thread might be dangerous!

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Daedalus2000

Daedalus2000

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What I meant was, when I'm trying to put my finger on how medium format looks different to full frame - whether that was actually 'a thing' or I was just imagining it :) but thanks for feeding the monster :D

 

As you calculated, the multiplier is 0.8, so if you adjust with this for the focal length and equivalence in terms of depth of field, you will see that for most available lenses you can find full frame lenses that will give you the same perspective and depth of field, even smaller actually.

 

What I found is that the digital medium format cameras are better in terms of tonality and colour. I would suggest you hire before you buy, the depreciation on the current available cameras will be quite fast...

 

I should mention that I tried a Leica R 80mm summilux on the Fuji GFX and that had an interesting look, as it is equivalent to 56mm, f1.1 in full frame terms... 

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dancook

dancook

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As you calculated, the multiplier is 0.8, so if you adjust with this for the focal length and equivalence in terms of depth of field, you will see that for most available lenses you can find full frame lenses that will give you the same perspective and depth of field, even smaller actually.

 

What I found is that the digital medium format cameras are better in terms of tonality and colour. I would suggest you hire before you buy, the depreciation on the current available cameras will be quite fast...

 

I should mention that I tried a Leica R 80mm summilux on the Fuji GFX and that had an interesting look, as it is equivalent to 56mm, f1.1 in full frame terms... 

 

Could hire from wex for about £270 for a weekend - tempting :)

 

they will want a £2500 deposit though..

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Succisa75

Succisa75

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X1D IQ is fantastic, but without image stabilisation, it makes capturing shots in not optimal lighting conditions difficult. Also the autofocus is hit and miss depending where you are shooting.

 

I hope in the next version of the X1D they fix these two things.

 

Good glass makes a difference and this is where the SL will make up ground in my option. The XCD lenses are good, but not at the level of Leica just yet IMO.

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Guest VVJ

Guest VVJ

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And while we are at it, the ability to stack my Contax-to-S and S-to-L adapters would be very much appreciated.   I would solve my SL prime problem  ;)

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satijntje

satijntje

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well i'm selling my 75mm SL, Leica Q and my bicycle ;) and I will anticipate getting a medium format mirrorless in the future...

 

No need to start selling your kidneys!

For below 5k€, (21% VAT included) you can be the proud owner of a brand-new X1D (not a demo).

The shop owner is dutch :-)

John

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Succisa75

Succisa75

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On the other hand, the leaf shutters in the XCD lenses minimize vibration and offset, to a degree, the lack of OIS.

 

Jeff

Hmm..I would disagree on this. While the leaf shutter has its advantages especially with a flash syncing, the leaf shutter with regards to X1D can cause some slight movement. I’ve had to take two or three shots of the same to get one shot tack sharp. If there was OIS built into the camera body this would alleviate this issue.

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Jeff S

Jeff S

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Hmm..I would disagree on this. While the leaf shutter has its advantages especially with a flash syncing, the leaf shutter with regards to X1D can cause some slight movement. I’ve had to take two or three shots of the same to get one shot tack sharp. If there was OIS built into the camera body this would alleviate this issue.

I had no such problem during my tests, which allowed for exteded exposure times, as one would expect. This is a benefit of leaf shutters, in addition to flash flexibility. Of course IBIS and/or OIS would offer greater handholding benefits, but as always with trade offs.

 

Jeff

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Photon42

Photon42

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And while we are at it, the ability to stack my Contax-to-S and S-to-L adapters would be very much appreciated.   I would solve my SL prime problem  ;)

 

 

Did you try this and it does not work?

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frame-it

frame-it

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And while we are at it, the ability to stack my Contax-to-S and S-to-L adapters would be very much appreciated.   I would solve my SL prime problem  ;)

 

 

tried this ?

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dancook

dancook

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No need to start selling your kidneys!

For below 5k€, (21% VAT included) you can be the proud owner of a brand-new X1D (not a demo).

The shop owner is dutch :-)

John

 

John Gorten? :)

 

I've enquired about the X1D + 45 + 90, might consider getting it all at once.

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