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Leica SL or Hasselblad X1D


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When you use camera in rain for a prolonged period of time how do you deal with rain drops hitting front of the lens, screen wipers?

Read David Farkas article I already linked. He addressed the issue directly. I typically use a clear, coated filter and hood, with a healthy supply of cloths...and a rain jacket if necessary.... but not because of fear of poor sealing, just convenience.

 

Jeff

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Lens hoods work well for this.

 

Jono Slack used his trial camera in heavy rain, with no issue. I’ve used my SL in the rain, similarly with no issue. I appreciate that one swallow doesn’t make summer, but similarly I have read no reports of SLs failing from water ingress. I’d be very interested to read the reports.

 

I’ve had one camera fail from water damage - an FE in sea water. My insurer said the mistake people make when cameras fall into water (particularly sea water) is bending down to pick them up! This was 40 years ago.

 

I’d be very interested to know how SLs or any other cameras have been damaged being used “near seawater”. I have often waded into the tide with cameras of all varieties to photograph kite surfing with no issue - I do wipe the cameras down afterward.

Edited by IkarusJohn
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Lens hoods work well for this.

 

Jono Slack used his trial camera in heavy rain, with no issue. I’ve used my SL in the rain, similarly with no issue. I appreciate that one swallow doesn’t make summer, but similarly I have read no reports of SLs failing from water ingress. I’d be very interested to read the reports.

 

I’ve had one camera fail from water damage - an FE in sea water. My insurer said the mistake people make when cameras fall into water (particularly sea water) is bending down to pick them up! This was 40 years ago.

 

I’d be very interested to know how SLs or any other cameras have been damaged being used “near seawater”. I have often waded into the tide with cameras of all varieties to photograph kite surfing with no issue - I do wipe the cameras down afterward.

 

Milliseconds before a full force seawatersplashbomb on my SL with 24/90. The kiter was about 2m/6feet away. One example out of many heavy wet ones i had in the last 3 years. Heavy rain is nothing for this camera. SL does the job like a stuntman. Keep shooting :)

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Edited by frogfisher
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I am delighted to report that after a night left to air with battery and SD cards out the X1D has recovered. I do, however, urge caution about treating this camera like a weather sealed SLR. For what it is worth, the area that moisture seemed to visibly penetrate was the SD card door. Given the hinge issues, this seems like an obvious area for improvement for the X2D. 

 

I am also delighted to report that, notwithstanding the malfunction, the photos are astonishing. 

 

I had the lens hood on. I was taking my normal precautions when shooting in rain (eg camera under my raincoat when not shooting, wiping it down after shooting, not changing lenses while damp) but the camera nonetheless malfunctioned. 

 

I have shot many different Nikon SLRs in similar conditions without any problems. As to the SL... I have shot soccer games in pouring rain, I have stood in the ocean to shoot surfing events, I have taken over 300,000 shots on mine now and it hasn't missed a beat. I am on the road at the moment, travelling with the X1D and the CL as a backup/restaurant/night camera paired with a Sumilux so am stuck with what I have here. However, in future the X1D will be staying inside if it is inclement outside. A shame really, as some of the photos taken in the rain were lovely... but I'll be using my SL for those conditions in future. 

 

In short, I suppose this is another example of where the X1D is a specialised camera and that, despite its outright IQ, if you have to choose between the Hasselblad or the Leica the latter is by far the better one quiver camera. 

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Quite an interesting article here https://www.dearsusan.net/2018/09/17/769-monday-post-17-sept-2018-of-landscape-photographers-but-landmark-cameras-why-the-hasselblad-x1d-is-a-landmark-camera/ about innovative cameras, placing the SL in context, and observing that if the X1-D had been just that bit better (more reliable, faster) out of the gate, the likes of the SL would have had a harder time.

 

Meanwhile as lenses from other manufacturers improve -- the Sony's 24 f1.4 is lighter than the Summilux, has AF and better performance -- Leica's USP shrinks.

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 I appreciate that one swallow doesn’t make summer, but similarly I have read no reports of SLs failing from water ingress. I’d be very interested to read the reports.
 

 

Good point.

 

You could bet that if anyone had a problem with water or dust ingress we would have heard about it here - the Leica Complaint Forum   :rolleyes:

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Quite an interesting article here https://www.dearsusan.net/2018/09/17/769-monday-post-17-sept-2018-of-landscape-photographers-but-landmark-cameras-why-the-hasselblad-x1d-is-a-landmark-camera/ about innovative cameras, placing the SL in context, and observing that if the X1-D had been just that bit better (more reliable, faster) out of the gate, the likes of the SL would have had a harder time.

 

Meanwhile as lenses from other manufacturers improve -- the Sony's 24 f1.4 is lighter than the Summilux, has AF and better performance -- Leica's USP shrinks.

 The article  says that the X1-D is a better landscape camera for that particular photographer, compared to the SL and others. But it doesn't seem like she's ever tried the SL, so it's all speculative. That's known as "post-purchase rationalization."

 

Has anybody trustworthy tested Sony's new APS-C-only lens? It was only announced three days ago, only the most impressionable reviewers have tried it, and only for a brief period. It seems a bit premature to state that it's better than the Summilux-M 24. It's is certainly worse at covering full-frame!

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As much as I love both cameras/systems/concepts: SL and X1D, the latter can not keep up with Leica standards in many ways. The Hasselblad sucks in terms of reliability, speed, robustness, build quality and customer service. Roughly 50% of all purchased Hasselblad gear went back to customer service because of production issues (clouds of dust inside the 120 macro, loose sealing ring of the 90, broken sd card door, grinding focus of the 45). Trying to get what you have paid for - a product free from defects - one feels pretty much left alone by Hasselblad - and a increasing amount of dealers who seem to be more and more pissed by the companies trading and service policies (i can tell of 3 dealers with great reputation). Although the image quality, the feel and the design are fantastic … of both cameras

Edited by frogfisher
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The article says that the X1-D is a better landscape camera for that particular photographer, compared to the SL and others. But it doesn't seem like she's ever tried the SL, so it's all speculative. That's known as "post-purchase rationalization."

 

Has anybody trustworthy tested Sony's new APS-C-only lens? It was only announced three days ago, only the most impressionable reviewers have tried it, and only for a brief period. It seems a bit premature to state that it's better than the Summilux-M 24. It's is certainly worse at covering full-frame!

The Sony 24 f1.4 G Master is a full frame lens.

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The Sony 24 f1.4 G Master is a full frame lens.

Sorry about that. I quickly scanned the press release, saw that it was called "a perfect complement to Sony’s APS-C sensor mirrorless cameras such as α6500 and α6300" at the start of the second paragraph, and assumed that it was for those two cameras.

 

My original point still stands: how can people claim that it is better than the Summilux-M when it isn't out, and hasn't been reviewed (as opposed to "previewed")? It sounds like manufacturer hype to me.... I should call it something else, but why offend?

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Sorry about that. I quickly scanned the press release, saw that it was called "a perfect complement to Sony’s APS-C sensor mirrorless cameras such as α6500 and α6300" at the start of the second paragraph, and assumed that it was for those two cameras.

 

My original point still stands: how can people claim that it is better than the Summilux-M when it isn't out, and hasn't been reviewed (as opposed to "previewed")? It sounds like manufacturer hype to me.... I should call it something else, but why offend?

People for some reason want one brand to be better than another. Most who post about lenses on the various forums don’t own many and will never own a 24 f/1.4. Very few would ever actually be able to compare to a Summilux 24.

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As much as I love both cameras/systems/concepts: SL and X1D, the latter can not keep up with Leica standards in many ways. The Hasselblad sucks in terms of reliability, speed, robustness, build quality and customer service. Roughly 50% of all purchased Hasselblad gear went back to customer service because of production issues (clouds of dust inside the 120 macro, loose sealing ring of the 90, broken sd card door, grinding focus of the 45). Trying to get what you have paid for - a product free from defects - one feels pretty much left alone by Hasselblad - and a increasing amount of dealers who seem to be more and more pissed by the companies trading and service policies (i can tell of 3 dealers with great reputation). Although the image quality, the feel and the design are fantastic … of both cameras

Change "Hasselblad" to "Leica" and you have what I have experienced with the red dot. About a 60% return for service rate. Nothing so far with the X1D (two bodies and all the lenses plus some HC gear. No problems at all so far.). I'm not saying it couldn't be the other way around but these are both small companies in the camera world.

 

And I think you're wrong on build quality and customer service. When I asked a question on a HB facebook group recently someone from HB reached out within 12 hours. My average Leica repair is 5 months. My personal record is a year.

 

Gordon

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I just wish to be clear that I was trying to share my hands on experience of using the X1D in inclement weather. I in no way meant to spark a "Leica is better or Hasselblad is worse" style of discussion, but given the wide promotion of the X1D as an outdoor camera, including glowing "Advertorial" about Iceland, I thought it was useful to share my own experience. 

 

My experiences so far with the SL and the X1D continue to give me the impression that both are lovely cameras, with the SL filling the niche normally occupied by SLRs (other than missing a good native Macro, having an archaic flash system and no long glass or teleconverter) while the X1D handles brilliantly, has the best menu system I have used on a camera and has the highest image quality of any camera I have used, but is necessarily slower and has some serious foibles, most of which have been ironed out with firmware, but one of which is what I consider inadequate weather sealing. 

 

I'll say one thing for Hasselblad - they have consistently improved their first generation product by listening to user feedback and making extensive firmware changes. And shooting 12 minute exposures last night I would have gone nuts using the SL with the compulsory LENR. 

 

So, as usual... neither system is perfect, neither company has all the answers but ultimately both systems are fantastic within their respective wheelhouses. 

 

I am not sure about Sony... every time I've picked one up the UI has put me off the experience. 

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