Looks like Leica announced the new X1 today. Anyone thinking about getting one when they become available? The specs look promising, but I wonder if it is truely worth the $2,000.00 price tag? http://www.dpreview.com/news/0909/09090908leicax1.asp

Nope. Doesn't seem to offer me anything my G1 doesn't.

mawz wrote:
Nope. Doesn't seem to offer me anything my G1 doesn't.


Except for the red dot of course! I like the styling and compact size of the X1; also, just having one focal length wouldn't bother me much as long as I get absolutely stunning results. I do hope the price drops though so I can consider getting one!

snegron wrote:
mawz wrote:
Nope. Doesn't seem to offer me anything my G1 doesn't.


Except for the red dot of course! I like the styling and compact size of the X1; also, just having one focal length wouldn't bother me much as long as I get absolutely stunning results. I do hope the price drops though so I can consider getting one!

Overall it does look like an excellent camera, and I've no issues with it having a 35mm-e prime. The G1 just happens to already handle that very well for me (I've got the Oly M.Zuiko 17, which hasn't come off in a week)

If it delivers on image quality and performance, somewhere between $1200-$1500 this camera starts to become interesting. Don't forget to factor in another $150-$400 for a viewfinder!

Tariq Gibran wrote:
If it delivers on image quality and performance, somewhere between $1200-$1500 this camera starts to become interesting. Don't forget to factor in another $150-$400 for a viewfinder!


Plus another $200 or so for the case...

If the AF is fantastic and the price were considerably lower than $2000 it could be a really cool camera.

Sam N wrote:
If the AF is fantastic and the price were considerably lower than $2000 it could be a really cool camera.


I noticed that there was no mention of shutter lag (or at least I couldn't find any mention of it in the article). It would be nice if it has little or no shutter lag. I'm sure focus confirmation would slow things down or at least contribute to shutter lag, but if the AF is fast (or if it has the ability to focus manually) it would be a very desireable little camera.

It does have the ability to focus manually using the thumb wheel on the rear and a focus confirmation light where it can be seen near the hotshoe (such that it could be seen with your eye to a shoe mounted viewfinder). This is exactly how the Sigma DP's use manual focus and it works very well. No shutter lag to speak of. Unfortunately, unless Leica adds a distance scale on that focus wheel such as the Sigma DP's have, zone focusing will be tricky.

I am seriously thinking of getting one. By the way GF1 with a Leica 35 mm equivalent lens would cost a bit more than $2000 (actually something like $5000 +)

Looks like a nice camera, but the $$ is too much for me! For that price, I'd get more use out of some sweet glass instead

Tariq Gibran wrote:
Unfortunately, unless Leica adds a distance scale on that focus wheel such as the Sigma DP's have, zone focusing will be tricky.

Or a distance scale on the LCD would be fine, like in the LX3. For the life of me I dont understand why the EP-1 and GF1 dont have one, how hard is it to make it? BTW I saw a video somewhere of the X1 shooting and the shutter is *really* quiet, it sounds like a clock: tik-tik-tik...
Another "why not" for the EP-1/GF1...

edit: found the video:
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/videos/x1.shtml

mfurman wrote:
I am seriously thinking of getting one. By the way GF1 with a Leica 35 mm equivalent lens would cost a bit more than $2000 (actually something like $5000 +)

A GF1 with the same equivalent would cost $1100 or so, the M.Zuiko 17/2.8 is an excellent little lens and pretty much matches the Elmarit on the X1 for speed and FoV. I'd be surprised if the 24 Elmarit on the X1 was any better than the M.Zuiko.

With that price and a fixed lens, I don't think I'm interested.

One of the reasons to buy a Leica (in my opinion) is the elegance and quality of the design and machining. When you look at a Leica MP, M7 or M8, it does kind of take your breath away, even aside from picture quality. The X1 doesn't do that for me, but perhaps it looks better in-person.

If I want a walk-around camera, I think the GF1 looks a lot more interesting to me, even though it's a smaller sensor. With a 20mm 1.7 or with a 14-45 3.5-5.6 it's $900 U.S. With both lenses, it's about $1250. Seems like a much better deal and I would assume it's physically smaller. And that's at list price. Some time after release, it will probably go for less. But new Leicas are almost never discounted.

If I were rich enough that spending money didn't matter, I might go for an M9 (or an M7). But since it matters a lot, I don't think they'll ever be a Leica in my hands.

It will be interesting to see if/how Nikon/Canon react to both the GF1 and the X1.

I don't know of too many examples where a smaller sensor camera outperforms a larger sensor camera. I would expect the X1 to be a significant step up in IQ over the m43 cameras. The 35mm equivalent focal length is perfect for this type of camera. To get this on m43 you need a 17mm lens, which starts to get expensive if you consider Leica lenses.

I'll wait for the reviews, but for now the X1 looks very tempting indeed. Would prefer black though!

Interesting indeed, will wait to see the reviews... I guess my interest is in the fact that Leica products seem to deliver the goods with IQ, and 35mm equiv lens on a large sensor, compact body, sounds compelling... Would suit my (walk-around, but not landscape) shooting style perfectly...

Then again, I already have D700 and ZF 35/2, so don't need it - my setup already offers me great IQ, which might well be superior to the Leica one (although MF)... The appeal is in the relative compactness of the Leica setup, so will still be interested in seeing how well it performs!

No. Way too expensive for a compact. Digital compacts are by definition close to disposable in my opinion and therefore need a low price tag. They dont retain their value, are outdated after a couple of years... However if the M9 gets a better street price in a year or two....

mawz:
the M.Zuiko 17/2.8 is an excellent little lens

I must be misunderstanding you. Do you mean a pancake 17/2.8 lens? Is that one, you say, it is better than a Leica lens?

I cannot fathom why anyone would go for this over the GF1 and a 20mm f/1.7. Protruding lens barrel, expensive, limited to a single focal length, relatively slow lens for a prime... I just don't get it. If it had a 50mm-equivalent f/1.4 it would be a different story, but Leica just completely missed the mark, imo.

Sam Bennett wrote:
I cannot fathom why anyone would go for this over the GF1 and a 20mm f/1.7. Protruding lens barrel, expensive, limited to a single focal length, relatively slow lens for a prime... I just don't get it. If it had a 50mm-equivalent f/1.4 it would be a different story, but Leica just completely missed the mark, imo.

Not everyone wants shallow DOF, and some people prefer the classic 35mm FOV typically used by photojournalists and street photographers. Also is much more versatile unless you're shooting portraits, in which case a discreet camera is not required.

do you think the image quality would be similar to M8 or something a bit less, i am very interested to try something from leica, especial this compact.

I think it's great. First compact digital that actually speaks to me.

Interchangeable lenses are nice, but add bulk and cost. I have little interest in zooms in this range. The Olympus and Panasonic m43 developments are encouraging, too, but ultimately I would prefer the larger sensor.

If the sensor is anywhere near the quality of a D90/D300s, with decent AF performance and handling (we can assume the lens is great), this will be a pretty formidable compact. Silent, stabilized, and with a great lens, this is the compact I've been waiting for.

Of course, it's double what I would like to pay. We'll see what happens to that over time. If this helps prompt Nikon to develop a <$1000 competitor, it's very good news indeed.

It is a nikon sensor so D90/D300 performance levels are expected. The lens also has IS.

thrice wrote:
Sam Bennett wrote:
I cannot fathom why anyone would go for this over the GF1 and a 20mm f/1.7. Protruding lens barrel, expensive, limited to a single focal length, relatively slow lens for a prime... I just don't get it. If it had a 50mm-equivalent f/1.4 it would be a different story, but Leica just completely missed the mark, imo.

Not everyone wants shallow DOF, and some people prefer the classic 35mm FOV typically used by photojournalists and street photographers. Also is much more versatile unless you're shooting portraits, in which case a discreet camera is not required.

How is this more versatile than a GF1, especially when you take into account the fact that you have the capability to swap lenses on it? The 20mm f/1.7 is a 40mm equivalent so it's closer to the "classic" 35mm FoV, and the fact that it's a 2x crop means that even at f/1.7 the DoF is not shallow enough to be problematic in most situations.

Smiert Spionam wrote:
Interchangeable lenses are nice, but add bulk and cost.

Not sure why you'd claim that considering that the X1's lens is more bulky than the GF1 with the 20mm f/1.7 and the X1 looks to be over twice as expensive.