Marketing BS is to be expected from any brand, but this drivel is just over the top.
"The X Vario’s high performance image sensor is unusually large for a camera in its class. Combined with the Leica Vario Elmar 18-46 mm f/3.5-6.4 ASPH, it sets completely new standards for imaging quality in the compact segment with outstanding exposures in all situations. The Leica X Vario is the world’s first compact camera to combine a large, APS-C format, CMOS image sensor with a zoom lens."
Apparently Leica wants to compete against true point and shoot compacts ?
APS-C is "unusually large" if you compare it to a Canon S95, Panny LX7 etc, but to the NEX, Fuji X's, and even their own X2 its not
Then again with the lens setting new standards "in the compact segment".... Does it set new standards against most any kit lens for APS-C camera though ? No...
On top of that they talk about outstanding exposures in any situation ? Really Leica, ANY situation ? Hmmm, given you've got no IS, a f6.4 lens on the long end, and just an APS-C sensor I can think of a lot of situations where its not going to be outstanding.
Then another mention of how its a "compact" camera. Does it fit into a pocket ? No, so how is it any more in the "compact" category than any other APS-C camera ? What out their own rebadged LX7 ?
Finally, how about this comment....
"From expansive interior shots, landscapes to portrait photography, the range of focal lengths offered by the Leica X Vario opens up entirely new horizons for creative photography.
Hmmm, who knew a slow 28-70mm equiv was going to open up entirely new horizons for creative photography ?
Nothing like having 28mm aside from the fact that everyone has that in their kit zooms, which sometimes are even 24mm equiv starting
I'm sure a 46mm f6.4 long end giving a 70mm equiv is going to be just stellar for portraits too. Put that Olympus 45mm f1.8 to shame right ?
I just want to punch whoever came up with this marketing crap in the face. Every brand exaggerates a bit, that is what marketing is, but this copy is borderline fraud its so removed from reality.
No doubt from the same brilliant minds that came up with the "you've heard the rumors, wait for the truth" campaign, which as it finally turned out on June 11th was EXACTLY what the rumors said all along. Good one Leica.....
Ariel70 wrote:
I've been waiting for an APS-C point & shoot camera with a zoom lens, but not this slow, bulky and pricey...maybe a Sony p&s with a Zeiss zoom lens will give me what I've been dreaming with...I know it's just a matter of time
i think you are asking too much. if you want a faster zoom your going to have to deal with bulk. if you want compact you're going to have to accept either very slow or a prime like the ricoh gr, x100, or whatever the nikon is called.
i don't know why people are whining so much about the slow zoom, that's what you get when you put need to cover that focal range at that size. i'm sure it'll probably outperform any similar sized aps-c zoom.
obviously this is not the camera we want, perhaps it is the camera some people want (but i doubt that many).
it seems clear leica either doesn't want to make a liveview only FF ILC or lacks the electronics expertise/economies of scale to produce one.
millsart wrote:
Marketing BS is to be expected from any brand, but this drivel is just over the top.
"The X Vario’s high performance image sensor is unusually large for a camera in its class. Combined with the Leica Vario Elmar 18-46 mm f/3.5-6.4 ASPH, it sets completely new standards for imaging quality in the compact segment with outstanding exposures in all situations. The Leica X Vario is the world’s first compact camera to combine a large, APS-C format, CMOS image sensor with a zoom lens."
It seems they've conveniently overlooked the A16 24-85 camera unit for the Ricoh GXR system. FWIW, the edge performance of the Leica lens does seem to be somewhat better than I recall from the Ricoh.
goosemang wrote:
lets face it, this camera is disappointing because its not a $3000 M240. nobody wants anything other than a $3000 M240, so all our hopes were up that Leica would unveil a way to have the M experience for a Mercedes price instead of a Lamborghini price. alas, no. if you wanna play, you gotta pay.
want a mirrorless interchangeable lens full frame in a compact package? buy an M240.
Boris, I know it's hard for technology to catch up with my expectations... ... But look at the Fuji zoom (the 2.8 to 4.0 aperture zoom), or look at the Sony RX-1 FF body size. I think there still hope...one of these days...
millsart wrote:
....
I just want to punch whoever came up with this marketing crap in the face. Every brand exaggerates a bit, that is what marketing is, but this copy is borderline fraud its so removed from reality.
....
millsart wrote:
No doubt from the same brilliant minds that came up with the "you've heard the rumors, wait for the truth" campaign, which as it finally turned out on June 11th was EXACTLY what the rumors said all along. Good one Leica.....
Yep.
Also note, the press release doesn't actually say that the lens is any good.
@ Sebbohi think you are asking too much. if you want a faster zoom your going to have to deal with bulk. if you want compact you're going to have to accept either very slow or a prime like the ricoh gr, x100
I don't think this is true: Fuji has brought out an excellent F2.8-F4.0 28-55, so a wider range and much faster than the Vario, and it's only 70mm long - hardly massive. The X100 prime is an f2, since when is that slow?
This utter crap Leica Vario camera is also fixed to that slow zoom and even costs more.
Agree the specs and price is sort of lame, but still I'm curious about the output, I won't be surprised if it's really good. I tried the X2 a few days, and the IQ was really nice. IMO.
I don't think this is true: Fuji has brought out an excellent F2.8-F4.0 28-55, so a wider range and much faster than the Vario, and it's only 70mm long - hardly massive. The X100 prime is an f2, since when is that slow?
This utter crap Leica Vario camera is also fixed to that slow zoom and even costs more.
i said slow OR a prime if you want reasonably compact. not slow and a prime. yes, f/2 is fast, but it's a short prime. the fuji 18-55mm is wider and faster yes, it's also bigger unless i'm missing something in the specs.
the high price has nothing to do with the specs, it has to do with the fact that leica is producing it. i have no idea why you think they would make something cheap? the x2 costs twice what the x100s costs.
itai195 wrote:
Yeah, that's the point. Nikon, Canon, Leica, and that's it.
these two are half the industry though
the claim I was responding to was that it was a bad year for "almost every company in the industry", well maybe so, but the big ones did just fine apart from Sony who screwed the pooch in every department, not just imaging
Leica is immaterial, a tiny boutique shop.
Sean Reid says the lens is excellent across the zoom range, and most importantly it has a marked manual focus ring with hard stops and distance markings. So there, at least we have a proper landscape camera.
Also it has the AF option on the focus ring which is awesome, I wish fuji had that. I've emailed him to see what the shutter sounds like, even with the slow lens we might also have a daytime street camera for us dinosaurs who still prefer to scale focus.
... But look at the Fuji zoom (the 2.8 to 4.0 aperture zoom), or look at the Sony RX-1 FF body size. I think there still hope...one of these days...