Leica X1 Digital Compact Camera With Elmarit 24mm f/2.8 ASPH. Lens USA

Comments about Leica X1 Digital Compact Camera With Elmarit 24mm f/2.8 ASPH. Lens:

This is my high quality compact point and shoot when I cannot lug my DSLR and lenses. Just took me a few hours to shoot the first "wow" photo. This camera sports is a true Leica lens and yields photos that are noticeably superior to my D-Lux 3 and equal to my D-700

Comments about Leica X1 Digital Compact Camera With Elmarit 24mm f/2.8 ASPH. Lens:

I came up shooting a speed graphic. It's possible to shoot quickly with that camera but it is most rewarding on a tripod. Like many shooters here I have tried a number of digital cameras and have been largely disappointed with the results I've been getting compared to the results I can get with my film gear.

I've been shooting a full-frame 5D II with some very good glass (for Canon). And I've gotten some fantastic shots from that setup. But the grain and color have just been...digital.

The X1 is the first digital camera I've used that gives me results that make me happy. It has given me back the smooth creaminess that I've been trying so long to find in the digital realm. Black and white or color, if I pay attention to my composition, I'm going to have more keepers with this camera than with the big rig.

If you can lock this camera down on a non-windy, clear day, you will get some of the sharpest images you'll ever see. Fixed lens cameras are the sharpest--and a fixed prime lens camera is the sharpest of those. Leica knows a thing or two about that school and they put it all into the x1.

Once you are able to chart the boundaries of what this little machine can do--and they're huge--you will have as much fun as you have ever had taking pictures of non-adult material!

One of my favorite things about this camera is it looks like an antique and you can walk into a politically sensitive situation without looking like a photojournalist. Took my camera, hanging in plain sight around my neck, into downtown Buenos Aires about a month and a half ago during an acrimonious election season. There was to be a rally, and the police were confiscating journalists' cameras.

I looked like a tourist with an old camera around my neck, and they left me alone. Better still, my subjects didn't know they were being seriously photographed and mostly ignored me. I came away with some of the best candid shots of my life, and the authorities never knew where all these great hi-res shots came from.

If you shoot political events, public gatherings and other places you may get your camera confiscated, this is a good one to bring with you.

So art shots with the x1 make me happy, and work shots make me ecstatic.

Comments about Leica X1 Digital Compact Camera With Elmarit 24mm f/2.8 ASPH. Lens:

i have not yet fully jump to this camera yet, but tried a little bit. Like it so far, much lighter than i expected. Only used auto mode, pix are good.

Comments about Leica X1 Digital Compact Camera With Elmarit 24mm f/2.8 ASPH. Lens:

If you're looking to get back to composing photographs, then you couldn't ask for more from a camera. The lens is fixed -- there is no zoom -- so you really have to think about the composition of your shot.

I came up old school, teaching myself how to shoot with a 50 mm lens, and those are still some of my favorite shots. I have found the Leica X1 to be the perfect camera for getting back to the basics, i.e., composing photographs.

I thought long & hard about spending two large for a fixed lens point & shoot, but after I pulled the trigger on the purchase I have to say I definitely made the right choice with the X1.

I was briefly tempted by the Fujifilm FinePix x100, but at the end of the day I really favor the stripped down simplicity of the Leica. It's simple, basic, and without all the clutter on most digital cameras. Plus, it's got that Leica digital-analog thing going on, which I really like a lot.

By no means is this camera for everyone. In fact, you probably need to be a little barmy to buy it in the first place, but if you're like me -- which is a pretty scary thought in and of itself -- it's the perfect point & shoot camera. It is all signal and no noise.

Comments about Leica X1 Digital Compact Camera With Elmarit 24mm f/2.8 ASPH. Lens:

Very Simple point and shot camera. First time I try it, it's amazing camera I ever had.

Comments about Leica X1 Digital Compact Camera With Elmarit 24mm f/2.8 ASPH. Lens:

I began shooting with Leica rangefinder bodies in the mid 1960's as a newspaper photog. Now retired, I have a Leica X1 with the 36mm Brightline finder. It is pure simplicity in function and design lacking the bells and whistles of other high-end digitals. It strikes me as a camera for "purists." It's Leica quality also Leica priced.

Comments about Leica X1 Digital Compact Camera With Elmarit 24mm f/2.8 ASPH. Lens:

The Leica X1 is a well built camera without all the frills of most other point-and-shoot cameras.I`m very pleased with the jpeg and high ISO picture quality and I am not sorry I bought this camera.It is not the fastest horse in the stable but all the negative comments on other reviews in this regard are overblown.The latest firmware upgrade from version 1 to version 2 took care of some of these issues and also improved the manual focus.If you know basic photography,you will take great photos with this camera.I only wish someone would make a dedicated external flash for this camera other than Leica AG,then those are quite steep in price and I use flash only occasionally.
If you can afford it,don`t hesitate to buy this camera.

Comments about Leica X1 Digital Compact Camera With Elmarit 24mm f/2.8 ASPH. Lens:

Since the digital age, I have not been too happy with digital cameras. So when I went looking for a new camera, this Leica jumped out as having a fantastic lens, and a retro appearance. I was also attracted to the fact that there is no zoom. The lens has a fixed focal length, and thus performs better for my usage. The quality is superb, as are the images I have created. This focal length is ideal for most photographers needs. The camera is easy to use in Auto, Aperture priority, or shutter priority. The best feature is the auto bracketing, to find that perfect image. I would recommend the Leica leather case, as the view screen is a bit exposed. This is a great product and an affordable entry into the Leica family of cameras.

Comments about Leica X1 Digital Compact Camera With Elmarit 24mm f/2.8 ASPH. Lens:

I bought this because I was tired of lugging around my full frame DSLR when I didn't really need it, but I want the quality. This Leica really fits the bill as a replacement. it is point and shoot, except when I don't want it to be. The size is good and the feel of the camera superb. Best of all is the image quality. I have used this for tourist shots in Washington DC - excellent - indoor kid hockey pics - the white balance adjustment is helpful and numerous other instances. In all cases, the pictures are excellent. Please note, there is no zoom. As one reviewer wrote, you have to use your feet. That might be the only catch for someone.

Comments about Leica X1 Digital Compact Camera With Elmarit 24mm f/2.8 ASPH. Lens:

[...] I LOVE the camera - it is exactly what I was looking for. Easy to use, small, light and has many options I look forward to exploring.

Comments about Leica X1 Digital Compact Camera With Elmarit 24mm f/2.8 ASPH. Lens:

The folks talking about the AF being slow... well, yes, it's a bit slow, But to the comment of it being inaccurate. That's just off base. The AF is deadly accurate, and will focus *exactly where you have told it to focus*.

Stunning image quality and exemplary low light/high ISO performance. This goes in my briefcase or around my neck, every day, every where I go.

Comments about Leica X1 Digital Compact Camera With Elmarit 24mm f/2.8 ASPH. Lens:

Very portable with Killer photo quality-- only drawbacks: lens must be open in playback mode (odd they did that), slow recovery time between shots. However, these shortcomings are really about convenience, not the quality of the shots or the control you have over capturing photos. Great camera.

Comments about Leica X1 Digital Compact Camera With Elmarit 24mm f/2.8 ASPH. Lens:

The Leica X1 is not that slow, not nearly as slow as some would put it. It isn't a M8 or M9, it was not meant to be a rangefinder in the first place. However, after using it for quite a while now, I find that the overall PQ and how the photos exude an intangible Leica quality to be of first class and deserving of 5 stars.

Comments about Leica X1 Digital Compact Camera With Elmarit 24mm f/2.8 ASPH. Lens:

fast and easy to use

Comments about Leica X1 Digital Compact Camera With Elmarit 24mm f/2.8 ASPH. Lens:

The image quality is just pure Leica.For the price of a good Leica lens alone you get a complete camera that will blow you away.
Know it's limitations - slow focus ,fixed lens - and then work to its strengths - silent shutter,high ISO and fantastic lens.
I travel with my m4/3 cameras as a backup but they just get left behind because having seen the results from the X1 my Lumix GF-1 just doesn't cut it!
It won't be the perfect camera for everyone but it's the best compact there has ever been.
Posters at 30x20 inches are pin sharp and almost 3 dimensional.
True Leica quality that none of those Panasonic Leicas come close to matching.

Comments about Leica X1 Digital Compact Camera With Elmarit 24mm f/2.8 ASPH. Lens:

Prior to purchasing the X1 I read every review out there. Considered all the pros and cons, and finally decided to buy it. It is a fantastic camera that delivers absolute beautiful digital photos. It has its pros and cons. Slow to focus, ect, ect...Built like a tank. The digital photos it delivers are amazing. That's what I wanted in a camera and it exceeds this requirement.If you are on the fence on purchasing this camera, jump off and buy it now. You won't regret it....and its a LEICA.

Comments about Leica X1 Digital Compact Camera With Elmarit 24mm f/2.8 ASPH. Lens:

X1 is my first Leica camera. Its lightweight and feels good at hand. Also excellent ASA performance at high speeds like 1600 and 3200 (max).
But but but...
1. AF is terribly slow and 11 point AF and face detection modes are utterly unreliable.(Why dont they get some know-how from Japanese manufacturers?) 1Point H AF option is the only usable AF mode.
2.Top dials (Tv and Av)are extremely smooth that keeps changing from A mode to 1/2000 or f/16 by mistake i.e.while putting X1 to the camera bag or taking it out etc.
3.Playback mode is slow..
CONs are so serious that you easily miss precious moments..

Comments about Leica X1 Digital Compact Camera With Elmarit 24mm f/2.8 ASPH. Lens:

I've had my X1 for several weeks now, so I think I've used it
enough to have a clear picture of how I feel about it. I'll start with
the things I don't like--there are really only 2:

There is no denying that it's very slow in writing files to the
camera. Hopefully, there will be a firmware update at some point that
will change this. The other thing I don't like is a much smaller
thing--I don't care for the little flipper thing that opens the chamber
that holds the battery and SD card. I prefer the spring catch that I have on my D-Lux3.

Other than that, I love it. It is really a joy to use. The controls are simple and intuitive if you have spent any time with a manual film camera. The shutter speed and aperture dials are on top. If you want to shoot in aperture priority auto, you turn the dial to A. If you want to shoot in shutter priority auto, you turn that dial to A. If you want it to be fully automatic, you turn both to A. That's it. If you want to use the pop-up flash, you just push it in. Pretty much everything else you need to set while you're shooting is on the back--ISO, Play, Delete, WB, flash settings, changing between manual autofocus and macro, EV, self-timer--so you don't usually need to go into menus. If you put it in manual focus, the focusing knob is also on the back.

I would have liked a viewfinder and not only is Leica's very expensive, but it
is even harder to find than the camera itself. But I read on a Leica
forum that a lot of people have been using the Voightlander 35mm
viewfinder with good results so I got one and it seems to work fine. You can't focus with it, but with autofocus, there is both a green light on the LCD and a beep that sounds when it's in focus, so I can work with that. Framing is more precise with the LCD, but it is often hard to see in very bright light, so I switch back and forth depending on the image.

The image quality, even at high ISOs, is incredible, and that's what I
care about most. Having the ability to shoot in low light without flash or tripod (or changing film stock) is very liberating.

Comments about Leica X1 Digital Compact Camera With Elmarit 24mm f/2.8 ASPH. Lens:

Archival photography is an odd activity but it puts demands on cameras. It has to be quiet. If you are planning to run an OCR program over the files APC is perhaps the minimum entrance requirement. My X-1 is proving to be superior to my Sony R-1.

Archival photography is allowed because archivists are under the impression that digital photographs aren't good enough for reproduction. Yes, the files aren't comparable to a 4x5 transparency but ... The X-1 has a great advantage ... it does not scare people the way an R-1 does.

Comments about Leica X1 Digital Compact Camera With Elmarit 24mm f/2.8 ASPH. Lens:

The Leica X1 is nominally a compact camera, but it's actually about midway in size and weight between the typical pocket camera and a Micro 4/3 camera such as the Panasonic GF1 with pancake lens. Many comments have been made about the "Leica quality" body and lens. The body is certainly Leica in style, build, and aesthetics, but the term quality in this case is directed toward attributes that are peculiar to handmade cameras such as the X1, M9, and so on. Many of the machine-made cameras such as the Panasonic LX3 have equal build quality, but are obviously machine made. The lens of the X1 is up to Leica standards, which means that it's generally sharper edge-to-edge than the typical lenses sold with low-to-medium priced cameras, particularly at the widest apertures such as f2.8 (maximum for the X1).The X1 has a simplified design with aperture and shutter speed dials on top, and those dials each have an 'A' setting for auto-exposure. Since the X1 has a large (APS-C) sensor in a small body with a small battery, there isn't enough power to make the camera as fast and responsive as a typical DSLR or even some of the faster compact cameras. Because of this, and due to the fact that those dials are easily disturbed when removing the camera from a bag or a large pocket, the X1 becomes in effect a manually-controlled camera with a modest level of automatic function.Much has been said about the image quality of the X1, and that quality is on a par with other cameras having APS-C sized sensors. Due to the Leica lens used in the X1, and given the Leica processing engine in the camera's internal firmware, the resulting images captured by the camera will have a unique look that many afictionados describe as the "Leica look". While the X1's images will probably not in most cases be better than those produced by cameras of equivalent price (about $2000 U.S.), they will be better than images produced by most cameras of equivalent size.Since the X1 has such a large sensor in a relatively small body, the focal length is necessarily limited to maintain the small overall size. Where most of today's compact digital cameras have zoom lenses, with some of those reaching a 35 mm equivalence of 300 to 400 mm, the X1 has a single fixed focal length of 36 mm (in 35 mm equivalence). Noting the previous paragraphs here describing the manually-controlled aspect of the X1, this fixed focal length requires even greater manual effort to get the correct framing for each situation, since you can't just zoom in or out. In other words, you will have to zoom with your feet, moving closer to or further away from the subject as needed.The X1 uses a unique form of image stabilization ('IS'), where the camera takes two images for each one that you snap, and combines the two images into a single final image. This 'IS' can improve your success ratio in some cases, so that if you're getting less than 50 percent sharp photos when shooting handheld at low shutter speeds with 'IS' off, you may get 75 to 90 percent sharp photos with the 'IS' set to on. But there is a catch - the very sharpest images you capture with 'IS' off will probably be very slightly sharper than most of the images you get with 'IS' set to on. That's because of the unavoidable small movement of the camera between the two images captured by the 'IS' process. And even then, you would not likely be able to tell any difference unless viewing the photos at 100 percent enlargement on a large computer screen.Many reviewers have commented negatively on the X1's battery life, but it's actually on a par with other compact cameras. DSLR batteries are generally much larger than the X1's battery, and thus have a much longer life in use. Some reviews have found fault with the X1's screen, which has less resolution than most compact cameras costing a fraction of the X1's price. In actual use, however, the screen is more than adequate for composing, focusing, and reviewing images after the fact. If a competing camera were able to zoom in on the full-size image it has saved on its memory card, instead of zooming in on a thumbnail of the image, then it would have a clear advantage over the X1 when reviewing its images.Conclusion: If you want a simplified camera that requires manual settings, or that tends to enforce the same due to the considerations noted above, then there are two other factors that you would probably consider most relevant to justify the [$] price of the X1: 1) The handmade Leica quality that's obvious when you hold this camera for the first time, and 2) The image quality that is approached closely only by much larger cameras that have APS-C or larger sensors.