Discussion about
Is Leica making a mistake by not making this micro 4-3rds?
Panasonicm with the GF1 and Olympusm with the E-P1 have been making use of this new sensor size, yet keeps the same quality of a consumer level dSLR, yet still keeping its ability to swap out for better lenses. Leica decided to go a different route and give the X1 a fixed APS-C lens with a larger sensor, but keeping the same small body of a point and shoot. Is that red dot and $2000 price tag worth the sacrifice of interchangeable lenses?
I think 4/3's is making a mistake by even existing! ;)
I kid. But really, I don't like the 2x crop factor of 4/3's cameras. Anyway, I think Leica really wants to exclusively use *their* own glass, which is notoriously expensive. It probably came down to a simple marketing decision: Offer a nice camera that's cheaper than the M8 / M9, and include their own fixed lens (rather than open it up to the 4/3's format to compete with cheaper lens manufacturers, plus they'd have to make new lenses for that format too- which no one would ever buy because they'd be so overpriced.)
A fixed lens would also allow the overall package to be sold for much cheaper (body + Leica lens = $$$$).
Really, I think this camera is just a gateway drug to more expensive Leica products!
I kid. But really, I don't like the 2x crop factor of 4/3's cameras. Anyway, I think Leica really wants to exclusively use *their* own glass, which is notoriously expensive. It probably came down to a simple marketing decision: Offer a nice camera that's cheaper than the M8 / M9, and include their own fixed lens (rather than open it up to the 4/3's format to compete with cheaper lens manufacturers, plus they'd have to make new lenses for that format too- which no one would ever buy because they'd be so overpriced.)
A fixed lens would also allow the overall package to be sold for much cheaper (body + Leica lens = $$$$).
Really, I think this camera is just a gateway drug to more expensive Leica products!
I'm not as big of a digital photography freak like some people, but I think the micro 4/3rds format is starting to shape up quite well. It's still at its infancy and there are rumors of more cameras to come, but with the amount of money one can spend for the X1, which is $2000, you can get a great full size dSLR, like a D90 and a Panasonic GF1 or Olympus E-P1 or even something like the Canon S90, G11 or Panasonic LX3, all great cameras that would compliment a dSLR very well and fits the same niche that Leica is trying to capture with the X1.
If Leica were to adopt the m4/3rds form factor, then it would open up the doors for them and would surely steal consumers away from the Nikon and Canon dSLR crowd.
If Leica were to adopt the m4/3rds form factor, then it would open up the doors for them and would surely steal consumers away from the Nikon and Canon dSLR crowd.
Neither am I, but it does fill a niche in the high end compact P&S with manual controls, with some of the marketing elements that dave mentioned. Micro 4/3rds is great for popularising the M8-style camera to less stratospheric prices, but people like me who use these primarily as P&S's don't necessarily want to sweat lens selection, etc and a (still) bulkier body.
The proof of the pudding is in the images however, and I look forward to a review from the major photo sites. If it's a definite improvement on the D-Lux 4, I'll take it.
The proof of the pudding is in the images however, and I look forward to a review from the major photo sites. If it's a definite improvement on the D-Lux 4, I'll take it.
The Leica X1 has some disadvantages over a D-Lux 4 though:
- It has no zoom
- It's bigger (bad for P&S, I guess)
- It's MUCH more expensive
- It can't shoot videos
- It has a higher aperture lens (f/2.8 vs f/2)
However, it is as attractive, perhaps even more so than the D-Lux and it does have a bigger sensor...
But for $1500 more?
...
- It has no zoom
- It's bigger (bad for P&S, I guess)
- It's MUCH more expensive
- It can't shoot videos
- It has a higher aperture lens (f/2.8 vs f/2)
However, it is as attractive, perhaps even more so than the D-Lux and it does have a bigger sensor...
But for $1500 more?
...
