New Gear: Leica X1
If you're in the market for a very expensive digital camera, but aren't quite swanky enough for Leica's $8,000 M9, you can step down to the $2,200 X1. The sensor inside is a 12.2 megapixel, APS-C CMOS sensor, which has more in common with those found in DSLRs than those typically found in compacts. The lens is a fixed 24mm (35mm equivalent) F2.8 ELMARIT that isn't interchangeable. The rest of the important details and images are after the break.
--11 point AF metering
--Shutter speeds: 30 seconds to 1/2000 of a second
--JPEG and DNG recording
--4272 x 2856 maximum resolution
--3 FPS up to 6 images maximum shooting speed
--Optional optical viewfinder attaches to hot shoe ($350)
--HDMI out despite the total lack of video capability
--Battery life of approximately 260 images
--2.7-inch LCD (with a somewhat disappointing 230k pixels)
--ISO from 100 to 3200
--Included license for Adobe Lightroom
I applaud Leica for using an APS-C sensor and DNG for the RAW format. At this price point though, I'm really astonished at the low res LCD and $350 for the optical viewfinder. Instead of Leica creating a compelling camera they've once again left the door open for a competitor to best them.
Posted by: Don Horne | September 10, 2009 at 10:35 PM
Don - imagine how people who buy the $8000 M9 - it has the same 230k LCD as the $2000 X1!
Posted by: Nicholas | September 11, 2009 at 02:13 AM
Seems like a pointless camera for the price?
Posted by: Nick | September 11, 2009 at 07:27 AM
No entiendo por qué es tan cara!!! Las características no son tan llamativas como para interesarse en ella... habrá que ver la opinión de los expertos, pero no sé cómo es que esta camara pueda tomar una mejor fotografía que una Nikon D3X y por la mitad de precio o menos...
Posted by: E | September 14, 2009 at 06:11 PM
At this point in photo technology, this is absurd. The only customers who will purchase this are going to be die-hard leica shooters who have extra cash to spare. That is a pretty small market. It has no truly unique features and doesn't stand a chance against all the other cameras. Yes it has some Leica quality to it, but not enough to justify spending over $2k.
Posted by: Van K. | September 16, 2009 at 04:44 PM
Oh and as for the Leica M9 for $8k. Anyone willing to purchase that must be completely nuts. I mean you can get so much more for that kind of money. If you really have an urge to spend that much then Ill gladly take some off your hands.
Posted by: Van K. | September 16, 2009 at 04:47 PM
The leica X1 is equivalent in analog to the first Oskar Barnack Leica.... Except the CMOS large sensor wich is a pure Kodak product.
People in Leica factiory are nostalgic of this time...!
Only people having lot of money to spend are able to purchase this pre-historic digital camera!
I'm an 30 year's user of Leica products M; series and now I regret that Leica has lost again the digital boot!
My dream...
-- X2 or better nickname : DL-5 (x1...x2 is an BMW car brand!!) with the body of the marvellous Minolta-Leica CL
-- internal viefinder like the analog CL
-- fixed zoom 24-80 summicron 2-2.8 100% leica Solms .
or why not the 4/3 micro with leica 100% lens
-- external dimensions: same as the X1
-- grip integrated to the body.
I posted this "dream" 3 year's ago in the www.dpreview.com
search: mfo
mfo
Posted by: foggiato mike | October 13, 2009 at 06:02 PM