Product Review

Leica X1

Digital Camera

What’s new about the Leica LX1

The Leica X1 is the first German made digital compact, distinguishing itself from leicas other ‘bridge cameras ’ (Lumix rebrands like the D-LUX 5). However the x1 is unique for more reasons than its country of origin. The Leica X1 has set a new benchmark for cameras, positioned somewhere between high-end ‘bridge cameras’ (think Canon’s Powershot G12’ or Panasonic ‘Lumix LX5’), and the new Sony NEX series.

What sets it above ‘travel cameras’ like the LUMIX GF2 or Olympus PEN series is the X1’s much larger image sensor and equally matched optics. Rather than attempting to fit too much range into a small package, the leica team has opted for a decent fixed 35mm lens, substituting range for best possible image quality. The X1 therefore has realistic boundaries, if your after bells and whistles, or even a little more versatility, get a Sony NEX for half the price or step up in size to a digital SLR with hundreds of lenses to choose from. However at this size, only the Fuji x100, which has been slow to hit the shelves this year will rival the x1’s Image quality and uniqueness.

Build Quality

The first area where the Leica x1’s price tag can be justified is build quality. While not quite as solid as Leica’s other German makes, it certainly feels better than the increasingly plastic build of even entry level Digital SLR’s. That said, the X1 doesn’t fit in the hand as comfortably as cheaper bridge cameras like the Canon G12, NEX-5 and certainly not a Nikon D3100. While the look of the X1 is similar to leica’s legendary M series rangefinders, it handles differently without a lens to clutch and takes some getting used to.

Usability

Leica pitches the X1 as a ‘travel companion’, and if you’re over lugging around SLR kit or worry about standing out, the x1 is a practical solution. With the dials placed atop, you may find yourself shooting from the hip for those candid street shots (especially if you loath holding your camera up to view the LCD like a true tourist), perhaps an aspect of design perhaps borrowed from the ‘zone focusing’ system of Leica’s M series Rangefinders. This gets easier as you become used to the fixed 36mm lens and while not as flexible as any zoom lens, it forces one to compose your frame before shooting. If you regularly shoot with Nikkor or Canon ‘prime lense ’, coming from an SLR system means you’ll likely be avoiding the reflex of bringing the LCD to meet your eyeball. If you must, grab the accessory viewfinder ENTER PRODUCT LINK.

The simplistic logic of the Leica x1’s controls should be pleasing to both automatic- armatures and more manually oriented enthusiasts alike. While beginners can gradually accustom them selves to greater control over the cameras manual settings, brand loyal enthusiasts could pick up the camera and shoot on manual almost instinctively.

The x-1 allows you to select full auto by simply leaving the wheels atop the camera on ‘A’. Moving the aperture dial to any ‘F-number’ brings you into ‘Aperture Priority’; you decide the aperture (light entering the lens) -the camera does the rest. Changing your shutter speed dial brings you into Shutter priority; you decide the Shutter Speed (or recording time) and the camera does the rest. Rotating both wheels naturally allows you to use the camera manually. There is no MODE dial required and one doesn’t need to hold down one button and roll another wheel like on the Canon G12, Nikon p7000 or any entry level Nikon and Canon digital SLR. In this way the Leica gang have utilized the space of a much smaller camera even more efficiently than other bulkier models, and without the intricacies of clumsy multi-layered digital menus.

Image Quality

If your willing to frame up the shot, the X1delivers image quality technically equal to entry-level Canon and Nikon Digital SLR’s (with kit lenses). Optically the X1 is very impressive, surprisingly sharp throughout all apertures, and closes down (to achieve a greater depth of field) further and better than any other camera and lens combination of its size. The x1 blitzes other more cumbersome bodies in terms of overall sharpness such as the Richo GXR S2 kit, and the interchangeable NEX- 16MM or GF1 20MM f1.7. Where the X1 falls short (excuse the pun) is its limited macro capability, with a stunted 30cm focussing distance. Thus, for product or macro photography some may find this rather limiting. This is of course unless you’re looking to blow your pictures up or crop your images. Within its range, the raw files held their own even at 50%-80% crops, allowing close ups that really illustrate the leica x1’s optical superiority.