Leica X1 photo gallery proves that big shots do come in little packages
By Darren Murph 
posted November 8th 2009 11:48AM
posted November 8th 2009 11:48AM
posted November 8th 2009 11:48AM
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Judging by the images, the camera appears to have about the same ISO capabilities my Nikon D2x had when I got it 5 years ago. Maybe it's the jpeg compression, but the images just don't look that great overall. Color gradation is decent, but the dynamic range doesn't really match up against multiple competing brand names.
#1 rule for gear heads: Never trust DPReview for quality shots. Great indepth reviews, but the shots taken are absolutely pointless.
Which leads to rule #0 for gear heads: The camera is far less important for taking great photographs.
doesn't explain its below average ISO performance
What we learned today is that Darren Murph doesn't really have a deep insight into photography ;)
I mean just reading the related thread on the dpreview forums would've told you the general concensus on these photos.
Smallest and lightest digital camera available today with an APS-C sized sensor. 'nuff said.
Most pricey one too I'm guessing? Nuff said.
Clipped highlights, so-so bokeh... what's there to love? I'm not impressed.
Yeah the bokeh is not as good as you'd hope, I thought the same browsing the pictures but didn't want to be one stepping forward first to mention it.
please see the *emotional* discussion of the DPReview images over on the Leica forum:
http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-x1-forum/104910-lx1-samples-dpreview-com.html
Leicas were great mechanical cameras and at one point had the best lenses (given the limitations at the time). These days? Leica clearly doesn't "get" software, and everybody has spectacular lenses.
Sorry, I'm gonna get an E-P2 or GF-1.
Leicas rangefinder lenses are still have better image quality than Nikon or Canon SLR lenses, and are smaller and have better mechanical quality to boot.
Hmm, I didn't see anyting special about these images, at least compared to my Olympus mju-9000.
Pretty sad that Leica put their name on this camera. They should just stick to licensing their lenses to Panasonic and stay out of the crappy p&s aps-c market. It looks nice, but it's a compromise on everything that makes a camera a Leica.
TERRIBLE QUALITY!!!!!!! The level of noise is proportional to the pricetag... and let's not even get to chromatic aberation....... If I want that quality I will get a $200 point and shoot...
I wonder why all the preview images were were from RAW with ACR. Is the in-camera JPEG engine that bad? Does it even have one?
Anyway, perfectly reasonable, nothing earth shattering, but the DPreview samples are never meant to impress .. they are meant to show you certain technical aspects of the camera under a "walkaround" scenario. People never remember that.
There are cheaper ways to comparable image quality, but I'd suggest you can't get *better* image quality in a smaller package for less money right now. (You can't get an X1 either right now but you see what I mean..)
I don't think it's good value as the digital parts will not age, so you are paying for a very nice lens you cannot take with you later to a new, better camera. But it's a Leica... stupid as it sounds the resale value is so ridiculously high that they are often quite cheap to own over the long run.Except for the suckers who bought an APS-C M8 only to see the full frame M9 knock about 3k off the value of their machine... that's gotta hurt, baby.
Will there be a Panasonic equivalent ??? I love my LX3 but I want more now.
Please jeebus - take Mr. Scary and photoshop him away.
Chromatic aberration on the London bridge shot is excessive for f11. My Olympus has much less than that, and has better sharpness throughout. I looked at many of the shots of the trees, could not determine what item was supposed to be in focus. Overall IQ is rather muddy and low contrast, with infinity focus looking like the only focal point that actually works. Just look at those white verticals on the bridge at bottom right. Purple fringing, red fringing, blue fringing.
If that's Leica glass, they've really dropped the ball these days. I had a few nice lenses from them years ago, but this really does look like a point and shoot. High ISO performance is decent but not brilliant. For the money, I'd take the Olympus E-P1 or the Canon 7d. Or, I'd just get the Panasonic G series. They're nice too. Sure, it's not the camera is a true statement, but sometimes a camera with minor defects can step on your toes and prevent you from getting what you want. (see Fujifilm bridge camera with no exposure compensation)
over priced for it's performance. no thank you.