First Leica X2 review

jippiejee · 05-10-2012

Despite maybe the initial disappointment about viewfinder and lens, the X2 does seem to be a further evolution of the concept:

http://blog.mingthein.com/2012/05/11/leica-review-1/

Vobluda · 05-10-2012

The part on EVF is interesting:

"I did an experiment with the EVF out of curiosity – the plug looked like any one of the existing EVF plugs. Expecting it to fit my D-Lux 5 Titanium, I was surprised when it didn’t; but it did fit my Olympus OM-D and Pen Mini. Even more interestingly, it worked!"

canetsbe · 05-10-2012

Nice. Good read and it looks like a substantial improvement. Kind of makes me wish I had sold off my X1 while I had the chance, but I'm still very happy with that camera as my digi sidekick.

OlliL · 05-10-2012

So what do we learn from the EVF incident?

It's just a Panasonic.

kanzlr · 05-11-2012

did you read the post?

it says it did NOT work with the Panasonic, but worked with the Olympus.
Also, it has the same resolution as the Olympus one. Most likely, they just bought it from them.

OlliL · 05-11-2012

Shi*

OK, it's even more Olympus/Pana (as technology partners), than the D-Lux was.

Vobluda · 05-11-2012

Well, I am not 100% sure that it is originally Olympus EVF either as it is same as Ricoh GXR finder..
I wouldn't be surprised to find out that it is Cosina supplying finders to all mirrorless camera makers:-)

gilpen123 · 05-11-2012

Do you know if the Olympus EVF2 will work with the X2?

OlliL · 05-11-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vobluda

...to find out that it is Cosina supplying finders to all mirrorless camera makers:-)

The VF2 is apparently made by Epson (not kidding)

@gilpen123 I'm pretty sure we'll know in the near future (no I'm keeping my X100), but I'd put a bet on it, that it will.

Nigel Meaby · 05-11-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by gilpen123

Do you know if the Olympus EVF2 will work with the X2?

It's considerably cheaper than the Leica one so if they are the same surprise, surprise you are paying through the nose to have "Leica" written on it!

Archlich · 05-11-2012

That hump beneath the hot shoe is down right ugly.

Too bad they gave up the elegant aesthetics of the X1 in order to utilize another rebranded part.

OlliL · 05-11-2012

They probably just took the whole hotshoe / connector from the Olympus X-Z1.
I aggree with you, that it doesn't improve the asthetics, but at least this camera does make more sense now (to me). I just can't really stand finderless cameras, though I would have preferred an integrated one.

jsrockit · 05-11-2012

Sad, really.

kanzlr · 05-11-2012

why sad?

good practice, I'd say from an engineering stand point.
Rather buy than make if it fits your specs.

elmer3.5 · 05-11-2012

Hi, i hoped the x2 would sport a brighter lens, even f2.4 would have been ok.

I was expecting it to have a non retractable lens, the start up of my x1 was painful....

On the other hand the evf and the faster af are not things that i miss...using hyperfocal technique was fast as an M! And the helios 40 bucks vf was fine!

The shots displayeds on the reportage are simply amazing, that one of the japanese garden is mind blowing!
Dynamic range looks better but, how much PP was used on these shots?

At last i did sell my x1 only because i payed 2000 usd for it and suddenly it dropped 700 bucks after the fuji x100 appeared...so i traded it for some vintage leica gear and at last didn´t loose a dime....but i do miss it, very much!

Matus · 05-11-2012

The review linked above makes the X2 looks a bit better - though I am surprised about the comments on the LCD which is supposed to be better that the one on X1 even though it has the same resolution.

It is good to hear that AF is up to its task and that the top dials are stiffer.

To me it seems that Leica tried to save cost (and manpower) putting up the X2 and only updated the things that needed to be updated. That is probably why we get the same lens (it is really good, just on the slow side) and why we get EVF from Olympus. However times and the mirror-less market and selection of cameras and their performance is way different than it was in 2009. So I am not sure how many X2s will Leica sell.

I do feel attracted by the X2 (as I felt about X1) because of the IQ in very compact package, but will probably NOT get one because of the price. I would probably still rather go for Rich GXR with M-module and 2 - 3 M-mount lenses.

jsrockit · 05-11-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by kanzlr

why sad?

good practice, I'd say from an engineering stand point.
Rather buy than make if it fits your specs.

Sad because they can do much better. When the X1 was released, there wasn't anything like it. Now there are many cameras better (almost same size) than this at cheaper prices. If the X1 wasn't selling well towards the end of its life cycle, then what makes Leica think this camera will sell better.

That said, it appears Leica does not want to release Sony type cameras in which the lens is so huge compared to the body.

The Meaness · 05-11-2012

If they could have figured out how to get a small(ish) 35/1.4 equiv. they could have charged 5k and sold out of the thing.

jippiejee · 05-11-2012

It's an upgrade, but just not enough to make me sell my X1 with optical viewfinder to get this. In that sense, it's all minor. But I think it's enough to stay in the compact market for those new to it. It still is a very attractive aps-c compact with great IQ.

jsrockit · 05-11-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Meaness

If they could have figured out how to get a small(ish) 35/1.4 equiv. they could have charged 5k and sold out of the thing.

Add an internal VF of any kind and I think you'd be right.

dave lackey · 05-11-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by jippiejee

It's an upgrade, but just not enough to make me sell my X1 with optical viewfinder to get this. In that sense, it's all minor. But I think it's enough to stay in the compact market for those new to it. It still is a very attractive aps-c compact with great IQ.

Cannot disagree there.

The fact that no major changes occurred says something about filling the gap between the X1/2 (X series?) and the M-body digital cameras with something else in the near future. I am betting on a mini-M.

jippiejee · 05-11-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave lackey

I am betting on a mini-M.

Looks like Thorsten Overgaard hinted about that too. Leica M as basis for various products, including a kind of digital CL. Would be very interested in that.

dave lackey · 05-11-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by jippiejee

Looks like Thorsten Overgaard hinted about that too. Leica M as basis for various products, including a kind of digital CL. Would be very interested in that.

Yes, I would too. When I mentioned this from a year or so ago, I was shouted down as some type of lunatic but it only makes sense. There is a lot of fertile ground for Leica to plow and I have a feeling that is what they have been up to for some time now.

digitalintrigue · 05-11-2012

The X2 and M9M are just ways of stretching R&D that has already been paid for back in 08 and 09, and maybe even earlier. The only really 'new' product from yesterday is the 50/2 APO.

willie_901 · 05-11-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by jippiejee

Despite maybe the initial disappointment about viewfinder and lens, the X2 does seem to be a further evolution of the concept:

http://blog.mingthein.com/2012/05/11/leica-review-1/

Sort of like the evolution of the Sea Turtle in nature?