Leica X1: A Digital Hexar AF?

Leica X1: A Digital Hexar AF?
Wednesday, September 9, 2009

As everyone who follows rumors and leaks expected, the Leica X1 has been announced today alongside the main event, a new full frame Leica M9.

Many of us had hoped for a digital Leica CL, a smaller, cheaper version of the digital M. Does the X1 deliver?

Basic specs:

1.5x 12MP APS-C CMOS sensor: There aren't too many of these around. Hopefully they are using the Sony sensor from the Nikon D5000, which is class leading in my opinion
Fixed 24mm f/2.8 lens (36mm equivalent): Comparable in spec to the Sigma DP1 lens and the Olympus 17/2.8; a bit slower than the Lumix 20/1.7
Small size: Similar to the Sigma DP2 and a touch smaller than the GF1 and E-P1
Quiet shutter: Quieter than a G1 (listen to it here) but louder than a DP2
Optional OVF with no built-in eye-level viewfinder or EVF option
Minimum focusing distance: 30cm (in macro mode)
11-point autofocus
230K pixel LCD

The price: $2000

I never would have guessed that Leica would be first to market with a Bayer-sensor APS-C compact. I think it is perhaps overpriced, but not really by very much. Assuming that the lens, build, and controls are first class, I think $1500 would be about right, and I expect that the price will settle into that range before long.

Looking at the picture of the X1 shown below, I'd have made two design changes: 1) Remove the popup flash and put an ISO dial in its place; 2) Integrate exposure compensation in the shutter speed dial as is done with the Bessa and Ikon ZM. That said, the controls look terrific. I'm hoping that ring around the lens isn't decorative!

Do I want an X1? No doubt. Do I regret my recent GH1 purchase? Not in the least. I enjoy having the ability to change lenses and appreciate the amazing EVF of the Panasonic.

The X1 is no digital CL, but for those of you waiting anxiously for your digital Hexar AF, the day may be here at last.

More coverage of the Leica X1 at 1001 Noisy Cameras, Luminous Landscape, The Online Photographer, and DPReview.

Posted by Amin

Comments (14)

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improbable · 813 weeks ago

We are really spoiled, this year, for choice of serious compacts. The time has come at last! (Perhaps because the urgency to produce the next greatest blob SLR has faded a bit, the current ones are fine.)

Digital Hexar sounds about right. I'm sad it's $2000 as it means I certainly won't get one, for a while at least. This is also quite a lot compared to the GF1, $900, which must be the most direct competition. Still very happy to see this.

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Jay · 813 weeks ago

I am surprised that they didn't use the ring around the lens for manual focusing. Then again, I hope they licensed Panasonic's autofocusing from the G1 so you won't need to autofocus very much. I haven't read anything about the absence of an AA filter so I am guessing that they kept the filter on to further distinguish this camera from the M9. I too would much rather get the GH1 or the Sigma DP2 rather than spend $2000 on the Leica at this point. I certainly hope though that it will inspire other manufacturers to innovate and introduce new cameras in this space.

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Wouter Brandsma · 813 weeks ago

I would have loved to see this camera with an integral viewfinder. Maybe this camera will force Canikon to enter this segment too.

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1 reply · active 813 weeks ago

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amin 67p · 813 weeks ago

Seriously, they didn't need to make it that short. A simple OVF in a slightly taller body would have been terrific.

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Thomas Risberg · 813 weeks ago

Well, the Hexar had an f2 lens and a viewfinder and was not quite as expensive. Other than that it's fairly close.

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wolfie · 813 weeks ago

Funniest thing to me is that the X1 has a "lousy" 230K LCD same as the EP-1. I trust that reviewers will be consistent and trash the X1 the same way Olympus got criticised for their "low spec" LCD.

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4 replies · active 812 weeks ago

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amin 67p · 813 weeks ago

I only recently got my hands on an E-P1, and I thought the LCD was really nice. That's a case of too much focus on the specification (resolution) and not enough focus on usability. I've been guilty of that mistake before.

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illdefined · 813 weeks ago

yes but $2000 nice? or $7000 nice in M9 terms?

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amin 67p · 813 weeks ago

To me, yes. It was $23,000 nice in Leica S2 terms. A camera would have to be damn good for the E-P1 LCD to be the weak link for me.

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wolfie · 812 weeks ago

My point exactly, Amin - many people have rubbished the 230K LCD without using it, while many who have the E-P1 say it is very useable LCD for outdoors and good at oblique angles. In many ways the X1 is a lot of missed opportunities: extending lens means slower start up, vulnerable to knocks, extra mechanical complexity and possibility for dust ingress, no lens filter thread, no lens hood, no adapter either to allow for filters or hood. No image stabilisation. No internal OVF. Lens speed is unspectacular for the price, f2 would have been expected for the price. So the X1 looks to have great structural build and optical lens quality and a top notch sensor and a host of niggling omissions or poor design choices.

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Steve · 812 weeks ago

I really want to see Canon do its own take on this. Take a Rebel XTi's guts and put it into a compact body. Stick a good but not over-engineered 40mm/50mm f/2 or f/2.8 lens. KISS- I don't mean the name of those Powershots, I mean 'Keep it Simple, Stupid.' I don't even care if it has IS, because the 1.6x CMOS plus faster prime largely takes care of that. Lift the dual control wheels form the S90, those will do even if dedicated knobs are prettier. With only a single lens, they should be able to get decent AF performance.

I don't care how it looks, just make it somewhat solid. They can call it the Mini Rebel, Digital Canonet, G12, I don't care.

Canon can sell this camera for well under a grand. I would very likely choose this over the greater versatility of Micro 4/3.

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underneath · 811 weeks ago

At $350 or so for an excellent condition Hexar AF, I'll get my film scanned and---POOF! Digital Hexar!

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David · 809 weeks ago

I still have my Hexar and just recently put some film through it... and had it scanned. Very... very nice. That f2 lens is so sweet. The other thing that I love about the Hexar is the dual IR beam autofocus (or what ever it is...) The main thing is that it is able to AF instantly in total darkness. For example, it can focus on a black tuxedo on a very dark dance floor, and in combination with it's "dumb" distance/GN flash and dual stage flash exposure... can produce a perfectly exposed shot. I used an off camera flash to make the flash look a little better. (Actually, I used an old 420ez flash in manual mode with set to the same GN of the Hexar flash. It worked (still works) great.

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Scott · 786 weeks ago

"Leica X1: A Digital Hexar AF?" Nope, not even close. The Hexar has a grown-up bright, usable viewfinder, a lens that's a stop faster, and lightning fast autofocus, even in the dark. And, it sold, new, for about $600 (if I remember correctly).
I was really excited about the X1, until I got to play with one. The image quality is outstanding, but the handling is not suitable for a serious camera, especially at the arrogant price.

I'll be waiting for the X2.