Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2016/03/11
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Thanks Jim, Peter On 11/03/2016 02:48, Jim Nichols wrote: > Hi Peter, > > I have been doing some of the same comparisons. I have an X-E1, which > does well > for me. From a price point, the X-Pro 1 is appealing, though the X-Pro 2 > is > tempting. > > I agree with you on the feel and size of the X-E1 and X-E2 cameras. I > started > out many years ago with a Leica IIIa, and later, a IIIf, and the X-E > series is > very similar, in my opinion. Congratulations on your choice. The X-E2 > should > serve you well. > > Jim Nichols > Tullahoma, TN USA > > On 3/10/2016 1:48 PM, Peter Dzwig wrote: >> Dear All, >> >> For quite a long time I have been toying with how to combine several >> things: >> Digital; my existing Leica lenses and love of Leicas (and my other >> glass); image >> quality; and above all flexibility when travelling - for which in large >> part >> read compactness and weight. >> >> When I just used my IIIf I had very lightweight kit; but the lack of good >> and >> ready souping makes that untenable as working proposition in the long >> term. So >> it had to be digital. >> >> A few weeks ago, matters came to a head and I had to make a choice. In >> the frame >> were the following: Leica Q, M9, MM, 246 etc., Fuji X-Pro2, X-E2/2S, XT. >> There >> really weren't any other contestants. >> >> So what happened? What did I decide? Before starting, I need to say that >> this is >> a **subjective** viewpoint. >> >> I consulted LUGgers, friends and colleagues on their views and came back >> with a >> very mixed bag of results. There was no clear majority in favour of one >> solution >> or other. All had their proponents. I looked at the reviews. Again all >> systems >> were very good but lacking in one detail or another the real value of >> which >> could only be determined by your particular needs. >> >> For me the issues are (i) price; (ii) performance; (iii) usability and >> compactness. I wanted to buy something that I can afford that will >> provide the >> performance that I want/need and will fit snugly into whatever I am >> wearing or >> carrying. This was pretty much the rationale for both my Leicas, >> particularly >> the IIIf. >> >> So what decision did I make? Ultimately I bought an XE-2. Why? I will >> explain, >> but I am very much still a Leica fan and providing that I can get the >> souping >> sorted will continue to use my M3 and IIIf. >> >> First price: The only Leica I could realistically afford was either an Q >> or a >> used M9. The newer ones are simply beyond my means at present or for the >> forseeable future. >> >> Q: I spent a lot of time looking at the Q and was particularly impressed >> by the >> review Craig Mod gave it. While it has modern Leica glass, undoubtedly an >> excellent thing, the lens is fixed so it's close up or nothing. My >> photography >> needs flexibility. >> Further there is a horrendous waiting list, last time I enquired and I >> wanted >> it yesterday. >> >> Used M9: Even if I bought one with the sensor replaced, it is possible >> that >> something similar will happen again, so probably too high a risk. For >> Leica to >> have an issue of the magnitude of the M9 crazing problem is nothing short >> of >> inexcusable. There should have been an instant recall and a fix with a >> completely different sensor, but... >> >> Ultimately Leica's excellence these days is as a manufacturer of lenses >> not >> processors and s/w; so the question always remains whether or not they >> shouldn't >> partner with someone to build their cameras - including chips - while they >> concentrate on the lenses. They could probably deliver at a more >> competitive >> price point. Put another way their corporate eye may not be on the ball. >> As for >> tie-ups with Huawei... >> >> The M9 and Q didn't really fit my bill although it came much closer than >> I may >> seem to imply. >> >> So I turned to Fuji: OK I already have an X-Pro1 which is an excellent >> camera >> with high quality (read near Leica-quality) optics available. In addition >> I can >> use my M and LTM lenses on it . >> >> I didn't want the XPro-2 as although the sensor and processor are >> updates; it >> really doesn't appear to offer obvious advantages to me. >> >> XT - again fixed and I don't very much like its feel in the hand. I said >> this >> was subjective! >> >> X-E2: much more the right size, discrete in black, smaller than a Leica M >> and >> feels more like an LTM Leica. The major difference between the X-E2 and >> the >> X-E2S with the most up to date s/w on both is the silent electronic >> shutter on >> the S. Not really important to me so I went for the X-E2. >> >> >> >> I had to travel in a hurry, so took the X-E2 with the standard zoom that I >> already had (try getting a Tri-Elmar + camera as part of a package for >> under >> ?1500) and the 35mm f2. I found it very compact and usable though having >> it for >> precisely 12 hours before I left was a bit of a baptism of fire. >> >> To cut a long story short I ended up in Arles in the Church of St. >> Trophime, one >> of the oldest major churches in France and renowned for it's >> architecture, much >> of which is Gothic. >> >> Here are some examples of what the XE-2 gave me. >> >> [All shots were taken in Auto mode with OIS (Optical Image Stabilisation) >> using >> the Fuji 18-55 zoom. Light was overcast with some bright patches - >> occasionally! >> There has been no colour treatment, these are scaled down TIFFs (to >> approx 10M) >> made from the original 46M RAW files in PS, so that they fit in the >> gallery's >> upload restrictions. All have a larger view available.] >> >> Detail rendition is good: >> >> Firstly St.Trophime himself in the cloister, flanked by St. Stephen and >> St. >> Peter. >> >> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/PeterDzwig/X-E2+test/St_Trophime-1_resized.tif.html >> >> <http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/PeterDzwig/X-E2+test/St_Trophime-1_resized.tif.html> >> >> >> Similarly the figure of the resurrected Christ, showing the stigmata (five >> wounds), flanked by St John(?) and Elijah(?), under with somewhat more >> difficult >> lighting conditions. >> >> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/PeterDzwig/X-E2+test/Christ_St_Trophime-1_resize.tif.html >> >> <http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/PeterDzwig/X-E2+test/Christ_St_Trophime-1_resize.tif.html> >> >> >> The world-renowned tympanum and details thereof: >> >> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/PeterDzwig/X-E2+test/St_Trophime_Tympanum-1_resized.tif.html >> >> >> <http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/PeterDzwig/X-E2+test/St_Trophime_Tympanum-1_resized.tif.html> >> >> >> and >> >> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/PeterDzwig/X-E2+test/St_Trophime_Doorway_left_resized.tif.html >> >> >> <http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/PeterDzwig/X-E2+test/St_Trophime_Doorway_left_resized.tif.html> >> >> >> Colour rendition is good (see photos above) even shooting against the >> light >> through some modern stained glass: >> >> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/PeterDzwig/X-E2+test/Window_St_Trophime-resized.tif.html >> >> >> <http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/PeterDzwig/X-E2+test/Window_St_Trophime-resized.tif.html> >> >> >> Conclusions: As a package with the zoom I could shoot most things and I >> could >> probably have done without the f2. It is a bit smaller than an M and >> lighter too. >> >> Although it I found the viewfinder a little difficult to work with, I can >> deal >> with it. I have issues with the bewildering variety of settings and >> controls, >> but I have that with any digital camera >> >> To my amazement I found that in the latest software there is a split >> screen >> simulation mode, which works well even with a 35mm LTM Summaron mounted >> via an >> LTM to M-adapter and then the Fuji M-adapter, although it needs some >> improvement. >> >> Am I satisfied? Well, there is no feel quite like that of a Leica, but >> cost has >> made them prohibitive for me. I must consider myself lucky as I already >> have a >> 1.25M+ s/no SS M3 which takes FILM! All I have to do is get the souping >> sorted. >> This combination works for me at present and I can continue to use Leica >> and >> Voigtlander (and in principle other manufacturer's) glass. >> >> Your comments are welcome as ever, but I DO NOT want to get involved in a >> flame >> war. My requirements are mine and may well not meet those of others. >> >> Regards, >> >> Peter >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information -- =========================================================== Dr Peter Dzwig