Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2017/03/09
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I had a chance to handle the cameras at Samys Camera in Costa Mesa yesterday.... I took no pictures ( dead batteries!!! Who can sell a camera with a dead battery in the demo??? 3 Demos, all dead !!!!) and can not comment on image quality nor eye level viewing. However, I can comment on overall feel and balance..... First the Hasselblad H4D.... a BEAST! Heavy, awkward to hold freehand, and back heavy. If you are insistent on using a mirror box MF digital camera, and want that 35mm overall position of the body relative to your eye, I guess it fits the bill. Overall, a zero on the ergonomic scale. In truth, you would be as well off and still have some green in your wallet if you bought an older V series camera, a few lenses, and a CFV39 or 50 with a 45 or 90 prism finder. I would bet on the same weight, same ergonomics, much cheaper. If it were mounted in a tripod, I guess it would be better, but then you would have to deal with the issue of eye placement.... The V series would still be better.... It does have AF, if you must have it. Leica SL... I had not handled one before. If had the 28-90 on it. God bless Tina, She must have arms like a sailor. The thing is heavy, front weighted, and awkward. Not for me at all. Bigger than the X1d but smaller than the H4d. I like the firmness of the camera, it felt like a solid tank. Really nice. But the (lens) weight and balance is all off. Would love to have seen through the EVF, but alas, dead battery killed that idea. ( I just thought about Tina.. maybe Tom carries it between exposures?) Hasselblad X1d... the best of the 3, IMO. It had the normal lens on it. ( ??? MM ) It felt solid, light, well balanced. Not big and bulky. By far, the slimmest and smallest. Easy to shoot off hand. They did not have a Fuji to examine. Basically, I much preferred the X1d. It is small, light ( comparative comment), has leaf shutters in the lens ( no slap), and overall the fit and finish were great. It does fine in the hand, and on a tripod it would be quite at home. BTW, the X1d says on top... made in Sweden, and on the bottom, made in Japan ( China? I forget)..... I guess they could not figure out which would be better hype...... No, I did not buy anything. My 500C/M with a 45 prism, and Leaf Aptus 65 Back is doing fine..... ( aside from a dead clock battery).. But I did have fun. Age and strength may have a lot to do with my reactions... YMMV Frank Filippone Red735i at verizon.net