Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2016/03/10
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]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 >