Leica, Fuji X100, and others like it?

[swoosh]

Hi everyone, I started an introduction thread here: http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/welcomes-introductions/304918-hi.html#post2760201. But I figured this might be a better place to get recommendations and feedback on a more specific topic. I really love the compact, vintage looking cameras such as the Fuji X100 and Leica cameras. Any thoughts on these particular cameras or recommendations for others like it?

Strengths and weaknesses of these cameras? Anything would be greatly appreciated.

BTW, my budget is $1,000 max, but would like to be much lower if possible. This will be my first camera.

 

[2WheelPhoto]

google

 

[swoosh]

google

Ha, believe me, I have googled for hours. I just wanted to get some direct feedback and thoughts from people who know what they are talking about. I also wanted to make sure I wasn't missing any camera that I should be looking at.

 

[fjrabon]

what Leica are you looking at? The Fuji X100 is right at $1000. If you're trying to find a Leica for $1000, you're talking about a used film Leica. The modern digital ones cost like $6000. Unless you're talking about the small sensor Leica, in which case it's nearly exactly identical to the Lumix models that cost several hundred dollars less.

The X100 is an amazing camera. If I did street much more than I do, I'd get one in a heartbeat. They're gorgeous. And they take gorgeous photos. The smaller sensor Leicas and Lumix LX series take great pictures, but they have noise issues and have very little control over depth of field due to the small sensor size.

Get the X100. You will not be disappointed, at all.

 

[unpopular]

^^ Pretty sure the OP is looking at the Leica X1.

 

[fjrabon]

^^ Pretty sure the OP is looking at the Leica X1.

Those are over double his budget though? And you don't really find them used ever.

after some searching I think you can find the all black models (they didn't sell as well as the silver and black models apparently) for around $1400-$1500 if you look hard. THough that's still 50% over his budget.

 

[swoosh]

what Leica are you looking at? The Fuji X100 is right at $1000. If you're trying to find a Leica for $1000, you're talking about a used film Leica. The modern digital ones cost like $6000. Unless you're talking about the small sensor Leica, in which case it's nearly exactly identical to the Lumix models that cost several hundred dollars less.

The X100 is an amazing camera. If I did street much more than I do, I'd get one in a heartbeat. They're gorgeous. And they take gorgeous photos. The smaller sensor Leicas and Lumix LX series take great pictures, but they have noise issues and have very little control over depth of field due to the small sensor size.

Get the X100. You will not be disappointed, at all.

I was looking at the D'Lux series, but had heard they were essentially Lumix models with the Leica logo. I love the look, but prefer the Fuji X100. It's probably my favorite camera I am currently looking for. I've heard great things about the Fuji X100, but what are it's weaknesses? It may be slightly out of my price range--I might even go for the special edition model--but if it's where my heart is it's where I'm going to spend my money.

Thanks for the help!

 

[unpopular]

The price of the X1 has come down with the X2

Used Leica X1 Digital Compact Camera With Elmarit 24mm 18420 B&H

 

[fjrabon]

what Leica are you looking at? The Fuji X100 is right at $1000. If you're trying to find a Leica for $1000, you're talking about a used film Leica. The modern digital ones cost like $6000. Unless you're talking about the small sensor Leica, in which case it's nearly exactly identical to the Lumix models that cost several hundred dollars less.

The X100 is an amazing camera. If I did street much more than I do, I'd get one in a heartbeat. They're gorgeous. And they take gorgeous photos. The smaller sensor Leicas and Lumix LX series take great pictures, but they have noise issues and have very little control over depth of field due to the small sensor size.

Get the X100. You will not be disappointed, at all.

I was looking at the D'Lux series, but had heard they were essentially Lumix models with the Leica logo. I love the look, but prefer the Fuji X100. It's probably my favorite camera I am currently looking for. I've heard great things about the Fuji X100, but what are it's weaknesses? It may be slightly out of my price range--I might even go for the special edition model--but if it's where my heart is it's where I'm going to spend my money.

Thanks for the help!

I own a Lumix LX 5 and a friend of mine who is a Leica nut has a DLux and he got so angry when using my LX5 when he realized he got pretty much swindled for the Leica brand that he swore off non-film Leica forever, haha.

Ive heard some people complain about focusing speed and accuracy on the X100, but I've heard others say it's fine. That's the only complaint I've ever heard of. The brief times I've used one, I felt nothing put pure WANT, so... To me, even putting price aside, it's a flat out better camera than the crop frame digital Leicas.

 

[swoosh]

what Leica are you looking at? The Fuji X100 is right at $1000. If you're trying to find a Leica for $1000, you're talking about a used film Leica. The modern digital ones cost like $6000. Unless you're talking about the small sensor Leica, in which case it's nearly exactly identical to the Lumix models that cost several hundred dollars less.

The X100 is an amazing camera. If I did street much more than I do, I'd get one in a heartbeat. They're gorgeous. And they take gorgeous photos. The smaller sensor Leicas and Lumix LX series take great pictures, but they have noise issues and have very little control over depth of field due to the small sensor size.

Get the X100. You will not be disappointed, at all.

I was looking at the D'Lux series, but had heard they were essentially Lumix models with the Leica logo. I love the look, but prefer the Fuji X100. It's probably my favorite camera I am currently looking for. I've heard great things about the Fuji X100, but what are it's weaknesses? It may be slightly out of my price range--I might even go for the special edition model--but if it's where my heart is it's where I'm going to spend my money.

Thanks for the help!

I own a Lumix LX 5 and a friend of mine who is a Leica nut has a DLux and he got so angry when using my LX5 when he realized he got pretty much swindled for the Leica brand that he swore off non-film Leica forever, haha.

Ive heard some people complain about focusing speed and accuracy on the X100, but I've heard others say it's fine. That's the only complaint I've ever heard of. The brief times I've used one, I felt nothing put pure WANT, so... To me, even putting price aside, it's a flat out better camera than the crop frame digital Leicas.

Hahaha, I can see the frustration.

Would you say it's a good all-around camera for a beginner? Believe me, I'll put in the work and look forward to a challenge I realize that no matter what camera I get, it's going to be difficult at first. But that's the fun part IMO. I just don't want to get a camera and regret the decision because it's too limited.

I really appreciate the help.

BTW, I saw you're from Atlanta. Falcons fan?

 

[fjrabon]

I was looking at the D'Lux series, but had heard they were essentially Lumix models with the Leica logo. I love the look, but prefer the Fuji X100. It's probably my favorite camera I am currently looking for. I've heard great things about the Fuji X100, but what are it's weaknesses? It may be slightly out of my price range--I might even go for the special edition model--but if it's where my heart is it's where I'm going to spend my money.

Thanks for the help!

I own a Lumix LX 5 and a friend of mine who is a Leica nut has a DLux and he got so angry when using my LX5 when he realized he got pretty much swindled for the Leica brand that he swore off non-film Leica forever, haha.

Ive heard some people complain about focusing speed and accuracy on the X100, but I've heard others say it's fine. That's the only complaint I've ever heard of. The brief times I've used one, I felt nothing put pure WANT, so... To me, even putting price aside, it's a flat out better camera than the crop frame digital Leicas.

Hahaha, I can see the frustration.

Would you say it's a good all-around camera for a beginner? Believe me, I'll put in the work and look forward to a challenge I realize that no matter what camera I get, it's going to be difficult at first. But that's the fun part IMO. I just don't want to get a camera and regret the decision because it's too limited.

I really appreciate the help.

BTW, I saw you're from Atlanta. Falcons fan?

I think the X100 a fine camera for a beginner if you don't want to go the dSLR route. It's easy to use, but still offers a lot of room for growth. I know pros who use them as their street camera. And I really like my LX5 too a lot for what it is, which is a 'photographer's point and shoot'. I just wouldn't pay what they charge for the Leica rebrand.

edit: and yes, I'm a falcons fan.

 

[fjrabon]

also, if you're willing to buy used, you can sometimes find X100's in the $850 range. That camera holds its value really well though, so you probably won't see much cheaper than that. WHich is both good, and bad. Good in that you'll take a minimal loss if you ever decide to upgrade to the XPro, bad in that it costs you more upfront.

 

[swoosh]

I own a Lumix LX 5 and a friend of mine who is a Leica nut has a DLux and he got so angry when using my LX5 when he realized he got pretty much swindled for the Leica brand that he swore off non-film Leica forever, haha.

Ive heard some people complain about focusing speed and accuracy on the X100, but I've heard others say it's fine. That's the only complaint I've ever heard of. The brief times I've used one, I felt nothing put pure WANT, so... To me, even putting price aside, it's a flat out better camera than the crop frame digital Leicas.

Hahaha, I can see the frustration.

Would you say it's a good all-around camera for a beginner? Believe me, I'll put in the work and look forward to a challenge I realize that no matter what camera I get, it's going to be difficult at first. But that's the fun part IMO. I just don't want to get a camera and regret the decision because it's too limited.

I really appreciate the help.

BTW, I saw you're from Atlanta. Falcons fan?

I think the X100 a fine camera for a beginner if you don't want to go the dSLR route. It's easy to use, but still offers a lot of room for growth. I know pros who use them as their street camera. And I really like my LX5 too a lot for what it is, which is a 'photographer's point and shoot'. I just wouldn't pay what they charge for the Leica rebrand.

edit: and yes, I'm a falcons fan.

Good to know. I'll probably go with X100 and go with a dSLR later down the line. I'd rather have something compact for now.

Nice, same here. They're looking good this year.

 

[fjrabon]

Hahaha, I can see the frustration.

Would you say it's a good all-around camera for a beginner? Believe me, I'll put in the work and look forward to a challenge I realize that no matter what camera I get, it's going to be difficult at first. But that's the fun part IMO. I just don't want to get a camera and regret the decision because it's too limited.

I really appreciate the help.

BTW, I saw you're from Atlanta. Falcons fan?

I think the X100 a fine camera for a beginner if you don't want to go the dSLR route. It's easy to use, but still offers a lot of room for growth. I know pros who use them as their street camera. And I really like my LX5 too a lot for what it is, which is a 'photographer's point and shoot'. I just wouldn't pay what they charge for the Leica rebrand.

edit: and yes, I'm a falcons fan.

Good to know. I'll probably go with X100 and go with a dSLR later down the line. I'd rather have something compact for now.

Nice, same here. They're looking good this year.

Great, I doubt you'll regret it. For street shooting, it and it's big brother XPro are the 'it' cameras right now.

 

[swoosh]

I think the X100 a fine camera for a beginner if you don't want to go the dSLR route. It's easy to use, but still offers a lot of room for growth. I know pros who use them as their street camera. And I really like my LX5 too a lot for what it is, which is a 'photographer's point and shoot'. I just wouldn't pay what they charge for the Leica rebrand.

edit: and yes, I'm a falcons fan.

Good to know. I'll probably go with X100 and go with a dSLR later down the line. I'd rather have something compact for now.

Nice, same here. They're looking good this year.

Great, I doubt you'll regret it. For street shooting, it and it's big brother XPro are the 'it' cameras right now.

I forgot to ask, I know it is a great street shooter, but for the times when I go to a Ducks football game or other sporting event can it hold its own? I know it isn't it's strong suit.