Leica X1
“Image quality is exceptional.”
Luminous Landscape has published their field review of the Leica X1 [Specs], the first of its kind compact non-DSLR with a 12.2MP APS-C sized CMOS sensor (23.6 x 15.8 mm), non-interchangeable LEICA ELMARIT 1:2.8/35 mm (equiv.) lens, RAW (DNG), Contrast Detect AF, Face Detection, PASM, ISO 100-3200, 2.7-in. (230K dots), built-in flash, hot shoe, and Adobe Photoshop Lightroom as standard image editing software.
[ Read the Leica X1 Field Review at: Luminous Landscape ]Editor’s note: Reading this field review from Luminous Landscape reinforces in me that Leica is not really a camera company anymore. Sure, it can still make a mean M9, but looking at the X1, it is clear that the latter is cloberred together from existing industry parts available on the open market. Leica does not “make” cameras anymore; they design, outsource to or buy from existing third party manufacturers, and assemble (if you can call even this, assemble — as the “assembly” of the M9 videos attest to).
Will we ever see another Leica built digital camera? The company is simply too small and cannot afford the intensive design and test process required from a large R&D department. We suspect that, after this slight detour with the X1, Leica will go back to rebadging exisiting Panasonic digital cameras.