Photo purists will adore this retro gem
THE X1 is the first in Leica’s new compact digital camera series and arrives in a cabinet-like black box complete with two sliding drawers of accessories and manuals (the latter, with an English-language section of 50 pages, will no doubt soon join the recycling pile).
The camera itself handles beautifully; it sits gracefully in your hands as you pan across the landscape and the cylindrical flash tower pops out of the top when needed with an immensely satisfying click. For enthusiasts of the retro look and feel, the front view with its circular red Leica badge, grainy black body, rounded ends and metal trim make this camera a work of art.
But the X1 is more than just a pretty face. Its clean design also enables maximum manual control with minimal fuss. Two of the main optical functions – aperture and shutter speed – are controlled via click-turn dials, which, in addition to a few simple buttons at the back, makes it possible to change all the visual functions without messing about in complex drop-down menus. The aperture can be adjusted through F2.8 to F16, while the shutter speed ranges from 1/2000 of a second up to 30 seconds for a long exposure.
The image quality is top notch, which has gained the X1 the honour of being the only compact digital model approved for use by Getty Images. The 24mm lens, consisting of eight elements in six groups, is mounted in front of a 12.9 megapixel CMOS sensor, which in practice gives it a 35mm wide-angle view. Its ISO (light) sensitivity ranges from 100 to 3,200 but although it functions optically at low light levels, its processing software speed drops substantially.
Even outside a low-light environment, it enforces a noticeable pause as you switch into play mode and its focus is slower than that of some rivals. The manual focus can be adjusted using a sliding scale, however, and brings up a very useful digitally zoomed box to show how the area in focus will look. The auto-focus, meanwhile, can handle up to 11 focal points, and you can choose from six white balance settings as well as store two manually adjusted modes.
Another nice feature is that at any time a quick click of the shoot button will bring the quickly back into single point mode as it prioritises shooting above all other functions. Casual holiday snappers might lament the lack of a zoom, but for a dedicated camera buff in search of top-level picture quality the X1 delivers a smooth, enjoyable experience. With its sharp image, fixed lens and easily adjusted manual optical functions, this model is a camera purist’s dream – if you can afford the hefty price tag.
LEICA X1
£1,389
This fixed-lens model is smart and simple
TOP PICKS: HOLIDAY CAMERAS
OLYMPUS E-PL1 £606
This ultra-compact, high-zoom model from Olympus is easy to slip into your hand luggage as you pack for the holidays and its dust-reduction filter makes it a good choice for a rugged destination. Its 19 scene modes and an auto ISO range from 200 to 3,200 mean you can shoot in different environments with minimal effort. It also enables you to add one of six art filters, from “grainy film” to “pop art” and “gentle sepia”. The 14x optical zoom allows you to get a close picture from afar, aided by a sensor shift image stabiliser with three possible modes (two-dimensional, vertical or horizontal activation). www.lambda-tek.com
CANON D10M £205
This cheap and cheerful underwater model from Canon is also freeze-proof and shock-proof, making it the perfect camera to take along on your beach, skiing or climbing holiday. It has a 3x optical zoom and can shoot pictures up to a very decent 12.1 megapixel resolution. Canon has also thought out the situation in which you’ll be using it – the LCD is double the brightness of that in a conventional camera, and its wide flash bulb, mounted just above the lens, at least helps to some extent in compensating for underwater darkness. Its automatic ISO setting also helps minimise blurring. www.amazon.co.uk
OLYMPUS STYLUS TOUGH 8010, £270
If just taking your camera snorkelling isn’t enough, consider Olympus’ aptly named Stylus Tough 8010. The 8010 is good for up to 33ft underwater – about as deep as most divers are allowed to go, and is freeze-proof to -10 degrees centigrade. It can also be dropped and sat upon with impunity, being shock-proof for a 6.6 ft drop, and crush-proof for up to 220 pounds of pressure. It has up to a 5x optical zoom and can deliver pictures of a resolution up to 14 megapixels as well as high-definition video. Its auto-focus tracking automatically fixes on fast-moving elements to enable you to get non-blurry action shots as you tumble down mountainsides. www.amazon.co.uk
SAMSUNG ST600 £300
This brand new release from Samsung is the latest in its two-screen range – perfect for when you need to get a quick shot of the whole group on holiday without hijacking a passer-by. The screen can also be used to display hilarious cartoons to force those little darlings to smile for the picture and you only need to tilt the camera to scroll through your snaps to review the best ones. It also delivers up to 14.3 megapixel resolution and a 5x optical zoom. With 17 smart auto shoot settings ranging from “natural green” to “fireworks”, it does all the work for you and can also record in high-definition video. www.samsungcamera.co.uk