Many of you have seen the teaser of the "Mini M" on Leica's website and heard many rumors spreading worldwide. And it is now released. The name is the "X VARIO" and it's a digital camera with a fixed zoom lens. This may be a little disappointing to those who expected a M-mount body, but as the name says, you can understand that it's a X2 with a zoom lens. As a minimal camera to generate high quality images, Leica M camera owners have used the LEICA X1/X2. Now the X VARIO is an almighty body with a 28-70mm zoom lens and the same high quality sensor. Leica presented a new world to Leica users who are used to single focal lenses, and it's hard to ignore it.
( Photo : A.Inden / Text : M.Ishizuka )
Let's take a look at the body. Unlike the screwmount-Leica-like X2, the top plate looks like a Leica M camera and the same goes for the position of the red badge. This is a simple Leica design and the lens VARIO-ELMAR 3.5-6.4/18-64 ASPH. is sized perfectly.
A side-by-side comparison with the X2 shows that it follows the basic interface, except the new movie button and the new right thumb dial. As for the lens, the focus ring is in front of the barrel, and the zoom ring is located near the body. The focus shifts to AF once you twist the focus ring to a marked AF position. The body became a little larger than the X2, yet it's compact enough.
This is the handheld image. Of course, it's smaller than conventional DSLR cameras, but it's also smaller, lighter, and handier than the Leica M cameras. So, once I hold it by both hands, I feel just right. A good camera can't be too small, so I guess this is the right size.
Let's take a look at the outputs. Just like the X2, the standard JPEG pictures are very sober and I want this camera just because of it. Despite the big luminance difference, the clothes' tonality to the shadow is excellent, isn't it?
The inherited X2 sensor depicts subjects minutely. The full size images doesn't look ultra sharp, but when I look at the entire image it looks very real. I feel this is an excellent lens and it elaborately depicts to the corners.
I used a slow shutter speed at the wide end (28mm). Distortion is well corrected, and it produces pleasant straight lines.
Red and yellow colors are easily separated on digital cameras, but it reproduces the paint texture nicely. Shooting under settles the picture and emphasizes the texture. The metal texture emerging from the shadow looks nice, too.
I shot under to emphasize the car's sideline, and I got this thrilling picture. This exposure is hard to get by automatic exposure, and I noticed I shifted to manual exposure unconsciously. This camera allows manual controlling of the focus, aperture, and shutter speed, so experts can manual control without problem. It's in this user interface that I feel Leica's philosophy.
Depending on how to crop, a scene in Japan looks like the one in Europe. Since this camera is made by the people of different eye colors living in the different light and air, I'm not surprised to know they make something that Japanese companies don't. Let's just enjoy this German gene.
The lens is slow, but the bokeh is natural and it adds solidity thanks to the large sensor. This becomes more salient at close up shots like this. The hydrangea looks very solid, doesn't it?
"How convenient!" This is a typical cry for joy by Leica users when they know they can zoom from wide to short-telephoto. You heard someone pointing out that's a common sense for a DSLR camera? Tell them stop talking rubbish. Just look at the outputs and get surprised by the body size. Don't forget that it produces excellent images at the tele-end, too.
Shot at the minimum focus distance 70mm. I got excited to be able to take close up shots with a Leica camera, and probably it's because of my prognostic symptoms of overusing Leica M cameras... Anyway, the bokeh is smooth and natural in the front and the behind.
This camera crops an unban scene like this with a nice atmosphere. While conventional JPEG images tend to look sleepy, the ones generated by the X VARIO has a nice contrast and the shadow is dark enough.
The subject is nothing special, but I wanted to show you the excellent resolving power and solidity. It draws the wrinkles on the nape of neck and they look just like the summer seashore.
I waited for a person to cross the spotlight. I manually focused on the lighted point beforehand so that I don't lose the moment. I used the monochrome film mode and the result is absolutely cool thanks to the rich tonality despite the contrasty situation. This is an unadjusted JPEG picture. Bravo!
On the specs, this camera looks a little modest. But once I used it, I was just amazed by the Leica picture quality. If the conditions are satisfied, it produces a breathtaking picture and if you are using the X1/X2, you know what I'm talking about. I gather this excellent picture quality is guaranteed by using a fixed lens fine-tuned to the body. I first felt the lens is a little slow, but now I'm convinced because of the right balance with the body and the picture quality. Because of the quality of pictures taken with smaller apertures rather than wide open, I even started thinking what photography shall be.
You can shoot fully automatic without problems, but thanks to the manual-control-friendly interface, I ended up shooting manually before I knew it. If you are interested in this camera, you should know how manual shooting is exciting. While pursuing convenience, Leica doesn't forget the essence of a tool. Well, it requires a similar manner to the X1/X2 and it may tests your skill. You may think, "Fine. It's a Leica." That's good. Just get it and enjoy (or be prepared to!) the process of mastering a tool. Take care to the corners when composing. Aim at best exposure and focus precisely. If you spend time and effort, you'll definitely be rewarded.