Leica X1 Specs and Price

We have read some early review of the M9 and take a closer look at it’s sample photos. With the announcement of the M9, the German company also announced it’s smaller yet powerful counterpart. The Leica X1.

x1 top

The X1 is a small compact camera with a huge Digital SLR sensor (1.5X CMOS – 23.6 x 15.8 mm). It offers a fixed lens 24mm f/2.8 Elmarit ASPH. Think of it as a more stylish Canon S90, it’s not as compact as the S90 but it offers a bigger lens and a rangefinder design.

This 12.2 Megapixel camera doesn’t shoot video, no built-in view finder, and no digital or optical zoom. At a hefty price of $2,200 (1,352.10 pounds, 1,495.40 euro or 2,352.15 canadian dollars), you get some features of the M9 at a smaller reduced package.

Looking at the design of the X1, it goes head to head with the olympus e-P1. They both have no built-in view finder but the X1 got an AF lamp and a tiny yet appealing pop-up flash. The real competitor to this fixed lens camera is the Panasonic GF1, which offers interchangeable but smaller micro four-thirds sensor. (disregarding price)

Most people who had the first hands-on with the Leica x1 is not allowed to shoot photos out of it so expect no sample photos yet. According to luminous-landscape.com the Leica X1 will be available this early December, but according to wired.com it will be available in January 10, 2010. So for now all we have are first looks of the camera and no comprehensive reviews yet.

Checkout the Photos of the X1, it looks so retro good!

leica x1 photo at hand

It looks so tiny and cute

leica x1 pop up flash

Leica x1 pop-up flash

leica side by side lx3 x1 m9

Side by side photo of the x1, D-lux 4 and M9

More Photos on dPreview

Leica X1 Specifications

  • Lens – LEICA ELMARIT 24 mm f/2,8 ASPH., 8 elements in 6 groups, 1 aspherical lens.
  • Optical zoom – no
  • Digital zoom – no
  • Focal distance – f=24 mm (35 mm equivalent: 36 mm)
  • Aperture – F2.8/F16.0 (1/3 EV steps)
  • Focusing area – Normal: 60 cm – infinity, macro: 30 cm – infinity, manual focus: 30 cm – infinity.
  • AF metering range – 1-point, 1-point high speed, 11-point, 11-point high speed, spot, face detection.
  • AF assist lamp – yes
  • Image sensor – APS-C CMOS sensor, 12.9 megapixels.
  • Camera effective pixels – 12.2 megapixels
  • ISO sensitivity range – Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200.
  • White balance – Auto, halogen, daylight, flash, cloudy, shadow, manual 1, manual 2; White balance adjustment (2 axis).
  • Exposure – Program automatic, aperture priority automatic, shutter priority automatic, manual
  • Exposure compensation – 1/3 EV step, -3 to +3 EV.
  • Auto bracketing – 1/3 – 3 EV step, 3 frames.
  • Light metering – Intelligent multiple, center weighted, spot.
  • Shutter speed – 30–1/2000 s
  • Self timer – 2 s, 12 s.
  • Auto review – 1 s, 3 s, 5 s, hold.
  • Film mode – Standard, vivid, natural, BW natural, BW high contrast.
  • Recording format – JPEG, DNG.
  • Aspect ratio – 3:2
  • Resolution – 4272 x 2856 pixels (12.2 megapixel), 3264 x 2160 pixels (7 megapixel), 2144 x 1424 pixels (3megapixel), 1632 x 1080 pixels (1.8 megapixel).
  • Image quality – JPEG super fine, JPEG fine, DNG+JPEG super fine, DNG+JPEG fine.
  • Motion picture – no
  • Burst shooting mode – 3 fps/2 fps. Max. pictures in JPEG fine+DNG: 6 pictures.
  • Built-in-memory – approx. 50 MB
  • Built-in-flash – Auto, Auto+Red-eye reduction, Forced on, Forced on+Red-eye, Slow Sync., Slow Sync.+Red-eye reduction,
  • Studio first curtain, Second curtain can be set.
  • Hot shoe – Yes. Compatible with SF24D, SF58.
  • LCD display – 2.7″ LCD (230K Pixels) TFT. Field of view: 100%.
  • Playback mode – 16-thumbnail display, zoomed playback (16x Max.), image rotation, protection
  • Storage medium – Built-in memory (approx. 50 MB), SD memory card, SDHC memory card.
  • Microphone – no
  • Microphone – yes
  • Interface – HDMI output , USB (USB 2.0 High Speed)
  • Power supply – Li-ion battery pack (included).
  • Battery capacity – approx. 260 exposures (CIPA-standard).
  • Battery charging time – 200 min.
  • Dimensions (WxDxH) – 124 x 32 x 59,5 mm
  • Weight – 286 g (without rechargeable battery).
  • Scope of delivery – LEICA BP-DC8 rechargeable battery, battery charger (LEICA BC-DC8), protective battery cover, leather carrying strap,
  • manual, USB cable, lens cap, AdobePhotoshop Lightroom™ (download option after product registration).

More Information on Leica UK

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Categories: Digital Cameras 1 likes

One Response so far.

  1. crispogi says:
    December 9, 2010 at 10:25 pm

    Where here in the Phils can I buy Leica digital camera?
    Will appreciate very much if you can give more than one store so I can canvas and bargain for discounts.

    Also, don’t know what to buy but am already considering a canon with 13 megapixels with 10x optical zoom, for PhlPeso27,000.

    Thank you very much.

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