It was ten years ago today, June 3, 2011, that I picked up my first German-built Leica camera. I went with the least expensive route at the time, at least in this country, yet even then it was still an expensive compact camera compared to most other digital cameras on the market.
The model was the Leica X1. It has a fixed lens with no zoom capability. The camera uses an APS-C sensor with a 1.5X crop ratio. Paired with the 24mm f2.8 lens it frames the shot like a 36mm wide angle lens, perfect for city shooting. There is no video capability which was actually a plus for me.
I picked it up because I was fascinated with Leica cameras. But I didn’t yet feel comfortable enough with my skills or decisions to invest in a rangefinder model, either film or digital, and the equally expensive lenses which pair with those cameras.
Broadway on Seattle’s Capitol Hill taken at the end of my first day owning my Leica X1 on June 3, 2011.
© David Blackwell, 2011.
Practically speaking, the X1 is slow and slightly too big for a “pocket camera” (though it easily fits in a jacket with large pockets or even loose pants with large pockets). You cannot shoot only in RAW mode. If you choose to shoot in RAW, it automatically takes a jpeg photo as well. There is a manual focus operation, but it is clumsily designed with a thumb dial on the camera back. You need to have the LCD on to view the focused image which is nearly impossible under certain bright light conditions. You can set a distance manually. Nevertheless, I rarely use the camera in manual focus mode. And there is no viewfinder built into the camera, digital or otherwise. But there was an external manual viewfinder mountable in the flash mount that you could purchase. I did and I use it all of the time, turning off the back LCD most of the time. The added viewfinder makes it difficult to put the camera in even loose pants pockets.
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Despite these obvious short comings, you learn to live with them, and I love this little camera. I have better cameras these days. But, ten years later, I often take walks– especially the daily ones in the extended neighborhood during this past COVID year – with this camera rather than my larger, better and more capable cameras. I won’t part with those anytime soon, but I love the image quality I’m able to obtain with this smallish camera.
A recent photograph taken with the 10 year old Leica X1 of Seattle’s public art installation piece titled The Wall of Death.
© David Blackwell, 2021.
A few years ago, I took off the neck strap and replaced it with a leather wrist strap. I carry the camera using a four-seamer grip in the palm of my hand, wrapping my fingers around the body and splitting the third and fourth digits around the external viewfinder. It’s a comfortable grip. Carrying the camera like this is also a little more discreet and less intimidating in the city.
The four-seamer grip used to carry the smallish Leica X1.
© David Blackwell, 2021.
Some day, this camera will be gone. I’ll lose it. It will be taken or disappear. Or it will simply quit working – it’s an electronic device and they all have limited lifespans. I’ll miss it.
Due to the limitations I mention above and the quality of more modern small pocket cameras, it probably isn’t worth much for a trade-in. But until that day comes – and I hope it isn’t soon – I plan on continuing to carry and use this camera on many, if not most, of my daily photowalks.