Welcome NEX-6

It was a such a strange thing. I was in a camera shop looking at the Fuji X-Pro 1, and was all ready to purchase the camera with the 35/1.4 lens. Then I was playing with a number of other cameras. One of them happened to be the Sony NEX-6. In the past few years, I have been following the Sony NEX system from afar. When the NEX7 came out, it was of curious interest, due to its EVF and the larger sensor size. But since the, there hasn't been much of any interest. Anyhow, once I spent about 10 minutes playing with it, I was sold. I didn't do any Internet searches of reading of any review, the camera just felt right. For the same price as the X-Pro 1 and the 35/1.4, I got the NEX-6 with the 35/1.8 and 50/1.8 with some left over still.  

Well, here are some initial test shots below. The first shot was processed with RPP and the last two were with RAW Developer. A few initial observations on the NEX-6 and 35/1.8 combo. 

• Great usability for someone who likes a more traditional approach. The buttons and dials can be tailored to suit.
• Manual focus is the best I have used on any EVF. This makes me want to use my old Contax lenses.
• Very small and light-weight. But not the same as the Leica X2.
• Quite responsive in its operation. The Auto-focus was quite quick, a lot better than the GF1 and the X2. But definitely not as quick as the OM-D. 
• The 35/1.8 is a little soft at 1.8. But by 2.8 it is much better. 

Goodbye Olympus E-M5...

After a short 7 month relationship, I have farewelled my Olympus OM-D. My primary reason is that I could never really get a good connection with the camera. With the Leica X2, it was instant connection. I knew and now am certain, that it really connects with the way that I would like to operate a camera. Another words, it gets out of the way. With the OM-D, it was completely the other way around. I should've loved it, compact size, excellent AF speed and great image quality. But we never became best friends. Well, it is off to a new home, where I hope it will find new loving owner, who will be able to connect and appreciate it more than I could.

The good news is that I now have funds for another camera! The first one that has popped into mind is the Fujifilm X-Pro 1 or X-E1. They both feature very simple dial controls for the essentials, but both still lack an ISO selector. Some of the high ISO images I have seen from either camera is pretty amazing. Just looking at the sample image at ISO 3200 at dpreview.com and it seems to have less noise than the D700! My only fear is the slow AF. But having got used to the X2's slower than DSLR AF, I think that it may not be an issue. But right now, the question is X-Pro 1 or the X-E1....

Quick thoughts between Leica X2 and Olympus OM-D

After having used my Leica X2 for a little over 1,000 photos and around 2,000 on the OM-D I have some initial observations between the two cameras. The Olympus is a technically excellent camera. It has great sharpness, responsiveness, autofocus, exposure and sensor noise. The Leica has excellent handling, portability, lovely files, exposure and good sharpness. I do want to point out that they are both inherent very different cameras. Designed for different uses, and aimed at different users. In my opinion, they are mutually exclusive.

In short, I find the X2 files a joy to process and finish. The colour, tonality and 'mood' have so much more life than the OM-D. The files with the X2 need less attention to get looking right. A curve adjustment here and there, some levels, and then the usual sharpen and noise reduction reviews. The OM-D tends to need more work to get the 'look' of the image. I find that the sharpness of the X2 is very good, but the OM-D (especially with the Leica 45mm f/2.8) to be just that much better.

On a day out with the family, which would I take? The X2. What would be in my go bag for every day photos? The X2. If I was going out for a night out, the X2. For me, I find the X2 a perfect match. For a photographic trip, I would consider the X2, and along with the OM-D mated with the 12mm f/2.0 and the 45mm f/2.8. Of which, it should cover me for most of my shooting needs. This all fits nicely into my Think Tank Restrospective 5 bag. The alternative would be the X2 and D700 with the Zeiss 100mm f/2.0 and Nikon 24mm f/1.4.

With the X2, there are two inherent shortcomings (that cannot be changed) and a few areas that can be improved with firmware. 

1. It doesn't do macro very well. On such a compact camera, surely it would've been easy to allow focusing down to say 15cm from the current 30cm.
2. It doesn't do a equivalent 70mm-ish FOV. Obviously no fault of the X2, but if Leica would introduce an X2 version with the longer focal length lens (and perhaps a wider one as well), it would allow people like me to build a system simply based on multiple bodies. No more lens changes!

If item 1 was to be addressed in the next version, and a new X2 released with a narrower lens, I think it'd be even better suited to me. Things I would like to see improved in the firmware;

1. Allow minimum shutter speed for Auto ISO to be set to 1/250, rather than just 1/30.
2. Allows the two dials to be customised to change EV, ISO, Flash ISO, etc. by the user.
3. Allow fro DNG only.
4. Buttons to be a little more response, especially the INFO button, when I am using the OVF, it sometimes takes around 1 second for the screen to come on.
5. Have a special screen display mode for when you are in OVF (as an option to no display) that will show all the critical camera settings (ISO, EV, WB, photos remaining, focus point, etc.). Even better would be to allow the photographer to select which ones to show.

Without sounding too poetic, I find that the use and results of the X2 to be have more 'soul' and emotional connection, despite it being noisier and not as sharp nor as fast as the OM-D; and for me, that   is why I think the X2 will be my long term photographic friend.