Apparently the X-Half is wildly popular with customers:
Ahem
Dpreview has a mini-essay on how “difficult” it was to review the X-half. I sympathize, but at the same time I also think that this signals how the camera business is becoming decoupled from casual photographers.
Taking everyday photos is fun, and the quality of these photos is 90% determined by composition. This is often forgotten.
Yes, to capture birds fighting in the air handheld it is great to have an excellent fast tele lens with good AF and stabilization, a stacked sensor, with AI based AF and preferably IBIS, etc, etc. It is good that cameras and lenses are discussed and rated along each dimensions.
And yet… cameras can be used for so many other things where the cutting edge technology is not needed. Even something from 10–15 years ago is fine. Ergonomics and user experience are important. Sensor size and AF speed are kind of secondary at best.
I am glad that Fuji is getting this. I am just surprised that no one else does.
Sort of new… There is new firmware for the GR III and GR IIIx
I don’t know if it’s because it’s a mostly (I didn’t say solely!) male hobby but there’s a pretence that the buyers are pros or wannabe pros and that some AF tweak means the difference between getting that major league sports, wildlife or paparazzi shot. Almost everyone here is a consumer buying consumer things for fun.
The Sony RX1RIII was just announced. Oh joy, the new compacts are finally coming!
Now with an integrated (non-popup) EVF, still no IBIS, and a clean $5000.
Its $98 more than my GFX body wow.
Great. That means Lumix will get around to producing a new M43 rangefinder in about 5 or 10 years.
The new Android app is still not available on the Play store. A bit embarrassing for Ricoh…
What?? Yes!!!
What?? Noooo!
Well that was a rollercoaster ride… and I didn’t enjoy the ending.
I will have to check and compare I think this is the same sensor as the a7CR which I think has ibis and is a 1000 bucks less but maybe there are things to offset that… wow camera prices are crazy these days…
I’m really happy that they’ve released this, but I can’t get over that price. Isn’t that $2k more than the A7CR? I’m sure it will be an amazing camera, but no IBIS, 2.36m EVF and all for a price that very few can afford?
Hopefully this being the flagship means that they will release cheaper variants, but it’s hard to imagine something similar would arrive in the affordable range.
Leica’s going to have to up its game if it wants to retain the “dentist” market
In my local camera club, there are several Leica shooters, toting the latest Q3, which is a big chunky camera. There’s also the GFX100RF, similarly big and pricy. In that company, the RX1RIII seems reasonably priced and nicely compact.
I recently talked to one if the camera club members, and they said that work and photography is essentially all they do in their life. Perhaps in that context, these cameras make sense.
Alas, I can think of too many better things to do with a spare $5K to consider any of those. Apparently photography is just “not important enough” in my life.
I would buy 2k worth of gear and 3k worth of traveling to photograph unique(to me) places. Then again, if those folks can afford those Leica’s, they most likely also can afford additional trips
I’ve never spoken to you IRL!!!
Have extra money, but not extra time. Would gladly use money to buy time, but I don’t think it works like that. Having money is like an all or nothing proposition right now, is what it feels like.
I feel the same way
As an a Veblen good, no self-respecting Leica should be in the company of anything “reasonably priced”.
I’m living proof that it doesn’t work like that.
Or you have learned enough about photography to know that a $5k camera will not magically improve your pictures, compared to an excellent kit with similar specs you can put together new for $2k, or used for $1k.
Cameras have become more expensive, and this is the new reality to adjust to. Compared to these prices, the OM-3 or the recent Fujis do not seem that expensive.
I also find it funny how “digital zoom” is now creeping into the luxury compact category. “Zoom in” 2x with your 60Mp full frame camera. Congratulations, you now effectively have a micro 4/3 sensor from a decade ago!