A Compact With A Big Heart: Leica X1

This baby has a sensor BIGGER than Canon 50D!

http://www.photographyblog.com

Following the breakthrough trend of digital imaging in 2009, things are looking to be more interesting than ever.

The current kapow! as I've mentioned before, is making the mirrors in SLR looking like a disgusting piece of useless junk. The tech of feeding images direct on the sensor 'live' has evidently made us rethink of how imaging tool should look like.

The interesting bit is, who's bold enough to redefine it?

Most traditional camera makers are... well, traditionalist. What keeps them selling is their heritage. And they would not be willing to risk losing that by offering groundbreaking breakthroughs. As such, their approach will always be baby-steps of improvements as well as keeping up with the current needs by deploying existing available technologies.

So, the answer to above is: makers that has NOTHING to lose.

Enter mediocre or niche manufacturers. Makers such as Olympus, Panasonic, Leica and Sigma in particular. For 2009, they are truly the leaders in redefining how future cameras SHOULD look like.

A Small Man, With A Big Heart (and no mirror to speak of too)

Sigma was among the first to put this principle to the mass market. In a compact form factor, they deployed a DSLR sensor. But due to exploration stage, the DP1 had a lot of rough edges. But, it was a step in a special direction. Their forthcoming DP2 is set to be a success.

Olympus followed suit armed with their existing 4/3 technology. With ques from the classic PEN series, the E-P1 was a phenomenal success. Panasonic too joined the fray and produced the awesome GF1 (earlier, there were G1 and GH1).

And the next maker to join the party is one that makes my heart melt. Leica, a niche imaging specialist, has produced a truly special compact camera with a 1.5x DSLR sensor.

Go to www.dpreview.com for more images!

I'm planning to get the GF1 next year. And the Leica X1 probably... ermm... in my dreams.

Another Micro Four Third: Panasonic Lumix GF1

I've always loved Panasonic. All of the fans, air-conds, water-heater, rice cooker, oven-toaster in my house are Panasonic. When it comes to compact cameras too, I think Panasonic rocks. That basically explains why I've owned 5 Panasonic compacts with current being the FT1.


Anyway, after Olympus released their Micro 4-3rd, E-P1, the next event that I was waiting was Panasonic's respond to it, being another Micro 4-3rd manufacturer. And after a few months waiting, on Sep 2nd, 2009, they announced it; the Panasonic Lumix GF1.

Here are some pics I chedok from dpreview.com. My first impression: Lovely. Not as beautiful as E-P1, but much more macho. And the pop-up flash is a winner.


Will I buy it? Not yet. Mainly coz I'm not really sure how the absence of body-stabilizer will fare on the 20mm prime-lens. But it will definitely be under my radar screen!