The Good, The Bad The Ugly Steve Huff Photo. The Leica X Vario Real World Use Review The Good, The Bad The Ugly. By Steve Huff. Buy or check out the X Vario at B H Photo HERE   You can also pick it up at Ken Hansen, Pop. Flash. com, or the Pro ShopHello to all and as always, I hope every single one of you is having a HAPPY and amazing day, I know I am Right now I am on a plane from Seattle heading back home to Phoenix, AZ after the hugely successful Palouse Road Trip. I had a blast and took some great shots with a few cameras, including the Leica X Vario. Adsense Blog Sq Embed Image. With quite a few images under my belt as well as opinions of others who also tried out the camera during the Palouse event, I have 1. Is it a winner or a loser Whatever I think may not matter though as this camera was judged out of the gate due to the specs, which on paper, look awful. In other words, there is a lot of hate, bitterness and negativity surrounding this release and not just from Leica users but also from users of other types of cameras. Its as if they let the attack dogs loose. I know why this is though, and understand why that there are so many X Vario haters. It is the fault of Leica for promoting it as a Mini M. Cut 1D X 3 0 Cracked' title='Cut 1D X 3 0 Cracked' />End of story. The X Vario is far far far from a Mini M. But with all of that out of the way, just how good of a camera is the X Vario I hope to shed some light on that question in this review that is filled with images from the camera, with many full size images from RAW, as well as my honest and truthful thoughts. Click the image for full size X Vario at 2. The Leica X Vario is the APS C sensor size camera from Leica that promises big IQ, super build and a great simplistic user experience. It has the style of the M 2. All for a big whopping 2. I managed to get a review unit sent to me by B H Photo and have been using it and putting it to the test in many situations. Below are my thoughtsBUTBefore anyone comments on this review with attacks and hate, know these facts I use ALL cameras that are on the market. I try them all. I have no favoritism to any brand and I keep and use what I truly love. The cameras I own are from Leica, Sony and Olympus. All fantastic for me and what I use a camera for. I say it like it is and do not go out to please or offend anyone. I am just honest. What I write here is from my own experience when shooting the camera and I will post the good with the bad, like it or not. Disclaimer COMMENTINGBasically, I am not interested in comments from those who just want to comment for negativity. It seems that the Leica X Vario is a camera that has polarized quite a few people and for some reason, this has brought out hate and anger, which is always nasty and no good in life. So keep comments civil and relevant. If you do not, they will be removed. Pic3_540x397.jpg' alt='Cut 1D X 3 0 Cracked' title='Cut 1D X 3 0 Cracked' />Simple. If you start posting hateful comments that attack me or anyone else here you will be deleted, plain and simple. I have a low tolerance for hate, bitterness, jealousy or idiotic comments from people who have no clue what the facts are. So keep the commenting civil and on topic please. Cut 1D X 3 0 Cracked' title='Cut 1D X 3 0 Cracked' />Again, no personal attacks or slurs, no anger and hatred towards anyone and keep it on topic. Oh, and NO spam. Thank you  With that said, let us get started on the Leica X Vario Review Many of you know the massive negative press that has surrounded the Leica X Vario release and this is all mainly due to two reasons 1. The fact that Leica promoted and teased us with a Mini M when in fact they delivered a Monster X The fact that the Leica Vario is stuck with a slow aperture 2. Zoom starting at f3. At 5. 0mm you are already at f5. Add to this list that the camera is 2,8. ASTOUNDING Sony RX1 or new RX1. R that not only has a full frame sensor, solid metal build and a 3. Zeiss lens without an AA filterMacys Inc. MarketWatch. Hey, why cant I vote on comments Cracked only offers comment voting to subscribing members. Subscribers also have access to loads of hidden content. RequestCracks. com Request a Crack, Dongle Emulator or Dongle Crack. Dongle Emulation Service for any software. The Sony is a master of available light photography. That is its claim to fame in my opinion. Day or Night, Pub or Landscape. I can shoot the RX1 in B W at  ISO 2. I would use and print and I feel that Leica should be able to accomplish the same, but with the Vario that is a no go. The X Vario does not have this capability. Not even close. But it does have a talent that some of you may enjoy. Since I titled this review The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly I will go over each area starting with THE GOOD of the X Vario A video overview of the Leica X Vario. Before I get to the Good let me answer this question So what is the X Vario Basically, the camera is an X2 sensor camera PS C 1. Megapixels, older sensor with a slow zoom for 2,8. In any case, B H Photo asked if I wanted to review it and of course I had to. I could not really judge it without using it and even when I trash talked it, I had a disclaimer saying that these were just my thoughts on the release and they are subject to change with use. So what do I think after shooting it extensively in The Palouse and in other situations Ashwin Rao and his Finacee Jen ISO 1. X Vario inside a restaurant dim lightingIts Built like a Leica Made in Germany It is NOT a Panasonic As I took the X Vario out to shoot during the Palouse road trip I was very happy with the build of the camera. It felt like it was built with a quality that is sorely lacking in todays mirrorless cameras. Most cameras like the Fuji X1. X E1 and to some extent the Sony NEX series all feel more on the cheap side when you really look closely at the build quality. They work, and they take great photos and yes, they feel just fine but the build is on the cheaper end. If you have never held a real Leica then you would not understand and possibly would be in denial saying I am lying it happens, but it is no lie. Leica cameras are built well and the X Vario is no exception. I love the feel of the Fuji X1. BUILD QUALITY This is not a rebadged Panasonic, this is a real German made Leica with a real German made Leica lens. When you hold it you know you are not holding a cheap camera. This is good but also causes an issue or two which I will get to soonSo when you first open the X Vario you will appreciate what it is, what it feels like and the beautiful design. But what about using it After charging the small battery you can clip it in at the bottom and start shooting. When I turned on the Vario I lifted it to my eye and then remembered. EVF built in at all This kind of camera should indeed have an EVF or VF of some sort built in but I had the external so attached it and started to shoot. I feel the same way with the RX1. EVF built in. But somehow these companies would rather sell us an accessory for 5. Remember, this section is all about the GOOD of the Vario. I will get into cons down below. The Auto Focus is Good, but not GREAT In real use the AF is medium fast in good light. What I mean by that is that if you take the X Vario out in the sunshine you will have decent to superb AF performance. If you shoot in good light you will also be rewarded with beautiful files out of your camera. The color, the detail and the sharpness is just about as good as it gets from APS C. Second to none, and no the Fujis can not beat it or match it. The IQ has a crispness and acuity to it that is hard to describe in words, but it is there. But, if you shoot indoors or in dim light, be prepared for frustration more on that below. FULL SIZE FILES FROM RAW FOR YOU TO LOOK AT with an X E1Zeiss vs Leica X Vario fileClick on the images below to see the full size 1. Encode Webm Adobe Media Encoder Wmv. Buy Tickets for Concerts, Sports, Theatre and More Online at Tickets.