XC40 official

[Paul Spinnler]

The XC40 will be cool with an EVF accessory. Firmware needs to accomodate a modern photo shooting experience - ie super high res EVF, manual focus zoom to 100% with automatic pop out etc once you finish focusing.

I'd highly urge them to not make it a pure XC thing, but open EVF workflow control to Alpa / Cambo people too.

They are foregoing quite a market if they only fully integrate the mirrorless experience with people buying XC lenses at 20k a pop

 

[foster_jb]

Nope, but thanks.
The hoodman is not foldable and it costs way too much for its purpose.
The one I indicated is tack sharp and can fold in. Used a lot with the CFV-50c + live view for fine focusing when needed.

Hi,

I am very interested in this magnifier for my 907x. Please share the product details and your experience with it.

Thank you!

 

[mristuccia]

Hi,

I am very interested in this magnifier for my 907x. Please share the product details and your experience with it.

Thank you!

Here it is, at least on Amazon.de.

https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Professional-Viewfinder-Magnifier-Olympus-Panasonic/dp/B07STWCW77

Please note that this is a very simple one, it does not even sponsor any dioptric correction for example. In my case, and for my eyesight, it is spot on.
It is really small, lightweight and foldable. In the next days I'll figure out a way to (optionally) fix it to my 907x by means of elastic threads.
I don't need it most of the time, but with adapted V lenses and on a very sunny day, it may turn to be a useful solution.

Cheers
Marco

 

[dcw]

Here it is, at least on Amazon.de.

https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Professional-Viewfinder-Magnifier-Olympus-Panasonic/dp/B07STWCW77

Please note that this is a very simple one, it does not even sponsor any dioptric correction for example. In my case, and for my eyesight, it is spot on.
It is really small, lightweight and foldable. In the next days I'll figure out a way to (optionally) fix it to my 907x by means of elastic threads.
I don't need it most of the time, but with adapted V lenses and on a very sunny day, it may turn to be a useful solution.

I've got one- probably the best $15 dollars I've spent on any photo gear.

 

[Paul Spinnler]

Somehow the new Leica Q3 43 is more exciting, no? For a third of the cost of the LENS only

 

[ThdeDude]

Somehow the new Leica Q3 43 is more exciting, no? For a third of the cost of the LENS only

Hahaha. Just thought of that too.

 

[Paul Spinnler]

Honestly, the review samples are mindblowing. A 43mm lens is all one really needs if one is a 50/35mm person on an M. I really never thought about a Q, but autofocus, leaf shutter, APO performance across the frame ... damn.

The S4 lenses are supposedly all APO 2.0 and Leaf Shutter too ... you can imagine the impact on the market if Leica pulls all the optical stops and splashes onto the MF scene with a new set of APO optics ...

 

[Paul Spinnler]

Yes. It looks like a more solid and higher spec alternative to my 907x which I use most of the time in manual focus mode. Although I oscillate between 28mm and 45mm XCD lenses I would be very happy to settle on a single Rodenstock 40mm lens (which with the larger Phase chip would give me a nice in-between field of view). However, the XC40 is not something I can afford and I suspect I might regret the extra weight of the XC40 (roughly twice that of my 907x with 45P) when carrying the camera out in the field.

I suppose the main attraction of the XC IQ5 kit would be 250 megapixels, ie the highest quality available commercially. I think it is a select market of ultra high end photographers who are able to afford this and for most the extra cost / weight is not justifiable.

The allure is there IMHO to have a walkaround camera shooting 250 megapixels, especially if you're on the ultra high end spectrum of fine art and print big, etc.

 

[Paul Spinnler]

Alright, so on the heels of the Q3 43 announcement, the next logical step for P1 on the XC lineup would be to release a XC70:

1. Crop factor 35mm / 54x40mm: 0.645 based on diagonals:

• 35mm sensor diagonal: √(36² + 24²) ≈ 43.3 mm
• 54x40mm sensor diagonal: √(54² + 40²) ≈ 67.1 mm
• Crop factor = 43.3 / 67.1 ≈ 0.645

2. 70mm * 0.645 ≈ 45.15mm

The benefit of the 70 is that it is very compact and sits in between a normal and semi-wide angle ...

 

[jduncan]

It reminds me of the 907x concept.
No IBIS and no EVF as well I suppose.

And no autofocus, plus a fixed lens? Wow, they are even braver than Hasselblad is.

Hi,

The Hasselblad camera offers autofocus, a growing selection of interchangeable lenses, and an articulated screen, which is essential for modern landscape photography.

For the same amount of money ($63K), you could purchase every new Hasselblad lens (including the new zoom) , the 907 body, the 100mp back, the grip, the viewfinder, two extra batteries, and the X2D for rainy days. Additionally, you could get a Mac Studio ultra with 128GB of RAM a 2TB SSD, an Apple XDR display 31.5" with the stand (or the EIZO ColorEdge CG319X 31.1 if you don't do HDR video) , and an OWC Thunderblade 32TB SSD, and still have some money left over (like 4K) to go to a nice city with your wife/husband or if you don't want to travel you can pay 10 years of Adobe subscriptions with the change.

Paying so much to take a 150-megapixel big-sensor picture that you would need to crop (gone the big sensor look) to 80 megapixels or less to achieve the proper composition is very difficult to justify.

If you have US$ 63K burning a hole in your pocket, my recommendation would be to invest in the complete XF camera system or, even better, to buy multiple systems, such as the full Apple setup and the Hasselblad two-camera system I showed as an example.

Best regards

 

[Mexecutioner]

that you would need to crop (gone the big sensor look) to 80 megapixels or less to achieve the proper composition is very difficult to justify.

What are you talking about? This makes zero sense. I have seen, and taken, several photographs using this focal length on the IQ3 and IQ4 and have never needed to crop anything to achieve what you describe as a "proper composition", whatever that is. That is why you compose the image before pressing the shutter.

 

[mristuccia]

What are you talking about? This makes zero sense. I have seen, and taken, several photographs using this focal length on the IQ3 and IQ4 and have never needed to crop anything to achieve what you describe as a "proper composition", whatever that is. That is why you compose the image before pressing the shutter.

With a fixed lens, you'll need to crop in order to "simulate" the FOV of longer lenses. I think this was the sense of that statement.

 

[Paul Spinnler]

Its the typical P1 whining again.

For 99.9% of photographers it does NOT make sense to buy P1 gear. For 0.1% it does make sense – either commercially or because they want it.

That's all it is.

The new IQ5 will arguably cost 25k with trade-in, last 5-6years and will have updated 2025 tech in it on the I/O, processing front. If you buy it and then use it professionally and make money with it its ok.

Its rough for the avg. photog, but they have a high-end market - that's a fact.

There are tens of thousands of older gen Phase backs out there which could potentially upgrade, so let's wait and see what the IQ5 brings to the table.

On the XC40 - it is way too overpriced and I'd never buy a fixed system lens like that.

Its clear that in the 20.2k list price they have 10k+ margin to feed through winter until IQ5 arrives.

That's really not good value and the fact that you cannot use it on the XT is even dumber.

The IQ5 on the other hand will be the highest end tech camera back ever produced and ofc it will sell to the hardcaore group globally of Phase 1 users.

 

[wattsy]

Paying so much to take a 150-megapixel big-sensor picture that you would need to crop (gone the big sensor look) to 80 megapixels or less to achieve the proper composition is very difficult to justify.

I'm not sure why an XC40 owner would need to crop to 80MP to achieve "the proper composition"? What's wrong with the native uncropped 5:4 format?

 

[Paul Spinnler]

On the cropping topic – if you trim the sides of the frame and are ok with a slightly smaller DoF you actually will have on a 54:40 basis a 220 megapixel image.

That's a significant step-up and the sweet spot lenses will be the 43XL from SK and 40 HR from Rodenstock.

These lenses will still provide enough flex to create a wide-shot while with 250 MPX being a good starting point for a crop.

With a bit sharpening towards the edges, all these lenses should provide an excellent image on the new back.

Given 60 XL is not produced anymore, wouldn't be surprised if the XC logic goes on with the XC70 at one point, which would be with the XC40 the P1 equivalent of Leica's Q3 28 and Q3 34 cameras.

Say what you want, but a 250 megapixel achromatic XC40 is a very intriguing camera, but the price and fixed nature of the XC makes it absurd a bit.

 

[jduncan]

I'm not sure why an XC40 owner would need to crop to 80MP to achieve "the proper composition"? What's wrong with the native uncropped 5:4 format?

Hi,
because you have a single lens for that price.
So when you are composing not all the pictures you would like to take will be at the same, ultra-wide, point of view, sometimes you need a longer lens.
Even the Phase One material when the first went out mentioned cropping. So yes you are going to crop.

Best regards,

 

[jduncan]

What are you talking about? This makes zero sense. I have seen, and taken, several photographs using this focal length on the IQ3 and IQ4 and have never needed to crop anything to achieve what you describe as a "proper composition", whatever that is. That is why you compose the image before pressing the shutter.

Hi,
Yes, and I have taken a bunch of pictures at (peek your focal length) that does not mean all the pictures I have taken are at such focal length, not that all compositions lead to 40mm ( 26mm 35mm equivalent).
I am just trying to keep it real. We look at the scene, we decide what we want to include (focal length), and the angles, wait for the light, and take the picture.

I am mesmerized by the idea that in 2024 people are suggesting using a single focal length for all your landscapes and with no cropping. And of course, we will like to use our cameras not only for landscapes but for cityscapes and architecture.

Today most places have been photographed and we are searching for a different take, a fresh perspective.

In my country, we have this saying that goes something like "The cat is not going to turn into a dog, just because one refuses to see it".

The other one we have is "more papist than the pope", Phase one, when they released the first version, talked about cropping in multiple materials.

Finally, a perfect reason to buy this camera is: " I just want it and I don't mind the money" My analysis and recommendation do not speak to that.

Best regards,

 

[wattsy]

I am mesmerized by the idea that in 2024 people are suggesting using a single focal length for all your landscapes and with no cropping. And of course, we will like to use our cameras not only for landscapes but for cityscapes and architecture.

I'm not sure why you find the idea so odd. When I was using my Leica M cameras more regularly, I used it for a number of years almost exclusively with a 28mm lens. My other Leica lenses stayed in the cupboard at home. For the last year or more, I have mostly used my 907x with one of two lenses – 28P and 45P – neither of which is ideal for me and I would happily use just a single lens around 35mm if one existed in XCD mount. I'd love to use the XC40 with its 40mm fixed lens (roughly equivalent to 28mm, depending upon how you compare focal lengths and different sensor sizes/formats) but it is way out of my price range. Incidentally, I almost never crop an image.

 

[Paul Spinnler]

You can just buy an Alpa TC and an Alpagon 40 HR with X shutter ... Costs you around half or a bit more - my solution BTW and I love it.

P1 is just doing what Alpa did many moons ago with the A-Series already, although back then with copal and sync port and not as fancy as today with X shutter.

The TC variant is even more compact and if you can secure a 47 XL you can also X shutter it and you're closer to 28, bit less wide.

The 47 XL is the wides SK lens fittable with X shutter, but 40 HR is sharper.

 

[jduncan]

I'm not sure why you find the idea so odd. When I was using my Leica M cameras more regularly, I used it for a number of years almost exclusively with a 28mm lens. My other Leica lenses stayed in the cupboard at home. For the last year or more, I have mostly used my 907x with one of two lenses – 28P and 45P – neither of which is ideal for me and I would happily use just a single lens around 35mm if one existed in XCD mount. I'd love to use the XC40 with its 40mm fixed lens (roughly equivalent to 28mm, depending upon how you compare focal lengths and different sensor sizes/formats) but it is way out of my price range. Incidentally, I almost never crop an image.

Hi,
I will say that almost is the key word, also walking close to someone or some building (or away from it) is easier than reframing a mountain or a little island in the ocean.

Sometimes we make an artistic choice, many do like only a 35mm and a nice light Leica ( it does not weigh 1.8 kg) . I know Picasso had a blue period. I am not saying every single human is going to crop, I am saying the overwhelming majority of people will, and even Phase One agrees with me (or used to do) because it's evident. If you want to practice restrictive creativity (nice) nothing precludes you from mounting a single lens on a more flexible camera.

Frankly, can we stop pretending? This is starting to look like a subconscious defense mechanism. With this, if you want we can move to the rest of the argument, the one about the price and the cost of opportunity, or you can say "I want this period" and be done with it, instead of trying to gaslight us into a parallel universe.

Best regards.