I confess that I am enjoying Nick’s articles as much as the Michael’s ones. I reckon one of the key elements that build this Island floating in the sea of today’s photography is the quality of articles at LuLa.
This Leica is made for "Leica shooters." still and despite what may seem its mainstreamish design. It has no chance to be used more widely. At least one step is needed to give it better chances. – The IS. But it is fully understandable that the camera is built 'as Leica', that’s what they can make for the price. With all that comes with it, no struggle needed. As for the gadgets theoreticians, they will occasionally provide 10% of a useful point during relentlessly determined efforts to figure out something-everything. So in this sense, the article, among other practical points what elese to appreciate, provides a bit of additional balance, seeing in a different light and can serve as an occasional reminder what the cameras might also be for.
A bit of a mixed bag reply, I realize. But that’s what it and the X Vario in my view is.
On a more general note, I am guessing that the Fuji may have standard zoom lens, and maybe the new slower one will join, that is sharp wide open - not improving past it. I recently experienced this with ef-m 18-55 made for M Canon. Except its widest setting it was very sharp (and not only that) and exactly this case. I do admit that it’s a rare thing to encounter.
I can imagine no viewfinder shooting if there is a quality articulating monitor enabling shooting using against-the-chest support. I am that example of wearing glasses but looking above or below the frame I can see perfectly at close distances.
Thanks for the nice Sunday's read and a valuable report.
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Another thing I can add - that the sharpness wide open in a broad centre is all that is important most of the time. Across the frame sharpness is, on the other hand, often well in line with at least a bit stopping down for DOF reasons. The image stabilization scores in either case. Those cases where there are not DOF reasons then typically don’t require across the frame sharpness, quite the opposite. The rest is more an exception rather than regularity. So yeah while the IS is not a total cure for every situation, it is a very good thing with a slow lens most of the time.
Hynek