It looks like a nice camera, but last months Practical Photography (in the UK) gave it a brutal review. Unfortunately they don't have the review online.
Having read Michael's review I took a look at the L1.
I have the 350D. Michael complains that both have small and dim viewfinders.
I have never felt deprived with my 350D, but I would not be as happy with the L1. It is noticeably both smaller and dimmer.
As to the rest of the camera (I also have that 17-85 lens on the 350D that Michael uses as his comparison) I find they feel fairly similar. The L1 has a bit of retro feel about it with a knob to alter the shutter speed and a ring on the lens to alter the aperture. Inevitably some people will like that.
Maybe the L1 feels a bit more solid. More metal and less plastic. But whether you could drop an L1 on to a pavement with less chance of damage I wonder!
I've never regarded the 350D as flimsy. And my experience of dropping a Leica R on to a sidewalk was not a cheap one.
As yet Michael has yet to post some real comparisons as to how the images compare.
Would I have preferred to have bought the L1 instead of my 350D. I sincerely don't know.
Tony
London UK
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
I have had one for about 4 months and am very happy with it. I also have a Canon 1Ds mk2 but wanted a quality camera for pleasure shooting and small jobs. It's easy to get good results. Unexpectedly though the Leica lens zoom ring has jammed so it's in being repaired, not what you expect from a premium item.
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
Linear Mode
