Leica X1 ( 12.9 MP,2.7 -inch LCD )

This is a simple niche camera that takes images to die for.

It's a lot of money but you get a lens and sensor capable of professional results in a tiny basic camera. Being a real Leica it will have a long shelf life and hold much of its value so , although the initial outlay seems high, it's justifiable perhaps :) (Unlike Leica X1 accessories that are terrible value!)
The very simplicity of the controls ,the silent shutter and amazing results even at ISO 3200 are what attracted me to it.
I didn't want Bells and Whistles and I wanted the "Leica Look" that only the German Leicas produce.
I love the camera..............

BUT I wouldn't advise anyone to buy one until they have tried it in their hand because the auto focus is slower than many P&S/DSLR cameras.
Personally I don't find focusing speed an issue but then I don't use it for shooting active subjects.

Since Firmware v2.0 the manual focusing arrangements have been improved with visible depth of field and its now possible to set a Hyperfocal distance for instant shooting as in Street Scenes.
Manual focusing ( or pre set focusing ) is now a useful means of getting quick shots.

The bottom line is that the lens is amazing at all apertures and gives that "pop" look you see with so many Leica shots.It's the kind of thing that doesn't show in test charts.
It's nearest competitor is the Fuji X100 and it's lens clearly resolves just as well but with a beautful soft look not the almost 3 Dimensional look you can achieve with the X1...still I hanker after one of those now.

Of the fixed lens , I've heard folk say it's liberating. Not to me , it's just missed opportunities and that's why the X1 normally makes up just part of my kit.

I had always believed Leica cameras were over-priced and more of a "trophy" product than a truly functioning camera. Anyway at the recent "Focus on Imaging" show at the NEC I ended up in a discussion with two of the Leica people..and to cut a long story short I bought the Leica x1.
On my way home I was thinking "..why did I just spend so much on another camera?" I already own DSLRs and a couple of high end compacts, so in reality I didn't need another camera, much less one with an expensive red dot on it.
But moving on. I have as mentioned above a number of DSLRs and compacts, all of which have their merits and all of which give me some good results. That said, the one camera I love more than them all is my Leica x1! I would call it a "photographers camera" and by that I mean if you just want a point-and-shoot camera this isn't for you. You have to know what you're doing although of course you can set it to programme and still get some first class results, but take time to set it manually and you will see the difference.
Actually there are not that many controls within the menus and it takes very little time to master them (another plus point is the manual that comes with the camera is very straightforward and tells you all you'll ever need to know about the functions of the camera).
Anyway I still had some doubts until I saw some of the images I got with this camera - these are probably the best I have ever produced, even compared with DSLRs. I have recently taken to visiting old churches and shot both interior and exteriors using my Leica with some (for me) resulting superb images. I'm also getting more interested in street photography and my Leica is ideal for this as well - you can turn the shutter release to "silent" mode which attracts less attention. It's a great camera for street photography as it's not as potentially intimidating as pointing a large DSLR at people. It may not be the best suited for landscape photography, but then again I haven't really used it for this yet.
If I had any negative points about this camera it would be that it is easy to accidentally jog the aperture and shutter dials on the top of the unit. More resistant dials (not so softly turned) would be an improvement. The screen is not too easy to view in direct sunlight but you can overcome this by attaching the optical viewfinder which is sold as an accessory. I invested in this viewfinder plus the optional handgrip as I felt I was truly "buying in" to the whole Leica system. You also get a free download of Adobe Lightroom when you purchase one of these - this is a great editing tool!
In summary then I've become a Leica convert..buy this camera, learn to use it properly, see the results and you'll end up comparing every other camera you own or use to a Leica.
Yes, you pay a lot of money for that red dot, and the new Fujifilm x100 will have more functions, bells & whistles, but well, it won't be a Leica!

Update 25 July 2011

Since writing the above review I purchased the Fujifilm x100 (see my separate review on this) as, like so many others, I was overtaken by the hype surrounding this new camera. I have read the reviews on this Fuji here and on many other sites, in general it scores very highly. However I was disappointed with it and have now put it up for sale. Why? I read somewhere that this would be a "Leica killer" - well, it's not. I have become so used to the simplicity of using my Leica x1 that I found the Fuji more cumbersome to use. Let me clarify that - the Fuji has many functions which you can adjust, alter etc. but I'll use my DSLR if I want such variations. One of the clear advantages (for me) of using the Leica x1 is its real ease of use. I know with the superb lens quality I have a good chance of getting the image I want. In other words with the Leica if I was disappointed with the image it was in all probability down to me alone and not, as with the Fuji, spending enough time getting the settings correct. My feeling is however that the Fuji has likely caught the attention of the major camera producers who may just come up with something similar - and at considerably more attractive pricing! If this is the case, I think the price of the Fuji will drop considerably, so anyone really wanting to get their hands on one may be advised to hold off for a while.
On the other hand I think this Leica (as with all Leicas) will probably hold its value for the foreseeable future.

First off this should not be your first compact digital camera. You would be better off with a point and shoot with a zoom lens from another maker. This Leica is for those who want a larger frame digital camera with the equivalent of a fixed 35mm lens. And you need quite a bit of cash.

Leica has the best lens glass available known and the images from this camera are pin sharp and far better then images from my Nikons. The layout of the camera is very simple to understand and unlike most digital SLRs does not have reams of pages of digital controls. The camera is uncluttered with a minimum of buttons. This is a purist's camera.

The Leica X1 comes in a great box which when opens displays a mini chest containing 3 drawers. the top for the camera, next instruction manuals and finally cables etc. And the camera comes with Lightroom 3, which can be installed on 2 separate computers. This is a great advantage to those without editing software as in itself Lightroom 3 costs over £200 to purchase, and is pretty easy to use.

With the camera you get a neck strap which if I am honest would have been better if it was a wrist strap. I use the camera for street photography and being inconspicuous is a must. Having a camera around your neck doesn't achieve that.

The camera can be used fully automatically by dialing in the "A" to both aperture and shutter speed dials but I like aperture priority so its "A" on the shutter speed dial and I set the aperture dial to f5.6. Focus is ok, not over fast but I have yet to miss a picture. I would say that I wish the camera had a view finder rather then just the rear screen but again it is like 90% of other compact digital cameras in that department. You can buy a viewfinder attachment but at £250.00 its an expensive bit of kit that really just bulks up the size of the camera.

I have read complaints that the aperture and shutter dials can be altered accidently too easily. I have only experienced that when I have taken the camera out of its case. However, its a good rule of thumb to check the settings prior to taking any images, especially if you are going to rely on the automatic controls.

I love this camera, but like caviar it is an acquired taste. You can get a bettr specification of compact for a lot less like the top of the range Canon G11, S90 or Nikon's P7000. but you will not have the kudos of having a Leica. This camera is hand made and its a metal body. Leicas last a lifetime and I am still using a Leica III from 1935 to prove the point. Buying this is like having a Rolex, its eternal.

I have been using the camera now for the best part of a month and I now just take this little gem rather them my Nikon D3 or D90 when I need a camera for my holiday. Its compact enough to fit in my pocket, yet the sensor is large enough to give me 12 mg pics or so without the noise problems you get with other cameras. ISO range is great too and the camera has a great vibration reduction control (somehow takes two images to stabilize) which is rather unique.

All in all I love it. Hopefully it will give 75 years service like my Leica III. This camera also looks like my Leica III so it shows style is eternal.