Review: The 2014 Leica X Typ 113

Photokina 2014 saw the release of an updated Leica X model – the typ 113. I’ve decided to review it for two reasons: firstly, to make another attempt at overcoming my personal lack of enthusiasm for the 35mm FOV, and secondly, out of curiosity to see how good the new lens is – it’s now a newly-designed 23/1.7, changed from the previous 23/2.8 which I believe is a derivative of the M-mount design. The sensor remains the same as the X2 at 16MP, and APS-C. Finally, some design updates complete the package – leaving the X looking more like a mini-M than ever.

As you can see, it’s grown in thickness somewhat, and the lens cap adds more. Outermost ring is removable and threaded, but we’ve yet to see any accessories from Leica to fit.

Curiously, as the M has evolved into its third incarnation in the digital age, it’s moved somewhat further away from the original design simply through virtue of an increase in size – the film Ms were very comfortable to hold and ergonomically sound, with the camera hanging off your fingertips and a thumb hooked into the wind lever. The newer Ms are significantly thicker in hand, and I feel really need a ThumbsUp (no wind lever) and probably also a handgrip to feel totally secure with – and this diminishes the size advantage somewhat. The X seems to have evolved to a size that fits the ergonomic niche previously occupied by the old camera; it’s the right thickness, and feels good in the hand – better with a ThumbsUp too, but still usable naked especially now that it’s inherited the M240‘s thumb rest/command dial combo. It appears a little taller than the X2 due to the M-style stepped top deck, but now the flash and hotshoe/ accessory port sit flush with the deck instead of protruding.

Design changes aside, it’s worth noting that the focusing ring from the X Vario has been adopted here – you get a distance scale, that brings up a magnified centre the moment it’s turned; there’s then a stiff detent after infinity to put you in AF mode. It appears to be fly-by-wire, but feels about as close to a mechanical ring as you’re likely to get, with hard stops at either end, and very fine distance changes possible. What it needs to make it perfect would be an engraved depth of field scale for zone focusing. However, combined with the other two rings to manually and instantly set shutter speed and aperture, this makes the X one of the few cameras you can set up and check at a glance without powering it on, to be instantly ready for the shot the moment you do hit the power switch. Even if you’re not shooting, it’s nice to have the settings you want dialled in. Finally, all rings have an A position – put the shutter dial in A, and you’ve got aperture priority; aperture dial in A and it’s shutter priority; both in A is program, and neither is manual – simple, and easily overridable. I really wish more manufacturers would adopt this approach for their serious cameras. I found myself using it mostly in two modes – either AF with centre point and spot meter, like I use my GR, or fully manual with zone focus, similar to how I used my M cameras.

Between the ergonomic changes, software tweaks and undoubtedly some hardware ones, usability seems to have been improved by a noticeable margin. Even battery life seems to have improved – I was playing it safe since I only had one battery, but I’d get 200-250 without the 3-segement battery meter moving at all. The previous X2 fell just on the right side of ‘fast enough’; the X 113 moves that bar a bit further into the safe zone, but still feels a little laggy at times – not at all on menu operation, not so much on focusing (though the GR is still faster) but on shot-to-shot times; even if you have review switched off, there’s still a lag between shots as the camera gathers its skirts for the next run. You don’t get the bang-bang-bang rhythm that we take for granted with an SLR, or really appreciate with a compact (again, the GR does this very well). There’s a hair of shutter lag in there too, which can make it tricky to get images that require critical timing. I got used to it after a little while with the camera, but it might get annoying if you use multiple cameras.

There are a few things that still need work: the body itself feels similar to the previous X cameras, though honestly, I’d like a bit more weight; my brain is expecting something of that size/bulk to simply feel a bit heavier. There are still some plastic parts that frankly feel out of place and cheap on a camera of this price – the port cover and battery door, for starters. The movie record button needs to be either much stiffer, or to have a little raised ridge to prevent accidental presses – it’s right next to the shutter, raised, and exactly soft enough to have the fleshy bit of your finger resting on the edge of the camera trigger it. I found myself with the camera unresponsive and recording several times, resulting in a number of missed shots. Better still, put in a software option to let those of us who don’t shoot video reprogram it to something useful – like metering mode, perhaps. In fact, all of the top panel controls could be a bit stiffer – the two dials move too easily, and there’s still no stiff detent between C and S drive positions on the power switch. Finally, please put in a way to remember the last used item on that very long (too long) scrolling menu…and a way to jump between zoomed-in images to compare.

This pretty much ties up the last of the ergonomics/ usability section; let’s talk about the new lens. It’s a 10/8 design with a nominal maximum aperture of f1.7 and is called a Summilux, though this is deliberately restricted at close distances – starting from just 1m, reaching f2.8 at the 20cm near limit – and it of course never hits f1.4. I was told this was done deliberately to ensure resolving power stayed high through the entire focus range, but it might be a bit surprising the first time you see it happen. It is NOT the same as the Nikon macro lenses that do not close down, but report the true effective aperture at closer distances/ higher magnifications (“bellows factor” compensation). I suppose it’s a tradeoff for the additional speed, though the GR doesn’t need (or do) this, and focuses somewhat closer. The other tradeoff is a significant increase in size over its predecessor – note just how much thicker the lens is in the second image in the review; thicker even than the 2/35 ASPH-M.

Focusing speed in low light is pretty good, actually – similar to the GR.

Performance is something of a mixed bag; the centre zones are always excellent, and even at f1.7 have the ability to clearly differentiate a subject into planes at middle to long distances – we’re talking ~20m here (assuming background at infinity), which is impressive for a lens with an effective focal length this wide. This only improves slightly as you stop down, simply because things are already so sharp in the middle to begin with. The corners and edges however are somewhat soft and have visible longitudinal CA (though not much lateral CA) until about f4-5.6 or so, depending on subject distance. Overall, the lens lacks the cross-frame consistency of the GR, but I think this is due to fairly strong field curvature on the X 113. It also doesn’t have the same clinical rendering, by any means; this is its strength.

Though you might not get perfect corners wide open, the X 113 will deliver one of the most pleasingly cinematic renderings of a wide I’ve seen (however, the Zeiss 2/28 Distagon is still king here). It’s not any one property in particular, but a combination of color transmission, the ability to separate in the centre; the presence of flare (but gentle, not objectionably harsh) and fairly smooth bokeh. I like the way it renders, but it can be frustrating at time because I’m expecting a more clinical performance like the GR – it doesn’t do that, and that doesn’t always shoot the subjects I like to photograph. I suspect it’ll be very flattering for people, though. Finally, the lens also appears to be a black hole for light – it’ll just suck in everything, and seems to make light where you’d think there isn’t enough to hand hold. I suspect the T stop is extremely close to the numerical aperture, which is impressive.

The sensor appears to be the same, or very similar to the 16MP Sony unit used in the X2, X Vario, GR, Coolpix A and a whole host of other cameras; I still think this is a solid choice because it’s a very capable sensor that balances resolution, acuity and noise very well. The 24MP APS-C offerings have not been convincing up to this point, and seem to all deliver fairly muddy results by comparison. The X 113 is now capable of recording HD video, though without a decent stabiliser (only electronic, which can and does create all sorts of interesting artefacts at times) it’s of limited use. A shame, since it has that excellent manual focus ring – which is great both for zone-focused street photography as well as pulling focus in video.

What is a little disappointing is that Leica appear to have left the anti-aliasing filter in; it’s weak, but means that the images lack a little final ‘bite’ and the capabilities of that lens aren’t shown off to the maximum. I found this lens-sensor combination delivered very pleasing color even without profiling; I suspect this will probably improve further once Adobe puts out a native ACR profile. Monochrome conversion potential is not bad, falling somewhere squarely in the middle between the GR (outstanding) and Coolpix A (terrible) – a little dodging and burning is required, but for the most part, zones separate cleanly.

Note cinematic flare. As you can see from this set, I was trying to make the most of it.

I came away from my time with the X 113 feeling a little confused: there are some thing about it that are really quite excellent, like the simplicity of the controls and the ergonomics; that manual focusing ring; the light gathering ability and rendering quality of the sensor, excellent battery life – and it’s a really, really handsome camera especially in the brown/silver combination. But there were a lot of other niggles that countered that: shutter lag, shot-to-shot lag, limited shutter speeds (1/2000) and no ND filter limiting use of f1.7 in bright light*. I’d probably buy one if I liked the 35mm FOV; I have to say that I’m much more comfortable with it now, but it still wouldn’t be my go-to choice.

*Fast lenses are best used pictorially to isolate and create some separation at distance, not to make a wall of bokeh.

However, I’m not sure the upgrade is so clear-cut if you already have an X2; it’d make a nice pairing with an X Vario for a versatile two-body travel solution with consistent controls and some redundancy, but leaves me wondering where the X now fits between the T and M – personally, I’d rather have the flexibility of interchangeable lenses with the controls of the X, but I suspect that would kill M sales. I think ‘competent’ is perhaps the best way to describe it; and a better choice than the Fuji X100 variants because of the lens, ergonomics and file handling/workflow, unless you need the wide/tele converters. Perhaps what Leica needs to do is either offer said matched wide/tele converters, or take a leaf out of Sigma’s book and make a set of three with different focal lengths and matched lenses for optimum performance – there’s a hole for a longer (50mm+) fixed lensed, compact-ish camera which nobody makes at the moment; something you use with a bit more deliberation and don’t mind if it operates slightly slower simply because you expect to shoot a wide compact in a different way to a normal/tele viewfinder camera. 50mm X, anybody? MT

Thank you to Leica Malaysia for the loan camera. For more info, please contact
Johann Affendy at Leica Malaysia. Additional images will be uploaded to this flickr set.

The Leica X Typ 113 is available to order here in black or silver from B&H and Amazon, as well as locally in Kuala Lumpur at the Starhill and Avenue K Leica Stores.

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