Almost two months ago I reported with sadness the terminal illness of LXV, my Leica X Vario. I suspected an irreparable electronic fault. Well, since then there have been hopeful developments. Perhaps LXV will cheat the Grim Reaper after all.
I dip into a Leica blog - Macfilos - almost daily. It's just one of several photo websites I look at, to keep abreast of the latest news, and to learn about other photographers' approaches to this absorbing, addictive, technical, creative, and useful pastime. Another reader, who had seen one of my recent blog posts about LXV's malaise, put me in touch with David Slater in Middlesex, who undertakes the repair and servicing of those older Leica cameras that Leica itself no longer handles. After a preliminary exchange of emails on what the problem seemed to be, and the likely cost of a fix, I posted LXV of to Mr Slater on 24th June.
His initial thinking about what might be amiss proved mistaken. I had an email from him late last week: it seems that the shutter may be the culprit, not the rear screen. I don't know yet whether he can deal with that. A necessary part may no longer be available. But it's not necessarily bad news, and I hope to hear more before I set off for the West Country in a few days' time.
If a repair is still possible, I will surely want to go ahead with it. It's almost a no-brainer; any repair cost must be much cheaper than buying a replacement camera of the same calibre. (I will of course have to request that he defers return of the camera until I get home again)
LXV will however find that back at home things have changed. The little Leica D-Lux 4 has become my main day-to-day camera. The next post will reveal one big reason why it has been promoted from semi-retirement to the top job. But setting that aside, the little Leica's small size and weight are decisive factors. LXV has a larger sensor, and produces sharper, better-toned pictures with truer colour, and it performs better in low-light. But, compared to the D-Lux 4, it's decidedly bulky and hefty. It's still OK for carrying around all day long, but only just.
LXV is a fine camera; but I won't be surprised to find that henceforth it gets used mainly in the evenings, and in the darker winter months, leaving the little Leica for those long bright summer days.
If you would like to give me feedback on this post, or make an enquiry, please email me from my Blog Profile.