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I have never been so happy with a firmware update before. 🙂 thanks for breaking down the updates! greatly appreciated since exploring the updates last night on the camera where very DIY.

Thanks Josh!!

There might be some inherent hardware-based per-pixel noise reduction in the imaging pipeline, but a DNG wouldn't have software NR applied to it like a high ISO JPG shot in-camera would. You'd still have to apply NR in post processing, just as before when a DNG+JPG was captured. The JPG used for preview would have NR; the DNG wouldn't.

A nice useful report.
I had previously wondered at the flash placement worried that so close to the lens it would flash back on any suspended particles in the water. But you explained the plus of the flash not being shadowed by the lens itself.

I had not realized this was the only UW camera without a case that shoots RAW. I have a friend John who loves Leica, diving and fishing and this will do it for him.

Jack

Excellent article. Just one small correction to the opening para: first digital RF was Epson RD1, not the M8

I haven't done underwater yet since someone else is going to do that with my camera – soon they say. But I have done quite a lot of shooting on land, and the X-U reminds me very much of the X1 that I had, with many improvements, not the least of which is the f1.7 lens.

I enjoyed your review as usual. The lens looks like a stellar performer.

Great review David! Seems like a lens worth having.

Hi David
I hope you're well.
Great report as usual – I had the lens for a week, but I didn't have time to really do it justice.
Hope to get my hands on one again soon.

best
Jono

Correct, there are no strap lugs on the lens itself. I had no issues carrying from just the camera strap. The lens points downwards which doesn't exert the same kind of lateral torque on the lens mount that mounting it to a tripod from the body would. In that case, use the tripod foot to remove the stress on the mount.

I don't know what the stock situation in Hong Kong is like these days. Here in the US, the 90-280 is still in short supply relative to demand.

Mark, unfortunately, the distance scale is only available in meters, even on v3.0.0.0. I made a request/suggestion during my initial testing for the scale to be in feet as well.

David,
Thanks for the walk through.
An easy update. Surprised they jumped from calling it a 2.xxx all the way to 3.0.0.0..0000
I expect 3.00.001 to convert meters into feet. And what other suggestions did you make that they may include on 3.00.002?

I like that it will update my old lenses “automatically” so I will be good to go as soon as the S 350mm is announced.