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I might consider buying myself a Leica X1 next year, but if the G11 Canon is a better bet and be more useful I might just opt for that instead.
They reckon the X1 will cost just over £1300, I have no idea how much the case and viewfinder will cost but I don't reckon that I would get much change out of £1700 after buying the X1 + case + viewfinder & SD card.
Only time will tell, any suggestions welcome to a good alternative to the X1.
The G11 is a very different cam and it's not useful to compare with an X1.
Alternatives: Ricoh GDRIII (fixed lens, small sensor, excellent controls) , Sigma DP2 (fixed lens, large sensor, mediocre controls)
or the M4/3 cams Olympus Pen with 17mm pancake or Panasonic GF1 with 20mm pancake.
For £1300 then the GF1 and lens, card, case insurance and change seems a great alternative!
I have a TZ7 for snapping but, as a long time Minox 35GT user I prefer a fixed lens around 35mm equivalent, in many. I've been waiting a long time for a high quality robust fixed lens digital camera like the X1.
If the X1 is fast to operate the it will be a very interesting camera, in a space within the market that has never been properly addressed since digital compacts emerged. The reviews of the Sigma/Ricoh options were enough to put me off. From what I read I'm much more likely to go for the GF1 and Pancake as I like the idea of sticking my FD lenses on via adapter.
I'm not convinced the "Leica tax" will be 50%, but as this is Leica product rather than a rebadged Panasonic or Fuji, how can we tell? It looks to be a very interesting camera, with little direct comparisons available. The Richo GRDIII and Sigma DP1 and DP2 being the entire market. If you remove the Ricoh becasue the sensor isn't APS-C, then the choice is smaller.
Compact cameras with zoom lenses are entirely different beasts and cannot be used in comparison.
Quote: The truly wise will buy the Canon, Then go on holiday with the change
A slighty inaccurate response. The genuinly wise will decide what their needs are and choose the tool that most closly meets their needs in relation to all other factors being considered (such as size, useability, quality, cost, etc.) regadless of brand.
I'm sure the Leica street price will fall, but reckon the Olympus E-P1 and Panasonic GF-1 - both of which can be had with prime lenses - to provide some very serious competiton for it, and also the M9.
Of course, the quality of the Leica could blow everything else away, but on that we will have to wait.
Thanks for all your comments, so far I only see the Panasonic GF-1 as a good alternative and a very likely one, I might of opted for the Sigma but the lens does not have enough width. I doubt I would ever buy a Ricoh camera.
Quote: I doubt I would ever buy a Ricoh camera.
That's a bit unfair, Ricoh made some very decent film compacts and were confident enough in thier glass to release the 21 & 28mm lenses from the GR cameras in Leica mounts.
Agree with randomrubble here. The Ricoh GR1 was a compact camera held in the highest regard particularly for the quality of its optics. Ricoh continued this with the GRD, its digital equivalent.
My first popper camera was a Ricoh KR10, and 28 years later it's still working as well as it ever did!
If you want a digital fixed focal length compact, then the GRD, DP1/2, and X1 would appear to be your lot!
Quote: I doubt I would ever buy a Ricoh camera.
Nothing wrong with the Ricohs, they have superb optics, and handling yet to be approached, let alone surpassed by any of the other manufacturers!
Quote: I might of opted for the Sigma but the lens does not have enough width.
Try the DP1 it is a 28mm equivalent lens (should be wide enough for you). The new improved model (DP1s) is due out anytime soon and even at full early adopter price will be less than half of the X1 price!
Quote: The reviews of the Sigma/Ricoh options were enough to put me off.
Thats a strange remark. I've never seen a bad review for a Ricoh product. However, if what you want is a slimline micro 4/3 camera, i.e. something bigger, the Leica will be interesting, alongside of the Panasonic GF1. A different category really. I see Canon have brought back the fold out LCD on the G11, which makes it more interestin to me, but again it seems to be a different category.
I very much doubt I will buy a Leica X1, even if the camera has a great lens I doubt spending well over £1000 for this camera is justified for me, after all I will be buying a Nikon D700 next year and I will be buy a Nikon VR 105mm macro lens and also I want to spend the money on the Nikon 24mm - 70mm 2.8, so the Leica X1 will no longer be on next years shopping list. Sorry Leica.
I would love a Leica M9 as well, but I much doubt I could ever afford one as I would like two or three lens to go with it and that would cost, anybody want to buy my granny for £10000, you can have her clothes & her smelly old pug dog as well 
I am most likely to buy the Olympus E-P1 body & 14-42mm lens & 17mm Pancake lens & VF-1 Kit all for about £750, also buy the Olympus FL-14 (FL14) Flash, I had a go with a Olympus E-P1 body & 14-42mm lens the other day and I found it great to use and the photos quality was great, there where only two or three occasions the whole afternoon when the lens did not jump into focuses but that is better than the Canon G9 I have.
The Leica X1 is far to overpriced for what it is.
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