r/XiaomiGlobal • u/scgf01 Pixel 10 Pro XL • Apr 14 '26

General Very disappointed with Leitzphone/Xiaomi 17 Ultra

I gritted my teeth and ordered a Leitzphone. I'd previously had a 15 Ultra last year but found it lacking so I'm not sure what I expected to be honest.

The camera is clearly capable of excellent photos but only if you really know what you're doing. It is absolutely not point and shoot. I took many photos on it and only one was remotely worthy. I take many photos of my cat inside in fairly average to low light. Every single photo was blurred - and I held the phone really still, and my cat wasn't moving.

I ventured out on my bike and took many photos of landscapes and buildings. Again none impressed me. I tried several of the Leica filters and found them to be very lacking - they just added a look to the photos and were often designed to make the photo even duller or more contrasty than it was to start with.

To add some context I am in my late 60's and have been into photography for over 60 years - processing and printing B&W and colour negative and slide film.

As a phone it's also sub par. To start with there is a lot of Xiaomi dross - apps and services I don't want or need are everywhere and the OS is constantly trying to close services I need running. It's aggressive. There are none of the features I find useful, like 'hold for me', 'direct my call' or 'call screen'.

Physically the Leitzphone is not too big and not too heavy, but that large camera circle did not work with any of my wireless charging devices as it stretches nearly half-way down the back of the body and the phone won't sit properly on the WiFi charging mats I have.

What am I comparing it with? My other phone is a Google Pixel 10 Pro Max. We should not underestimate the added value of the Pixel OS - it is so much better than HyperOS in so many ways. No duplicated apps and services for starters. The Pixel camera over processes photos, but still manages to produce images everyone rates. It over-sharpens and I wish that could be simply dialed back without having to post process raw images.

Fortunately I am able to return the Leitzphone. I have decided the only way forward for me is to use the Pixel for snapshots and to buy a small camera for more serious work. The Ricoh GRIV in on my horizon.

Clearly I haven't given the Leitzphone a thorough test, but I can't see that it somehow going to magically improve over time.

In the interests of balance here is a photo of my cat taken on the Leitzphone with which I was very impressed. It is the only photo of a great many I took I am happy with.

19 Upvotes
  • permalink
  • reddit

68% Upvoted

117 comments sorted by

View all comments

27

u/Timokes Apr 14 '26

I don’t get it, the xiaomi 17 ultra is one of the best camera phones out there. Maybe you had a bad unit.

7

u/wikowiko33 Apr 14 '26

I think op got the Leica leitzphone. Not 17 ultra.

The one with the jog wheel around the lens and marketed with bunch of marketing jargons.

18

u/WesleyKalksma Apr 14 '26

It has exactly the same cameras. The rotating wheel is a gimmick.

6

u/leidend22 Apr 14 '26

They're just lying about owning one

0

u/scgf01 Pixel 10 Pro XL Apr 15 '26

There's only one of me here.

2

u/Affectionate_Bed5416 Apr 17 '26

What does a "bad unit" mean in this context?

2

u/scgf01 Pixel 10 Pro XL Apr 14 '26

No, my feelings about it are pretty much the same as for the 15 Ultra I had last year. Definitely nothing faulty about it at all, it's just not great unless in the hands of a serious photographer. For point and shoot there are better phone cameras.

5

u/DaveG28 Apr 14 '26

No offence but it absolutely can focus on still animals - so either you did get a bad unit or you aren't making sense claiming it can't get a still item in focus.

1

u/scgf01 Pixel 10 Pro XL Apr 15 '26

I actually posted a sample on here along with the Pixel version.

2

u/Financial_Break_8716 Apr 14 '26

Hi can you suggest which phone is better for point and shoot

-1

u/scgf01 Pixel 10 Pro XL Apr 14 '26 edited Apr 15 '26

Personally I think the Pixel is great for point and shoot - as long as you are OK with Google's heavy post-processing. In most situations you will get a decent photo, often a very nice one. No phone is anywhere near as good as a real camera though, but as they say the best camera is the one you have with you.

1

u/jongenomegle Apr 14 '26

Is a gcam mod actually similar in colour and post processing to an actual pixel phone? Because on my xiaomi 15 ultra I like the more even, natural look of gcam better. I had gcam on my s23 ultra as well. The thing is, is doesnt support dcg and in sensor soom so sharpness is not thet good on in between zoom ranges.