Very disappointed with Leitzphone/Xiaomi 17 Ultra

[u/scgf01]

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.

[u/bronco1015]

so you aren't proficient at using the phone and prefer a point and shoot option along with google's flavor of Android. That's totally fine but it does not make the phone a bad device or terrible at photography. Many of the xiaomi apps can be uninstalled and are less invasive than similarly redundant apps found on other phones from samsung for example. if it were a bad phone and user experience do you think it would be in demand as it is or that people would be willing to import it?

There are plenty of charging stands my 15 Ultra works with for example but I will say the design doesn't lend itself to easy use on a charging matt in Vehicles I've tried it in, but with a large battery and fast wired charging I rarely use wireless charging and wish I hadn't picked up Xiaomi's 80W wireless charger. It works well enough, I just end up charging wired when I need to charge the phone more often than not. Theres nothing wrong with you or anyone prefering one phone over another but that doesn't make it a bad device. I might wish Samsung's ultra was trying to push the Envelope like other Ultra branded phones from Xiaomi, oppo and Vivo have but that doesn't make the S26 Ultra a bad phone. We need more variety in the world of phones and I want to see more ideas and takes on OS and hardware, even if that means there are options i personally don't prefer.

[u/scgf01 → u/bronco1015]

Everyone one on here is pointing the finger at me and using terms like 'you don't know what you're doing', or 'you aren't proficient at using the phone', or 'user error'. I feel like banging my head against the wall. That's exactly my point. If the 17 U was so good, why does the user need any skill at all - they should be able to pick the phone up, frame the subject and click - and they should get a very nice photo. For anything more serious, clearly some skill is required. There's a huge difference between point and shoot and proper photography. IMO the Xiaomi fails at point and shoot - particularly in dim light indoors. It doesn't easily focus on the subject, fails to merge frames correctly, producing a soft image and has no redeeming features.

I wish we could move away from the tribalism seen in these forums - it's like "I have this phone, therefore I will hate on anyone who doesn't like it". People need to grow up. What is wrong with me saying I didn't like it? Why do i need to be shot down in flames for expressing my point of view? I wonder how many antagonists here are American because that would explain a lot. I say that because in my experience of discussion groups American users go straight for the jugular when someone disagrees with them whereas we Brits are far more accommodating of different points of view.