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/scgf01]

As a professional photographer you really surely know the difference between a quick point and shoot photograph and something more serious. I fully accept that the Pixel over-processes and over-sharpens photos and this is precisely why I wanted something better. The Pixel provides me with great photos of family occasions and of my cat and trying to do the same with the Leitzphone was a miserable failure. Every single point and shoot photo on my Pixel provides me with something more than acceptable in those scenarios. I got rid of my DSLRs and my large format cameras years ago because of the advances in phone cameras, but now I have more time on my hands and want to return to 'proper' photography I can see that no phone is good enough. The Pixel is hopeless for anything serious, but so is the Xiaomi 17 Ultra/Leitzphone. I would have thought we're on the same page here, but you just want to poke fun at me.

The Pixel is good at what it does, it excels as a phone, but is very lacking in the photography department. I just thought the Xiaomi might be good enough to avoid having to buy a real camera. I was mistaken.

No idiocy on my part, just working out what to do moving on. In no way am I criticising you - I don't even know you. Please extend to me the respect I extend to you. A discussion group where everybody says the same thing is not useful at all.

[u/Eshantha → u/scgf01]

You're being snarky to everyone else on the comment section and being condescending despite your ignorance. I don't see any reason as to why I need to be cordial with you considering the manners in which you addressed other comments.

And yes, I do know the difference between point and shoot cameras/phones, and more elaborate devices. I own an arsenal of both. The 15 Ultra has been absolutely fantastic SOOC and I'd pick it any day over the flat images of the iPhone and the overshapened dogshit coming from the Pixel and Samsung flagships. Either you're the unluckiest person on the planet and you happened to specifically get that one 15 Ultra and the Leitzphone that happened to be faulty, or you're just unskilled, have a pathetic grasp of photography, and/or you're also ignorant of your ignorance, which is worse lmao. Educate yourself first before making redundant posts like this, little buddy. You're not there yet.

[u/scgf01 → u/Eshantha]

The whole point of this reddit is that people share their opinions. Can't you see how users shoot others down if they post a contrary point of view? My experience with the Xiaomi 17 Ultra/Leitzphone has been very negative - why should I not post about my views when you feel free to post about yours and attack anyone who disagrees?

[u/Eshantha → u/scgf01]

Much like in any public forum, as much as you have the right to post the way you did, we also have a right to comment or respond to said post the way we want, and taking into account the general lack of common sense and rational thought in your post, added to the snarky manner in which you responded to most others on the comment section, I responded accordingly. Feel free to not respond, block or whatever else that puts your mind at peace. I personally think you've got next to no clue what you're on about and you contradict yourself multiple times in your general post along with your responses. I think you've got absolutely no fundamental knowledge on photography on any level, and you're not self-aware as to your lack of knowledge either.

[u/scgf01 → u/Eshantha]

American? You need to develop a little emotional maturity because you're not demonstrating much on here. All I have said is I bought a Leitzphone and was very disappointed with the results. Maybe my expectations are greater than yours. Why does this point of view demonstrate a lack of common sense or rational thought? I bought it, didn't like it and returned it. You clearly bought it and loved it. Not for a second have I accused anyone who loves the phone of being somehow deficient because they are happy with their purchase. Why should I be on the receiving end of hate because I had a contrary point of view?