Leica X Vario: Controls and Functions

Introduction | Overall Appearance | "Menu" Buttons | Direction Pad, Setting Dial (Thumb Wheel)

Archive

On this page, I would like to provide an overview of the Leica X Vario's camera controls and their functions.

Overall Appearance

The following photos are meant to provide an overview of the camera controls so that they can be discussed.

Photos: Views of the Leica X Vario

"Menu" Buttons

Here is an overview of the "menu" buttons at the left edge on the LCD on the back of the camera.

Button	Functions	Comment
PLAY	Opens the (continuous) review screen	Half-pressing the shutter release button cancels the review
DELETE/ FOCUS	Deletes images (Play mode) Focus button (Record mode)	Focus button: AF: Selects focus mode MF: Activates screen magnification for 5 s
WB	Sets the white balance	Has to be pressed only briefly; also sets the value
ISO	Sets ISO sensitivity	Has to be pressed only briefly; also sets the ISO value
MENU/ SET	Calls and closes the menu screen (incl. submenus) Applies the selected menu option	Calls and closes the menu screen Applies the selected menu option and returns to the main menu (INFO on the direction pad does the same*)

*) Since firmware update 1.1.

Menu options can be cancelled by half-pressing the shutter release button

Direction Pad, Setting Dial (Thumb Wheel)

Here is an overview of the direction pad buttons and the setting dial/thumb wheel on the back of the camera .

Button/Control (Symbol)	Functions	Comment
Direction Pad	The direction pad is used for Scrolling through menus and submenus Setting the selected menu options / functions* Opening the menus for exposure compensation, automatic bracketing and flash exposure compensation (EV+/-) Opening / making settings in the flash mode menu / opening submenus (Flash) Opening / making settings in the self timer menu / exiting menus and submenus without saving the menu settings (Selftimer) Scrolling through the picture memory Moving the AF metering range frame**	See the button descriptions below for details
INFO*	The INFO button is used for Selecting monitor displays in picture and review mode* Resetting the manually moved autofocus metering frame to the center Applying settings**	*INFO: Toggles between different screen modes in picture and play mode
EV +/- (Up)*	Exposure compensation The up button is also used for Selecting menu items	Menu use: You can also use the thumb wheel (setting dial)
none (Down)*	The down button is used for Selecting menu items	You can also use the thumb wheel (setting dial)
Selftimer (Left)*	Opening / making settings in the self timer menu / exiting menus and submenus without saving the menu settings (Selftimer) The left/Selftimer button is also used for Returning from a submenu to the main menu
Flash (Right)*	Flash: Opening / making settings in the flash mode menu / opening submenus (Flash) The right/Flash button is also used for Selecting the relevant submenus

Thumb Wheel (Setting Dial)	The thumb wheel is used for Setting slow shutter speeds* Scrolling through menus and submenus Setting the selected menu options / functions Setting a value for exposure compensation, bracketing and flash exposure compensation* Enlarging / reducing pictures viewed Program shift (P mode)	1 second and longer Added by me (somewhat redundant with the "scrolling" item) Exposure compensation: In P mode, up (EV +/-) has to be pressed briefly, before the value can be selected in P mode (in A and T mode not needed; not available in M mode); further presses lead to bracketing and flash exposure compensation ???**In the manual there is also the item "Manual distance setting." It seems to be a leftover from the X1/X2 manuals; at least, I cannot confirm this.

*) On the direction pad
**) Since firmware update 1.1.