flash wrote:
So basically the same as my D-Lux 7 except.
New body design.
Q3 style menus instead of Panasonic menus with a different font.
USBC connector instead of micro USB.
The thing is I'd rather crop my Q3 (which maintains more resolution to the 50mm crop) or my PenF, which is beautiful and takes interchangeable lenses and has high res shot. Or even an XT5 (I don't have an XT50) which isn't vastly bigger, depending on the lens. Probably none of those. If I'm going to bring a camera then it's going to be a CAMERA or I'll bring my phone. My DLux 7 is in the car and get used on the odd bike ride and nothing more.
Pretty but not for me. Leica has a couple of more interesting cameras coming this year. I wonder what's with the development announcement? What happened to the M11D? Looks like the rumors it was pushed back were true and Leica needs a place holder.
johnvanr wrote:
I have a lot of gear, but I feel it pales compared to what you have. Other than the XT50, is there a camera you don’t own?
Not much. No Z8 or Z9 and only a few of select bodies under 40mp that I wanted to try out.. Other than that a bit of everything. I do wish we had something like LensRentals here. I like playing with th new tech but you can't simply rent it here. I'm good at buying. Not so much at selling.
That'll have to change soon. I've run out of space. Plus I have my favourite kits mostly sorted. A lot will go in the next few months. It'll be nice saying I *had* rather than I have. I do have my favourites even though I also believe there are no bad cameras. Usually though I know if I like a camera in a day. And I often (much) prefer gear that's more scalpel than Swiss Army knife.
I really do enjoy knowing and working out the difference by directly comparing in the hand rather than just reading specs. All my cameras make nice files. The main difference is that some make you want to go out and shoot and some don't. I really can't say which is which from a spec sheet. The intangeables matter and the differences between brands in the hand is vast.
I think of ot as a separate hobby to photography itself. Some people do cars or boats or watches or wine. I do cameras.
I admit that I have an interest in this camera in theory. It would be a great light easy to carry camera. perfect for diners out, walks, and as a backup camera to my M11 when traveling. I would even pay a bit more for the Leica version because I like Leica's menus, control structure, and workflow so much.
But I have some reservations.
No IBIS - Yes it has stabilization in the lens. So, I will test that out and see how well it works. Maybe it is enough.
Resolution - Why on a camera that uses a 21mm 4/3 sensor why would leica crop that sensor down to 17mm by building a permanently affixed lens that has a smaller image circle? Why not design a lens to take advantage of the whole sensor resolution?
No weather sealing - Why would Leica build a camera designed to carry with you everywhere, all the time, not weather seal it so it fully achieves this goal? This is a big negative in my opinion. If weather sealed I could leave my M11 and shoot with this when the weather turns bad while traveling.
Rear Screen- Why not put the best rear screen you can fit on the camera, and at least let it flip vertically and horizontally? If you are going to charge the most, then give the most.
EVF- If you are charging so much why not provide the best EVF available in the market?
Build quality- This camera is built in China, not Germany. I have heard the the plastic material feels a bit cheap. Maybe OK if it keeps it light. I will want to feel the build quality before I decide on this issue. But building in China usually doesn't command a premium price in my experience.
I've owned the LX100 and D-Lux 7 and find this new iteration oddly appealing. Leica's interface really is great.
But I do wish they'd used the newer chip from the G9II/GH7 for an effective 20mp or so crop.
I suppose my complete wish list for this camera would have been:
- Newer sensor (and all benefits that might bring to read-out speeds, data-rate, crops, etc)
- Manual zoom lens with full sensor coverage (Fujifilm X10/20/30 style, baby)
- Tilt screen for waist-level shooting
- Leica interface
- Weather-sealing + minimal plastic
- 3MP+ OLED viewfinder
- And since I'm being greedy, handheld high-res mode (which would require IBIS as well)
- $1800-2000 for a Leica camera of this size with those improvements.
Joseph Marney wrote:
I've owned the LX100 and D-Lux 7 and find this new iteration oddly appealing. Leica's interface really is great.
But I do wish they'd used the newer chip from the G9II/GH7 for an effective 20mp or so crop.
I suppose my complete wish list for this camera would have been:
- Newer sensor (and all benefits that might bring to read-out speeds, data-rate, crops, etc)
- Manual zoom lens with full sensor coverage (Fujifilm X10/20/30 style, baby)
- Tilt screen for waist-level shooting
- Leica interface
- Weather-sealing + minimal plastic
- 3MP+ OLED viewfinder
- And since I'm being greedy, handheld high-res mode (which would require IBIS as well)
- $1800-2000 for a Leica camera of this size with those improvements....Show more →
When you turned those cameras on, what was the default focal length?
jmmaher wrote:
Any thoughts on this? Look like the sensor from the D-Lux 7 was used but maybe other things have been improved. Looks like a nice cary anywhere camera at first glance.
I have used the early D-Lux (Typ 109), with 12.8 megapixel sensor. The zoom showed misalignment at the long end. Nevertheless, the camera was lightweight, with a good zoom range; it was a carry anywhere camera complementing my Nikon reflex gear.
Then I swapped the D-Lux for a Canon EOS M3, and the quality of the files was visibly better, although the M system was not as compact as a micro 4/3 compact camera. The M system was way more versatile though; I could use even my Zeiss ZF 100/2 on my EOS M3, and take excellent pictures. Finally I moved to the Nikon Z system. Sometimes I look at the Sony A7C II & 28-60/4-5.6 as a carry everywhere camera. I don't understand why Nikon doesn't develop a similar camera ... with an optional EVF like the Leica EVF 2, with 90° swivel action for capturing images from unusual angles (e.g., close-ups).
I do not understand why Leica guys insist not using a swivel monitor. I do not understand so many things ...
I do want to buy this model when it is released but having concerns over image quality after all the comparisons to the D-Lux 7. I love my main camera (Sony A7RV) but want something small with good quality. Tried an original A7C with the 28-60 but wasn't wowed and sold it quickly. Too close in size to the A7RV with a decent lens and the 28-60 wasn't bad but nothing exciting. -Jim
Desmolicious wrote:
Bunch of reviews on youtube now. It may just be a rebadged Lumix, but the design, style and UI is much nicer than the Lumix LX100II
In October of 2008, I wandered it to Pro Photo Supply in Portland, OR and the Leica rep was there with the brand new DLux 4. It was a big upgrade from my first digital camera, a Hewlitt-Packard. As a bonus I had a paycheck with a bunch of extra money, so I bought one. The little 10mp sensor gave surprising good results. The lens was 24mm on the wide end zooming to 60mm. I kept it for about seven years until it was bundled in a trade for a 28 Elmarit-M ASPH.
They're great travel cameras and a big upgrade from just using your phone.
jmmaher wrote:
I do want to buy this model when it is released but having concerns over image quality after all the comparisons to the D-Lux 7. I love my main camera (Sony A7RV) but want something small with good quality. Tried an original A7C with the 28-60 but wasn't wowed and sold it quickly. Too close in size to the A7RV with a decent lens and the 28-60 wasn't bad but nothing exciting. -Jim
lensrentals.com will have it soon. So you can try before you buy if you do not have a regular store close by that would carry it.
As I'm in LA, I can just take an SD card down to the LeicaStore or Samys, take a bunch of test shots, then check it out at home to see if it is any good.
Oldwino wrote:
The D-lux 7, aka Lumix LX100ii, was a fine compact EDC type camera. The lens was good. It’s well made. And the sensor was fine too - I’ve been playing around with the Olympus Pen E-P5, who’s sensor dates from around that time, and the images it delivers are excellent. So the older sensor tech doesn’t concern me.
This new D-lux? Does it have an updated processor? Probably has Leica’s color-science built in, and the DNG file thing is nice, I guess. And the lens, as stated above, is a good one. And the EVF? I don’t remember the DL7 viewfinder as being particularly amazing, so hopefully they’ve upgraded that too.
Leica cameras are never a “good value” , they are about fit and finish, accessories, and that feeling you can afford to overpay for a product.
Curious, as others are, to see if there will be a Panasonic version of this. I thought they stated that they were out of the compact camera market now....Show more →
It won’t replace your M10R but for a compact digital camera with a lot of features, it’ll be handy to have around.
I just watched a video on the D-Lux 8 from one of the few who have shot one. When I saw the video sample of the street trolly I was kind of taken aback a bit. It showed really, really bad rolling shutter on a not very fast moving pan. To me that indicates a very slow scan speed on the sensor. Why in the World, at this price point is Leica using such a slow and dated sensor. It is only a micro 4/3 sized sensor and should not be that slow scanning in 2024.
Low tech sensor,
No weather sealing,
Plastic body,
unnecessarily low resolution due to lens design
dated rear screen and EVF specs
High price
My love of leica only goes so far. But I would really like a camera in this category.
Maybe I am being too skeptical. My local store says that there will be a long waiting getting this camera judging by the size of their pre-order list. Hmmmmm....
Start watching at about the 1:55 minute mark. This reviewer never even commented on how bad the rolling shutter is.
Desmolicious wrote:
As I'm in LA, I can just take an SD card down to the LeicaStore or Samys, take a bunch of test shots, then check it out at home to see if it is any good.
I wish we had a store nearby. The nearest one is a good 8 or 9 hour roundtrip by car. That's not going to happen!
I guess this wasn't a brutally honest review after all.
I missed the $1,800 for a plastic camera part. That would buy a lot of Samsung Wide and Slim’s. And with that kind of money, you could even buy some brand name film!
madNbad wrote:
I missed the $1,800 for a plastic camera part. That would buy a lot of Samsung Wide and Slim’s. And with that kind of money, you could even buy some brand name film!
My glass half-full is going to be that with this camera, they’ve kept the line going, which may give us hope for a D-lux 9 with meaningful upgrades. Leica (and every other manufacturer) is looking at the success of the Fujilm X100 cameras and are having to create a strategy for competing again in the compact space, or sitting this fad out. The D-lux 8 dips a toe in without putting too much R&D into a market that may flounder in 12 months.
But even if it is fad driven, there are a lot of us that would love to see serious competition and innovation in the truly compact market.
While I’m at it, I’m still holding my breath for a Fujifilm X40 with a Typ 1 sensor.
Joseph Marney wrote:
My glass half-full is going to be that with this camera, they’ve kept the line going, which may give us hope for a D-lux 9 with meaningful upgrades. Leica (and every other manufacturer) is looking at the success of the Fujilm X100 cameras and are having to create a strategy for competing again in the compact space, or sitting this fad out. The D-lux 8 dips a toe in without putting too much R&D into a market that may flounder in 12 months.
But even if it is fad driven, there are a lot of us that would love to see serious competition and innovation in the truly compact market.
While I’m at it, I’m still holding my breath for a Fujifilm X40 with a Typ 1 sensor. ...Show more →
Leica's answer to the X100 is their Q-Series camera. Of course, these cameras require the end user to spend $5000+ or buy older/discontinued models.
Any time Leica attempts to introduce a homegrown mass-market body, it is a re-badge if it wants to be priced competively. The few exceptions were the production of X-series and digital CL cameras. In the latter's case, Leica was not willing or able to give it the time or price structure for these camera to succeed over the long term. Much like the original CL, Leica decided to put their chips into the high-end buyer. Even the SL-series, which is a legitimate attempt to succeed in the broader marketplace, is hampered by its price structure... this coming from someone who shoots with a pair of SL-series cameras and Leica AF lenses.
