Leica D-Lux 3

[KEH]

The GRD seems to be the digicam of choice here, but I thought I would put in a pitch for the D-Lux 3.

Pros:

Small, light, tough
Great lens
Fast (3-4 sec) raw mode
Panoramic wide shots
Quick operation
Manual focus
Full set of controls
BW mode useful for composing

Cons:

Noise at ISO 800 and above
Does not like to shoot into the light (like all digicams)
No viewfinder
Raw files huge (20mb) but shrink to 10mb DNG

Thoughts?

Here are some London photos: http://www.pbase.com/kirkh/london_dlux3

and a new upload to my gallery:

Cheers,
Kirk

 

[pvdhaar]

Nikon guy Thom Hogan favors the D-Lux3/LX-2 over the P5000, G7 etc.: http://www.bythom.com/compact.htm

 

[akptc]

What to do what to do!

What to do what to do!

I am agonizing over whether to get the Panasonic LX2, D-Lux 3, or "just" the Fuji f31fd.. or maybe wait for the Fuji f50... Rumor has it the D-Lux 3 has better firmware than the LX2 but both are poor low-light performers compared to the f30/f31fd. Then again they have the Leica glass.. Why is it easier to shell out $2K+ on an M7 than $300-$600 on a P&S? So far, because of all this uncertainty on my part, I am P&S-less..

 

[MelanieC]

I had the D-Lux 3, loved it. It was stolen.

I replaced it with an LX2. No difference except it doesn't look as cool. I guess if I REALLY really looked I MIGHT be able to see a difference in the jpgs but I doubt it. I use RAW a lot of the time and of course the RAW files are exactly the same.

If you want to spend an extra $200 go ahead, the D-Lux 3 is sexy enough looking (in black) to make it worth it, if you can afford it. Seriously. If looks don't matter, just get an LX2. They're easier to find anyway.

 

[akptc]

I had the D-Lux 3, loved it. It was stolen.

I replaced it with an LX2. No difference except it doesn't look as cool. I guess if I REALLY really looked I MIGHT be able to see a difference in the jpgs but I doubt it. I use RAW a lot of the time and of course the RAW files are exactly the same.

If you want to spend an extra $200 go ahead, the D-Lux 3 is sexy enough looking (in black) to make it worth it, if you can afford it. Seriously. If looks don't matter, just get an LX2. They're easier to find anyway.

Thanks a lot for your comment Melanie. I handled the LX at Best Buy and hours later I had the pleasure of playing with the Leica version. The Legend won, of course - I bit the bullet and am now a happy owner of very sexy black D-Lux 3, 3 batteries, custom (gorgeous) leather case (black, of course), a dedicated car charger, a 220V adapter, and a 1 GB SD card, all for $495 😀 I guess I know which manual I will be reading tonight 🙂

 

[tajart]

d-lux3

d-lux3

i think i'm going to get one soon!
where did you find it for 495? new, used, demo?

 

[akptc]

i think i'm going to get one soon!
where did you find it for 495? new, used, demo?

Used, mint, with 160 or so actuations since new. The older gentlement who sold it to me got himself a Sony camcorder as the latest toy. The cool thing is not only did I get a decent deal (I think), but had a very pleasant time chatting with the seller, a charming retired Englishman with an appreciation of history and photography. We both almost cried when he recounted how some decades ago he sold his Leicaflex kit to buy a Polaroid because his wife wanted instant pictures ...

 

[tajart]

thanks

thanks

i like these kind of transactions. thanks.
reminds me of a time i answered an ad for a used table saw. teddy answered the phone and said 'just a minute, bob's out in the darkroom."
after looking at the saw i asked about the darkroom to which he pointed at the 3 car garage, 2/3rds of it filled in with an independent box. i was invited in, and swirling in the rinse was a portrait of a guy that looked pretty familiar. "oh yeah, thats ansel, in fact this darkroom is based on his design."
upon entering the home, there was a whole wall of vintage adams prints. what a treat that day was. (also bought the saw).

 

[LeicaTom]

Nice deal Andy for under $500........

I`m thinking about one too as a digital "backup" for my PiNup shoots in real film, gotta love the glass, everyone I know who has one has`nt complained about it at all and I`d shoot it at 100ASA all the time anyways

Tom

 

[akptc]

Now if only there was a way to slap a Helipan "window pane" on that precious lens.. 🙂

 

[akptc]

D-Lux 3 firmware hack?

D-Lux 3 firmware hack?

Just hoping that someone, somewhere hacked into the DLUX3 and figured out how to turn off noise reduction...

 

[otaku]

Leica lent me one for testing/review shortly after the release (in black) and I generally loved it except for these things:

No high speed USB!
No viewfinder (I hate how most digitals lack viewfinders)
Also I would have liked the lens to go into the body instead of always being out and needing a lens cover.
Definetly to noisy also which is the biggest issue with all of these panasonic/leica cameras

 

[akptc]

My DLUX3 is gone, replaced by Fuji F31fd, I could not be happier. Miss the slick lines of the Leica a bit but am using the Fuji camera more (it fits in a side pocket of my smallish camera bag much better and takes better low light photos).

 

[ampguy]

same here

same here

have not found a better p&s than the f30, and f31fd. My f30 has about 9K photos, and f31fd about 2K.

I will check out the Canon G9 for kicks, but am pretty sure I will revert to the Fuji's for P&S digi use.

My DLUX3 is gone, replaced by Fuji F31fd, I could not be happier. Miss the slick lines of the Leica a bit but am using the Fuji camera more (it fits in a side pocket of my smallish camera bag much better and takes better low light photos).

 

[erikhaugsby]

So, would you rather have the F31 or the F50?

 

[ampguy]

for me personally

for me personally

the f30, then f31. haven't tried an f50.

So, would you rather have the F31 or the F50?

 

[petepete_seattle]

Thanks a lot for your comment Melanie. I handled the LX at Best Buy and hours later I had the pleasure of playing with the Leica version. The Legend won, of course - I bit the bullet and am now a happy owner of very sexy black D-Lux 3, 3 batteries, custom (gorgeous) leather case (black, of course), a dedicated car charger, a 220V adapter, and a 1 GB SD card, all for $495 😀 I guess I know which manual I will be reading tonight 🙂

I will second that! I think I have just the right settings and I'm very happy ...

 

[kshapero]

I will second that! I think I have just the right settings and I'm very happy ...

Very nice. What settings, speaking as an LX-2 owner.

 

[petepete_seattle]

Very nice. What settings, speaking as an LX-2 owner.

I had it on ap. priority. Auto ISO up to 200. Contrast: High, Sharpnes: High, Saturation: Low, and NR: Off. I converted to be in photoshop. Thanks for contributing.

 

[petepete_seattle]

Nice photos

Nice photos

The GRD seems to be the digicam of choice here, but I thought I would put in a pitch for the D-Lux 3.

Pros:

Small, light, tough
Great lens
Fast (3-4 sec) raw mode
Panoramic wide shots
Quick operation
Manual focus
Full set of controls
BW mode useful for composing

Cons:

Noise at ISO 800 and above
Does not like to shoot into the light (like all digicams)
No viewfinder
Raw files huge (20mb) but shrink to 10mb DNG

Thoughts?

Here are some London photos: http://www.pbase.com/kirkh/london_dlux3

Cheers,
Kirk

Thanks for that link I'm still getting used to mine and enjoy seeing how others are handling theirs. I like the cafe photo and what the 16:9 ratio gives you.

~Pete