Any M users thinking about a D-Lux 2, here's a few thoughts...

[fotografz]

Picked up one recently. Truly a "pocket rocket"... meaning it is really small and actually does fit in a jacket pocket without ripping out the seams.

But it's still a P&S.

Top ISO is 400, and a bit noisy 400 it is ... however, it looks sort of like film 400, so I think it's okay personally. The anti-shake and pretty fast lens for a camera of this type make it a little more useful for available light. The ISO 80 setting is pretty darn good, and those P&S events like vacation snaps will surprise you I think.

No viewfinder, just a LCD screen, but a big one. I could never use the viewfinder type P&S anyway because few of them have built in diopters.

Focuses really close-in on Macro setting and has a nice range zoom (28-112mm in 35mm terms). Big bonus is that it's RAW files are already supported by PSCS2 ARC. No fuss, just shoot load and there it is RAW and a companion j-peg ... most of the time the j-peg is right on the money, and you're good to go. Very nice color. Sharp lens with less distortion than I've seen from other P&S zooms.

The different aspect ratios is a pretty cool feature IMO. Great for pano landscapes at 8 meg, then the others are slightly smaller files but print out on standard papers.

It's a little light tidbit with a hefty price tag, but what red dot item isn't? Not for the financially shy. But I figured, it's Christmas time, why not treat myself to a trinket after a long years hard work.

Did I say how small it is? It could nestle is a little side pocket of your M bag and be there when trekking off to dinner with your spousal unit ... or when you don't want to burn film on some insipid shots the relatives want ; -)

 

[Traut]

Leicalite for $460

Leicalite for $460

I have found the Panasonic version for $335 less than the one with the dot. I just can't justify spending $795 vs $460.

I am contemplating buying it as an extra digital.

 

[FPjohn]

Tempted

Tempted

Hello:

The aspect ratio is tempting as is the prospect of deeper panoramics. The "manual" controls - do you find them useful?

yours
Frank

 

[fotografz]

Haven't had the time to play with the manual controls yet Frank. But did a lot of shots fooling with the different aspect ratios, just to see how it worked. Outdoors at ISO 80 I think I could use it as back-up shots of wedding parties. It corresponds pretty closely to a 5X10 mat size in my albums.

Traut is probably right in getting the Panasonic for less, but then I didn't pay full retail for the "red dot" either : -)

 

[Tom Diaz]

There were rumors before the D-Lux 2 came out that Leica & Panasonic were tweaking the noise-reduction software to improve low-light performance and noise vis a vis the Panasonic model of the camera. Do you have any reason to believe the Leica version is better than the Panasonic version?

I ask 'cause I am thinking of getting my wife one for Christmas. I know what you're thinking, but she did ask for a new camera, sort of, to upgrade from her aging Canonet GIII. And she said it might as well be digital.

I have mixed feelings about replacing a high-quality RF with a digital point and shoot, but I think a P&S is probably appropriate for a casual shooter like my wife. Any suggestions are welcome whether or not they involve the D-Lux 2.

 

[jano]

How "easy" is this thing to use? I know my father would love a digicam for christmas, and he's always been the "collector" in the family, into gold and silver coins, watches and other jewelry, even used to buy camera gear (which mom would always end up using because he didn't know how). Hmm.

 

[FPjohn]

Enough real estate...

Enough real estate...

Hello:

Is there enough LCD real estate to make framing and focus evaluation viable?

yours
Frank

 

[photogdave]

It's just as easy to use as any P&S. Full auto everything if you want it. Keep in mind the 28mm equivalent focal length only applies at the 16:9 aspect ratio. At 3:2 it's more like 35mm.

 

[fgianni]

It's just as easy to use as any P&S. Full auto everything if you want it. Keep in mind the 28mm equivalent focal length only applies at the 16:9 aspect ratio. At 3:2 it's more like 35mm.

Actually at 4:3 mode the focal length equivalent is 34mm and at 3:2 is about 31mm

 

[fgianni]

But it's still a P&S.

Is a P&S only if you want it to be, like a Canon or a Nikon SLR.

However if you prefer you can manually focus, and set manually Aperture and Shutter speeds in Manual mode, also you can set Aperture priority or shutter priority modes if you want, and manually set the ISO setting.

So I think "Creative Compact" is probably more accurate than P&S in describing it.

 

[kbg32]

I have been using mine, the Panasonic LX-1, for a few weeks now. I love it. Noise is very much like film grain. I don't think it is worth spending the extra $300 for the red dot. Plus, you don't get the finger grip.

http://www.pbase.com/keithbg/image/51357291

 

[photogdave]

Gee whiz, close enough! I'm just saying people should be aware that the effective focal length changes with the aspect ratio.

 

[Ben Z]

It could nestle is a little side pocket of your M bag and be there when trekking off to dinner with your spousal unit

That's what my Rollei 35 is for 😉

 

[richard_l]

That's what my Rollei 35 is for 😉

And the Rollei 35 and Leica Minilux and CM have lenses comparable in quality to those of full-sized cameras. Tiny little zoom lenses just don't cut it. Wishing that Leica would produce a high-performance digital P&S with a fine fixed focal length lens is an exercise in futility. The demand just isn't there. ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM is where it's at. :bang: