Leica Digilux 3 - acceptable for rare holiday ... ?

[dee]

Perversely , despite a more modern Sony A35 , i would like to use a Leica Digilux 3 / Olympus 14-42 and Rokor 45f2 on a rare holiday to Malaysia .

I know it's outdated , but it's so instinctive to use ... and I like the colours from the sensor ...

I guess I could pack the A35 and 50 f1.8 , for low light , but most advise just one camera - especially one system !

conundrums.

dee

 

[CK Dexter Haven]

Unless you really can't carry the additional gear, i don't know why one should limit oneself to just one camera (system) on holiday. I made 25+ trips from NYC to South America, and always took a full roller case full of cameras (medium format, 35mm, and digital). And, then, once there, i chose whichever camera i wanted to use for the day or occasion.

That said, i don't see the appeal of a 7.5MP, old tech camera, Leica badge or not. "Instinctive to use," perhaps, but if you're doing anything more than emailing snaps, won't the resolution (and didn't that camera have bad posterization artifacts?) be an issue later?

 

[MikeMGB]

If you'd be happy with the output there's no reason not to. I took a Leica D-Lux 2 and a GorillaPod to Europe at the beginning of the year, having an older, somewhat limiting camera made me think more about my photos. I never regretted leaving my DSLR at home.

Since that trip I've sold the DSLR and replaced it with a D-Lux typ 109 and now travel with that.

 

[jsrockit]

Live a little... bring the M8.

 

[rbelyell]

the digilux three, esp when combined with the outstanding leica 14-50, will provide excellent output outdoors with minimal financial risk. imo, the colors and clarity at low iso hold up very well today. you will not be disappointed in the results. however, for what might be a once in a lifetime trip, i would certainly bring a backup to whatever main camera i chose. my backup of choice is always the fuji x100 because 35mm is my go to fl...

 

[dee]

The Digilux badge is of no consequence - I also have the Panasonic L1.
The problem of resolution does concern me a little , but the colour edition is excellent ... and there will be many family snap shots .

jsrockit - The M8 is Amadeo adapted to Brian Sweeney j3 and set to mono [ which I anticipated when I bought it ] as I don't have any filters ... i am in two minds to take it ... with the Cv 35 f2.5 additionally .

rbelyell - I SHALL take the new Fuji X-Pro with 27mm [ I like the 40 odd crop factor and it was affordable ] which will provide the IQ I would prefer for some architectural details etc . But it will be literally brand new with a steep learning curve ....
Unfortunately , the Leica 14-50 is no more .

It was so easy in the days of film-an older camera with a decent lens and favourite film it would be fine , but now , digital ages so quickly !!

You know , had another thread which confused me enough to ask if anyone would take an older digital camera , but I think that this has solved it - M8 / X-Pro 1 / Panasonic L1 [ less ostentatious LOL ] just for fun


Thanks
dee

 

[rbelyell]

hey dee, with ebay nothing is 'no more' anymore! easy to find the 14-50 if you want it.

and yeah, most digis dont age well. but like people, some do. the rd1, the digilux 3, those are two that can still punch beyond their weight at low iso. imo, in regards to output (vs feature set) its more the users state of mind than anything else.

 

[dee]

Thanks everyone , I have just received the cabin rucksack so it's down to;

Sony A35 35 F1.8 [ good for low light ] Minolta 35-70 [ 52-120 perfect range for me ] Kit lens ?
Panasonic L1 Olympus 14-42 [ Leica lens damaged sand in helical too cumbersome for me anyway ]
Fuji X-Pro 27mm f2.8 [ advanced compact with single 41mm lens ]
Fuji XF1 - delightful I-Phone substitute .


So , DSLR , SONY EVF / Fuji OVF / Compact !!

Actually have an I-Phone SE ? now - forced into it by OTHERS keeping track of me, but i like a proper camera .

rbelyell - gotta sell something to buy the Dig 3 25mm, but the £310 X-Pro 1/27mm got in the way !!

dee

 

[nongfuspring]

Why a digilux 3? You already have an L1 which is essentially the same camera. I don't see the appeal anyway; it's got a bulky body, large lenses, small sensor, low resolution, poor IQ (compared to every other camera you own), not to mention are priced like collectors items on the second hand market. It may have nice colours SOOC but your other cameras have better colour depth and more DR so you can tweak them to taste anyway.

Take your XP1 or M8 (either one or the other, IMO the FL are too similar to take both) and XF1 for backup.

 

[tunalegs]

If you're there to have a vacation, take one camera. If you're there to take pictures, take as many as you want.

If taking two cameras, expect to leave one behind 99% of the time. If you take both you'll find you end up just using one the whole time because it's convenient, the other just becomes dead weight. However having a second one back in the hotel means having a back up in case the other one dies or disappears.

I took three cameras to Japan, one 35mm SLR, one medium format SLR, and one digital SLR. I used the DSLR when it was too dark to use the film cameras and for getting video. But I never carried all three on me at the same time.

 

[rbelyell]

imo, the digilux 3 results are way more appealing for much less effort than the xp1. and the xp1 holds very little low light advantage. i have had both and see no 'color depth' or 'dr' advantage in the xp1--in fact ive seen quite the opposite.

 

[dee]

it's weird , but the cheap and not so cheerful Sony A290 . like the Dig 3 seems to have more colour depth from the old CCD than the Sny A35 which seems comparatively 'flat' by comparison . I use the A35 mostly for low light family snapshots .
Honestly , I have no idea what this means , and it's subjective , but as an ex-Interior Designer , colour , was/is my forte .

nongfuspring - almost immediately after buying a used Dig 3 [ a year after launch ] the L1 turned up with a 14-42 Olympus lens for £250 , so intended to sell the Digilux 3 until I got an MD adapter jammed on it !

It's the 25mm lens I would like to acquire for either camera just to cut down on the bulk and get the aperture ring back ! I know it's not 'worth it' for such a limited camera , but I am content with the results .
Neither was it 'worth ' £100 to fix it to sell .
This month , I tried playing around with it again and it freed itself after 2 years ! The adapter is thin flimsy metal and had got stuck across the lens bayonet .
Contrary to the experience of many , I am delighted with this dead end concept from Pana-leica as they remain my favourite cameras simply to operate . I would take one of the bulky has-beens out to chase kids above the A35 , purely because I enjoy it - the joys of an amateur snap shooter .

dee

[ misunderstanding - it's the A35 / 35 f1.8 which comes out at night ]

 

[jsrockit]

...and the xp1 holds very little low light advantage.

Really? I can't see how this would be possible when the Digilux 3 only goes up to ISO 1600.

 

[dee]

ISO 1600 ?!
The Dig 3 runs out of steam beyond ISO 400 unless you like the like the snowstorm effect ! The Sony A35 is fine @ ISO 1600 by comparison .
I have not had the X-Pro1 long enough to evaluate it .

I tend to stick to ISO 200 because this was the film speed which I am familiar with to guess approx exposure .

dee

 

[jsrockit]

ISO 1600 ?!
The Dig 3 runs out of steam beyond ISO 400 unless you like the like the snowstorm effect !

Well, I guess I misunderstood rbelyell then. I've used the X-Pro1 up to 6400 and it's usable.

 

[dee]

Thanks to you all , I am ever uncertain how much ASD screws up confidence and perception , so your input is invaluable .
For my Chinese wife this is rare holiday with her sisters and families , for me it's about hiding behind a camera and being left to my own anti-social ASD dee'vices [ new pun there ! ]

The Sony A35 is practical , the IQ is fine , but does not shine for me , but I get to use my Minolta 35-80 [ nom 52-120 ] . Perversely , I prefer the colour rendition on the clunky A290 CCD , but that stays home as it is useless above ISO 200 . Not sure about the A35 EVF in tropical sun though .

The L1 or Dig 3 is a pleasure for me , and I find the colours special @ ISO 100 - even with the Olympus 14-42.
Which should be fine during the day. I don't mind the size or weight - it seems to suit me .

The X-Pro 1 is an unknown quantity , but is small an light enough to take to learn .

Regards

dee