No more Leica digilux?

[count_zero]

The pdf floating around of the M9 shows all of the Leica camera models towards the end, and there is no Digilux 3. It looks like the X1 is replacing the Digilux 3. I suspect there were maybe 100 or so customers who bought the Digilux 3, and they most likely returned it after they found out that the DMC-L1 is the same thing but 3x cheaper. I really wished Leica would have made a micro 4/3 Digilux instead of the craptastic X1, but I'm guessing Leica got a huge discount from whoever they are OEM'ing the X1 sensors from vs. what they would have got from Panasonic for 4/3 sensors. And Leica probably got really pissed off at Panasonic for undercutting them so severely with DMC-L1.

It looks like the "new" Panasonic/Leica micro 4/3 14-50mm Elmarit is the same 4/3 lens that came with the Digilux and L1, but with the micro 4/3 adapter glued on. And if you did buy the G1 instead of the EP-1, you might find the OIS and "Leica" stamp worth the $900 price tag. My suspicions are we will not see anymore m4/3 or 4/3 lenses from Leica.

 

[functus]

The pdf floating around of the M9 shows all of the Leica camera models towards the end, and there is no Digilux 3. It looks like the X1 is replacing the Digilux 3. I suspect there were maybe 100 or so customers who bought the Digilux 3, and they most likely returned it after they found out that the DMC-L1 is the same thing but 3x cheaper. I really wished Leica would have made a micro 4/3 Digilux instead of the craptastic X1, but I'm guessing Leica got a huge discount from whoever they are OEM'ing the X1 sensors from vs. what they would have got from Panasonic for 4/3 sensors. And Leica probably got really pissed off at Panasonic for undercutting them so severely with DMC-L1.

It looks like the "new" Panasonic/Leica micro 4/3 14-50mm Elmarit is the same 4/3 lens that came with the Digilux and L1, but with the micro 4/3 adapter glued on. And if you did buy the G1 instead of the EP-1, you might find the OIS and "Leica" stamp worth the $900 price tag. My suspicions are we will not see anymore m4/3 or 4/3 lenses from Leica.

Wow.

You've made a balanced, careful and rational determination about the relative merits of the X1. All without actually having seen it in real life, handled it, or looked at any images from it.

I suppose I should thank you ... now I don't have to go to the trouble of making up my own mind.

 

[aizan]

functus: 1
count zero: 0

😀

 

[infrequent]

would have made a micro 4/3 Digilux instead of the craptastic X1

and here i was thinking that finally we have a digital hexar.

 

[count_zero]

Actually, it looks like the X1 will not have a fixed lens like I originally thought. It will be a proprietary mount (not M?). Supposedly Leica and Panasonic will continue their partnership and develop lenses for 4/3. I suspect the price of the X1 will be same as the Digilux (around $3-4k), so is it worth it? Smaller sensor, but with auto focus lenses. I personally would kick down another grand and get the M9.

 

[kuzano]

UB kickin' down nuther 4 grand, dawg!

UB kickin' down nuther 4 grand, dawg!

Actually, it looks like the X1 will not have a fixed lens like I originally thought. It will be a proprietary mount (not M?). Supposedly Leica and Panasonic will continue their partnership and develop lenses for 4/3. I suspect the price of the X1 will be same as the Digilux (around $3-4k), so is it worth it? Smaller sensor, but with auto focus lenses. I personally would kick down another grand and get the M9.

Another presumption? That the M9 will come in at 4-5 grand?
I'm hearing 8 grand from my rumor mongers.

 

[Mephiloco]

Depending on how you look at it the Leica rebadged Panasonic's weren't completely a rip off. They looked a little nicer, some added software functions, and the warranty iirc was twice as long with the Leica (2 years vs 1). It's still overpriced, but you are getting something for it.

 

[dan denmark]

i've had my digilux 3 for just over two years, have run through thousands of images with it and it goes like a champion. i use it for field work and studio portraits (with a strobe adaptor, mind you) and i have taken it bush and through the outback (this is oz) on a camel and it has never failed...and i treat it like i treated my Nikon F2A...like it was a hammer that wouldn't break. the images are sharp and crisp. i have the 4/3rds adaptor for my nikkor lenses from the 70s and all up, clunky and ugly, in a beautiful way, it is a workhorse and a camera nerd magnet as well. love it, would buy the 4 or 5 or 6 or 7, etc, if the megapixels went up, too...

-dd

 

[peterm1]

I bought a Pany L1 when it was on the way out - and of course its price was less than half what they were asking before (which in turn made it a tiny fraction of the Digilux 3 price.) I actually preferred its black livery to the shiny silver of the Leica but that is a matter of personal preference. I cannot speak for the firmware by comparison with Leicas - I know the latter was said to have been tweaked. I found that the Pany did not really fit the bill as a digital rangefinder replacement - which is why I bought it (which is kinda dumb as I knew its really an SLR) It also had some features like a small viewfinder that does not make it easy to use manual focus lenses even though the camera can handle a wide range of different manufacturers lenses by using adapters. And the body is a little uncomfortably large even for a bloke. Having said that, I am still reluctant to sell mine - there are times when it makes a nice alternative to my Nikon D200 especially when I want to use flash actually - that spiffy bounce flash arrangement is particularly wonderful and produces much nicer flash results than does the Nikon for example. I am still hoping for something of the sort designed forthe micro 4/3 standard BUT with a viewfinder and focus confirmation so that I can mount and use my M lenses and LTM lenses. THAT would be something!