Ordered the M8's baby brother today, D-Lux 4

[johnastovall]

Oh, the Bar Sinister Panasonic...

 

[ashwinrao1]

Congrats on your purchase. I have had the D-Lux 4 for a few months now and am very pleased by its output. I started by shooting RAW, but actually I am oddly more impressed by the in-camera processing engine. Jpeg output quality is magnificent, and I can't get much more out of LR adjustments than the camera can itself do. THe lens is what makes this camera, wide, plus...f/2 - 2.8, nad quite sharp!!! Enjoy!

 

[Merkin]

I have the D-lux 3, and if I shot more digital, I would upgrade. The 4 has answered almost all of the things that I don't particularly like about the 3. If you don't need shallow DOF, and you want a camera that will almost, but not quite, fit in a pack of cigarettes, the D-lux is a fantastic choice. Has the 4 improved the fiddly manual focus issues from the 3?

 

[novum]

I was looking at the latest issue of LFI today, and though it's attractive in its own right, it's basically an expensive Leica ad. Am I way off base in saying so?

 

[NoTx]

You know, the only difference I have been able to verify is as follows:

1. Leica has a longer warranty.
2. Leica has a much more advanced software.
3. Some software has been shown to be cripled to only work for the Leica (may or may not still occur).
4. Different styling.
5. Higher resale value expectation for the Leica.

Honestly... for a few hundred more, it is worth it IMHO. For more than $200 more? I really don't think it is... but YMMV.

You know, honestly,

 

[boy_lah]

I wrote a micro review here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/glass_and_tubes/3200357551/

 

[Cron]

I had the d-lux3 and changed to the d-lux4. Reason was the lens which really is fantstic even wide open and used indoors in poor light! Wide open, 1/8sec and 400iso the camera produces really great pics. D-lux3 was poor in similar conditions. Today's evening I will visit an concert and will see what the camera is capable of doing.

 

[BillP]

3. Some software has been shown to be cripled to only work for the Leica (may or may not still occur).

That's a new one?! Those dastardly cunning Germans!

Can you provide a source? Proof? Or is it just hearsay? Honestly, if you can see a material difference in the outputs from the two cameras that cannot be accounted for by exposure variance or photoshopping you are a better man than I am.

I have the D-Lux 4, having previously had the FX-2 and 1. My choice was largely based on the availability of the accessory grip for the D-Lux, for I have large hands.

I use mine with a SBOOI which closely approximates the FOV of the lens at 60mm. I would welcome a firmware update that provides the option to default the lens at this setting, since this is where I use it most of the time.

As for the performance, I agree with the comments about the quality of the jpegs. I shoot dynamic b&w with +1/3 to +2/3 of exposure comp @iso400 to get a halfway decent Tri-X impersonation.

BTW the lens cap came from a bargain bin at a camera fair. Since I picked up two for 50p I don't care if I lose it. The original is back in the box.


Regards,

Bill

 

[Rob-F]

I went for the D-Lux 4. It matches my D-Lux 3. You can't take it with you, and I wanted to make sure I wasn't missing out out on anything the Leica firmware might do for me.

I just shot with both of them in France and Helsinki, can't wait to download and see how the shots look.

A great camera--you won't be disappointed!

 

[wblanchard]

So far I've enjoyed the camera. I do miss my Digilux 2 though, but i've been so happy with the way it does jpegs. i dont need to shoot raw anymore, it seems to post process everything correctly inside the camera for me. The only think i use now is Adobe CS4 for some curve adjustments or photo filter effects. But honestly, one week with the camera and so far everything seems spot on.

 

[wblanchard]

I ordered this EWA-marine UW housing for it this week. Since I'm planning to go down to the Everglades, I really didnt want to drop the camera into the swamp water. The specs say it will fit the camera. And the price is pretty reasonable.

 

[wblanchard]

I bought the D-lux 4 over the Panasonic branded version mainly because of the warranty and the Leica brand will always hold its value. If i ever want to resell it in the future I will still get a great price on it because of the name.

 

[jaap]

That Leica D-lux4 is more japanese than Toyota is. Even the lens is Panasonic.

 

[NoTx]

That's a new one?! Those dastardly cunning Germans!

Can you provide a source? Proof? Or is it just hearsay? Honestly, if you can see a material difference in the outputs from the two cameras that cannot be accounted for by exposure variance or photoshopping you are a better man than I am.

Well, Capture One appears to support not a single Panasonic RAW file. And if you take a look around you will find people trying to find a way around it. Actually, to me.. this is kind of a big deal🙂

http://www.phaseone.com/home/Conten...2045&languageid=1&layoutid=SupportSite - Main

 

[wblanchard]

Well, Capture One appears to support not a single Panasonic RAW file. And if you take a look around you will find people trying to find a way around it. Actually, to me.. this is kind of a big deal🙂

http://www.phaseone.com/home/Conten...2045&languageid=1&layoutid=SupportSite - Main

I found a response to this on a forum elsewhere. Someone wrote to them and asked about Panasonic LX3 support. Here was the reply:

"this camera is not supported and most likely will not be supported in future as our partnership with Leica prohibits us from delivering support to this camera."

Thank you very much for your understanding and for contacting us.
With kind regards,

Jakub
Phase One Technical Support