Panny DMC-LS5, or Leica D-Lux 5?

[Rob-F]

I already owned a D-Lux 3 when I walked into the store about 3 years ago and asked for the D-Lux 4. My favorite salesman helpfully asked me if I wouldn't rather have a Panasonic equivalent, the DMC-LS3, for $200 cheaper. "Nah," says I, Leica tweaks the processing to make it more Leica-Like. I better get the Leica." Jim exchanged a knowing glance with another salesman, who said "Well, I wouldn't take that too seriously." I bought the Leica.

So now I have the D-Lux 3 and D-Lux 4, and I'm thinking of a D-Lux 5. But the latter is almost $800. I can get a LS5 for half of that, or even less. So now, I wonder: Is the red dot version really any better? And besides, the Panny has a nice finger grip in front, and the Leica doesn't.

 

[rover]

$400 would buy a lot of film.

Just say'in.

 

[sevo]

So now I have the D-Lux 3 and D-Lux 4, and I'm thinking of a D-Lux 5. But the latter is almost $800. I can get a LS5 for half of that, or even less.

... and your D-Lux 4 and 3 are for free. Why do you need yet another upgrade to your compacts at all, when you already have two perfectly good ones? Overall, there are not that many things a D-Lux 5 can do which a D-Lux 3 can't, and which something else (e.g. a EVIL camera or another lens for your existing cameras) in the same budget range won't do even better...

 

[JMQ]

Hi Rob,

It seems to me that the D-Lux 5 or its Panny twin is marginally better than the D-Lux 4 (slightly longer zoom on the tele side, and better sensor). The D-Lux 5 has been out for almost 2(?) years now. I wonder what the next generation will be like. If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't upgrade now. I have the D-Lux 4 and use if quite a bit when on vacation.

Best, JMQ

 

[Rob-F]

Hi, JMQ! I think you and Sevo may be right. What I have been doing on trips is taking both the 3 and the 4. If I need wide, i take the 4. For long, I take the 3. Maybe I should keep doing that! BTW, when are you moving back to St. Louis so we can go shoot that statue in Forest Park (and lots of other things)?