What about the Panasonic Lumix DMC L1/Leica Digilux 3?

[kshapero]

Anybody have any experience with either of these? Seems like a really nice Leica lens? Just wondering if this might appeal to the "digital" in any of us?😉

 

[boilerdoc2]

Pop Photography just reviewed it and raved about the lens - and the camera. Sharp Sharp Sharp!

 

[Burkey]

As a user of the Digilux 2 I really thought that the D3 would be a logical update but that lens is huge. Although the D2 is not a true RF with it's EVF it certainly is sized much like one. The D3 simply looks to bulky for me.

 

[pvdhaar]

As a user of the Digilux 2 I really thought that the D3 would be a logical update but that lens is huge. Although the D2 is not a true RF with it's EVF it certainly is sized much like one. The D3 simply looks to bulky for me.

But isn't it supposed to have interchangable lenses? We're only shown the pictures with the 14-50/2.8-3.5 Vario Elmarit, and that's huge indeed. Question remains whether we'll see compact lenses like 25/2 or so emerge, but if they do, they'll definately make for a more compact package.

 

[pvdhaar]

Oops, I just checked the prices.. Over here, it's €2499 for the Digilux3+VarioElmarit, and €1999 for the Panasonic+VarioElmarit.

I guess I'll make do with the stuff I have..

 

[kshapero]

But isn't it supposed to have interchangable lenses? We're only shown the pictures with the 14-50/2.8-3.5 Vario Elmarit, and that's huge indeed. Question remains whether we'll see compact lenses like 25/2 or so emerge, but if they do, they'll definately make for a more compact package.

A 25/1.4 has just been announced.

 

[kshapero]

Pop Photography just reviewed it and raved about the lens - and the camera. Sharp Sharp Sharp!

I must be mentally challenged. I could not find it.

 

[peterc]

I got to play with the L1 for a while and it's a nice camera.
The price is pretty steep considering you can get a similar Olympus for less than half. And you aren't likely to be able to tell the difference in image quality.
A positive is the 4/3 system which has a fair lens set available. With adapters, Nikon and Canon lenses can be used.
A deal-killer on the Panasonic (for me anyway) is the proprietary battery ... no AA option (something I insist on in a digital camera).

Peter

 

[KoNickon]

I did kind of hope this would have been closer to 10 megapixels -- but 7.5 is probably enough. It does look like a big lens, but is it any larger than other DSLR lenses? (The price of the whole thing is pretty tough to take, though.)

 

[photogdave]

You can also use Olympus OM lenses and there is supposed to be a Leica R adapter in the works.
This camera is WAY nicer than the Olympus version. Most of that extra money is going into the Leica zoom lens, but in the new year they are supposed to be available to buy separately.
I agree it's on the large side and I'm no fan of the small, dimm viewfinder, but the image quality is very, very good.

 

[morgan]

I'm in the middle of making a buying decision on my first digital SLR. I love the L1 rangefinder esque looks, as well as an actual aperature ring and shutter speed dial. It looks and feels like a classic manual camera. It is big though, and heavy, and that lens is large (although smaller than a canon lens of similar specs - that's part of the whole 4/3 lens mount, smaller lenses, smaller sensor). One gripe about the 4/3 is the 2x conversion factor. So a 50mm 4/3 lens gives a FOV of 100mm on a equivalent 35mm camera. That could be problematic for wide angle users. And you have much greater DoF as well (for good or bad, i like the option of a very shallow Dof). The other gripe about all of Panasonic's digitals is high ISO performance. Depending on what you feel is acceptable noise, panny's can get noisy above 400, and very rough at 1600. So it depends on your type of shooting. For us rangefinder types, if you want a RF-like dslr this might be your camera. But I don't know, i'm having trouble pulling the trigger when what I really want is an M8 (which I can't afford). I'm afraid to go with an RD-1 with questionable support and QC. Such decisions...