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Which flash for D LUX 5?


Guntis

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Good morning! Just wonder - which external flash I can use for my DLUX 5? Should I buy Leica brand or it's OK with Panasonic, or Olympus? Thank you for advice.

By the way - owned Pany LX 5, sold and bought DLUX 5 - the picture is obviously BETTER. I guess this is due to software.

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Panasonic flash units are designed for the LX5 or D-Lux 5 for optimal functionality. Why would you want to use an Olympus flash since they are designed for optimal use on an Olympus?

 

And what's your criteria to say images from the D-Lux 5 are better or worse? Why is the benchmark "Better" obvious? Seems to be a very broad statement without any empirical data.

Edited by Walt Calahan
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OK, it's clear more or less about the flash, local dealers say: well, take Oly, use Forced flash and go to avoid too much "thinking". Ok? But I am not sure about it, let's wait until others share their opinions.

Just bought a grip and Manfrotto 3pod, I shoot ruins in the dark as my hobby, and smiling faces and handshakes asy job. NEED GOOD SWIWEL FLASHGUN!

Reagarding dlux5 better than my new dlux5 - what can I say? You guys are technical, go to other sites. Leica wins in sharpness, brilliance and...3D.

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Gun, welcome to the forum!

 

You mentioned in passing that you think D-Lux 5 pictures are better than LX5 pictures, and now a few posters are yelling that you should prove your opinion, fer cryin' out loud. This place isn't usually that rude, and I apologize for us. :o

 

 

To return to the question: The Panasonic units designed for the LX5 will definitely work on the D-Lux 5. I think the Olympus and LX5/D-Lux 5 flash electronics are identical. I think there was some mention of that fact here on the forum. Use the search function and look for "Olympus" or "D-Lux 4" or "flash," because it's been a while.

 

You might also check the Metz site, since they make flashes that emulate just about every manufacturer's electronics. If they show that the same flash unit that works with Olympus also works with D-Lux and Panasonic, that would probably mean that the Olympus units would work with the D-Lux 5.

 

Good luck, and let us know what you find out!

Edited by ho_co
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Thanks for welcome, ho_co! These guys are not that rude, I am used to really rude attitudes :)

Even being small, my dlux5 is excellent tiny masterpiece, it offers that Leica look they talk about. How to prove it? Perhaps overall brilliance of the picture says. I use EOS 5 mk 2 with all those great L lenses, but that tiny small dlux5 just gives me all pain relief I need in my old age...52. I remember old days with R7 plus several lenses I could afford, and the best summilux 85/1,2 - portraits had that 3D look...

By brilliance I mean relation between "almost black" to "almost white" no other lens manufacturer has reached.

Perhaps these humble thoughts of mine would better fut into thread "leica look" above, but what has been, stays where it fits best.

Again, thank you for welcome ank kindness :)

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Thanks for welcome, ho_co! These guys are not that rude, I am used to really rude attitudes :)

Even being small, my dlux5 is excellent tiny masterpiece, it offers that Leica look they talk about. How to prove it? Perhaps overall brilliance of the picture says. I use EOS 5 mk 2 with all those great L lenses, but that tiny small dlux5 just gives me all pain relief I need in my old age...52. I remember old days with R7 plus several lenses I could afford, and the best summilux 85/1,2 - portraits had that 3D look...

By brilliance I mean relation between "almost black" to "almost white" no other lens manufacturer has reached.

Perhaps these humble thoughts of mine would better fut into thread "leica look" above, but what has been, stays where it fits best.

Again, thank you for welcome ank kindness :)

 

I really hate to tell you, NO I don't, The LX5 and the DLux5 are the exact same camera using the exact same lens, made/produced/manufactured by Panasonic in Japan to specs laid out by both Leica and Panasonic and OK'ed by Leica, and internal hardware and software. This has been stated by the head of Leica.

 

If by a software difference that you stated in a previous post you mean developing software, Lightroom, well anyone can buy that and if you have been using a computer and digital, or even film, cameras for any length of time I would expect you to have either Lightroom or Photoshop which use the same RAW processing engines.

 

So until you can post examples from both cameras of the same subject using the same camera settings I'll take your claims as trolling looking for a reaction. Which you have gotten from me and others.

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Well, yes, you're right asking samples to compare. My problem is that i sold pany and therefore I can't reply with proper answer. OK, you won :), they both are the same and i just can't prove the opposite...

Perhaps I - being newcomer in this forum - acted against rules. Saying smth without proof.the only thing left is - to post very nice dlux5 shots to calm down spirits :) Thank you for reminding me that simple truth.

Only one final word in this regard - there is strong myth about that difference. Very very strong myth. And sometimes thd myth makes you believe it's truth. That's part if being a legend. And Leica is a legend no diubt. Consequently - a myth.

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... they both are the same and i just can't prove the opposite...

 

No no, they are REALLY NOT the same. So Guntis, YOU are right!

 

 

I wanna say frankly, without offending somone special: Every time since the days of Digilux 2 I read again and again the same silly and boring discussion of PanaLeica, the pro and cons of buying this or that version. When you see the Digilux 2, one can say when you look and know how Japanese companies like Panasonic do their production of cameras, you can see what they do - it is completely different from the way Leica do.

And one can see that the good old girl Digilux 2 was a real Leica, the original, and the Panasonic version was the "clone". It is a camera where one can see in many details there were Leica engeneers ideas were realised - well: produced in Japan, but with ideas and detail from Leica. In these days Leica has sure the knowledge to do a new Digilux 2 (for an affordable price) also here in Germany - just look what they did when you see X1, which is fantastic!

 

And now when you seriously look at the LX5 - a really uncommen camera for that company! Because it has a kind of history - it is a line (LX3, LX2). When you see the quickly model change of the other cameras of Panasonic and the whole actual portfolio, the LX5 is really a little specific, not a "normal" Panasonic IMHO. When I see both cameras standing side by side at the shop, always the Leica version atttracts me more - because there is the fact, that it is a camera looking very spartanic, and HIDING the gimmicks built in (fortunately) which one sure expect on a compact camera from Japan.

 

So I say the D-Lux 5 / LX-5 is a camera which would never have been built in that way by Panasonic if they do the job alone - and also not by Leica if they do it alone. It is a child of both - and both customers - the LX5 buyer AND the D-Lux 5 buyer, gets benefits. For me it is really not interesting where it is built - if the QC system works!

 

 

 

I posted in another thread the statement, that also one can say an M9 is not a real Leica because some inner parts of the cam (sensor, electronic parts) are made in US or Japan, even the body is mounted in Portugal, and "only" the finishing and end control is made in Solms? Noone would say this - and that is sure ok. Hey, we live in modern times, hwere "global manufacturing" is normal! I count on quality, and I get the quality (and expect it) when I buy a camera with the red dot - if it costs 5000 Euro or 500.

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There is one major difference between the two...

 

D-LUX 5 ($800):

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/736234-USA/Leica_18151_D_LUX_5_Digital_Camera.html

 

DMC-LX5 ($418)

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/723288-REG/Panasonic_DMC_LX5K_Lumix_DMC_LX5_Digital_Camera.html

 

I wanted to buy one today, and in the process of checking around, I went directly to the Panasonic website, where it was listed for only $375. Surprised, I called B&H, spoke to a supervisor, and shortly after, he placed my order for $375. I noticed a while later that the website price at B&H had been lowered to $375, matching the price direct from Panasonic. This was earlier today. I just checked, and B&H is now set at $418, and the price on the Panasonic website is still $375, including their $125 discount from the $500 list price.

 

 

DMC-LX5 ($375)

http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-electronics/shop/Cameras-Camcorders/Digital-Cameras/Lumix-Digital-Cameras/model.DMC-LX5K_11002_7000000000000005702

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I'm hoping it arrives before Friday, so can get to try it out over the upcoming weekend.

 

I spent a lot of time a month ago comparing the version from Leica with the version from Panasonic. While they are not absolutely identical, as far as I can tell the differences have nothing much to do with the function of the camera. The shape is slightly different at one end, and one has a red badge on it. Operational specs, lens, features - I didn't notice anything that would cause me to buy one or the other.

 

I neither need nor want the red dot on the front. I'd rather the camera not have any name at all, for that matter. I'm amazed that for the price B&H asks for the expensive version, I can buy two of the other version, and have money left over.

 

 

Since it's a joint venture, I assume that when you buy either version, it benefits both Panasonic AND Leica, which is good. If anyone want to order one tomorrow, open up the web page from Panasonic, then call B&H and ask them to match the price. You'll then get the lowest price, with no additional charge for shipping. You don't pay tax with the order if you buy from B&H (but you need to pay the taxes later on when you file your tax returns). Or, just order directly from Panasonic. I don't know if it's possible to buy the Leica version for less money - B&H usually has competitive pricing compared to everyone else, and they're dead reliable, so be careful if you find one for less somewhere else.

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Lumix or Leica - I didn't know that this is such a hot issue when I mentioned my preference. OK, i tell you my arguments against Pany. Perhaps it was not a good copy, you say.

1. Flrsh never worked as "forced f", other flash settings pk.

2. What was that ... blooming? Looks like huge pixels around people's head on video (sometimes). Were this people disliked by the camera???

3. Rather pale picture with same settings i use Leica now ,

4. Grainy / noisy compared with Leica.

Perhaps I had bad copy, I don't know. In my country everything is possible even with authirized dealers. My copy was the fitst available and sold in the city.

I bought my Leica from another dealer, everything works fine. Spent whole day shooting sniw today

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After reading so many reviews, by so many different people, I think it's most likely that for some unknown reason, you had a camera with problems. (What country are you in??) I've gone through that with Nikon, having bought a D2h a while back that had all sorts of problems, which eventually got replaced by Nikon.

 

I think there are too many emotions in these discussions - someone spending $800 for something is going to want to believe they've gotten something "more" than the fellow spending half as much for the same thing with a different name. For me, the question is a lot simpler.... at $800 I wouldn't be buying anything new. I'd continue to use my SD870-IS (which I bought as a "demo").

 

 

I'm not sure if it applies to you or not, but I've gotten to help a whole lot of people who were dis-satisfied with their camera. They've had a wide range of complaints. In practically every case, it came down to someone having set something incorrectly in the menu, and once that was fixed, all was well again. The first thing I now try to do to get someone else's camera to work better, is set it back to "factory settings".

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I am from Riga, Latvia, and I know very well that service people in R stay miles away from real needs of humble clients, they just look at you and say smth like "well, let's see etc". In country like mine - where we are killed by financial crisis and taxes - people and services are dishonest, pity of course. Have many times to the States, you guys work different, and in this regard i just envy . Also there is nice tiny Leica / Nikon shop in downtown Copenhagen DK, the guy FLEW TO RIGA to bring me the required :confused:me Summilux.

What I wanted to say?

These faults I described above may sound like matrix caused except the flash of course. The camera shoud've been changed by the company. But I need camera, not endless waiting when service is done.

So - did I sell that "first etc in the city" to another member of the fan club? Yes, I did. But I told that guy about those faults and he was happy for what he got, after all - for 1/2 price and warranty papers.

Needless to say, we BOTH were happy.

My apologies for telling all this and taking your time. My hope is that the forum is for those who enjoy stories - both written and read. Aftr all, it's part of the "Leica culture", right?

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Guntis, I dunno. I don't feel like I'm part of any "Leica culture". To me, it's just one more camera out of many. A lifetime ago my photography instructors beat it into my head that the camera was just a tool, and the only thing that counted was the photos you produce with it. It's like a wrench, for a mechanic. By itself, it is nothing - it's what you do with it.

 

I found this forum when I had almost decided to buy a digital Leica. I missed some of the things that I used to enjoy doing with my M2 and M3 cameras. What persuaded me the most to go ahead with what I wanted, was reading this:

A Critic at Large: Candid Camera : The New Yorker

Anyway, I like the size and weight of an "M" camera, rather than lugging around my huge DSLR. Now that I've got my M8.2, it does a lot of what I want, but there are some things it was never intended to do, that I still use my DSLR for, such as sports.

 

Last Halloween there was a huge "street party" close to where I live, and I wanted to go out and blend into the crowd, trying to capture what was going on. The DSLR would have been great for photos, but too big for me to blend in, and it probably would have been "in the way". The M8 would have been perfect if this was in daylight, but at night? For that, I'd need flash sometimes. Anyway, I used my small Canon P&S, which did fine. Then I entered this discussion topic here, because I thought there might have been a way to use the M8 that I wasn't aware of. I suspect that if I bought one of the Leica flash units, that might have done a lot of what I wanted..... Here's the link:

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m8-forum/148917-getting-p-s-low-light-flash.html

 

It sounds like Riga is a terrible place to be a "small guy" in financial dealings. I've never been there, but I guess if you don't have much of a choice in where to shop, the shops can do as they wish with you - they've got all the leverage. You first bought the Panasonic in Riga? Was it a "sealed box", or was it a camera that others had held in their hands? Might it have been a camera that someone else bought before you did, and returned it to the shop? Might the shop owner have used it first? Even if you did bring it in to get it fixed, is there even anyone there who is experienced at working with this camera? If it was the "first in the city", that's another potential problem.

 

 

As I see it, there's no need for anyone posting here to have any apologies for taking my time, as I enjoy reading these stories. I read up for a year before buying the M8, and I read up for a month before buying my P&S Canon. For me, the last time I checked, Canon and Panasonic/Leica were tied, as both had a 24mm equivalent lens. The tie-breaker was the smaller size of the Canon. Now the Canon is out because of the lack of 24mm, and the "tie breaker" (keep what I've got or get new) is the greatly improved video capability of the Leica/Panasonic.

 

(All this time I'm thinking that IF the lens is as good as my 50 year old Leica lenses are, since the rest of the thing is essentially a box that holds the film/sensor behind the lens, I expect to be very satisfied with it. I won't know that for another few days....)

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I have 2 flashes for my D-Lux 5. Leica's CF22 and Metz's 58 AF-1. One is small (relativity speaking-for when a smaller and lighter flash is wanted) and the other powerful and with the secondary reflector does away with "raccoon eyes" and shadows under the chin when bouncing the main light...works for me.

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