V-Lux 3 VRS D-Lux 5?

[leicagal66]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Hello, I just sold my Canon 7D. It was a great camera, but very heavy and I was tired of changing lenses all the time. I have been wanting a Leica for some time and now is my chance. I am looking for a lighter camera, but still want the DSLR feel and versatility. I was thinking either the D-Lux 5 or V-Lux 3. Can anyone offer me some insight into these 2 cameras? I will be using the camera mainly for product shots, some macro and a general vacation camera.

 

Thanks,

 

Kim

[stuny]

My R8/DMR and favorite lens lingered at Leica service longer than expected or promised (a rarity in my experience) so they kindly lent me a V Lux 2 to take to Antarctica and NW Argentina. I got generally very good results from this smallish, light camera with a huge zoom range (25-600 mm 35 equivalent). However, I found two shortcomings with the camera: Manual focus is very difficult and clunky to use (I gave up on it for those times I could not use autofocus), and low light performance is significantly inferior to my Digilux 2. I even took a few video sequences of penguin behavior and leopard seal behavior (good results), as well as 10 or so frames per second still photo experiments.The V Lux 3 you’re considering has a new sensor. Maybe that improves low light performance. I have no idea whether they’ve improved manual focus. Other than those caveats I can recommend the camera. If they addressed those two issues I’d seriously consider buying one, even though my beloved DMR/R8 are home again. Which reminds me, I must send back the loaner tonight.

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[johndorr]

I have the Dlux 5 and am very happy with it. Last year I bought the Vlux 2 to get the zoom capabilities. I returned it because it did not come up to the Dlux 5. Recently I purchased the Vlux 3 and the improvement is remarkable. The sharpness at full zoom equals the Dlux 5. I have not tried the manual focus or low light capabilities. I will have trouble deciding which to take on a trip! Hope this helps.

 

John

[NZDavid]

The D-Lux 5 image quality is quite remarkable for a small sensor camera, easily up to publication standards unless you want to make giant poster sized prints. It's much better at low ISOs, usable at 400 to 800, OK for gritty street scenes at 1600. Fast handling. Really compact. Very versatile, but won't do everything. Ideal for travel. Good for product shots and macro, but beware of the extreme DOF. This can be an advantage in some situations, like landscapes, however.

[adan]

They are vastly different cameras.

 

V-Lux 3 - "SLR" form factor (but lighter weight), huge zoom range "25mm-600mm", built-in eye-level electronic finder, folding/flipping LCD on the back

 

D-Lux 5 - pocketable compact P&S shape, small 3.75x zoom range "24mm-90mm", very fast lens (f/2 - f/3.3). EVF is an optional accesory, adding bulk and cost.

 

The Dlux 5's "24mm" is even wider than the V-Lux's "25mm" than the numbers suggest - when using formats other than the basic 4:3 picture shape. The V-Lux simply crops from 4:3, throwing away "wideness" and pixels. The D-Lux uses an oversized sensor using different sets of pixels for each format, and thus retains a wider view in 16:9 (still or video) or 3:2 picture shapes.

 

If you want a longer-than-"90mm" lens for sports, sunsets, cityscapes, wildlife, etc., the D-Lux won't get you there. If you mostly stay in the shorter focal lengths and like wider views, the D-Lux has a faster lens and smaller size.

 

For macro/product shots, I'm not sure which is better. Both focus to 1 cm (1/2") at the wide end of the zooms, but "24/25mm" is not the ideal focal length for product shots. At in-between focal lengths, Leica's specs are vague, but the D-Lux seems to focus to about 1 foot at 90mm, which should be adequate for studio tabletops.

[leicagal66]

Thanks everyone for your information. It is very kind of you. I decided to take the plunge and just received my V-Lux 3 today. I will give it a shot and let you know how it works in low light and in the different picture formats. I plan on testing it at the zoo this weekend and I will post some shots.

 

Thanks again!

 

Kim

[stefano60]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

just saw this; i had both cameras and sold both of them, even though they are very good.

 

the v-lux has an unbelievable zoom range, so if that is your thing, you will thoroughly enjoy it.

the d-lux is very portable and handy; if it had a built in viewfinder, it would be an excellent camera.

 

both have small sensors, so there are limits to their IQ, which is still remarkable.

 

coming from a full size dslr, i think you made the right choice, you will feel more 'at home' with the v-lux.

 

enjoy it

[stuny]

Kim -

 

I look forward to seeing your images and learning how well the camera does with low light, and if you can easily manual focus this version of it.

[leicagal66]

Thanks everyone for your responses. Here are a few first quick pictures from the V-Lux 3.

These are full resolution, straight from the camera.

 

The stamp is a hand-held macro shot, 4.5mm, ISO 100, 1/60 sec at f/2.8.

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l535/kimmyflorida/L1000042.jpg

 

The car shot: 4.5mm, ISO 100 1/2000 at f/4.5

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l535/kimmyflorida/L1000125.jpg

 

Tail light: 108mm, ISO 100, 1/640 at f/5.2

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l535/kimmyflorida/L1000126.jpg

 

Not too bad for the little guy. I am pretty impressed. Easy menu, takes very clear shots, the zoom works well and the hand-held macro is excellent, probably due to the built in Power OIS image stabiliser. I will take some macro shots outside to test bokeh and manual focus, and post them with a low light test later.

 

Kim