Lc5

[@bumac]

I'm looking for a a cheap camera for my daughter? Could a second hand LC5 be a solution? What do you think? Anybody knows where I could get one?

[albertwang]

Leica User Forum is your best bet.

[sean_reid]

I went through the same decision process in late 2005 and ended buying a Canon G2 and an LC5. The latter is a good camera but ultimately, the G2 ended up being a more flexible tool and my 10 year old daughter preferred it. So the LC5 was returned.

Cheers,

Sean

[rob_x2004]

Ordinary as it might sound, the G2 is still a pretty usable little beast, and quite convenient too, with a flippable rotatable LCD and an IR self timer shutter release.

[sean_reid]

Originally Posted by rob_x2004

Ordinary as it might sound, the G2 is still a pretty usable little beast, and quite convenient too, with a flippable rotatable LCD and an IR self timer shutter release.

Yes, the G2 is an excellent little camera. I'm surprised by it again and again.

Cheers,

Sean

[dugby]

I recently went through this exercise at the same time as Sean, and we compared ideas.

My daughter was 14, and I bought a LC5 for about US$200 for her.

It's a brilliant camera for budding photographers because of the Optical viewfinder.

In isolation the the images are very good, but as I have a D2, I was quite surprised with the quality difference between them. (Just so that any readers do not know, the printed D2 images are many times better than the LC5), so I was quite glad I didn't buy the higher much priced D1.

There was quite a bit of conjecture in the old Leica forum, that the lens on a D1, LC5 and G2 are exactly the same.....(someone knows, but won't tell us....) They look the same from the outside....and have identical specs.....

If I was faced with the same decision today, I'd probably still get a LC5 for my daughter.
It's images are still so much better than the mini-compact P&S available today. (with the exclusion of some of the new DL2 and presumably DL3)

The LC5 will allow children to learn to avoid camera shake, about slow shutter speeds etc
and size wise, fits in small hands just right.

The fact that you've started this thread, leads me to believe you already have worked out that the D1/LC5/G2 is a fanatstic tool for digital photography learners....

Go get one....

[earleygallery]

I have an LC5 - the lens is identical to the D1 of course and its the same construction as the G2 but probably not the same coatings.

I'd ask what your daughter wants to do - does she just want a P&S and to print direct or is she interested in learning about photography (manual settings, photoshop etc).

The LC5 is capable of excellent results but you need to use in on low settings and adjust in photoshop to get the best out of it. Use the standard settings and print direct and you might be disappointed. I don't know how it compares to the Canon in this respect.

Regards

[@bumac]

Thank you for your help. I think I will look for a economical LC5. I hope I will find one.

[dugby]

Originally Posted by earleygallery

The LC5 is capable of excellent results but you need to use in on low settings and adjust in photoshop to get the best out of it. Use the standard settings and print direct and you might be disappointed.

Regards

Hey James, I'd really like to tweak my daughter's LC5, can you give some explicit examples
of what to do to optimise the shooting ...

We're aware of the usual, 'avoid camera shake', but are there EV, WB settings and aperature and shutter speeds that are better..?

Have you found the sweet spot focal length for the zoom

What are some of the subtle 'don't do' that you've learnt with the LC5

Many thanks, Dugby in Australia

[earleygallery]

Dugby,

I mostly followed LCT's advice for the D1. I put all settings on Low (sharpness, saturation, contrast) and shoot at maximum quality settings/lowest ISO, using one of the auto modes but never A which is fully auto and can override the ISO setting.

Then I make adjustments in photoshop. I must admit I usually shoot jpeg with it but you could use TIFF for greater quality (but much less shots per card of course).

A4 prints are fine and I've printed to A3 which has come out OK. It actually makes a very good portrait camera, the unique quality of the LC5/D1 images lend themselves well to flattering the subject.

Regards