MDJ Posted November 11, 2009 Share #1 Posted November 11, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) I am struggling because like many have to choose between the D-lux4 or LX3. I have used many cameras in the past such as Contax 35mm, Rollieflex GX and Fuji 645Zi. All which I used Agfa BW film. I loved the contrast it gave me. Then I switched to digital and bought the D200 which I used for three years. Never was happy with it. For years I wanted a M camera but never had one, When the M8 came out it was above my price range but I love the Leica glass. When the D-lux4 came out I read the review Jim Radcliff put out and was impressed with the quality the camera could produce. Now the LX3 is less money but I know many of you chose the D-lux4 instead. I belioeve I will also but would like to know if D-lux is truley a good choice over the LX3. I believe the raw software is better but are the Jpegs better? Monte Johnson. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 11, 2009 Posted November 11, 2009 Hi MDJ, Take a look here What is the Draw to D-lux4. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Bo_Lorentzen Posted November 11, 2009 Share #2 Posted November 11, 2009 I have the D-lux4 its awesome, but I can't honestly say that it produces better JPG's than the LX3. I use lightroom so the raw processing software don't particularly bother me. . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDJ Posted November 11, 2009 Author Share #3 Posted November 11, 2009 Thank Bo, I would like to have light room but don't have. I just feel it is not a waste to buy the Leica over the LX3. Most of the time I shoot raw but like to know Jpeg quality is good right out of the camera. That is a real plus. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
griffster Posted November 11, 2009 Share #4 Posted November 11, 2009 I'm quite certain the two cameras are 100% identical ('cept for the styling of course, oh and the warranty). I chose the 'Lux because I could buy it for the price of an LX3 (shipped it over from the States). Actually the LX3's manual is way better than the Leica one, but that's a free download from Panasonic's website so you could still get the 'Lux. Jpg's seem fine to me, but that's because I'm a n00b. Have you considered the GF-1? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDJ Posted November 11, 2009 Author Share #5 Posted November 11, 2009 I have considered the GF1 but decided I just want a camera I can carry all the time with me. The D-lux seemed to fit that.plan. The other reason is I hope to have a M8 next year if prices drop enough. For several years I printed and sold prints at art shows, but here in the midwest things are not good for many people so I have decided just to have fun and enjoy taking pictures. I am hoping the D-lux4 will produce good 11x14 prints mostly for my own purpose. I do BW. and the BW modes interest me. I understand the sensor size and all the factors here so that was one of the things that made it hard for me to decide. The GF1 looked good there.I just wanted a little Leica even if it is made by Panasonic. I have thought about the X1 but feel it has to offer a lot for that price and I am not sure I could justify that in my mind. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsrockit Posted November 11, 2009 Share #6 Posted November 11, 2009 The d-lux4 produces quality images, but it is not really a leica in feel. It is still just a point and shoot. Don't give up on getting an M and / or the X1. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDJ Posted November 11, 2009 Author Share #7 Posted November 11, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) I am drawn towards the X1. Just cannot afford to get it right now. One of my thoughts were if I could not get the M camera next year the D-lux would be worth more to trade for an X1. The X1 looked good when I was putting together the price of an M8 plus 35mm lens.If I can get the LX3 than it might be better to save the 200.00 towards either camera. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
griffster Posted November 11, 2009 Share #8 Posted November 11, 2009 Have you seen this thread? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
regedit Posted November 11, 2009 Share #9 Posted November 11, 2009 from technical point of view is the same camera. yes, leica have a better processing engine for out of the camera jpg but not quite significant differences. from personal point of view u get a leica, you get a warranty of leica and probably you will resell a leica. and u have a red dot on camera case, and most likely you will smile after every picture taken because you'll enjoy your leica. now, only YOU can decide if you want to pay extra $ for your personal smile. my answer is that I did. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted November 11, 2009 Share #10 Posted November 11, 2009 Practical answers. I have had a number of panasonics in the past, Including an LXI-1 and LX-2. I still have, love and use my LC-1. There is no discernable difference in the output that cannot be matched by tweaking the settings. I can get Panasonic equipment cheap through my company, but I still chose to go with the D-Lux 4 this time around. Why? The key for me was the transformation in handling resulting from fitting the Leica handgrip. That, combined with the 3 year warranty, was the decider for me. I have large hands and the grip, combined with a Pandabase adaptor, makes the D-Lux 4 handle like a much larger camera. Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDJ Posted November 11, 2009 Author Share #11 Posted November 11, 2009 Yes Griffster I did read that thread this morning. I found the camera quite interesting. I will follow that one to see how it does. The sample images look very good. Thanks for your input Regedit I feel the D-lux4 would make me smile. My images I produce are important to me. bringing across in the final image what I see makes me happy. Shooting BW sometimes gives you the avaibility to use images you would discard in color. Still the fact remains I like good contrast. This has always drawn me towards the Leica glass. I used Zeiss lens on my Contax and Rollieflex GX and with the combination of Agfa APX100 i was very happy. Changing to digital was furstrating to say the least. I felt images were flat. Well I have gained some ground in the last three years so I feel I can pull the best image the D-lux4 can produce with what I have learned. My heart is on the M9 but it is not in near future. So an M8 might be a real possibility next year. For now I just need to be happy with what I can afford. Thanks Bill for sharing what your experience has been. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDJ Posted November 11, 2009 Author Share #12 Posted November 11, 2009 One other camera I considered was the DP2. Does anyone here have one. The image quality got my attension but the reviews have made me shy away. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalina Posted November 11, 2009 Share #13 Posted November 11, 2009 I am struggling because like many have to choose between the D-lux4 or LX3. I have used many cameras in the past such as Contax 35mm, Rollieflex GX and Fuji 645Zi. All which I used Agfa BW film. I loved the contrast it gave me. Then I switched to digital and bought the D200 which I used for three years. Never was happy with it. For years I wanted a M camera but never had one, When the M8 came out it was above my price range but I love the Leica glass. When the D-lux4 came out I read the review Jim Radcliff put out and was impressed with the quality the camera could produce. Now the LX3 is less money but I know many of you chose the D-lux4 instead. I belioeve I will also but would like to know if D-lux is truley a good choice over the LX3. I believe the raw software is better but are the Jpegs better? Monte Johnson. I've owned both (and kept my D-Lux 4) and can admit that there is very little difference in JPEG quality between the two, but for what I do, even if there is a 1% difference, that is critical to me, so it was important that I work with the best and the D-Lux 4 was the best of the two. I will admit, however, that the LX3 is easier to grip than the D-Lux 4, so be sure to buy a grip accessory for your D-Lux 4 if you go with it. Panasonic seems to release its updates faster than Leica. The one big advantage the LX3 has. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDJ Posted November 11, 2009 Author Share #14 Posted November 11, 2009 Thanks Kalina, I am not a professional but I believe my standards are there so it is also important to be if there is even a slight edge between the two. One of the things that attract to the D-lux4 is the image quality for such a small camera. You helped me here. Thanks again. Monte Johnson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDJ Posted November 11, 2009 Author Share #15 Posted November 11, 2009 I made a choice a minute ago. I was waiting to see where my value was for my D200. I found out it has lost value by several hundred in the last few months so I went for the LX3. Reason being I plan on either the X1 next year or the M8 with 35. I hope my choice was not wrong. I will probably invest in lightroom when I can. For the most part I believe the D-lux4 has a slight edge over the LX3 but in my current status the LX3 will have to do. I will follow future treads here and I am sure I will have many question to be answered. Thank you all for your kindness in sharing your thoughts and experience. Monte Johnson. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicefor88 Posted November 18, 2009 Share #16 Posted November 18, 2009 Life's short and full of frustration! Make yourself a favour: buy the d lux 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maggie_O Posted November 18, 2009 Share #17 Posted November 18, 2009 IMO, Capture One is far, far superior to any other RAW processor, so the D-Lux 4 would get the nod from me, because you can use C1. Especially if shooting B&W, because Jamie's profiles are just so good and work like a dream in C1. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlbertoDeRoma Posted November 19, 2009 Share #18 Posted November 19, 2009 Life's short and full of frustration!Make yourself a favour: buy the d lux 4 Second that. Even if the Panasonic and the Leica are 100% the same internally, I was immediately drawn to the aesthetics of the D-Lux 4. I knew that if I had gone for the Panasonic, I'd be second-guessing my decision. The couple of hundred dollars difference was worth it for me, but I can see why other people may think it's a silly thing. All I know, is that I am having fun and enjoying this camera more than any other I've owned (including some $2K+ DLSRs.) Possibly because I take it everywhere, but I take it everywhere because it works so well, it's easy to carry, and it just plain makes me happy using it. Alberto P.S. By analogy, I feel the same about the Mini Cooper, BTW. That car puts a smile on my face every time I see it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
griffster Posted November 19, 2009 Share #19 Posted November 19, 2009 Yes, D-Lux is nice, but I was at a party last week shooting photos with my DL4 and lo and behold there was another guy with an LX3. The feeling was, I dunno, a bit queasy? Of course we got along fine (he's my stepmom's uncle, a real sweet guy from France), but for some reason I felt a bit apologetic for paying so much more for the same camera. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlbertoDeRoma Posted November 19, 2009 Share #20 Posted November 19, 2009 Yes, D-Lux is nice, but I was at a party last week shooting photos with my DL4 and lo and behold there was another guy with an LX3. The feeling was, I dunno, a bit queasy? Of course we got along fine (he's my stepmom's uncle, a real sweet guy from France), but for some reason I felt a bit apologetic for paying so much more for the same camera. Griffster, There's a good chance that the other guy felt a bit jealous . I think we should also put this into perspective. We are talking about a $250 dollar difference. It's not a heck of a lotta money in a hobby where people drop $5,000 for just a body. The D-Lux 3 is still minor league – at least in terms of price. I don't think it even breaks in at the bottom of the list of conspicuous consumption purchases . Alberto Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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