AlbertoDeRoma Posted November 15, 2009 Share #1 Posted November 15, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) I've spend as much as $3,000 on digital DSLRs (Nikon) but, for some reasons, I never "bonded" with them. They allowed me to take great shots, but their size and concerns about theft or damage kept me from taking them with me most of the time. I was waiting for a compact digital camera with great quality and the flexibility (e.g. fully manual operation) of the DSLR. After reading all the reviews, I decided to take a chance on the D-Lux 4 and I am very glad I did. I've had more fun with this camera than with any other I've owned. This is the first camera where I went through the trouble of reading –*nay – studying the entire manual. I spent hours experimenting with different settings and learning the menu so that they would become second nature. Other people have documented the features and shown plenty of examples of what this little jewel can do, so I am going to focus – pun intended – on what makes this a camera so much fun. 1) Portability. Again, this is huge for me. I am taking the D-Lux everywhere and neither I, nor my subjects, are self conscious when I pull it out to take a picture. I can walk around like a tourist and take great shots of people without them recoiling or hiding as they did when I pointed a DSLR with a big zoom lens at them. 2) Flexibility: Aperture priority, shutter priority, full manual. But my favorite features are the ability to "create" my own film and automatically shoot with 3 different films (usually Normal, B&W Dynamic and one custom.) 3) Creativity: Because of 2), I can exercise creativity in ways that no other compact camera has allowed me to. I can be creative when taking the shots instead of when I am at the computer with Photoshop –*I spend enough time in front of computers every day. 4) Video. Not a core feature, but it's nice to be able to take video when the situation calls for it and not having to bring a video camera to do that. 5) Coolness and pride of ownership. I know it has the guts of a Panasonic, but the black metal body and the little red Leica logo make it much cooler to own than a bland Panasonic. Call me shallow, but it makes a difference in pride of ownership and enjoyment. 6) Build. Perhaps it's the metal body, but it looks and feels like a more expensive camera. 7) Last, but obviously NOT least, quality of the shots. It takes great pictures –*even in fully automatic mode, which I rarely use. When I combine the quality of the shots, the number of shots taken, the fun in taking those shots and using the camera, the D-Lux 4 is –*without a doubt – the best camera investment I've ever made. Thank you for this wonderful forum, I look forward to coming here often. I just wish we had a dedicated D-Lux sub-forum. Alberto Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 15, 2009 Posted November 15, 2009 Hi AlbertoDeRoma, Take a look here I Loooooooove my D-Lux 4. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
farnz Posted November 15, 2009 Share #2 Posted November 15, 2009 Welcome to the forum, Alberto! I'm very glad to hear that you're smitten with your new camera and there are a number of others on this forum who share your enthusiasm for this wonderful camera. Have you considered entering the D-Lux 4/LX-3 Challenge to help you become even more familiar with your DL4? Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkM6 Posted November 15, 2009 Share #3 Posted November 15, 2009 Hi Pete, May I please know, where can I see the past and present entries of this Challenge category? Thank you. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted November 16, 2009 Share #4 Posted November 16, 2009 Hi Pete,May I please know, where can I see the past and present entries of this Challenge category? Thank you. At the bottom right-hand side of this page there is a drop-down box labelled "Forum Jump". Press the arrow on the right-hand side and a list of all the forums on the L-Camera Forum website will appear and towards the bottom you will find a forum called "Challenges / Wettbewerbe"; under that is a sub-forum called "D-Lux 4 Challenge" and under that are sub-sub-forums for each of the D-Lux 4 Challenges that have been run so far. Inside each of these is a thread containing the entries for that Challenge and another thread for the voting and results. Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkM6 Posted November 16, 2009 Share #5 Posted November 16, 2009 Thank you Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicefor88 Posted November 18, 2009 Share #6 Posted November 18, 2009 I feel exactly like you Alberto, I just carry my own "4" everywhere: discreet, user-friendly, good lens, includes many settings, customisation, etc, etc. The leather case is just terrific. I like quality so I've always used Leica, from M4 to M6, now their "little digital brother". Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
h00ligan Posted December 12, 2009 Share #7 Posted December 12, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) I just pulled the trigger and received a 4 after becoming enamored with a war torn 3 that i had traded an inexpensive netbook for. I haven't even really shot anything (taking it with me to a party tomorrow night) but i can already see the advancements from the 3 and I have a feeling I am going to grow to adore this cam.. well at least I hope I do! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
elgenper Posted December 12, 2009 Share #8 Posted December 12, 2009 And, the D-Lux 4 just got a lot better with the new FW that allows it to remember zoom and MF settings when powered down. It´s a great improvement, esp. for "street-type" shooting! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlbertoDeRoma Posted December 12, 2009 Author Share #9 Posted December 12, 2009 I just pulled the trigger and received a 4 after becoming enamored with a war torn 3 that i had traded an inexpensive netbook for. I haven't even really shot anything (taking it with me to a party tomorrow night) but i can already see the advancements from the 3 and I have a feeling I am going to grow to adore this cam.. well at least I hope I do! Congratulations and let us know if love/adoration blossoms for you as it has for many. Like others, I've had many cameras over the years but only a few ignite real passion. I am still amazed by the quality of the pics coming out of this little camera, and I love messing around with all the creative options. Alberto Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
simfan Posted December 12, 2009 Share #10 Posted December 12, 2009 Yes Sir ! I could have written the exact same words Alberto. I feel the same about my D-Lux 4. Last summer, while witnessing sheer perfection when visiting some awesome (US) National Parks, there was something that made this experience complete: a little DLux 4. I shot a few thousand pics, made 3 hours of movie clips on this one tour. Never had any fear this Leica could fail on me in any way. This tool feels like something you should have with you on this or any other journey. I have bonded with it too like you have. Not unlike yourself I have an (-30 year F-) SLR background. And the new FirmWare ? ... made it even more a *must* have gem. I do hope that if Panasonic ever creates an LX5, Leica will be part of it: Leica + Pana is unbeatable. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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