bwhistance Posted December 13, 2009 Share #1 Posted December 13, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hello, I studied photography at college and studied Cartier Bresson and Robert Frank and so on and always longed for a Leica but could never afford one. I have many SLR's my current one being from FujiFilm and whilst I love them I have always wanted a leica. I am thinking of buying a D-Lux 4 maybe the safari edition. Mainly because I cant afford much more than a D-Lux 4. Just want all of your valued knowledge. Is it worth it? Will I be impressed or will all my years of wanting a leica be dashed? Please give me your reviews your pictures and your thoughts....... Thank you. Ben Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted December 13, 2009 Posted December 13, 2009 Hi bwhistance, Take a look here New to leica and thinking of D-Lux 4?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
griffster Posted December 13, 2009 Share #2 Posted December 13, 2009 It's a great camera with a really fantastic lens, but it's still a small sensor camera so you won't be able to isolate your subjects quite as well unless you get up close. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted December 13, 2009 Share #3 Posted December 13, 2009 Don't waste your money on the Safari Edition, buy a normal one if you want one If you want to see photos, do a sarch in the Photo section or on Flickr. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhoersch Posted December 13, 2009 Share #4 Posted December 13, 2009 If you are thinking of HCB and Robert Frank, and if you really want a Leica don't buy the D-Lux 4 - because it's really a Panasonic with a Leica label. If you want a Leica and can't afford to spend more than what a D-Lux 4 costs go and get a used M3. Then you'll get a chance to find out what a Leica is all about... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bwhistance Posted December 13, 2009 Author Share #5 Posted December 13, 2009 i have been looking through the leica d-lux 4 photo pool on flikr and i must say i am really quite impressed. It seems to deal with light beautifully and the optics seem very good when its used for macro. Thanks for your advice. Please if you have a D-lux 4 let me know how you get on with it. Thanks again. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
elansprint72 Posted December 13, 2009 Share #6 Posted December 13, 2009 If you are thinking of HCB and Robert Frank, and if you really want a Leica don't buy the D-Lux 4 - because it's really a Panasonic with a Leica label. If you want a Leica and can't afford to spend more than what a D-Lux 4 costs go and get a used M3. Then you'll get a chance to find out what a Leica is all about... Great, unbiased, opinion. From what I have seen the D-Lux4 can produce fabulous results in the Leica tradition. There are hundreds of examples on this forum and thousands on Flickr. btw, I do not have one, so no bias on my part. Why buy an M3 when you can get an M2? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted December 14, 2009 Share #7 Posted December 14, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Isn't the correct answer here, buy a Digilux 2 ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezc203 Posted December 14, 2009 Share #8 Posted December 14, 2009 Here is my 2 cents: 1. If money is a concern for you to limit yourself to a D Lux 4, getting the Safari edition is probably not the best idea. $300 extra dollar for an olive green body/silver lens paint job is absurd. 2. It seems that you are set on a digital? Because otherwise I would agree Manfred/Pete and suggest a used earlier M. (I myself have an M4-P and cosmetically she's a little banged up, but mechanically what a beast. She fulfills all my desires .) 3. If you really are only considering digital than a used Digilux 2 or 3 is the way to go. Their only limitation is slightly lower Mpixel count, but unless you're planning to blow your photos to massive prints, its not a huge concern. It's not that I am not impressed with what the D Lux 4 can do, I am. I am very impressed by some of the photos posted by the members here. But its more of a companion/secondary camera in my opinion. I think my main objection is that it does not have traditional dials, instead all the controls are in the digital menu. Also, a Digilux 3 shouldn't cost you any more than $1400 (correct me if i'm wrong?) so compared to the $1000 you were planning to drop on the D Lux 4 Safari edition, its not that much more? And it gives you a much more traditional experience. Again, its hard to ask other people to make a decision for you. Only you know what you want from your camera (as I have heard so many times when I have posted in this forum). But the above is what I think and I hope it will be helpful in your decision. PS: As a recent first-time Leica owner (I bought my M8 in October) I realize there's this reluctance towards buying a used camera as your first Leica. But I have learnt (through painful and costly experience) that used Leica equipment are just as good as new ones. So if money is limiting the camera you're getting, I strongly suggest buying used. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bwhistance Posted December 14, 2009 Author Share #9 Posted December 14, 2009 Thanks for that. I hadn't considered a Digilux 3.....mainly because of the lower mpixel count and also that it is essentially a panasonic like the D-Lux 4 so I didn't think I would be gaining anything; maybe I'm wrong I have not seen any results from one as yet. I think I will probably end up buying the D-Lux 4 to be honest as a start and then upgrade it to something with a higher spec (still leica) in a few years after I have had a few more pay rises! Thanks for all of your comments and ideas. Ben Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Posted December 14, 2009 Share #10 Posted December 14, 2009 Like pretty much everyone else has said before me, the D-Lux 4 (which I have) is an excellent compact. I bought it (foolishly) without doing research, thinking this would be the best (and most expeditious) route of getting into Leica. Not so, obviously, in retrospect. I now also have an M6 and am awaiting for some cheap FSU glass to be delivered. Its certainly a personal thing, but a rebadged Panasonic (which the D Lux 4 is) didn't satisfy my Leica needs, as good as it is. I'm not sure any digital would. I'll probably never be fortunate enough to find out, either. However, I am excited about using the M6 and its for this reason, if you're wanting to follow in the footsteps of HCB, then you may wish to consider what a couple of the other members have suggested and invest (and it is an investment) in an earlier M. With that in mind though, you should never forget - the camera is only part of the equation - you're the other part. Equally, don't buy something you're not going to be happy with. I'm fully aware that this response was of little, or no help Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted December 15, 2009 Share #11 Posted December 15, 2009 Image quality aside, think about the viewing mechanism of the Dlux versus an older M. I shot film Ms for many years, recently changing over to an M8.2. I added a Dlux 4 as a back-up this year, and while the IQ was decent, I couldn't get along with the LCD viewing and sold the camera in short order. Many others do just fine with LCD, and/or finder, which accommodates at least some focal lengths. Just didn't suit my tastes. I love the RF experience. So, I'll probably pick up another M as a back-up. You may want to find a dealer who will let you try some options before you spend your money. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
underground Posted December 15, 2009 Share #12 Posted December 15, 2009 The D-Lux 4 is a great little camera with Fantastic Image capabilities. It also has many different functions and settings with Raw if you like. I love mine, go for it. get it and have a great time. Instead of the safari you might consider the hand grip and the viewfinder with the standard edition. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bwhistance Posted December 15, 2009 Author Share #13 Posted December 15, 2009 The D-Lux 4 is a great little camera with Fantastic Image capabilities.It also has many different functions and settings with Raw if you like. I love mine, go for it. get it and have a great time. Instead of the safari you might consider the hand grip and the viewfinder with the standard edition. Are any of the photo's in your album off a D-Lux 4? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bwhistance Posted December 15, 2009 Author Share #14 Posted December 15, 2009 Is the D-Lux 4 built with a plastic case or metal? Thanks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjans Posted December 15, 2009 Share #15 Posted December 15, 2009 I think it is like the D-Lux 3, metal, with the battery/memory card door being plastic. When the D-Lux 4 was released I did not buy one but got a Digilux 2 instead. The D-Lux 3 is not used very often anymore. I prefer having a viewfinder. You can always buy the additional viewfinder for the D-Lux 4 but it is quite expensive. Best Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
symmetron Posted December 16, 2009 Share #16 Posted December 16, 2009 Just buy the DLux 4; you can't go wrong. You don't need to buy an older M film camera or a D2/D3 to experience Leica. However, I'd advise you to purchase before the price increase in January. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
griffster Posted December 16, 2009 Share #17 Posted December 16, 2009 Is the D-Lux 4 built with a plastic case or metal?Thanks It's a metal shell with a plastic door for the various connectors on the side, as well as a plastic door on the bottom for the battery/SD card. I had a Digilux in my hands a few weeks ago. The controls are great, but the electronic viewfinder is horrible. Perhaps because the lighting wasn't adequate, it was a room with a few spots on and candles on the table. For me it was a toss-up between the Canon G10 or the D-Lux4, as I wanted a compact camera with full manual control. The faster lens made me go for the Leica. Today I would've gone for the GF-1. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlbertoDeRoma Posted December 16, 2009 Share #18 Posted December 16, 2009 I have a D-Lux 4 and recently added a Digilux 2. In theory, neither camera qualifies as a true Leica and neither camera has out of this world specs, but I'll be darned if I am not enjoying and growing attached to these two puppies more than ANY other camera I've owned in the past (including a couple of Nikon Dx00 DSLRs.) I am not a professional photographer, I am into photography for fun, and these two cameras are the most fun I've owned. Alberto P.S. I second (third) the comments to skip the Safari edition. I think the black version looks nicer and you can use the money you save for, perhaps, a nice leather case which will make it look even nicer. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsrockit Posted December 16, 2009 Share #19 Posted December 16, 2009 If you want a Leica and can't afford to spend more than what a D-Lux 4 costs go and get a used M3. Then you'll get a chance to find out what a Leica is all about... Yep... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MPJMP Posted December 16, 2009 Share #20 Posted December 16, 2009 The D-Lux 4 is a great and versatile little camera. I also look at the Flickr pool photos and am amazed at the images people can produce with this camera. I had one briefly, but returned it. I may pick up another one day to serve as a go everywhere travel companion for family snapshots and videos. Despite all it has going for it, the D-Lux 4 is no way connected with traditional Leica photography or design philosophy. If you just want something that says "Leica" on it, then go for it. But if you admire the work of HCB and Frank, and you want to feel some connection to what they did by using similar equipment, then you need a true Leica rangefinder. This is what Leica is all about, IMO. Any M rangefinder or older screw mount III series will do. A pocket-sized point and shoot camera designed by Panasonic is not going to get you there. I'm not saying you can't take great pictures with a D-Lux 4, but it does not convey the same experience or produce the same results as a Leica rangefinder. If you buy a D-Lux 4 you will still be wanting a "real" Leica. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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