kzooleica Posted January 4, 2010 Share #1 Posted January 4, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) My apologies if this question has already been covered. But in your collective experience, is the dlux 4 substantially improved over the dlux 2? I found that I actually took better pictures with my now-defunct Digilux 1. Thanks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 4, 2010 Posted January 4, 2010 Hi kzooleica, Take a look here dlux 4 vs. dlux 2 - worth the upgrade?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
farnz Posted January 4, 2010 Share #2 Posted January 4, 2010 Short answer: yes, definitely. I upgraded from the DL2 to the DL4 and the only thing I miss is the 112 mm zoom but that's replaced with a fast 24mm f/2 at the wide angle end in the DL4 so it's a fair exchange in my book. Noise at high ISO is at least 2 stops better with the DL4, there is an enormous amount of creativity available through the DL4's Film Modes, you have HD video, and with the firmware update - if you want - your zoom lens will return to where you left it when you switched the camera off. There are other benefits too but I'm sure others will chime in with those. Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
zenonzinonos Posted January 4, 2010 Share #3 Posted January 4, 2010 My apologies if this question has already been covered. But in your collective experience, is the dlux 4 substantially improved over the dlux 2? I found that I actually took better pictures with my now-defunct Digilux 1. Thanks The 1:1 format is, in my opinion, the most exciting aspect of the recent update Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lykaman Posted January 4, 2010 Share #4 Posted January 4, 2010 Hi, there is no doubt about it" the DL4 has a learning curve. Even after nearly 6 months of continual use I still get Dud's.. overall the DL4 is an excellent piece of photographic equipment. My original D-Lux (3.2mp) is still a great combination of Leica lens & processor but definitely not in the DL4 league. With all the settings & modes available on the DL4 the word"" is shoot, shoot, shoot. Make copious notes & you will soon find out which settings suite YOU...L Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digitom Posted January 5, 2010 Share #5 Posted January 5, 2010 Hi, there is no doubt about it" the DL4 has a learning curve. Even after nearly 6 months of continual use I still get Dud's.. overall the DL4 is an excellent piece of photographic equipment. My original D-Lux (3.2mp) is still a great combination of Leica lens & processor but definitely not in the DL4 league.With all the settings & modes available on the DL4 the word"" is shoot, shoot, shoot. Make copious notes & you will soon find out which settings suite YOU...L I agree what you mentioned about the D-Lux compared to D-Lux 4. I own both: the D-Lux and the D-Lux 2. I use my D-Lux 2 as an "every time with me" camera when my Digilux 2 is too bulky. The D-Lux has -thats my opinion- the most wonderful design a compact camera can have. But every model of the D-Lux line is very well designed. A big disadvantage of the D-Lux is: there is no manual control possible. And sure under technical aspects the D-Lux is "old fashioned", but colors and sharpnes are very well. But coming back to D-Lux 2 vs. D-Lux 4: One aspect one should mention is the price! D-Lux 4 costs about 699 Euro. Good condition used ones are still about 550 Euro! At the moment the D-Lux 2 is very rare on the market, but one can find it for about 230-280 Euro - and that is a very very good price! And if one use mostly ISO 100, the image quality is sure nearly the same then the D-Lux 4 I think. The sharpness of D-Lux 2 is excellent and also the possibility to get TIF-Images from the D-Lux 2 as an "uncompressed JPG" when you do not want to handle RAWs (which is also possible with the D-LUX 2) is nice. There are 3 big points gives advantages for the D-Lux 4: 1. Aperture 2.0 2. Hotshoe 3. low noise at higher ISO Well, my opinion is that Point 1 and 3 makes that camera maybe more useable when using in "available light" conditions. But I think I do not want to pay about 300 - 400 Euro more for that little advantage. If one may decide different, I think both cameras are worth their price. I hope when D-Lux 5 is available, the price for D-Lux 3 and 4 will fall quickly Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted January 5, 2010 Share #6 Posted January 5, 2010 Thomas, Have you considered the Panasonic DMC-LX3, which is virtually the same camera as the DL4 but much less expensive? (It's rumoured that the only differences between the two cameras are the lens coatings, camera software and you don't get Capture One software with the LX3.) Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbretteville Posted January 6, 2010 Share #7 Posted January 6, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) I exchanged my LX2 for an LX3 in November 2008, no regrets at all. I never did get comfortable with the LX2. The LX3 is a nice little camera with an excellent lens. You can't use CaptureOne to convert raws (Unless you modify them to declare them selves as D-Lux 4 files. The formats are identical, but PhaseOne is filtering on the make and model exif tags). LR does a fine job on the files and that is what I use. Carl Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digitom Posted January 6, 2010 Share #8 Posted January 6, 2010 Thomas, Have you considered the Panasonic DMC-LX3, which is virtually the same camera as the DL4 but much less expensive? (It's rumoured that the only differences between the two cameras are the lens coatings, camera software and you don't get Capture One software with the LX3.) Pete. Hi Pete, Yes, I know the LX3, and the price is very well. Often the second hand price of D-Lux 4 is higher then LX3 new ones! But I must say, I love the -imho- more clear design and style of the Leica model. The differences I know is the software; I had chance to check the pictures of an LX3 when I have been in Korea last year: I get the (personal) impression that the Panasonic model sold in the asian market has some little more "color" colors, e.g. I know that red is a little more bright, according to the mainstream taste of asians who likes more bright and warm colors. Are the Panasonics sold here are different? I do not know. But new for me was that you mentioned the lens coating. I heard the lens for all "Panaleicas" are made in Japan under blueprints from Leica. So they make different lens coating for Leica models and Panasonic? Thats interesting! However, I would prefer the "red dot" model. Not for posing, but for better design and very good Customer Service if it is needed. Panasonic service is not bad I know from other products, but my experiences with Leica service are excellent. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted January 6, 2010 Share #9 Posted January 6, 2010 Thomas, I'm afraid i can't comment on the LX3's that are sold in Europe because I only have the D-Lux 4. With regard to the lens coating, I used the phrase "it is rumoured ... " because I don't believe that it has been confirmed by either Leica or Panasonic. There was a long thread about the subject a few months ago that was centred around some pictures posted by ianho_ who owned both cameras at the time and posted pictures that appeared to show slightly different colours of coating when viewed at an oblique angle. Another forum member said that although the components for both cameras are manufactured on the same production line only those components that meet a certain standard are used to make DL4's. I have no idea whether this is true and only report it here for your interest. Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted January 7, 2010 Share #10 Posted January 7, 2010 I'll second what others have said. I still use my D-Lux 2 occasionally for its greater zoom, but in every other way the D-Lux 4 is superior. To add one point to those mentioned: The D-Lux 4 has much less chromatic aberration than the D-Lux 2. What that means is that you spend a lot less time tweaking image quality at the computer with the D-Lux 4. Also, the implementation of the multiple aspect ratios is much improved over that of the D-Lux 2. When you switch away from 16:9 with the D-Lux 2, you get a reduced angle of view and reduced resolution. On the D-Lux 4, the three mechanically-set aspect ratios all keep the same angle of view. The D-Lux 4 is a major step forward over the D-Lux 2. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
playingolf Posted January 7, 2010 Share #11 Posted January 7, 2010 Plus you get a 3 year warranty with the Leica...2 years in the box, and an extra year free when you register your camera, plus a gift of a nice little leather card and battery holder with the Leica logo. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MPJMP Posted January 7, 2010 Share #12 Posted January 7, 2010 Plus you get a 3 year warranty with the Leica...2 years in the box, and an extra year free when you register your camera, plus a gift of a nice little leather card and battery holder with the Leica logo. Do they send you this stuff after you register? I just bought a D-Lux 4 and registered on-line last week. Didn't know I was going to get goodies delivered! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
h00ligan Posted January 7, 2010 Share #13 Posted January 7, 2010 What are you giving up with depth of field though going to the dl4? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted January 7, 2010 Share #14 Posted January 7, 2010 What are you giving up with depth of field though going to the dl4? Edward, Can I assume that you really mean shallowness of field since depth of field at the smallest aperture is from 'very near' to infinity and therefore a tad meaningless in this context? I'll assume for my reply that you do. If not, I apologise and please disregard the following. The D-Lux 2 has a 1/1.65" sensor (8.5 x 4.8 mm) while the D-Lux 4 has a 1/1.63" sensor (8.5 x 6.3 mm), which is slightly larger. As sensor size decreases, depth of field intrinsically increases so a larger sensor offers a narrower shallowness of field. Compare the shallowness of field available from an M8 to the shallowness of field available from a DL4 at the same camera-to-subject distance and same aperture, for example, and it's easier to visualise. So the DL4's sensor will offer a (slightly) narrower shallowness of field than the DL2. If the widest aperture of the lenses are also included then the DL4's 24 mm f/2 lens will offer a shallower field than the DL2's 28 mm f/2.8 lens. So by moving to a DL4 from a DL2 doesn't give up shallowness of field it slightly enhances it. Additionally with the DL4's close focus distance of 10 mm it is possible to get a very shallow depth of field although this is probably beyond what you'd asked. Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
h00ligan Posted January 7, 2010 Share #15 Posted January 7, 2010 Thanks Pete for the explanation. I have a tendency to refer to it all as depth of field, beit deep or shallow - I'll have to correct that to be more clear in the future! I find the depth of field (meant the right way!) to be the problem using a compact, it really seems to limit shots to me (although i am sure better understanding, technique, and post processing could fix it). I mistakenly thought the dl2 would offer more shallowness of field (used the right way!) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigrmurray Posted January 7, 2010 Share #16 Posted January 7, 2010 Is the D-Lux4 physically larger or smaller than the D-Lux2? I have the DL4 with a Crumpler and a leather case, but don't want to buy new cases if I upgrade cameras. Anyone have experience with this? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted January 7, 2010 Share #17 Posted January 7, 2010 Do they send you this stuff after you register? I just bought a D-Lux 4 and registered on-line last week. Didn't know I was going to get goodies delivered! MP-- I think this is distributor-specific. Has to do, I think, with mailing the US warranty card. I didn't receive the 'freebies' when I registered in the US. Good luck! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted January 7, 2010 Share #18 Posted January 7, 2010 Is the D-Lux4 physically larger or smaller than the D-Lux2? ... Craig--the D-Lux 4 is a millimeter or so taller, thicker and longer than the D-Lux 2, IIRC. The D-Lux 4 didn't fit into the belt case I was using for the D-Lux 2. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digitom Posted January 8, 2010 Share #19 Posted January 8, 2010 Craig--the D-Lux 4 is a millimeter or so taller, thicker and longer than the D-Lux 2, IIRC. The D-Lux 4 didn't fit into the belt case I was using for the D-Lux 2. Then also a D-Lux 3 case will not fit for the D-Lux 4, because size of No. 2 and 3 is same. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.