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Digilux 2, how do I love thee. Let me count the way ...


AlbertoDeRoma

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I just came back from a full day of shooting a passing storm with one of my trusty D2. I had 2 other cameras in my bag. The D-Lux 4 and a Panasonic FZ-35 for those shots that needed a zoom. Care to guess which camera I used for 90% of the pictures - despite its "limitations"?

 

As I was driving back, I wondered why I like this camera so much - besides the pictures it's capable of taking of course. So I started to count the ways ... feel free to contribute you other D2 fans :) :

 

I love the way you cost me just a few hundred bucks, but make me feel like a million bucks.

 

I love the way you make me want to get out of the house, go exploring and take pictures.

 

I love the way you feel in my hands and respond to my touch.

 

I love your classy and classic looks.

 

I love your big (f/2.0) eye.

 

I REALLY loooooooove the fact that I can shoot all day with a single battery and a single card.

 

...

 

Alberto

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I love the quality of the jpgs directly out of the camera with no post processing

 

I love the support i get from Leica on this camera

 

I hate the orginal leather bag that was designed for this camera - but this is minor

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I love the design: bounce flash, manual controls, its size and weight

I love the BW pictures it can produce in camera

I love how rewarded I feel when I get that tack-sharp-uber-leica-looking-picture

I love not running the mega-pixel race anymore

I love when other photographers carrying their BIG DSLR give that envy look

I love when point and shooters holding their face-recognition-touch-screen-gps-wifi-toaster-camera laugh at me when I say it has "5MP only"

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not per the guidelines.. but i hate that there's not a modern version.. i'd be ALL over it.. I'm jealous.

 

And there I feel you miss the point. People love this camera because of what it is not what it could be. These days many people are so caught up in the megapixel/facilities/noise race that they forget it is the final image that counts - the bit that's in your head!. The Digilux 2 also throws a few known challenges your way and you will learn more in overcoming these challenges on your way to producing an image than if it was handed to you on a plate.

 

I have a used but beautiful condition Digilux 2 on its way to me at the moment and I really look forward to using it - and glad I haven't moved deeper into the consumer rat race.

 

Nigel

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i love people staring at your beauty from the corners of their eyes.

i love their mouths dropping open when i say "here handle this beauty".

i love to lie and tell them you cost me $5000 and they say "that's not bad for a Leica".

i love people saying "you still shoot film?" and me shocking them with "don't be silly, this is Leica's best digital camera."

but most of all i love the glorious jpg's you shine all over me at the push of a button.

.

.

and in a sad way, i am glad you are the last of her kind .... there will never be another you.

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And there I feel you miss the point. People love this camera because of what it is not what it could be. These days many people are so caught up in the megapixel/facilities/noise race that they forget it is the final image that counts - the bit that's in your head!. The Digilux 2 also throws a few known challenges your way and you will learn more in overcoming these challenges on your way to producing an image than if it was handed to you on a plate.

 

I have a used but beautiful condition Digilux 2 on its way to me at the moment and I really look forward to using it - and glad I haven't moved deeper into the consumer rat race.

 

Nigel

 

What I "love" about this camera can never be stated simply. Yet... it's simplicity is what I love.

 

The pixel peepers, the techno-geeks, the equipment freaks, test-o-bators, will never get it.

 

This is a true personal camera of the digital kind. It is as close as you can come to taking a film camera and swapping out film for a sensor.

 

I've shot digital since 1998. I've had LOTS and lots of cameras. Even after my first DSLR (I think around 1999-2000) I always kept looking for the perfect walk-around personal camera.

 

But, if you put a gun to my head and said, name one thing... I'd have to say the images. Every lens I own is a Canon L Series... and even mounted on my Canon 5D MK11, nothing compares. I don't pixel peek, so I can't tell you why... and maybe that's the secret... the magic is in the photo, where it belongs.

 

At the end of the day, photography is about VIEWING the photo. Sure, we participate and enjoy the making of the image. But consider that as the photographer, and you've toured the sausage factory... you know how it's made.... and yet you still sit and marvel at the end result, there's got to be something going on.

 

Honestly, I sometimes sit here wondering, how does a $650 used 5-year old, 5mp camera leave me resenting $30,000 worth of Canon pro gear?

 

It's the quintessential personal digital camera.

 

thaw_237233.jpg - Leica Digilux 2 Samples - Motorsports Photography by Motorsports Photographer, John Thawley :: American Le Mans, Grand Am,

 

thaw_2766.jpg - Leica Digilux 2 Samples - At The Beach - Motorsports Photography by Motorsports Photographer, John Thawley :: American Le Mans, Grand Am,

 

JT

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Excellent pictures John in the links above. Actually it was your enthusiastic review in your blog (along with a couple of other reviews) that convinced and reassured me that I was thinking in the right direction. My only regret is that I have not come across this camera before, I have never been a camera-techno-geek (and don't read magazines and tests) though have owned a number of great cameras over the years - Rolleiflex SLR, Pentax SLR, Mamiya and Fuji MF rangefinders up to Nikon DSLR more recently to name but a few. The Nikon DSLR actually made my photography lazy and I found that hauling a big bag of equipment around cramped my style.

 

Maybe in a couple of weeks I'll be able to put my own contributions in this thread as I intend to give it a good workout immediately. Here's hoping for a beautiful relationship.

 

Nigel

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Nigel - I should have stated my thoughts better, it's not the advancement I'm after - it's the ability to find one, in good shape, at a decent price, that will last a while :)

 

They come up on ebay regular. It's one of the very few digital cameras that you can buy, use for a while to see if it suits, and then sell if it doesn't, without losing any money. Even the chance of a small profit. This was my logic when I bought mine. No chance of me selling it though. It's so easy to use in manual mode. It's a treat.

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Nigel - I should have stated my thoughts better, it's not the advancement I'm after - it's the ability to find one, in good shape, at a decent price, that will last a while :)

 

Ah, sorry that's not what I understood. They are out there, mine was picked up on UK E-bay, in super condition and sensor changed. There seemed to be three people after it so it finished up quite expensive but I considered it worth it for the experience, I wasn't going to let it go. There's no doubt they are getting more sought after and expensive but it is probable that should I wish to offload it (not very likely) I will not lose out. Name any other old digital camera who's prices are rising.

 

Nigel

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ALL what´s been said above !

 

And I love the easy accessible v/f-grid. Since I use it, I never had a sloping horizon

in a landscape-photograph. I know, you can correct this easily, but I´am computer-lazy

and use the D2-jpgs straight from the camera.

 

Just as it was im my analog days.

 

 

 

Best

 

GEORG

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Just trying to show a D2-horizon in the dark ...

 

 

 

Best wishes

 

GEORG

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