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D-lux 4 vs X1

jimleicam3

By jimleicam3
in Leica X

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jimleicam3

jimleicam3

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Just a short question. I have had my M8 for a couple of years, and have been using an M3 for I don't know how long. But am now looking for a small camera to take skiing, bike riding, quick, stick in my pocket for a hike. So I would like comments on the D-Lux 4 vs the X1 for that type of use. Thanks again for all you help. Cheers

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stephen.w

stephen.w

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Perhaps buy a Panasonic LX3 (the camera which the DLux4 is simply a rebranded version of) and put the change towards another lens for your M system! :)

 

The X1 has a DSLR-sized sensor, a Leica-made lens and similar response times to the DLux4/LX3, and its physical dimensions are only slightly larger than those cameras, which in my opinion goes a long way towards justifying its being double the price of the DLux4.

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thomsva

thomsva

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I had my X1 in the pocket every day during my skiing holiday and I have it with me on bike rides. This works well for me but I can also understand if someone would rather have something smaller, less expensive and/or waterproof. You have to make your own compromize based on your own preferences.

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jpmac55

jpmac55

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I have a X1 on order for the very reason Igor suggests, better image quality. However, I am very happy with my D-lux4 and suspect you will be happy with one, too. It's a wonderful little camera and also has video, should that interest you. I don't plan on selling mine as it will join me on bike rides, etc., just as soon as the mountains of snow melt.

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harryliem

harryliem

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I own both cameras. The Dlux 4 is more versatile and smaller - no doubt. The trade-off is its image quality compare to X1. The X1 sensor size and lens do make the difference.

 

Igor

 

I have both too and both are very good cameras. Samples taken by X1

 

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grober

grober

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No offense intended but the D-lux 4 is a Japanese product. If you buy it you must also buy into the Japanese conception of what a digital camera should be.

 

The X1 is a German product much more closely aligned with the classical Leica-M model.

 

You pays your money and you makes your choices. I've made mine: I put an X1 on order the same day I handled a pre-production model last November. (Still waiting for it to appear on my doorstep.)

 

-g

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lostinspb

lostinspb

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I have owned both so I will weigh in here.

 

The D-Lux 4 is a fantastic little camera, one that set the standard for what a (semi) pocketable cam should be capable of. At low ISO photos looked phenomenal with little noise. I have to say that even at higher ISO, the D-Lux 4 blew away most other digital cameras in the noise department which is what I was looking for. Couple this with a great lens and the D-Lux 4 treated me well.

 

Having just purchased the X1, I can say that this camera will be with me for a very long time. As good as the D-Lux 4 was, the X1 is in another league, especially at anything above ISO 400. The lens of the X1 is tack sharp and I love the shallow DOF the APS sensor lets me get. I am fine with a fixed focal length, the 2.5x zoom on the D-Lux 4 was of marginal use to me anyway. All this in a package that does not feel much larger than the D-Lux 4.

 

I know the D-Lux 4 was a clone of the LX3, however, the build quality was very good. The X1 does have a better build quality than the D-Lux 4, but at the price it should.

 

You cannot go wrong either way. However, I do not carry around a large DSLR and I wanted something reasonably small that could keep up. I had my reservations about paying so much for this camera. After having used the X1, the reservations have evaporated and I am thoroughly enjoying this purchase.

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harryliem

harryliem

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I have owned both so I will weigh in here.

 

The D-Lux 4 is a fantastic little camera, one that set the standard for what a (semi) pocketable cam should be capable of. At low ISO photos looked phenomenal with little noise. I have to say that even at higher ISO, the D-Lux 4 blew away most other digital cameras in the noise department which is what I was looking for. Couple this with a great lens and the D-Lux 4 treated me well.

 

Having just purchased the X1, I can say that this camera will be with me for a very long time. As good as the D-Lux 4 was, the X1 is in another league, especially at anything above ISO 400. The lens of the X1 is tack sharp and I love the shallow DOF the APS sensor lets me get. I am fine with a fixed focal length, the 2.5x zoom on the D-Lux 4 was of marginal use to me anyway. All this in a package that does not feel much larger than the D-Lux 4.

 

I know the D-Lux 4 was a clone of the LX3, however, the build quality was very good. The X1 does have a better build quality than the D-Lux 4, but at the price it should.

 

You cannot go wrong either way. However, I do not carry around a large DSLR and I wanted something reasonably small that could keep up. I had my reservations about paying so much for this camera. After having used the X1, the reservations have evaporated and I am thoroughly enjoying this purchase.

 

You are absolutely right. DLUX4 is very good in their class, I love my DLUX4, and my X1 too. You can't compare DLUX4 and X1, they are in different class. One Japanese made and the other German made. Pictures quality, color has almost the same tone, but DLUX4 more light color and X1 more creamy look.

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CatWorthy

CatWorthy

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I have owned both so I will weigh in here.

 

The D-Lux 4 is a fantastic little camera, one that set the standard for what a (semi) pocketable cam should be capable of. At low ISO photos looked phenomenal with little noise. I have to say that even at higher ISO, the D-Lux 4 blew away most other digital cameras in the noise department which is what I was looking for. Couple this with a great lens and the D-Lux 4 treated me well.

 

Having just purchased the X1, I can say that this camera will be with me for a very long time. As good as the D-Lux 4 was, the X1 is in another league, especially at anything above ISO 400. The lens of the X1 is tack sharp and I love the shallow DOF the APS sensor lets me get. I am fine with a fixed focal length, the 2.5x zoom on the D-Lux 4 was of marginal use to me anyway. All this in a package that does not feel much larger than the D-Lux 4.

 

I know the D-Lux 4 was a clone of the LX3, however, the build quality was very good. The X1 does have a better build quality than the D-Lux 4, but at the price it should.

 

You cannot go wrong either way. However, I do not carry around a large DSLR and I wanted something reasonably small that could keep up. I had my reservations about paying so much for this camera. After having used the X1, the reservations have evaporated and I am thoroughly enjoying this purchase.

 

Thank you for the clear and concise summary. I also own a D-Lux4, love the camera, and am considering X1. Your comparison review helps me a lot.

 

How do you find the autofocus speed of X1 when compared to D-Lux4? Lack of true IS is another one of my concerns, can you "one-handed" (figuratively speaking) the X1?

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lostinspb

lostinspb

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Thank you for the clear and concise summary. I also own a D-Lux4, love the camera, and am considering X1. Your comparison review helps me a lot.

 

How do you find the autofocus speed of X1 when compared to D-Lux4? Lack of true IS is another one of my concerns, can you "one-handed" (figuratively speaking) the X1?

 

The focus speed of the X1 was something that I had reservations about before owning it as it seems this is one of the weak points for many people. I do not find the speed to be a problem, although I can say it is not the fastest I have encountered. While not DSLR or (GF-1) fast, I think it can keep pace with other pocketable cams and is much faster than the Sigma DP units. For me, the larger issue is the minimum focus distance which seems to be worse than other cameras.

 

I did not notice any issues up to ISO 1600 using the camera handheld. That said, I would imagine one needs to be a bit more careful vs the D-Lux 4 which has phenomenal stabilization. I will update this post in a day or two and in the meantime will take some more shot testing this.

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alexc

alexc

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I have both now. will give dlux to my daughter soon. both are great cameras. however if size, zoom, image stabilization, better micro mode and of corse price are not critical, x1 is in a different class. handling, iq, out of focus rendering is much better. pleasure to use. it it like digilux 2, or m, something you have emotional attachment too.

having said this it is very personal. i would definitely try both and make the decision after.

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