Is the Digilux-3 "Seen" as a Leica

[andit]

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Hi everyone,

 

This is going to be one of those real "sticky" questions that may just be the cause a lot of debate on the forum. Bearing in mind that the Digilux-3 and L1 are in essence the same camera, with the exception of the algorithims used in the D3 to make the results more "Leica like", does the D3 qualify as a Leica in the minds of the forum members. This is not to say that the D3 is a bad camera, in fact (IMHO) I still believe that it is a brilliant camera, I just wanted to get the feel of the Leica community if this camera has been accepted into the fold.

 

Andreas

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[philipotto]

If the camera/lens says Leica on it then it is a Leica.

Nevermind where is is made, or by whom.

 

Wether or not you personally like the camera is a personal opinion.

[moikle]

I agree with Philip. I thought Leica made sufficient changes in its processing to make it a Leica as compared to the Panasonic, so I bought one.

 

Mike

[MJLogan]

There's a large contingent of folks both here and at other online communities who love to disparage the Panasonic/Leica cameras with names like "looka-Leica." My feeling is that, in the consumer and now the semi-pro realms, the collaboration has been a huge technological and creative success for both parties. The Leica influence on the Panasonic Lumix cameras goes well beyond the Leica-designed lenses (which are Panasonic' secret weapon, allowing their digicams routinely to outperform their specs in low-ISO situations). The industrial design and user interface of the Panasonic cams is very Leica-esque, with the Digilux 2 and 3 as the best examples. So, to me, my D3 is definitely a Leica, just not a pro-level Leica.

 

As to whether the D3 will be "seen" as a Leica by the general public, here's a revealing anecdote. I was shooting a World AIDS Day rally at UCLA earlier this month. I was standing next to the pro photographer hired to cover the event for the AIDS Institute, talking about my new camera. He was holding a Canon 5D with a long lens and an attached flash; I was holding my D3. I had two people come up to me and ask, excited, about my Leica. No one made a fuss about the other guy's pro-level gear.

[johnastovall]

Not, to me.... It's just a Panasonic with a red dot. It doesn't derive it's heritage from the Leica tradition.

[larry]

Leica has had a great influence on Panasonic's user interface. My "cheapo" Panasonic FZ7 is almost as easy to use as my M7 or M8 and much easier to use than most other P&S digitals. And the Leica-designed optics are very good for such an inexpensive camera. I think my answer to your question would be yes and no. Although I don't consider the Panasonic Leicas to be of the same pedigree as Ms or most R series cameras, they produce excellent results and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them.

 

Larry

[bill]

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...I just wanted to get the feel of the Leica community if this camera has been accepted into the fold.

 

Andreas

 

Andreas, you are right; this is one of those sticky questions. Sadly, it is likely to bring out the worst sort of brand snobbery and gormless bigotry in response. Not that it really matters what I or anyone else thinks, but it is branded as a Leica, therefore it is a Leica.

 

It walks like a duck, it quacks like a duck...

 

Regards,

 

Bill

[MJLogan]

Not, to me.... It's just a Panasonic with a red dot. It doesn't derive it's heritage from the Leica tradition.

 

I strongly disagree with that statement. Panasonic has studied and adapted the Leica "heritage," and that study is reflected in many of the Lumix cameras--especially the ones that have been chosen for Leica badging.

 

Leica is not an electronics company. While the consumer and semi-pro Leica digitals are collaborations with Panasonic, the pro-level Leica digitals are essentially collaborations with Kodak and Jenoptiks. The key to success in both cases is all the partners working to produce a product that "derive it's heritage from the Leica tradition." To me, the Panasonic rebadges (the D-Lux and Digilux lines, at least--I have no experience with nor interest in the C-Lux or V-Lux cameras) succeed on that level, given their intended markets.

[andit]

Thanks Guys,

 

I just wanted to get the general feeling about the D3. I actually took the plunge today and ordered my D3. Should be here by the end of next week - can't wait. The one thing that the D3 does share with the Leica tradition is the analogue method of control. That was the main thing that attracted me to this camera. Yes, I know, that all the other makes also offer you manual control, via this menu and that command dial. However, it is not the same as being able to change settings on dials. Most people probably won't understand that, but this brings one back to "making" the picture and not just pointing some computer at a scene and pressing the shutter release. I have missed that feeling since I stopped shooting 6x6.

 

Andreas

[MJLogan]

The one thing that the D3 does share with the Leica tradition is the analogue method of control. That was the main thing that attracted me to this camera.

 

As long as you can get used to the viewfinder (smallish and dim-ish), you'll love shooting with the D3. It feels very mid-20th-century in use. Once you tweak the various menu settings to your liking and create one or two custom sets, you can pretty much forget about the menus and get on with making pictures.

[miami91]

The fact that Leica is offering different cameras aimed at different types of shooters (and price points) is a good thing, in my opinion. And based on comments by Leica's incoming CEO, this approach will be intensified, if anything.

 

Whether they are worthy additions to the Leica lineage may depend a great deal on how you define such things. Having owned many of the Leica consumer cameras (I currently own a D3, DL3, and CL1), I think they are excellent cameras worthy of the Leica name. But they are not in the class of the M in terms of uniqueness (rangefinder) or build quality. But for that matter, neither is the R, in my opinion (too many plastic parts).

 

I think the evolution and growth of the Leica brand is generally positive, and collaboration in the digital era is absolutely essential to Leica if they are not to be completely left behind. The M8, after all, is a collaboration, just not with Panasonic (might it work better if it had been??).

 

Jeff.

[dwcolvin]

Oh, I don't know.

 

Those "in the know" know that the D3 is basically a Panasonic DMC-L1, which in turn shares components with the Olympus E-330. They question just who does manufacture the lens (which is curiously marked differently on the Leica and Panasonic versions).

 

Functionally, it makes little sense to spend (at today's prices) so much more for the D3 than for the L1. You're paying for intangibles that only you may find important.

 

The general public thinks it's a Leica. It certainly has the Leica styling, sensibilities, and price. It also has excellent picture quality.

 

I have an investment in four-thirds lenses, and waited for the Leica for my next camera. I am not disappointed.

[Guest stnami]

but it is branded as a Leica, therefore it is a Leica

..... hey can I do that to my heifers in the back paddock,I could get a better price......or maybe I just brand them as racehorses

[John Maio]

I own the DigiLux-3. I also own an M7 and had an M8, but returned it.

 

Unfortunately, especially on this forum, if you haven't paid your "dues" which consist of a $4795 USD body, own at least 5 "M" lenses, and are willing to live through the hardships of owning the "real" Leica (M8) by searching the world for IR filters, adding new profiles to C1, sending your baby back to Solms for - ah - "upgrading", waiting to get your lenses coded, and suffer through many other aspects of the Leica "tradition", you aren't likely to get much interest in the DigiLux-3.

 

Matsushita Electric, the parent company of Panasonic had a turnover of $76 Billion last year and employs 334,000 people world wide. That it could purchase Leica, AG with spare change isn't even a question. The fact that Leica was able to pull off a successful collaboration with such a gigantic and resource/technology-rich global company should be celebrated, not disparaged, but alas, I expect too much.

[MJLogan]

I resisted the temptation to slip a reference to the M8's teething pains into my comments about all digital Leicas being collaborations. I was quite sure somebody else would do it, and I didn't have to wait long. The fact that the consumer and semi-pro Leica are released as Panasonics months before their debut as Leicas insulates them from the possibilty of M8-style missteps. The D3, for instance, shipped with firmware that incorporated the Panasonic L1's post-release bug fixes. That said, the Panasonic collaborations are not bleeding-edge technology. The M8 is. Thus, initial release issues were almost inevitable.

[jdlaing]

I have a Digilux 3 (after doing a lot of handling and shooting and research on both the Panasonic and the Leica versions.

 

There are more differences between the two than algorithms.

 

The Leica version is pricier but different outside the basic specs it shares with Panasonic.

 

The reason I bought it is I have several Olympus 4:3 bodies and lenses and I instantly fell for the Leica after some shots and handling.

[riozilla]

Can anybody point me to reviews of the Digilux 3 on the internet I can read? I've not found much through searching so far and am looking for another Leica after I sold my Digilux 2 a few months ago. I'd really like to step-up to the M8 but my budget is $2500 max -

[ustein]

>There are more differences between the two than algorithms.

 

What are they besides different JPEG processing? With the Digilux 2 the colors for JPEGs were excellent and the RAW was hard to use. With the Digilux 3 the RAW speed is not fast but very reasonable and I am not sure I would use JPEGs only. So far my main issue would be that the files need very strong sharpening which is either the chip or an extremely strong AA filter.

 

Uwe

 

FYI: We have a review sample here.

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[MJLogan]

>So far my main issue would be that the files need very strong sharpening which is either the chip or an extremely strong AA filter.

 

The default setting is rather soft. If you turn up sharpness by one or two notches in the menu, it's fine.

[jdlaing]

>There are more differences between the two than algorithms.

 

What are they besides different JPEG processing?

Uwe

 

FYI: We have a review sample here.

 

The RAW Processing engine and software are different.

The Color Processing is different.

It has User Selecable Aspect Ratio. (4:3, 3:2, 16:9)

Menu selections are different.

Adobe Elements is shipped with it.

Comes with a 1 gig card.

Warranty is 3 times longer than Panny PLUS 6 months Passport Warranty.

The Firmware issues Panny had are not present in the Leica version.