I need opinions on the Leica V-LUX 1

[dugby]

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Elaine, by now you should have read about all the Leica digital cameras on the Leica products page.

 

I suggest you might want to google the price of Panasonic DMC-L1 (which is also re-badged as the Leica Digilux 3) the marginal increase is returned to you in significant image quality, much less sensor noise, an much better system flexabiity for expansion.

 

The quantum leap to a 4/3 system, maybe what you are really seeking on your photo journey, particularly as your enthusiasm grows, all you need to do is buy additional lenses.

[Teddyp]

Costco has the Panasonic DMC-L1 for $1200, but it sounds like you would be better off getting the V-LUX -1. I looked at it as well since I wanted to switch from a heavy pack of Nikon (F-100 film), but could not justify the M8 at this time. My plan is too get the M8 in a year or so and learn digital with the very versitle V-LUX 1. So far I love the V-Lux 1 and am glad my first digital also gives me such a great voom lens. The only things Leica missed was the bounce flash and 28mm from the Digilux.

[Paul Gruyters]

I jumped from a Kodak DX7590 5MP 10 X Zoom to the V Lux 1. I did much research before hand. I believe that the capabilities of this camera are ideal for those growing with digital photography.Truly a "Bridge" between point and shoot and SLR. I will be interested to see what advances have been made in about four years when I may be considering SLR. Or will the "All In One" solution continue to close the gap.

 

Regards,

Paul

[Skippy Sanchez]

RE: V-lux1- i had one for a month and sent it back. i would have kept it if it'd been under $500. i posted this last month in my journal on deviantArt.com about the camera: (see the guadalupe pics @ http://skippysanchez.deviantart.com/

 

".....When traveling in Latin America I prefer to carry as little gear as possible, so the week before this trip I bought a Leica V-Lux 1 as an experiment. It is basically a glorified point & shoot camera but with a 35mm - 420mm optical zoom (f2.8/3.7) and image stablization.

 

I was able to use the camera on a few assignments for my local newspaper before i left to familiarize myself with it, but in Mexico, when the fat was in the fire & I should have been taking photos, I would find myself fiddling with buttons and squinting through my bi-focals at menus instead.

 

It always takes some time with new gear before it becomes intuitive. But the tool should not get in the way of the task at hand. Taking photos should be as routine as brushing your teeth: you usually don't have to think about the toothbrush to get the job done.

 

I'm about 70% happy with it: the optics are great, it's lightweight, the 420mm/3.7 lens is sure nice in such a small package, it's only so-so in low light. Nice big files + camera RAW. Light metering is dead-on, as is the auto white balance, most of the time. And you have several metering modes, color modes or complete manual adjustments for each.

 

The image stabilization gives you a few more f-stops than you'd normally get, which is especially nice if you drink as much coffee as i do. Of course, if your subject is moving, it's still fuzzy, like with film. I HATE the little video viewfinder. I do like to swivel the little screen so I can do those overhead or underhand shots and actually see, more or less, what I'm getting. Otherwise, I have the viewfinder up to my eyeball. I don't care what anyone says, that's just how pictures are supposed to be made.

 

But I will allways prefer the rangefinder."

[laineeey]

Save your parents some money and get a Panasonic FZ50 or a second hand FZ20. If you have budget for the V1... spend it on one FZ20 + clux1 type camera for angles wider than 36mm

 

I have the Panasonic FZ30 a bit older than the FZ50 similar features but I regret my FZ20 (anyway I have an M8 ordered)

 

Thanks for the suggestion. But I already sticked to the Leica V-LUX.

[laineeey]

Elaine,

Your parents made the correct choice!

 

Look forward to seeing some of your results on the photo forum.

 

Cheers,

Pete.

 

Yes thanks. I think my results for the photo forum will be so sooner... Maybe in May 2007. Hehe. Coz I'll buy the camera when I am in the UK by April.

[laineeey]

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Elaine,

 

You're already saving money by not buying the M8. The difference in cash between

the FZ50 and the Vlux is minimal, nothing worth stressing over. I'd pick up the Vlux, some of the Z series dont have a flip out LCD screen as well, i am pretty sure.

 

-Matthew

 

Yes I guess so too.

[laineeey]

Elaine, by now you should have read about all the Leica digital cameras on the Leica products page.

 

I suggest you might want to google the price of Panasonic DMC-L1 (which is also re-badged as the Leica Digilux 3) the marginal increase is returned to you in significant image quality, much less sensor noise, an much better system flexabiity for expansion.

 

The quantum leap to a 4/3 system, maybe what you are really seeking on your photo journey, particularly as your enthusiasm grows, all you need to do is buy additional lenses.

 

Hey, thanks for the suggestion really... But, my dad wants the Leica camera for me, still.

[laineeey]

Costco has the Panasonic DMC-L1 for $1200, but it sounds like you would be better off getting the V-LUX -1. I looked at it as well since I wanted to switch from a heavy pack of Nikon (F-100 film), but could not justify the M8 at this time. My plan is too get the M8 in a year or so and learn digital with the very versitle V-LUX 1. So far I love the V-Lux 1 and am glad my first digital also gives me such a great voom lens. The only things Leica missed was the bounce flash and 28mm from the Digilux.

 

Great then

 

Maybe I'll have an M8 or higher than that when I already have a work...

[laineeey]

I jumped from a Kodak DX7590 5MP 10 X Zoom to the V Lux 1. I did much research before hand. I believe that the capabilities of this camera are ideal for those growing with digital photography.Truly a "Bridge" between point and shoot and SLR. I will be interested to see what advances have been made in about four years when I may be considering SLR. Or will the "All In One" solution continue to close the gap.

 

Regards,

Paul

 

Hey there... the reason I want this V-LUX 1 is that it's like an SLR camera.

[laineeey]

RE: V-lux1- i had one for a month and sent it back. i would have kept it if it'd been under $500. i posted this last month in my journal on deviantArt.com about the camera: (see the guadalupe pics @ skippysanchez on deviantART

 

".....When traveling in Latin America I prefer to carry as little gear as possible, so the week before this trip I bought a Leica V-Lux 1 as an experiment. It is basically a glorified point & shoot camera but with a 35mm - 420mm optical zoom (f2.8/3.7) and image stablization.

 

I was able to use the camera on a few assignments for my local newspaper before i left to familiarize myself with it, but in Mexico, when the fat was in the fire & I should have been taking photos, I would find myself fiddling with buttons and squinting through my bi-focals at menus instead.

 

It always takes some time with new gear before it becomes intuitive. But the tool should not get in the way of the task at hand. Taking photos should be as routine as brushing your teeth: you usually don't have to think about the toothbrush to get the job done.

 

I'm about 70% happy with it: the optics are great, it's lightweight, the 420mm/3.7 lens is sure nice in such a small package, it's only so-so in low light. Nice big files + camera RAW. Light metering is dead-on, as is the auto white balance, most of the time. And you have several metering modes, color modes or complete manual adjustments for each.

 

The image stabilization gives you a few more f-stops than you'd normally get, which is especially nice if you drink as much coffee as i do. Of course, if your subject is moving, it's still fuzzy, like with film. I HATE the little video viewfinder. I do like to swivel the little screen so I can do those overhead or underhand shots and actually see, more or less, what I'm getting. Otherwise, I have the viewfinder up to my eyeball. I don't care what anyone says, that's just how pictures are supposed to be made.

 

But I will allways prefer the rangefinder."

 

 

I saw your pictures in Deviantart. Very nice! =)

[egibaud]

egibaud,

 

You are entitled to your opinion that the FZ20 is a better choice than the V-Lux 1, but that's what it is, an opinion, and my wife and I disagree.

 

Hi,

 

I don't say the FZ20 is better than the FZ30 or FZ50, what I say is that if money is tight the FZ20 is great.

 

Having owned and used both camras (taken over 5000 picture with each), I do think the FZ30 / 50 is far better zoom handling wise, autofocus area, resolution etc. What I miss from the FZ20 is the 2.8 aperture from 35mm to 420mm, with the FZ30 / 50 the minimum aperture varies from 2.8 to 3.7. And my conclusion is that if I could not afford an FZ50 I would surely buy an FZ20.

[egibaud]

Thanks for the suggestion. But I already sticked to the Leica V-LUX.

 

If you have been able to afford it, you have made the right choice, congratulations enjoy the camera.

[awakening]

Your thoughts have made me question on buying the V-Lux 1 ... I have the Digilux 2 and having read many test results, I belive that waiting for the next realese from Leica would be a better investment. Any thoughts!

[leica-dux]

hi elaine,

 

i write from germany, so here could be some mistakes in my english. fotographing for years with m6, i bought a v-lux with a panasonic 24mm wideangle adapter in november - never taking any digital pictures before, i only needed some days to understand the v-lux. it is a really excellent camera for shoting exciting pictures everytime without carrying an enormous weight of equipment. the relation between price and performance is excellent - although having leicas from leica I (1929) to m6 (1985) i won't miss the v-lux in future. since i had to understand the digital-technic first, there are only a few pictures (and i am quite critical in rating). if my description of the v-lux is helpful, you can send a e-mail to j.v.metz@t-online.de and you will recieve some shots.

okay - thats all

jochen

[laineeey]

hi elaine,

 

i write from germany, so here could be some mistakes in my english. fotographing for years with m6, i bought a v-lux with a panasonic 24mm wideangle adapter in november - never taking any digital pictures before, i only needed some days to understand the v-lux. it is a really excellent camera for shoting exciting pictures everytime without carrying an enormous weight of equipment. the relation between price and performance is excellent - although having leicas from leica I (1929) to m6 (1985) i won't miss the v-lux in future. since i had to understand the digital-technic first, there are only a few pictures (and i am quite critical in rating). if my description of the v-lux is helpful, you can send a e-mail to j.v.metz@t-online.de and you will recieve some shots.

okay - thats all

jochen

 

thanks for the little review. anyway, how many photos can the v-lux take?

[wmyowell]

Elaine,

 

How many pictures the V-LUX 1 will take (on a memory card) depends on the size of the card and the quality setting. While the camera comes with a 500 MB card, we use 1 GB cards. At a quality setting at the highest jpg setting and a pict. size also the highest (10M) the camera will get 200 pictures. If set for RAW, the number is 42.

 

So at its highest RAW setting, it will take more photograps than a 35mm roll of film.

 

As to battery life, which could have an effect on the number of exposures, we have an extra battery, but have not had one run down. Looking at the battery indicator as I write this, the battery in the camera, which has sat quietly for a month, could use a charge.

 

I hope this is helpful.

 

Bill Yowell

[laineeey]

Elaine,

 

How many pictures the V-LUX 1 will take (on a memory card) depends on the size of the card and the quality setting. While the camera comes with a 500 MB card, we use 1 GB cards. At a quality setting at the highest jpg setting and a pict. size also the highest (10M) the camera will get 200 pictures. If set for RAW, the number is 42.

 

So at its highest RAW setting, it will take more photograps than a 35mm roll of film.

 

As to battery life, which could have an effect on the number of exposures, we have an extra battery, but have not had one run down. Looking at the battery indicator as I write this, the battery in the camera, which has sat quietly for a month, could use a charge.

 

I hope this is helpful.

 

Bill Yowell

 

 

Thanks Bill! Are there extra things that I have to buy which are not included in the camera package? like for example... its case, tripod, charger, battery, etc.

[wmyowell]

Elaine,

The camera comes with a charger (which at least for the U.S. package is one of those small ones that plugs directly into the wall socket - no cord) and one battery. Also a 500 MB memory card.

 

Tripod and case are extras. My wife has a Tamrac Digital case into which the camera fits nicely. The case was inexpensive ($20 U.S.) and does not scream out "Leica - expensive camera, steal me."

 

Bill Yowell

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[spylaw4]

Elaine,

If you visit

Leica Camera AG - Photography - V-Lux 1

you will find the info on what comes with the camera when you buy. Anything else is extra and you'll have to buy it yourself, including the Leica accessories listed..