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Benefits of the D-Lux 5 over the D-Lux 4


farnz

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I would also like to know what makes the D-Lux 5 $300 better than the Panny LX5?

Is there any difference other besides outer casing and red dot?

Well, the copy of Adobe Lightroom 3, the free SanDisk Ultra II 4GB Card and the warranty ... ?

 

But please don't let's turn this thread into a rant about relative pricing; please stay on topic so the thread is useful to those who are contemplating an upgrade.:)

 

Thanks,

Pete.

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The viewfinder is a HUGE plus. There are some outdoor situations where the DL4 screen is unusable. The ability to close out ambient light via the attachable viewfinder and frame the shot will be a welcomed upgrade. I am very curious about the new sensor though and what the real difference will be in image quality.

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Just curious, Skip--Are you sure there is a new sensor? Can you point to a reference? (I know, I haven't been doing my homework as I should. :rolleyes: )

 

While not disparaging the dpreview citation, I'd prefer to see it from a primary source. Panasonic's web comparison tool doesn't imply any sensor difference, and I don't think any change is mentioned in LFI.

 

 

Again: LX3 in center column, LX5 in right.

 

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I was reviewing the specs again, as listed in Steve Huff's recently posted review. There are more improvements hidden under the hood.

 

It looks like the video mode has improved by more than simply allowing zoom and focus. It seems they are finally taking this feature seriously instead of just throwing it in as an "extra." There is now a "Creative" mode that basically allows full manual operation of shutter speed and aperture while shooting video. You can also select the "film" type for video, which I don't recall being able to do with my 4. And, you now have the option of MJPEG or AVCHD Lite, which takes up significantly less card space. It also mentions something about Dolby sound, which hopefully means that audio has been improved (a real weak spot with the 4, IMO).

 

The LCD now adjusts brightness automatically to match the lighting conditions.

 

Intelligent ISO mode can now move in 1/3EV steps for more finely tuned exposures.

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I haven't found anything specific on changes between the D-Lux 4 and D-Lux 5 sensors, but LFI 7/2010 says on p 36:

... At first glance, the sensor doesn't seem to offer much new, since it still has a size of 1/1.63 inches and a resolution of about 10 megapixels. However, its architecture and microlenses were clearly reworked, in order to get more sensitivity, color saturation and dynamic range....

 

My apologies to those whose statements on the matter I questioned.

 

Nonetheless, the statement is very general, and at least part of the performance improvement is doubtless to be attributed to the new image processor, which is briefly mentioned on p 38 of the same article.

 

And LFI is very careful in comparing image quality (p 39):

... A direct laboratory comparison would be needed to demonstrate advances over the D-Lux 4, but subjectively color reproduction and dynamic range were quite pleasing....

 

That's not at all definitive in my book, and I'd still like a more definitive description of hardware changes and image quality differences. :confused:

 

 

(Sorry, Pete. I don't mean to keep popping up with sensor comments, but I'm still not convinced that the better RAW performance doesn't come from new noise-reduction algorithms.)

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I haven't found anything specific on changes between the D-Lux 4 and D-Lux 5 sensors,

 

It has the same size sensor, but apparently it has been re-engineered for higher sensitivity and expanded dynamic range. The following excerpts are from the Panasonic website: http://panasonic.net/avc/lumix/compact/lx5/lens.html

 

"The CCD in the DMC-LX5... is redesigned to achieve the further expansion of dynamic range by increasing the sensitivity by approx. 31% and the saturation by approx.38%. The result is a high resolution, noise-less images even in high sensitivity recording and richly reproduced gradation in highly contrasted situations with the exquisitely wide dynamic range. Taking advantage of the high sensitivity CCD and the brightness of the lens, minimum illumination of the DMC-LX5 is as low as 3 lux in movie recording. Also, the maximum setting is ISO 12800 enabling shooting in extremely dark places."

 

"The expansion of dynamic range is made possible by the improvement of on-tip-lens design with larger light concentration and VCCD expansion while deepening the photo diode to manage richer signal more effectively."

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I am really interested in this camera. I've loved my LX3, but the zoom range is a little light. With Lightroom bundled and the two year (?) warranty I can justify the price difference. I thought it also had photoshop elements in the software bundle.

 

How about speed of writing raw files to the card? The LX3 is slow enough that I usually don't do it.

 

Is it available in the US yet?

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Having spent the last couple of days with the LX5 my conclusion is that the DL4 has a better lens.

Better in that I detect it to be sharper and more contrasty in places - particularly the edges. (check out Imaging Resource lens test)

 

After that everything about the LX5 is delightful.

The new lens is sharp with the proviso above and I much prefer the new zoom range.

The real gain comes in the increased dynamic range , the EVF , the anti-shake implementation and "slightly" better high ISO performance.

 

Other features like faster focusing and intelligent sharpening haven't made an impression on me.

In side by side shots with the DL4 it is the increase in dynamic range that I've noticed most.

 

I'm keeping my DL4 and much as I love my new LX5 , I think we will hear a lot more about lens performance in the coming weeks.

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Having spent the last couple of days with the LX5 my conclusion is that the DL4 has a better lens.

Better in that I detect it to be sharper and more contrasty in places - particularly the edges. (check out Imaging Resource lens test)

 

After that everything about the LX5 is delightful.

The new lens is sharp with the proviso above and I much prefer the new zoom range.

The real gain comes in the increased dynamic range , the EVF , the anti-shake implementation and "slightly" better high ISO performance.

 

Other features like faster focusing and intelligent sharpening haven't made an impression on me.

In side by side shots with the DL4 it is the increase in dynamic range that I've noticed most.

 

I'm keeping my DL4 and much as I love my new LX5 , I think we will hear a lot more about lens performance in the coming weeks.

 

Not sure who make the lens, whether it is just a Leica design and built by the Japanese or if it's built in Germany with REAL Leica Glass. If built by Leica in Germany then maybe Leica sends the would be Leica rejects to Panasonic for use on the LX 3/5 and kept/keeps the good ones for the DL 4/5.

Only once the DL 5 start to get into the hands of real users will we find out what the lens is really like.

I myself have ordered the DL 5 for what I hear is a 3 year warranty and the LR 3 license. Since I already have/own LR 1.X/2.X I save the $100 on the LR 3 upgrade and get an extra 2 years of warranty. That is IF the Leica DL 5 warranty is actually 3 years here in the US of A. Time will tell.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Another difference: The two cameras take different size filters & WA adapters.

 

 

According to the Panasonic cameras' instructions:

 

D-Lux 4 requires adapter ring DMW-LA4 with 46mm thread.

D-Lux 5 requires adapter ring DMW-LA6 with 52mm thread.

 

 

Wide-angle attachment for D-Lux 4 is DMW-LW46.

Wide-angle attachment for D-Lux 5 is DMW-LWA52.

 

(Both wide-angle adapters are 0.75x or 18mm equivalent.)

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Now on my second copy of the LX5 and things look OK.

At wide angle the lens is quite brilliant ( provided it's in focus..auto focus is not always accurate ) but zoomed to 70- 90mm equivalent I find it quite disappointing.

 

Looking forward to hearing what you guys think from the DL5.

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Not sure who make the lens, whether it is just a Leica design and built by the Japanese or if it's built in Germany with REAL Leica Glass. If built by Leica in Germany then maybe Leica sends the would be Leica rejects to Panasonic for use on the LX 3/5 and kept/keeps the good ones for the DL 4/5.

 

Oh yeah, Panasonic happily take Leica's rejects LOL. And Leica are happy for their name to grace something which they themselves have rejected? I don't really think so.

 

The lens, the camera, the lot is made by Panasonic. Apart from design differences they are essentially the same cameras with some minor firmware differences.

 

The lens is made by Panasonic, with input from Leica in the design. We don't know if that is merely rubber stamping the Panasonic design and production process or if they had a hand in the actual design.

 

I paid £99 for my Panasonic Clux2 - there's no way it could be sold for that if it had a 'real' Leica lens.

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Oh yeah, Panasonic happily take Leica's rejects LOL. And Leica are happy for their name to grace something which they themselves have rejected? I don't really think so.

 

The lens, the camera, the lot is made by Panasonic. Apart from design differences they are essentially the same cameras with some minor firmware differences.

 

The lens is made by Panasonic, with input from Leica in the design. We don't know if that is merely rubber stamping the Panasonic design and production process or if they had a hand in the actual design.

 

I paid £99 for my Panasonic Clux2 - there's no way it could be sold for that if it had a 'real' Leica lens.

 

Yes I posted that before I saw the interview with Stefan Daniel. Where he say all lenses are made in Japan by Panasonic.

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Hi

 

does anyone know if the optional EVF is the same as Panasonic version (for GF1)? Or if the Panasonic EVF would work on the D-Lux5

 

thanks

 

ians

 

Yes it works I sold my GF1 and all the lenses etc but saved the viewfinder because it works on the DL-5 but I do not know if Leicas is better or not. The viewfinder for the GF1 is not all that great but works in bright sun or if you want to be discreet when taking pictures at a show.

 

Jan

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Having spent the last couple of days with the LX5 my conclusion is that the DL4 has a better lens.

Better in that I detect it to be sharper and more contrasty in places - particularly the edges. (check out Imaging Resource lens test)

 

Are you sure?

 

Leica suggests the lens is very much improved (which is not easy on such a good lens). Panasonic says that the new lens shows a 30% INCREASE in corner to corner sharpness.

 

By the way, the lens structure is quite a feat of engineering, on such a small lens and goes a long way into explaining the cost (10 elements in 9 groups, 3 aspheric elements with 5 aspheric surfaces !). The design is Leica and the manufacturing is Panasonic.

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