What is the D-Lux 5 advantage?

[hoochiekoo]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

My sister is going to buy the D-Lux 5 but some of her friends suggested her to buy Lumix 5 instead because it is the same camera with much lower price. I believe that they are not the same though the specification are so close to each other but have no idea to explain. Please advice.

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[stunsworth]

They are the same, but the Leica's warranty is different - I don't know the exact details, but usually the Leica one is better.

 

The Leica camera also comes with Adobe Lightroom, which is a fairly expensive - and very capable - piece of software in its own right.

 

The Leica and Panasonic cameras are built on the same production line, and the lens on both cameras is identical - i.e. Leica don't 'cherry pick' the best examples.

[Rusted Chrome]

It's essentially the same camera but, as stated above, with a 3 year instead of 1 year warranty and Lightroom 3 included.

 

Also the body shell is different, with D-Lux lacking the LX5's grip. The firmware and menu system is also different. Any difference in image quality is so minute as to be undetectable in any reviews I've seen so far.

[Shootist]

I'm hoping it has a 3 year warranty, there are conflicting reports about this and I don't believe Leica has stated 3 years in any of the documentation for the camera (at least none that I have read).

 

The one thing I like in the DL 5 over the LX 5 is the use of DNG RAW file format. I really can't stand the sidecar XMP files you get with most other RAW file formats.

 

I really want a DL 5 and have placed a order for one but it doesn't seem they will be available until the end of October, at least not from the dealer I have ordered from. This make me want to cancel the order and just buy the LX 5 from B&H, they have them In Stock. Then just convert the RWL (I think that is what Panasonic calls there RAW files) to DNG and buy the upgrade to LR3.

[bill]

The warranty and software changes have already been explained above.

 

The grip point may be a significant one; like the D-Lux 4/LX-3 the Panasonic has a built-in grip which is small. The Leica has the facility to add an accessory grip which is larger. I had bought Panasonic up to the D-Lux 4 and went for the Leica specifically because of the grip, since I have larger hands.

 

Regards,

 

Bill

[mmradman]

We know Leica & Panasonic models are very similar (identical perhaps), so my question; is D-LUX5 EVF finder #18716 same as Panasonic's DMW-LVF1E (currently advertised for GF1, but couldn't find any reference to LX5).

 

Thanks

[wahnamhong]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Bought a dlux 4 instead of the panny lx3 more than a year ago. Still glad I did. I truly enjoy the quality of the camera itself, holding it, the leather case and the looks I get from others.

[ho_co]

Leica has a tendency to support discontinued models for a good, long time; don't know about Panasonic.

 

See the later thread http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/digital-forum/143096-benefits-d-lux-5-over-d.html, which includes an update on the confusion over the D-Lux 5's RAW format. At first (as above) it was thought to be DNG; now it turns out it's RWL, just like the D-Lux 4.

[d_lague]

I have a Panasonic LC1 and have found Panasonic service out of warranty to be fast and reasonably priced. And it is a great camera and now a classic like the Leica D2

[jpattison]

With Lightroom, you can import the RAW files using it's "Convert to DNG" instead of just importing as is.

 

John