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4 Reasons Why You Should Get the Leica D-LUX 5 vs Panasonic LX-5

rosuna

By rosuna
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MikeMyers

MikeMyers

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Actually, not all of us want "badges" or "labels". Years ago, I used to put black plastic electrical tape over the name of my camera when I traveled. Then, in Thailand, when I had a choice of buying the "fake" designer shirts with fancy labels, or the identical shirts that simply said "Thailand", I'd get the latter. I'd rather the camera NOT in any way seem to be "showing off".

 

When it comes to any of these cameras, if I could pay a $10 extra option price and buy any of the cameras with no label whatever, it would be worth that much to me for the camera to not say anything about who or what it is/was. (When my Land Rover got in an accident, and the hood was being replaced, I caught the fellow doing the re-paint before he had installed the fancy letters across the front of the hood - and asked him to leave them off.) That's just me - I guess most people feel otherwise.

 

 

 

I do realize people buy things for different reasons, and I guess for some people, what's the point of buying something fancy if you can't "show off". Heck, I love the fact that my M8 is a finely crafted precision machine, but almost everyone who sees me with it feels sorry for me because I can't afford a real camera and am using an antique. (At some point the black plastic electrical tape will be used there as well, especially if I take it on a trip somewhere... this will enhance the illusion, as some people do know what the word "Leica" implies....)

 

 

To those who want to spend the extra money for the Leica version of this camera, fine! Ditto to those who don't care one way or the other. Having said all that, now that I've figured out "how" to do things, the next step is to go out and have some fun trying out the camera. I would have over the past few days, but I'm spoiled by Florida weather, and even though I wanted to walk around NYC and take photos with my new toy, I was much more concerned with staying warm....

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Archiver

Archiver

Posted
Posted

Why you do not put a VW badge on a SEAT, they do already.

Never tought about the fact that a lot of people still buy a VW, and it is the same product like a SEAT, are all the VW-buyers wrong?

 

For the rest, it is like with all the consumer products, Duracell does it, VW does it, why should Leica not coorporate with Pana?

 

I stated this before, everybody makes his own choices, no need to attack others for chosing Pana or Leica, and leave the stupid comments away from these topics.

 

All brands of cams use sensors made in japan, China, Taiwan, Thailand, the bodies are made in 3rtdWorldCounties, so what the hell does it matter? Even looked inside the jeans you wear? I guess it is a brand, lets say 150 dollars, made in the same country where they produce a 10 dollar jeans, but there is the brand on it?????? :rolleyes:

 

At least one thing is sure, Pana and Leica works well together, they developed a wonderfull cam, the (D-)L(U)X5

The rest is all bullshit, and that smells very bad.

 

As far as we can tell, the lens was designed by Leica, and the rest was designed by Panasonic. If anything, that makes it a Panasonic camera with a Leica lens.

 

If VW buyers fully know they are buying a rebadged SEAT, but continue to think that it is a VW, then that is an exercise in self deception.

 

Everyone here knows that Panasonic essentially created the D-Lux 5, and it underwent cosmetic changes for Leica to sell it under their name. The issue is that the D-Lux5 is a Panasonic camera with a Leica price. Sure, Lightroom/jpeg yada yada. But at the end of the day, a red dot doesn't make the Panasonic-designed innards into Leica innards. A red dot doesn't turn a camera into a Leica any more than a Victoria's Secret bra turns Alicia Silverstone into Heidi Klum.

 

What country the camera/sensor/jeans were made in is irrelevant. Who designed the product? That is its real provenance. The D-Lux 5 is a great camera. And I think everyone knows where it came from, red dot or not.

 

The rest, as you say, is bullshit.

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MikeMyers

MikeMyers

Posted
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About a month ago, for one day, the B&H Price dropped to $375.

 

I checked the Panasonic home page, and saw it listed for $375. I called B&H, told the person I wanted to buy one but the price was more than on the Panasonic home page. I was talking to a supervisor, and after he verified the price I had seen, he sold one to me for $375. The price on the B&H web page was $375 an hour or so later, but by the next day it was up to $400 or so, with the price on the Panasonic home page quite a bit higher. In retrospect, it must have been an error on the Panasonic page, but B&H honored their policies, and I've got my camera.

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Le Chef

Le Chef

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You just simply prefer it. No purchase is ever completely logical.

 

I had used a bag full of a Canon F1n and FD lenses that turned me into a dithering and reluctant Quasimodo and my chiropractor into a wealthy man. I bought simple PAS digital camera's and never felt satisfied with the level of control or quality of the images. I liked the feel of the Leica over the Panasonic, it gave me a good approximation of the control of an SLR without the hassle, and I didn't yet own a copy of Lightroom. I added the EVF which makes the camera much easier to use, as does the grip which I also added. I'm sure the Puritans will howl about how I could have gotten a better camera, but it's my choice as to what I spend my money on, and my preference was for this camera.

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algrove

algrove

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If it is available from Panasonic who developed it with essentially the same guts as the D-LUX 5 (I already own LR), pay $400 instead of $800. Heck, the Panasonic EVF costs $132 versus the Leica EVF for $385.

 

Total Panasonic savings for those 2 items (ex LR) is $650. That bought me the SF-58 flash for my M9. Or that bought me 3x32GB Extreme SDHC cards. Or that bought me my Gitzo carbon fiber tripod. Or that bought me a nice little used Leica 90mm f2.8 Tele-Elmarit travel lens weighing less than the PAS camera we are all talking about for any M Leica.

 

Forgot to focus on the 1 Reason to buy the Panasonic-it's a PAS camera-that's all it is, no matter who badges it.

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Ecaton

Ecaton

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Buy the original or the private label (or shall we call it the licensed generic). In the case at hand the original is the LX5 and the private label the cute, but super premium priced D-Lux5. Often times, pricing works the other way around, with the original costing more;). A textbook case of irrational pricing power of premium brands, software included or not.

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Gitzo

Gitzo

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5th Reason :)

 

Spend some time on flickr and look at the quality of "full resolution" images from both cameras. I have not yet found any image from the LX5 that has the awesome quality I have seen in the D-Lux 5 images. Yes I have found some images from D-Lux 5 owners that are the same as the LX5.. but not the other way around. Unless someone can show me otherwise, I have spent countless hours in researching this camera since Leica first came out with the D-Lux 4.

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Ecaton

Ecaton

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5th Reason :)

 

Spend some time on flickr and look at the quality of "full resolution" images from both cameras. I have not yet found any image from the LX5 that has the awesome quality I have seen in the D-Lux 5 images. Yes I have found some images from D-Lux 5 owners that are the same as the LX5.. but not the other way around. Unless someone can show me otherwise, I have spent countless hours in researching this camera since Leica first came out with the D-Lux 4.

 

You found what you were looking for, no surprise. But maybe D-Lux5 images are "better" because shot with the Leica $ 385 EVF versus the $132 Pana one:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

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Guest user62134

Guest user62134

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When the D-LUX 5 was announced I ordered one, then kept reading about the LX 5.

Purchased it also. Compared the pictures taken same time and date, my opinion and friends

seeing to pics side by side the Leica was/is a better picture. Have placed the M9 on the shelf

for now. Tired of carrying pocket full of lens around. Too old and grumpy, just the D-LUX 5 with grip and extra batteries.

 

Having a great deal of fun with the D-LUX 5.

 

The LX5, just gave to a friend. Waste not.

 

It isn't as if your buying a new Bentley. (she wanted one in Maroon with `oatmeal interior',then when it arrived, "no a black one with oatmeal". Bought it and from now on she buys her own.)

 

Finis

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algrove

algrove

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Have placed the M9 on the shelf

for now. Tired of carrying pocket full of lens around. Too old and grumpy, just the D-LUX 5 with grip and extra batteries.

 

I would never shelf my M9 in order to use some point and shoot (PAS) camera. Guess you get better shots with your PAS than with your M9.

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dickgrafixstop

dickgrafixstop

Posted
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"tis a poor workman that blames his tools"

 

I've gotten pictures I like with both, but in the end, both are limited by shutter release speed. Since most of the church towers I shoot don't move, the results can be half step

shy of spectacular. At my grandson's soccer game, neither one is worth a damn.

 

I don't like paying extra to advertise a product when I buy a casual shirt or a pair of

gym shoes, and I really don't like paying a 100% premium for a rebadged clone of a

cheaper product.

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Shootist

Shootist

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When the D-LUX 5 was announced I ordered one, then kept reading about the LX 5.

Purchased it also. Compared the pictures taken same time and date, my opinion and friends

seeing to pics side by side the Leica was/is a better picture. Have placed the M9 on the shelf

for now. Tired of carrying pocket full of lens around. Too old and grumpy, just the D-LUX 5 with grip and extra batteries.

 

Having a great deal of fun with the D-LUX 5.

 

The LX5, just gave to a friend. Waste not.

 

It isn't as if your buying a new Bentley. (she wanted one in Maroon with `oatmeal interior',then when it arrived, "no a black one with oatmeal". Bought it and from now on she buys her own.)

 

Finis

 

Although I don't own both cameras and have never bee able to see images from both on MY PC I truly believe that the images are exactly the same. I suspect you are looking at the JPG images and yes the ones from the Leica version may be different but that doesn't mean the LX images can't be made to look exactly the same. What I think is going on is mental gyrations about the image quality from the Leica version of this camera. Because it has a Red Dot and the word Leica on it IT must be better.

If you are talking about the RAW images then you are mistaken they are the same.

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Guest user62134

Guest user62134

Posted
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Shootist,

 

You know, I have compared them side by side, and the only clue is the L in found of the .jpg

with friends not knowing the difference either, they liked the D LUX 5 pictures.

The days of shooting mostly still objects are mostly gone. I shoot dogs, cats, and Arabian horses, and they just will not `pose" while you shoot. I picked the D LUX 5 because I preferred the look, and it had nothing to do with the name brand.

When the day comes that I no longer shoot the M9, I'll shall put up here for sale or give to a friend. The Red Dot has nothing to do with it in my mind. The M9 is a great camera hands down ! But not for all things I shoot. OK ?

BTW: Using a MAC 27" for my viewing, not a PC.

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