Which to buy, D-Lux 5 or Olympus EP?

[leicanut2]

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Well, we tried out both and the comparisons were quite interesting.

 

Handling and ergonomics: Leica is tiny but seems very well built. Tiny buttons but manageable. We actually tried the Oly EP-1 as the EPL-1 was not available. It has a nice metallic body. I found the Oly to be a good size but the 14-42 lens was fiddly. My wife preferred the Leica. Both have losable lenscaps. LCDs are, as we have found with every other digital camera, impossible to see clearly in bright light. But the Leica is very speedy for playing back.

 

For setting aperture and shutter speeds quickly, neither can beat the X1 for simplicity. We'd rely mostly on P with these models.

 

Software: More logical with the D-Lux 5, although we struggled to find the fill flash control. It also has a non standard cable.

 

Image quality: The clincher. Induced a little purple fringing with the D-Lux 5. Blown highlights with the Olympus (ISO 100 JPG). Despite the larger sensor, Oly was not clearly better; in fact, we got some very nice sharp shots with the Leica.

 

Oly missed focus a few times. Greater DOF for close-ups of plants with D-Lux 5.

 

Slight background blur still possible with the D-Lux at 90 and f/3.3. The Oly at 5.6 at the long end was similar.

 

Low light: Also no clear-cut victory to the Oly. It was OK until ISO 800 then too noisy for our liking. Leica was fine at ISO 400 and still useable at ISO 800. (Amazing just how much better the X1 is at high ISOs.)

 

Also compared previous X1 shots. Excellent. If only it had an extra lens it would be the ideal all-rounder.

 

So probably the D-Lux 5 at this time.

 

 

The Leica D-Lux 5 has a small loop type thingy you use to hold the lens cap to the camera strap lug so really would be hard to loose it.

 

an

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[NZDavid]

Just got the D-Lux 5. Very pleased with IQ from the small sensor. Mounted the 24 OVF. More later but right now this little camera looks very good indeed.

[jankap]

The Leica D-Lux 5 has a small loop type thingy you use to hold the lens cap to the camera strap lug so really would be hard to loose it.

 

an

 

For the Dlux-4 Enjoyyouramera offers an automatic lenscap. Works fine. Perhaps for the Dlux-5 something similar is coming.

Jan