Rivergull Posted January 5, 2011 Share #1 Â Posted January 5, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) I'm an old film photographer who's ready to put in my order for a DLux5. Any advice on what accessories to buy for it, and which brands? Meaning battery, memory card, handgrip, case, etc. (excluding EVF and anything I can put off to later). Appears costs can add up quickly. Thank you for any advice. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 5, 2011 Posted January 5, 2011 Hi Rivergull, Take a look here Leica D-Lux5 newbie, which accessories?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Walt Calahan Posted January 5, 2011 Share #2 Â Posted January 5, 2011 Yes, get a spare battery. Â Work with the camera for a while to discern whether you really need the handgrip. Â If you buy the LX5 version, it comes with a small grip built-in, and the lower price covers the spare battery and extra memory cards. Skip the expensive Leica leather case, doesn't improve the pictures, adds weight, and costs as much as the electronic viewfinder. Â The one thing that I use, and glad to have, is the auxiliary electronic viewfinder. I don't have it on the camera permanently, but do use it when the light is too bright, or when my angle of view is very low (the finder swings up). Wish Panasonic would come out with a newer version with a finer screen. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivergull Posted January 5, 2011 Author Share #3  Posted January 5, 2011 The one thing that I use, and glad to have, is the auxiliary electronic viewfinder.  EVF: I can't afford the EVF so thought I'd try this gadget to help with focusing in bright light: Amazon.com: Customer Reviews: Hoodman H-LPP3 HoodLoupe 3.0 Professional 3-Inch Screen Loupe  Case: I too, feel the case can wait. Batteries: I read somewhere that a Panasonic battery costs less and works just fine in the DL-5? Memory cards: Size? Brand? I see the Extreme 8GB goes for about $55. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walt Calahan Posted January 5, 2011 Share #4  Posted January 5, 2011 The Panasonic battery is identical. Just wished 3rd party distributors would sell a generic brand cheaper than the Panasonic model.  The Hoodman is good, but not for shooting. I use one for reviewing DSLR images after shooting. I can't imagine attempting to hold the Hoodman loupe to the back of the Lux-5 while shooting, but I guess that's why they make straps for the thing.  The Panasonic DMW-LVF1 External Live Viewfinder is only $150.  Amazon.com: Panasonic DMW-LVF1 External Live Viewfinder for Panasonic GF1 Micro Four Thirds Interchangeable Lens Camera: Electronics  My Digital Discount is a great source for SD cards. http://www.mydigitaldiscount.com/  The savings on the battery and SD cards can help towards the cost of the External viewfinder. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Le Chef Posted January 5, 2011 Share #5 Â Posted January 5, 2011 I sucked it up and bought the DL5, the EVF, the hand grip, 1 spare battery, 2 memory cards. The grip works better for me than the one on the LX5. The EVF turns it into a more precise tool. A spare battery and spare memory card - we've all been there before right? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted January 5, 2011 Share #6 Â Posted January 5, 2011 The D-Lux 5 is a very pocketable camera which is why I eschewed getting the EVF. (I should add that I seldom use the camera as camera of choice when out shooting in bright sunny conditions). However, the Leica hand-grip transforms handling for me and I find it indispensable. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digitom Posted January 5, 2011 Share #7 Â Posted January 5, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) I bought the D-Lux 5, never thought about the Panasonic Version. Â Accessories: Â Leica Handgrip, advantage is better handling, and the tripod mount goes under the axis of the lens (good for Panorama). Also the grip protects the battery/SD card compartment door which is IMHO a little bit thin and looks not ver stable (but it is, no sorrow ). Â SD-Card: I use a 4 GB SDHC card (because it is better if one do video, then an SD) from SUNDISK. Price is about 8 Euro. Normal 2 GB here cost about 5 Euro. Â Battery: Panasonic, is about 15 percent cheaper then the Leica version. Is fully compatible! Â A word about EVF: later try it, it is very good and you do another way of photography with that nice part (more classical way). I have the Panasonic version. Leica cost 299 Euro, but Panasonic EVF costs about 160 Euro! Because there is really no difference, one can choose the cheaper part. To make photos with the EVF is very descret with that small cam. But no problem if you do not use it now. The D-Lux 5 is also excellent without eFinder. Â Bag: Leica case is expensive - try a hardcase for protection of the cam after shooting session and "wear" the camera with neckstrap in front. Such a case cost about 25 Euro (I have Cullmann Lagos Vario 200 - mabe difficult to get in US I heared, but sure there are similar ones from other brands). Â Finally: Screen protector: I use noname foil 3" and they cost about 5 Euro (3 pieces). If, after some month, the foil shows aging, I change it. Â Hope I helped you, Have many god experiences with your D-Lux 5 Â Thomas Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted January 5, 2011 Share #8 Â Posted January 5, 2011 A PC/Mac or laptop, an external hard drive and a good quality photo printer. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted January 5, 2011 Share #9 Â Posted January 5, 2011 The lens cap is easily lost unless attached by the supplied umbilical cord that manages to irritatingly tangle with anything within reach; the camera stares dumbly back at you if you dare to switch it on with the lens cap in place. Â The answer is to buy one of these self-retaining lens caps, screw it on and forget about lens caps altogether. I wouldn't be without it. Â Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveleo Posted January 6, 2011 Share #10 Â Posted January 6, 2011 I own the LX3. Â I bought the lens tube adapter shown here. PANASONIC LUMIX LX3 BLOG: LX3 - LENSMATE LENS ADAPTER Â it is an excellent product , but I don't use it much because it makes the camera too large to carry in my jacket. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digitom Posted January 7, 2011 Share #11  Posted January 7, 2011 The lens cap is easily lost unless attached by the supplied umbilical cord that manages to irritatingly tangle with anything within reach; the camera stares dumbly back at you if you dare to switch it on with the lens cap in place. The answer is to buy one of these self-retaining lens caps, screw it on and forget about lens caps altogether. I wouldn't be without it.  Pete.  I saw these selfretaining caps on a youtube video. Looks very practical. But just a question: how tight is the lens cap closing? I mean sure the original cap protects better to dust, so maybe the self closing lenscap is only a nice looking but not well protecting lenscap? Also it can be easily manual opened because it has to be opened by the little power of the extending lens. So finally, is it really robust and so worth the money? And will there really no irritation to the tubus while zooming in and out, because the lenscap top is always scraping along the tubus? And also I saw the problem of these caps in wide angle position of the lens - is there still vignetting?  By the way the idea seems to be good, because also I often forget in snapshot situations to remove the cap and then get the error message to remove and press any key - and the photo has "gone"... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted January 7, 2011 Share #12 Â Posted January 7, 2011 Thomas, Â There is no vignetting at any focal length with this lens cap. Â Sure, it's not as strong as the standard cap and the 'barn doors' are (necessarily) lightly sprung so if you dropped the camera the cap wouldn't provide much protection but neither would the standard cap I suspect. Â I haven't had a worse than normal problem with dust. The barn doors make a level, snug fit when closed with a 1 mm or so gap between them. Â As far as wear on the lens is concerned, I used the same type of lens cap on my D-Lux 4 for about 2 years and there was no wear that I could see and I was able to trade my DL4 in on my DL5 without a comment from my dealer. Â They are cheap enough that I bought a second (back up) cap in case I lose the first one because I screw the cap off so I can get the lens right up to the glass when shooting through windows or into cabinets. Â Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digitom Posted January 7, 2011 Share #13 Â Posted January 7, 2011 Â There is no vignetting at any focal length with this lens cap. Â Pete. Â OK, very good to hear! Because I saw a video which described a selfmade troubleshooting procedure to avoid vignetting, maybe that was on a different lenscap then yours. Â The video is here: Â Thanks again for informations, greetings Thomas Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted January 7, 2011 Share #14 Â Posted January 7, 2011 Thomas, Â I had to do a similar modification on the self-retaining lens cap for my D-Lux 4 and I was expecting to have to do it on the D-Lux 5's lens cap but there hasn't been any vignetting. Â For the D-Lux 4's cap I simply bought some of the small, green, self-adhesive, felt buttons that are designed to prevent hi-fis, DVDs, TVs etc from scratching highly polished wooden cabinets. Â Much less faffing about than the chap in the video. Just peel off the waxed paper backing sheet and stick it over the little spring, and click, click, click. Â Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveleo Posted January 8, 2011 Share #15  Posted January 8, 2011 I highly recommend the duct tape belt pouch, available at your local hardware store. Mine (for my LX3) is shown below, and you are correct . . this is not available in stores (or online, for that matter ) Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/140920-leica-d-lux5-newbie-which-accessories/?do=findComment&comment=1551621'>More sharing options...
farnz Posted January 8, 2011 Share #16 Â Posted January 8, 2011 I highly recommend the duct tape belt pouch, ... Don't you miss shots while you're unwinding the duct tape off your LX3 each time, Dave? Â Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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