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d-lux 4 or 5


jasperpso

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I am looking at a new compact, and have some questions about the d-lux series?

 

primarily, is the d-lux 4 going to be BETTER then a d-lux 5 for a relatively novice photographer.. I want excellent low/available light exposures, and zoom isnt a big deal (i know the 5 has a small amount more) the price isnt that much more, but if i wont see a discernable difference....

 

what else should i look at?

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i dont think the 5 is a upgrade to the 4, rather a different model to offer with a lower price and a limited set of features.. am i wrong about that? is the 5 considered to be a higher model? comparing the tech specs in pdf on the leica site, the 4 seems to win hands down.. but maybe it is in the interpretation?

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In answer to your question, the D-Lux 5 / Panasonic LX5 has an f/2 lens, where the D-Lux 4 / Panasonic LX3 has an f/2.8 lens. Since you are looking for low light performance, the D-Lux 5 / LX5, with a full f stop advantage (plus 24-90mm equivalent versus 24-60mm equivalent FOV) will outperform the D-Lux 4 / LX3.

Rich

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In answer to your question, the D-Lux 5 / Panasonic LX5 has an f/2 lens, where the D-Lux 4 / Panasonic LX3 has an f/2.8 lens. Since you are looking for low light performance, the D-Lux 5 / LX5, with a full f stop advantage (plus 24-90mm equivalent versus 24-60mm equivalent FOV) will outperform the D-Lux 4 / LX3.

Rich

 

 

well i wont just say - YOUR WRONG but...

 

leica lists both camera as having a 2.0 lens.. the d-lux 4 has a equiv-24-60.. the d-lux 5 has a 24-90.. but both are 2.0...

however the d-lux 4 has many more af modes and zones, and is more expensive.. there are probably more differences, which is why i came on here to research - but so far my research is helping more then this..lol

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Jasperso,

 

You're right; I PXed my D-Lux 4 on my D-Lux 5 and both lenses are f/2 wide open at the wide-angle end.

 

Primarily I traded for the extra zoom reach, the stepping zoom function (24, 28, 35, 50, 70, and 90 mm) and the EVF because I've never really got on with framing at arm's length and an external optical supplementary viewfinder is not practical with a continuous zoom.

 

The ISO performance of the DL5 1 to 2 stops better than the DL4 imo, which will of course help with your low light shooting.

 

At no point have I remotely felt that moving from the DL4 to the DL5 was a poor decision.

 

Pete.

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well i wont just say - YOUR WRONG but...

 

leica lists both camera as having a 2.0 lens.. the d-lux 4 has a equiv-24-60.. the d-lux 5 has a 24-90.. but both are 2.0...

however the d-lux 4 has many more af modes and zones, and is more expensive.. there are probably more differences, which is why i came on here to research - but so far my research is helping more then this..lol

 

You are absolutely right - I mistakenly compared the D-Lux 3 to the D-Lux 5. I owned and sold both the 3 and 4, and confused the two from memory.

Rich

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I started a thread on this a while ago. Look here.

 

Pete.

 

This is EXACTLY the info i was looking for... d-lux 5 it is..

 

now - i saw a africa green d-lux 4... do them make the 5 in green? where in the states should i purchase one - amazon? somewhere else?

 

thanks

jason

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It's called the Safari and it's a special issue made in limited numbers well after the initial launch to boost sales when they start to drop off.

 

A Safari D-Lux 4 was issued about 18 months (I think) after the D-Lux 4 was launched but there's no Safari D-Lux 5 so far.

 

Pete.

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The green No. 4 was a special limited series. I think that color is a horror :D

 

But back to the L-Lux 5. I had the D-Lux 2 before so it was a big step forward for me. The differences between 4 and 5 you can see exactly when looking at the technical informations. IN practical use it is a big step forward IMHO that an EVF can be used with the D-Lux5. So it can be used like a classival viewfinder cam (and also the EVF can be used in different angles up to 90 degrees. For me, also the possibility of getting Lightroom3 was a point of decision.

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The differences between 4 and 5 you can see exactly when looking at the technical informations.

 

 

i was totally confused by the tech info on the leica site.. for the d-lux 4 they list TONS of focus and other features that they didnt seem fit to include in the tech info for the d-lux 5.. check it out... add to that i went to a website (snapwise?maybe not sure) that difrectly compared cameras, and when comparing the the two, it said the d-lux 5 will lack that real 35mm like result, said the d-lux4 or the lx5 or even a ricoh????? was the way to go... those details combined made me think the 5 was a inferior build.. i see now that is unfounded..

 

My father owns and operates a camera store, been in business in the area since the early 70s.. we have expanded and changed over the years(now selling electronics as well), now selling considerably fewer hi end low f-stop cameras, stopped developing film altogether last year, cant keep chemisty usable with no film being developed.. but brought in a noritsu full digital printing solution.. hobby photography in the usa midwest, for the most part, is a dead horse unfortunately.. no leica dealers nearby to go and look at one.. my dad has many antique Leicas, and always regards them with being some of his best.. i do realize this is a rebranded panasonic - but i have to admit, i am excited to be aquiring my first digital leica..

 

my first real camera was a canon A1.. digital light meter, program automatic! and a 70mm f1.8... i loved that camera, and i am hoping that this D-lux 5 gives me some results that will bring me back to the days my dad taught me how to shoot a photo..

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D-Lux 5 is an excellent camera. The extra reach (24-90 over 24-60) is useful for portraits, and just makes the camera that much more versatile. Another advantage is improved dynamic range, so it should -- in theory -- be able to handle contrasty scenes better.

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... it said the d-lux 5 will lack that real 35mm like result...

.

 

I believe this comment refers strictly to the video capability of the D-Lux 5 which is 720p vs 1080p in many other cameras. I do not intend to shoot much video and prefer dedicated video cams for that purpose, so not an issue.

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i have the d-lux 4, love it, and have no intention of swapping into the 5 -- not enough difference to me to pay up for the spread. if i was starting from scratch, however, i would buy the 5. it is generally the intention of manufacturers to make the new one better, and to incorporate new technologies and/or features. the longer zoom, evf, etc all make the 5 the right choice.

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Complete agreement. I've got a D-Lux 4 and it's super. I use it daily and it delivers excellent results.

 

If I were buying today, I'd buy the D-Lux 5 without any hesitation; all the changes to the D-Lux 5 are improvements over the D-Lux 4.

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