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First Impressions of Digilux 3


sean_reid

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Then perhaps you could use this review as an opportunity, once and for all, to explore the actual differences in image quality between the Leica and Panasonic versions, and let the truth fall where it may. If necessary, I'll even arrange to send you an L1 for as long as you need it. Seriously!

 

If I still have the review camera in early April (when I'm back in VT) then maybe I can do just that.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

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Sean, when/if you do a feature on the Digilux 3 would you please include an assesment of long (Olympus?) lenses. I am looking for a "long" complement to my M8 for wildlife this fall and though my Noflexar 400 and Viso3 on the M8 are very good, practical they are not. Do you feel the Digilux3 plus an Olympus long zoom are good enough to be used beside an M8?

 

Hi Jaap,

 

If I can get the needed lenses from Olympus in the right time frame, then I will try to do that. Is that combination "good enough" to be used along side an M8...? Tell me more about what "good enough" should mean in this case.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

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Thanks. I'm shooting most of the day down here but I try to check in on the forum in the evening when I can. I'll take a look at your pictures tonight.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

 

Hi I Sean...... I must apologise, those photos I posted were, down-sized straight off the JPEGs that come with the RAW, ......no RAWs , no post processing,...just straight out of the camera

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Well, today's a public holiday for me. I've had time to sit down and really have a play with the RAW images coming off my L1 / D3

 

I'd have to say say that my impressions of the D3 / L1 have just been elevated a few more notches. These RAW images are much better than with my initial work with the JPEGs.

 

There is a degree of softness in the JPEGs , that totally disappears in the RAW.

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Sean,

I have been particularly impressed by my initial images from the D3 - have so far used just jpegs (I'm hoping Aperture will support the Leica Raw file format soon) with a modified version of the Dynamic setting that has the saturation turned down a notch.

 

The images have a subtlety and purity/cleaness that reminds me of my first DSLR, the superb Canon D30 - only I would put the D3's images on a somewhat higher pedestal. Early days yet - and I look forward to using Raw (my preferred file type) and seeing whether Dugby is correct and the quality is even higher....L

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The very first quick try out of my newly acquired L1.

 

I am impressed with the general feel and build quality, and the only real let down is the quality of the USB/power connection door - cheap and nasty plasticy thing! The packaging is adequate but also inferior to Leica's - but then one has to save cost somewhere!

 

It's going to take some time to get to grips with the possibilities of this camera - there are an awful lot of variables for jpeg processing. Meanwhile......

 

Standard Vario-Elmarit, RAW, ISO100 (I"m still in D2 mode here), Auto. Lightroom V1 - no processing apart from minor WB adjustment and appropriate cropping then conversion to sRGB jpeg to post here. I think these show pretty good quality of image - nice and crisp and noise-free.

 

Some of you will recognise this building from my earlier pictures during construction.

 

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More to follow - but more likely to be in the photo forum!

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Thought I'd try to post a couple of pics to complement those from Brian - no buildings near me, just a garden to test the D3...jpegs (modified Dynamic mode with saturation reduced a notch) with no post-processing beyond the camera....Lloyd

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Those are very nice Lloyd. I'm about to start on the jpeg juggle!

 

My initial impression is that the RAW files have a more 'delicate' look compared to the D2 ones. But of course I really need to shoot with the same scene at the same time with both cameras for a true comparison.

 

I don't really want to start a separate and yet another bag thread - but.....

I'm going to need a larger bag than the Billingham 'Alice' that I currently have. The L1/D3 will fit ok with just about room for 1 extra lens, but it will be a squeeze to get guide books, maps, portable umbrella etc. in as well. Suggestions anyone?

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I don't really want to start a separate and yet another bag thread - but.....

I'm going to need a larger bag than the Billingham 'Alice' that I currently have. The L1/D3 will fit ok with just about room for 1 extra lens, but it will be a squeeze to get guide books, maps, portable umbrella etc. in as well. Suggestions anyone?

 

I'm using this:

http://lowepro.com/Products/Sling_Bags/Designed_for_Digital/SlingShot_200_AW.aspx

 

D3 w/kit lens, Zuiko 11-22, Metz flash, assorted thingies, all in the main compartment. If I drop the flash I'll have room for another lens (yet to be purchased :)). Leaves some room for travel accessories in the top compartment and the external pocket. You can tell this unit has been conceived with digital in mind (little details like a micro fiber cloth to protect the LCD screen).

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

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Hi Jaap,

 

If I can get the needed lenses from Olympus in the right time frame, then I will try to do that. Is that combination "good enough" to be used along side an M8...? Tell me more about what "good enough" should mean in this case.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

 

Sean,

 

As you may or may not know one of my main photographic interests is wildlife photography in the wilder parts of Africa. I started off, when the world was young, with a Telyt 400 on a VisoflexII on the M3, went through a series of R camera's and lenses and ended up with the Apo-Telyt 280/4 on the R7. ( with the extenders, of course) Then I decided to go digital with the 10D and 100-400L which I liked well enough but never learned to love. So now there is the M8 which is beyond doubt the best camera I ever owned. On impulse I bought a VisoflexIII, Telyt 200,Telyt 280 and Noflexar-C 400. But, even if the results might be excellent, especially the Noflexar, my back is not getting any younger and walking in the bush means carrying the stuff in 100 degrees. Plus the ergonomics are not quite what one would wish for in this day and age. (Leica, are you listening?? How difficult can it be to redesign the Visoflex and bring it up to date. There are some great R lenses out there!) So I am looking for a more practical solution. And that inspired my question.

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Thanks for that recommendation Dieter, I'll certainly take a look at it, even though I am not really a fan of the backpack style. but maybe it's the way to go.

 

Brian it's a great bag that's quick and easy to use out & about.

Also the bag becomes a very handy arm rest when you slide it around the front of you.

 

 

Regards

Jim

 

p.s. where is that building? That has to be the strangest scaffolding I've ever seen. :p

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3rd page and it's only 2 days - how the topics keep coming in!

 

Having now taken some more shots with the L1 (see the Photo Forum) I am finding that this and presumably the D3 also gives very different results from the D2. The RAW images seem - and it's difficult to put exact words - more silky and gentle than the D2. I don't find the shutter/mirror noise disturbing, but I can imagine it hindering those discrete shots! The possibilities for adjusting jpegs seem endless what with Film 1 and 2 options and 3 Custom Sets which with the Normal and Standard Sets I presume will enable a total of 10 different options to choose from. I do like the instant access to WB and ISO and the ability to compensaae exposure easily, and above all the ability to take multiple RAW shot sequences.

It's going to take a long time to learn to get the best out of this camera, but it's going to be fun! I hope that other L1/D3 users will share thoughts/experiences/setups!

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glad your enjoying it Brian

some pro camera designers could heed the lessons from the L1 design

they seemed to have forgotten that taking photos is just fun

and that plugging thru menus and sub menus removes some of that joy

in many reviews this is missed

 

speed, aperture, iso, ev +/-, even WB need analogue controls

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speed, aperture, iso, ev +/-, even WB need analogue controls

 

Hear! Hear! :)

 

Which actually brings me to one of my (few) criticisms of the L1/D3 design: Exposure compensation when shooting in manual exposure mode is not available. If you want to change the shutter speed by 1/3-stop, then you have to turn the shutter-speed dial, which is less convenient than using the thumbwheel to dial-in the appropriate adjustment...

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Hear! Hear! :)

 

Which actually brings me to one of my (few) criticisms of the L1/D3 design: Exposure compensation when shooting in manual exposure mode is not available. If you want to change the shutter speed by 1/3-stop, then you have to turn the shutter-speed dial, which is less convenient than using the thumbwheel to dial-in the appropriate adjustment...

 

Jeffrey....... step back and have a think about this.

 

You've told the camera to change to manual mode, which obvious instructs the camera to take the aperature value from the aperature ring on the lens (ie signal external from the body). So clearly it would introduce a difficulty if there is a parallel process over-riding the input from the lens.....?

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