timholyoake Posted June 14, 2012 Share #1 Posted June 14, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) I am lucky enough to own a Leica D-Lux 5 . Now they have announced the release of the Leica X-2 and I am wondering about upgrading. does anyone who knows about these things have any thoughts on whether it is worth doing? After all £1500 on a compact is a lot of money for a bus driver... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted June 14, 2012 Posted June 14, 2012 Hi timholyoake, Take a look here D-Lux 5 ... X2?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
StephenPatterson Posted June 14, 2012 Share #2 Posted June 14, 2012 Are you unhappy with your D-Lux 5? I only ask because the X2 is a very different animal. You will be giving up the flexibility of a zoom lens and video capability in exchange for a larger sensor and superior lens. I use my D-Lux 5 alongside my M9 and find it an exceptionally nice camera that produces some rather amazing shots considering it's small(ish) sensor. Some of my favorite images have been captured with the D-Lux 5, like this one: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/landscape-travel/231731-shanghai-rain.html Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carduelis Posted June 14, 2012 Share #3 Posted June 14, 2012 Suggest you have a look at the focal lengths that you have used to take your favourite shots with the D-Lux 5 which I believe with crop conversions has an effective zoom range of 24-90 mm. If you find that they cover the whole range then you may not be satisfied with the X2. If most of them are around the 35 mm focal length mark then the X2 could be an option if you are wanting a larger sensor and increased optical performance. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted June 14, 2012 Share #4 Posted June 14, 2012 Tim, welcome to the forum! Each has its merits with the X2 edging out its older brother in IQ terms. Much depends on what subjects you regularly shoot with your current camera. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bocaburger Posted June 15, 2012 Share #5 Posted June 15, 2012 I use my D-Lux 5 alongside my M9 and find it an exceptionally nice camera that produces some rather amazing shots +1...except I bought the LX5's Panny fraternal twin, because for me it was intended only as a backup in case of M9 failure, as the DLux-3 it replaced had been, and the LX5 cost me 40% of the DLux-5. What I didn't anticipate was just how much more like a real camera it is because of the eyelevel viewer, faster lens and larger sensor. I'm really liking it and using it a lot, in some cases, astounding to me, in preference to the M9! OTOH the X2 is a fixed-lens camera with an add-on EVF with an APS-C sensor yet is about ghe same size and cost as a good used M8. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NZDavid Posted June 15, 2012 Share #6 Posted June 15, 2012 The D-Lux 5 is an excellent camera. An optical 24mm viewfinder is useful to stabilize the camera or when the light is too bright to compose using the LCD. There is a book on the D-Lux 5 by Alexander White which might help you get the best out of this very capable camera. See: Guide Books for Advanced Compact Digital Cameras Why not also invest in some photography books to inspire you? You might also want to google "Leica D-Lux 5 Hivemind" to see examples of photos taken with this camera. The X1 and X2 have superb traditional controls which are far more like the Leica M. These make the camera very easy to use. Just set the shutter speed and aperture at a flick of a dial instead of looking on the LCD. Most the time, though, I use P with the D-Lux 5 and set a low ISO and results are fine. The larger X1, X2 sensor produces great image quality even at high ISOs. (800 ISO is excellent, 1600 and 3200 are useable on the X1.) You will also be able to get a slightly blurred background for portraits but the effect is limited compared with a bigger sensor camera and a longer or faster lens. The fixed 35mm lens is excellent, but for tight spaces or wide scenes the 24mm of the D-Lux 5 comes in handy, and the 90mm end is useful for getting closer, too. I think the ideal combination would be either a D-Lux 5 with X-style controls, or an X camera with a 24-90 lens. But it doesn't exist yet! In the meantime, we are really very lucky to have such a choice of cameras with features and capabilities that would have been considered a dream only a decade ago. One other wild idea: How about keeping the D-Lux 5 and trying a Leica M film camera? Then again, you might find you are happy with what you have already. Many peoplem on this forum will comment that Leica ownership is a slippery slope! Have fun! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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