Question for those who upgrade from D2 to D3...

[rivi1969]

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Hello!

 

I been reading and searching about it but I haven't found a conclusive opinion in this matter so I rather ask myself to those who already migrate from the Digilux 2 to the L1/D3.

 

I am a happy owner of a Digilux 2. I love the deep, bold colors and a wide tonal range I get on my files (in my opinion much more appealing than those from my Nikon D80 which sometimes I found a little sterile) but the sensor we all know how bad it is specially at anything above iso 100...

 

What I want to ask is if you get with your L1/D3's the exact overall look than with the D2 but with the added benefits of a bigger/better sensor... I mean in terms of color rendition, contrast, sharpness and tonal range. The "Leica glow" I think its present in the D2 files, so I wonder if the legacy continues here.

 

I still can sell the D2 for pretty good money, almost the same it costs the L1 today so maybe its time to upgrade.. what do you think? is it really an upgrade? do you regret the switch?

 

 

Thanks for any comment!

Ricardo

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[spylaw4]

IMO the two cameras are very different animals, and the 'look' is not the same, so maybe it is better not to think of it as an upgrade as such.

 

Where the L1/D3 scores is in improved speed of autofocus and write speed to card, together with ability to use higher ISO, and have greater control of jpeg results. Add to that the ability to use different lenses and thus have greater flexibility.

 

The standard lens, although very good, is arguably not quite in the same league as the Vario-summicron on the D2. Maybe the 25/1.4 Summilux will prove equal to the D2?

 

I like my L1 very much and now use it more than the D2 despite its extra bulk. I shall however be keeping my D2 and cherishing it and its unique qualities.

[dugby]

I have a very similar opinion to Brian.

 

I nearly alway grab my L1 for shooting. Though for dinner parties I like to take my D2, as it's not considered too intrusive, and for indoor flash shots...still superb at ISO100.

 

But generally the L1 images with V2.00 firmware add a new level of that Leica-glassy-glow that you get with the D2.

 

I've taken some recent side-by-side shots with both, whilst the D2 are superb, the L1 are even better to my eyes.

 

Having said that..... I will not give up the D2 as I can live with the slight lesser image quality....when I don't want to use the L1

 

I also still use my D2 for concert performances, when my daughter performs on stage, and I need the absolute quietness of the D2..... that the L1 doesn't have.

 

D2 makes a very suitable backup for my L1.

 

Make no mistakes the L1 is 1.1Kg and the D2 is 0.7Kg..........quite a tangible difference

when carrying it all day.

 

I carried the L1 for 30 days across Tokyo, Paris and London, and had a very wide strap sit across the 'corner' of my shoulder, switching back to the D2 occassionally I wished that the D3/L1 was lighter.

 

But I also have an old SLR bum-belt that suits the L1 just as well.

 

Generally you can shoot much more with the L1, than a D2, especially in "the street".

The D2 is quite too slow, and requires very deliberate shooting, whereas with the L1, I capture many street shots, that I usually missed with the D2.

 

So, no regrets with the move to an L1. (Though with V1.1firmware I almost did regret the L1, but the newer V2.0 have significantly improved the images).