jaapv Posted June 17, 2007 Share #1 Â Posted June 17, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) The Digilux2 basically has no successor. Yes- it is a Panaleica, but it seems the main input has been from the Leica design team Yes- the electronic viewfinder is not going to make any photographic hearts beat faster - but it does the job Yes - AF is slow and has only one sensor - but it works and manual focussing is very well laid out Yes- noise performance is several generations behind current technology, but it is film-like and can be handled But it proves some photographic truisms The lens is 80 % of the image - this lens is arguably one of the best zooms ever designed Better five excellent megapixels than ten average ones - it holds its own against most newcomers regarding image quality. Ergonomics are unparalled. I would not know which camera to replace it with. The Digilux 3 is a DSLR, a different beast altogether Other point&shoots, excellent cameras though they may be, don't match the concept. So there it is, the third camera in the stable, after my M8's, an excellent snapshot camera, a superior macro machine using a step-up ring and the Canon 500D macro lens And the preferred camera of my wife. No wonder it keeps its value so well. Â Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted June 17, 2007 Posted June 17, 2007 Hi jaapv, Take a look here An irreplacable camera?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
spylaw4 Posted June 17, 2007 Share #2 Â Posted June 17, 2007 You said it all Jaap! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riley Posted June 17, 2007 Share #3  Posted June 17, 2007 this is all very true Jaap i was just thinking (yes thats when it gets dangerous) from time to time we have pondered a replacement camera for D2/LC1 when perhaps the cheapest tack development wise would be to fix D2's ills  introduce a less noisy 2/3" sensor iteration (perhaps not from Sony) 400iso usable with no NR (NR OFF option) (400 iso noise similar to iso100/200 now), add an 800iso stop provide a decent RAW buffer update the EVF with something somewhat less grainy  if you wanted to work at it about 15% less bulk in H-W-D dimensions perhaps a flip LCD  possible to reduce costs ? .....always a moulded plastic body with a metal sub chassis would be cheaper, and possibly more durable, being somewhat more impact resistant, but yes, black only  keepers on the design ? the innovative flash setup the lens and control set  the major advantage is that all the electronic spec is already worked out Im perceiving this to be Leica's weak point, so it would be a virtually off the drawing board design it fills the hole in the market we have already discussed here, for a decent compact camera and as such it would hold its own against Sigma's DP1  any takers ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spylaw4 Posted June 17, 2007 Share #4 Â Posted June 17, 2007 Yep - I would go for one - but! Â On the "if it ain't broke, why fix it" principle ....keep the same body - although I would make an exception for the modification to include a flip screen. Â Oh - and maybe a little more control steps (inc. that NR) on the Picture Adjust? Â Despite the L1's many charms and flexibility - I still love my D2! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riley Posted June 17, 2007 Share #5  Posted June 17, 2007 Yep - I would go for one - but! On the "if it ain't broke, why fix it" principle ....keep the same body - although I would make an exception for the modification to include a flip screen. !  400iso just isnt useful given the current state of play D2 has moved from noisy to something approaching unacceptably noisy  if that noise could be defeated, keep in mind Fuji's F30 can use 400/800 without issue on a similarly sized but smaller 1/17" sensor. The 2/3" sensor is 15% larger across the diagonal.  ---------L-----W---------[Diag] 2/3" 8.8 x 6.6mm [11mm] 1/17" 7.6 x 5.7mm [9.5mm] Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spylaw4 Posted June 17, 2007 Share #6 Â Posted June 17, 2007 I wasn't referring to the electronics/noise/processing - they need serious fixing - merely the physical size of the body - why not use the same castings as far as possible - presuming the presses/moulds are still available? That's got to be a less expensive option Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnjs Posted June 17, 2007 Share #7 Â Posted June 17, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) I couldn't agree more with everything you said Jaap (beautiful photo, by the way). The designers of both the camera and the lens pretty much nailed it with the Digilux 2. There's no question it has it's shortcomings, but I believe those are far outweighed by the camera's handling and IQ. In three years I've never had one problem with it, but I do treat it very carefully as I also do with all of my other cameras and optics. I didn't care for the Four-Thirds route Leica/Pana went with the D-3/L1....I just don't see the point of it, there's plenty of excellent DSLR's around with a far greater range of lenses. If you're looking for something to replace your D2, I would suggest the Nikon D40x. That's one nice camera. Â best-John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemalk Posted June 17, 2007 Share #8 Â Posted June 17, 2007 Scary thing is - I knew you were talking about the D2 from the title alone. Â I have an LC1 and I thought the minute I got my hands on my new D3 that I'd be selling off the older camera. Â I was wrong. So far, I've been more than ecstatic with the D3 but the LC1 just gives you such a rich image and holds up really well in post-processing. Yes, it's slow - but now with the benefit of hindsight, it's just a step below an M8 for quality and richness. Â Unfortunately, you can't swap out the lenses and you have an electronic viewfinder, but the overall sense you get of "composing" a shot instead of just snapping away, is the same, I assume, than you get from a rangefinder. Â I'm still debating whether I'll be selling off the LC1. They're getting harder to come by and the Digilux 2 is more than holding its value on ebay. Â I wonder if we'll see its likes again. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digitom Posted June 17, 2007 Share #9 Â Posted June 17, 2007 Hello, I am also using the Digilux 2 since last autum. I have to say after some experiments in digital photograhy I found "my cam" now :-) I also think the engeneering was made mostly by LEICA. It is sure no camera for carrying always with you - for that I use my D-Lux. I can not find something useful in the new optical viewfinder-less D-Lux 3 or any other cam which has only a display. Maybe I am oldfashioned (some in german forum think that sure). I think until today there is no substitute for the Digilux 2. I also fear to get some of the well known problems with the sensor, but I hope to have luck in that case. I agree that Digiux 3 is also not a following model in the Digilux line, because there are too many changes to the Digilux 2 model. It is no locigal process to chance from fixed lens to a SLR system camera and use the same model line name...even the design is similar. I think if LEICA would not be together with Panasonic the Digilux 2 would be in still in sale. But now (as you can see with c-Lux) they will bring out new cams maybe every year with no real progress in technological way. Â Lets hope that Mr. Lee (I read the interview in LFI) will give many new impulses to LEICA in development of good and long time lasting digital cameras. If one company will have chance to make it, LEICA hat the potential to make digital cameras you will find in the "used classic camera shop" maybe in 30 years - and still working! Â Finally: the foto of Jaap is really fantastic! Â Greetings Thomas Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted June 17, 2007 Share #10  Posted June 17, 2007 400iso just isnt usefulgiven the current state of play D2 has moved from noisy to something approaching unacceptably noisy  if that noise could be defeated, keep in mind Fuji's F30 can use 400/800 without issue on a similarly sized but smaller 1/17" sensor. The 2/3" sensor is 15% larger across the diagonal.  ---------L-----W---------[Diag] 2/3" 8.8 x 6.6mm [11mm] 1/17" 7.6 x 5.7mm [9.5mm] Rob,  Does NoiseNinja not help? For my part I rarely use a faster ISO than 100 and I make maximum use of that wonderful F/2 Vario Summicron lens. So noise is not an issue for me.  David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted June 17, 2007 Share #11 Â Posted June 17, 2007 Jaap, Â I share your views entirely. I have long preached that the Digilux 2 will be remembered long after the demise of other cameras in its time frame. Â Your picture is stunning and would help Leica sell many more D2 cameras. Â David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stnami Posted June 17, 2007 Share #12 Â Posted June 17, 2007 ............... like Mash a repeat of a repeat Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted June 17, 2007 Author Share #13 Â Posted June 17, 2007 ............... like Mash a repeat of a repeat Mash is dated - Fawlty Towers is timeless... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dchatter Posted June 17, 2007 Share #14 Â Posted June 17, 2007 I mourn my Digilux 2 all the time, its sensor rotted away ... I particularly miss its fast manual focus and aperture/shutter setting capability... well, I've moved to analog for good Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riley Posted June 18, 2007 Share #15 Â Posted June 18, 2007 Mash is dated - Fawlty Towers is timeless... Â suicide is painless ! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riley Posted June 18, 2007 Share #16  Posted June 18, 2007 Rob, Does NoiseNinja not help? For my part I rarely use a faster ISO than 100 and I make maximum use of that wonderful F/2 Vario Summicron lens. So noise is not an issue for me.  David  yes NN helps, but for me, 400iso is beyond recovery im pretty limited to 100iso too, not because i want to be though  i still use my LC1 every day for the 'money shot', the front of house from the street Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwelland Posted June 18, 2007 Share #17  Posted June 18, 2007 yes NN helps, but for me, 400iso is beyond recoveryim pretty limited to 100iso too, not because i want to be though  i still use my LC1 every day for the 'money shot', the front of house from the street  Don't bother with ISO 400 - you will get cleaner shots shooting ISO 100/200 and letting the camera under-expose. Even though under-exposed, fixing a RAW shot this way and lifting the shadows will produce a cleaner image than shooting ISO400/800 will. I was pretty disappointed with the noise performance until I was shown this approach instead. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riley Posted June 18, 2007 Share #18  Posted June 18, 2007 Don't bother with ISO 400 - you will get cleaner shots shooting ISO 100/200 and letting the camera under-expose. Even though under-exposed, fixing a RAW shot this way and lifting the shadows will produce a cleaner image than shooting ISO400/800 will. I was pretty disappointed with the noise performance until I was shown this approach instead.  thanks, must admit i have never really stepped up to that and it might help me in this role too, Ive been chasing the sort of imagery created by this lady i only know as Katia, a pushed B&W  Nikon E5700 F2.8, 1/60th, -1ev, iso 100 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/26814-an-irreplacable-camera/?do=findComment&comment=283742'>More sharing options...
jaapv Posted June 18, 2007 Author Share #19  Posted June 18, 2007 I mourn my Digilux 2 all the time, its sensor rotted away ... I particularly miss its fast manual focus and aperture/shutter setting capability... well, I've moved to analog for good    I seem to recall that Leica does courtesy sensor replacements. Am I mistaken? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riley Posted June 18, 2007 Share #20  Posted June 18, 2007 I seem to recall that Leica does courtesy sensor replacements. Am I mistaken?  i think Jaap means sensor replacements 'with' courtesy  Leica Camera AG - Extended customer service for LEICA DIGILUX 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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