Leica DLUX 7 for a "La Ruta Maya" archaeological trip to El Peten of Guatemala?

[paullgj]

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Had planned to go this month (July 2020) but COVID here in South Texas and in Guatemala has put a stop to it.  If it ever lifts, I've been planning for some time to do an archaeological photography trip to El Peten of Guatemala - Tikal, Uaxactun, Yaxchilan etc.  Definitely going is my film Nikon FE2 + 3 primes, but I also need a digital backup.  I have a Nikon D700 - excellent, but big, loud, and bulky for a long distance trip (I'm 75 - in good health, but the years are adding).  Enter the DLUX 7 - as a possibility.  Yes, I'll print, probably 12 x 18 or so, and maybe some 16 x 20 gallery wraps to be displayed at local galleries.  FWIW, I've previously used DLUX 5 and DLUX 6 - they seemed to be good up until 8 x 12.  One thing that caught my attention about the DLUX 7 is I also do candid street if I can squeeze a few days in the Guatemala highlands.  Those that have the DLUX 7 - is it good for my stated purposes?  

Years ago - I used to travel/backpack with two Nikons FE2 and FM2n with small primes.  Looking for a similar lightweight two camera package.  Yes, I still shoot film - Kodak Portra 400, but I need some digital backup for this trip.  In an ideal world (swimming with cash), I'd just get a Leica M and some primes, but, sadly, that's not going to happen.  So I'm looking at the DLUX 7.  Your thoughts?

Edited July 10, 2020 by paullgj
punctuation

[ChrisRL]

Paul, hello!
As an all-in-one camera with Swiss Knife capabilities, I'd recommend a good look at the Leica 114. 

It's more bulky than you had intended but will keep up with your FE2, pretty much guaranteed. We have three of them and have shot travel books etc., with just these cameras. (one for stills, one for video and the third because when my business partner first laid her eyes on one, she snatched it up and said "mine". End of discussion!

 

[elgenper]

In all respect, I beg to differ with Chris.  The DLUX7 (which I own and use) will do everything you describe in your OP while being small, light and inconspicious.  It can do good closeups as well as a decent job with moving objects like animals and people (not for sports or birds, though...).

The 114 (which I handled briefly at my dealer´s, before putting it back on the shelf...), while having a far longer zoom, is at least as bulky as your FE2 with a large prime, and it has a much smaller sensor than the DLUX7. 

My "regular" cameras are M9 and Monochrom9.  The DLUX7 is an excellent backup, and for times when I need something compact.  I can use the images together with thos from the big ones without apologies; I can see the difference if I look closely, but my viewers certainly don´t.

Edited July 11, 2020 by elgenper

[paullgj]

1 hour ago, elgenper said:

In all respect, I beg to differ with Chris.  The DLUX7 (which I own and use) will do everything you describe in your OP while being small, light and inconspicious.  It can do good closeups as well as a decent job with moving objects like animals and people (not for sports or birds, though...).

The 114 (which I handled briefly at my dealer´s, before putting it back on the shelf...), while having a far longer zoom, is at least as bulky as your FE2 with a large prime, and it has a much smaller sensor than the DLUX7. 

My "regular" cameras are M9 and Monochrom9.  The DLUX7 is an excellent backup, and for times when I need something compact.  I can use the images together with thos from the big ones without apologies; I can see the difference if I look closely, but my viewers certainly don´t.

Thanks.  Need something that I can put in pocket of cargo pants.  Will seriously look at DLUX 7.

[ChrisRL]

Ah. well my own DLux7 is my cargo-pants camera too!

 

[stuny]

Many of the recent Pana-Leica cameras have some ingenious software that allows you to extend the long end of the D-Lux7 from a 75MM equivalent to150MM equivalent.  It's interpolation software is amazingly good, completely unlike "digital zoom" on other cameras.

At places like Tikal you won't need anything longer than that unless you want to catch tropical birds.  I think it was the 2nd Star Wars movie released (though maybe the 3rd) that did some shooting at Tekal.  You'll recognize it when you see it.

A more expensive alternative to the Dlux7 is the CL with one or more lenses.

[Einst_Stein]

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On 7/11/2020 at 6:04 AM, elgenper said:

In all respect, I beg to differ with Chris.  The DLUX7 (which I own and use) will do everything you describe in your OP while being small, light and inconspicious.  It can do good closeups as well as a decent job with moving objects like animals and people (not for sports or birds, though...).

The 114 (which I handled briefly at my dealer´s, before putting it back on the shelf...), while having a far longer zoom, is at least as bulky as your FE2 with a large prime, and it has a much smaller sensor than the DLUX7. 

My "regular" cameras are M9 and Monochrom9.  The DLUX7 is an excellent backup, and for times when I need something compact.  I can use the images together with thos from the big ones without apologies; I can see the difference if I look closely, but my viewers certainly don´t.

The DLux 7 sensor is about 2X of Vlux 114 sensor. It would be about half stop more sensitive. The lens in the wide angle is about  2 stop faster. Overall, i would win in the low light for about 2.5X in light sensitivity. Whether to use it for higher ISO or higher dynamic range is in details. 

Depends on your criteria of "pocketable", in my view, none of them are pocketable. Dlux 7s is certainly smaller. So, if you don't care the extended focal length, Dlux 7 is a better choice.  Personally I found  Vlux 114 is much more versatile that far exceeds the benefits of smaller body size.