D-lux 3 or Digilux 3

[rob3rt5]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I am in need of a second camera (My primary camera is a Hasselblad H3D-39). While my camera produces wonderful images, it is often too cumbersome to carry around and isn't very good for low light photography without the need for a tripod. While I beat-out my partner's shots time and again, sometimes his Lumix FX9 delivers shots mine cannot get! (low light). Seeing that his camera is a Leica lens model, I thought that maybe I should get an upgrade that shoots RAW (D-lux 3 or Digilux 3). I was wondering if anyone had any experience with these cameras and could guide me in the right direction.

I've excluded the M8 from my list because I really need autofocus. Although, I guess I could learn to shoot with distance focus. But, since I have time to waste before I make a final decision, I also am considering the Nikon D3 (although it isn't quite as portable and isn't available yet).

Image quality is my main concern followed by low-light shootability and lastly portability.

Thank you in advance for your time and consideration of this question.

[imnotaniceboy]

you can also ad the Ricoh GX 100 and Digilux 2

[Maggie_O]

Sean Reid has written some excellent reviews on all of the cameras mentioned, save the D3.

 

http://www.reidreviews.com/

 

Well worth the subscription, especially considering the cameras you're thinking about buying.

 

I adore my D-Lux 3 and carry it everywhere with me in my purse. You can see a gallery of its output here. Low light performance is noisy but very film-like, especially in B&W. The only thing that has even come close to challenging it, for me, is the M8 I just got. But the M8 won't fit in my purse. I'm keeping both, for a long time.

[dugby]

I can very much recommend a D3 or L1 for low light shooting.

 

The OIS Mode-2 is superb for hand held shots long than 0.5 seconds.

 

Here are two shots I posted earlier, one at 0.6 sec and the other at 2.5 secs

both hand held..... and both obviously holding my breath for a long time.

 

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/digital-forum/13780-ois-d3-l1-superb.html

 

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/digital-forum/15474-d3-l1-ois-2-5-secs.html

 

 

I have a D2, which is not that great for "long" exposures...ie anything longer than 0.1 of a sec. The D2 is a superb "bright-light" or "use the in-built flash" camera. It is a slow-to use but delightful camera with outstanding (for 5MP) image capturer. Outside of these parameters, it's limitation are obvious. I still like to use it at dinner parties or outside day events..... but otherwise the L1 is better for general and street use.

 

 

I also have a D-Lux2 (which is quite similar to a D-lux3)...many argue the D-Lux2 is a better low light camera than the D-lux3, as demonstrated/reported by the low light samples on pbasedotcom

 

To me the D-Lux2 is my "Kodak-Instamatic" takes reasonable shots, but is no where in the D2 / D3 IQ league.

 

The camera I nearly always (95%) grab for an outing is the L1.

Next is the D2 (5% of the time).

I gave my D-Lux2 to my daughter....