Leica v-lux 1

[luvs2hike]

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Hi Everybody,

 

I am contemplating a photographic trip to Patagonia. I have a Canon G-2. It's OK but would like something with greater focal length, a nice feel, user friendly, no lenses to change and great quality.

 

I saw the v-lux-1 at the local dealer but the battery was dead and I did not get to play with it. I was wondering how the lapse time was between pushing the button and the shutter releasing is?

 

I like the fact that you can adjust the zoom ring yourself.

 

Are there any owners out there with some thoughts on it? Like? Great? Easy to use? somewhat disappointed? Battery life? How many batteries would you suggest to have on hand for a day's shooting?

 

All info would be appreciated!

Signed,

luvs2hike

[joachimeh]

Hi Everybody,

 

I am contemplating a photographic trip to Patagonia. I have a Canon G-2. It's OK but would like something with greater focal length, a nice feel, user friendly, no lenses to change and great quality.

 

I saw the v-lux-1 at the local dealer but the battery was dead and I did not get to play with it. I was wondering how the lapse time was between pushing the button and the shutter releasing is?

 

I like the fact that you can adjust the zoom ring yourself.

 

Are there any owners out there with some thoughts on it? Like? Great? Easy to use? somewhat disappointed? Battery life? How many batteries would you suggest to have on hand for a day's shooting?

 

All info would be appreciated!

Signed,

luvs2hike

 

I use this camera with a 4GB SD-card (= 165 shots in RAW+JPG). Due to the fact of manual zoom and fixed lengths of the lens, 1 battery-load holds for more than 100 shots (depends on the use of the monitor).

So, I have on a full-day journey always 1 spare battery (loaded!) and 1 more SD-card with me (plus an Elpro2 for Macros, a circular polar-filter, and a good monopod for long-tele shots).

The wideangle converter I cannot recommend, because you must use it with fixed 35mm zoom position to get sharp pictures.

Digital zoom works, but you might be disappointed, because that function shows definitly the technical limits of that camera.

OIS works fine.

Manual focussing needs to get familiar with.

Last but not least: noise is a very limitation certainly on higher ISO settings.

[euston]

DPR records the actual shutter lag as under 0.01 seconds but the lag visible in the EVF or on the LCD screen measures around 0.07. See DPR's review of the Panasonic-branded version:

Panasonic DMC-FZ50 Review: 5. Timings & Sizes: Digital Photography Review

 

I haven't found it any kind of a problem in practice. If you use the camera a lot, it is something you get used to. You get to know how much to anticipate the action by. I've attached an example taken at full zoom (420mm equivalent). Not the best photo in the world but it illustrates what is possible.

 

I like this camera very much for its versatility and the quality of the lens. The ergonomics are good. It is easy to use once you know how but it isn't a simple camera. Any time you can spend with the manual and trying out the various options and settings before your trip will not be wasted. I use raw and keep to ISO 100 whenever possible. I never go above 400. With JPEGs the in-camera noise reduction can be unpleasantly aggressive at the higher ISO values.

 

I've never used more than one battery in a day's shooting but then I've never been to Patagonia! One spare is probably enough as long as you have a means of recharging before the next day's shooting. I use a dSLR and a compact digital camera but I wouldn't be without my V-Lux 1. In reasonable light it is an excellent all-rounder.

 

Have a great trip!

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[stuny]

Lisa -

 

Welcome to the Forum, and I look forward to seeing your photos.

 

One of the people in our group for much of our Namibia tour had the Panasonic equivalent of the V-lux-1. I liked his results a great deal, and he claimed there was virtually no shutter lag. Because of his frequent use of the very good LCD screen to review shots he would largely drain a battery in a day. He carried two spares.

 

You might want to check our website for Barbara's notes on Patagonia (click on Trip Notes, scroll down to South America, select "Argentina, Brazil, Chile.").

[SERATO]

Hi,

 

Though there are quite a many comments about this camera I still thought that some own comments can be useful.

 

Bought the camera in April and since then have shot around 3000 pics recorded on the computer (a lot has been just deleted). The motives I use it for most are:

 

• Nature,
  
• Macro shots (flowers/small animal world),
  
• Touristic pics
  

 

What to like and what to dislike?

 

I personally like factors as:

 

• its compact but quality feel,
  
• a good quality lense,
  
• a flexible lense (you can instanteously change the length),
  
• No lens change (its a virtue during dusty trips),
  
• quite good compromise for all in one,
  
• rather fast if you shoot jpeg's,
  
• Can be controlled easily manyally like the oldtimers,
  
• produces very satisfiable pictures if you keep yourself to your preferred settings and accept its limitations for some types of shots,
  
• and finally the price (electronic gadgets are changing and improving so fast that in 5 years also a Canon 5D is totally out, whereas my old Zeiss Contax still works )
  

 

Dislikes:

 

• Needs fast SD cards if you shoot RAW
  
• RAW recording speed is noticeable (esp. with low speed cards)
  
• Old issue with noise at high ISO, so not so good at low light,
  
• Well the depth of view is an issue as with all small size sensors ( however, to put together a good set with lenses/body comparable to this leica lens needs a lot of cash and the film is still c.a. 40 mil pixels)
  

 

Personal Tips:

 

• Shoot always with ISO 100 - 200 (preferably 100);
  
• Keep noise reduction setting at low;
  
• Do not exxagerate with other settings (sat, conc etc.);
  
• Exept in extreme circumstances (probably the only rhino to see wandering off somewhere near the horizon) forget the digital zoom (400mm is more than enough);
  
• Try to shoot as "good pictures" as possible already with the camera rather than doing them exessively over later on your computer,
  
• Know the light
  
• JPEG is quite sufficient (spares computer time, SD card writing time, you can take a lot of pictures),
  

So that was a summary of some 9 months use of that little machine.

 

My conclusion is that it is a nice and handy machine, perfect in its niche, with limitations you have to know in order to avoid them. It is not totally perfect and you really cannot compare it with more sofisticated (in my meaning bigger sensor, less noise, f1,8 -2,8 or so lens) machine, but then you really cant compare the prices either.

[rsh]

I have both a V-Lux 1 and the D-Lux 3. Love them both, but neither is perfect. Great for travel and family snaps and unlike my now departed M8, they are reliable. Shoot them at 100 or 200 ISO.

[weiden02]

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Robert

nice photo of the cricket match. Would you please share the setting info from the picture (aperture, ISO, shutter speed, aspect ratio). Additionally, was this manual focus or auto focus - if auto, what setting did you have this on (and typically which do you prefer?).

 

Many thanks

John

[euston]

Robert

nice photo of the cricket match. Would you please share the setting info from the picture (aperture, ISO, shutter speed, aspect ratio). Additionally, was this manual focus or auto focus - if auto, what setting did you have this on (and typically which do you prefer?).

 

Many thanks

John

 

Hello John,

Here are the exposure details. It was, as I recall, an exceptionally bright afternoon.

 

1/1250 sec

f/5.6

ISO 100

EV -1/3

 

The exposure program was set, as usual, at aperture priority. I used spot metering off the white shirts using AE Lock set to lock the exposure only. If I remember rightly, focus was manual aimed at the batsman. I quite often use manual focus with this camera. I like the way it magnifies the image and the focus ring on the lens, even though it works electronically, is a plus. For auto focus I most often use high speed 1-area-focusing or spot-focusing. The original frame was 4:3 which I cropped to 3:2 in order to lose some of the sky and grass.

 

For relatively stable scenes like this but where you're expecting action, one of the advantages of the flip down LCD screen on this camera is that, once you've framed the shot and chosen your settings, you can look up and follow the action directly. Then all you have to concentrate on is pressing the shutter button at the right moment.

[--davez]

Hi Love2Hike,

I've had my VLUX-1 since January and have had a lot of fun learning to use it (previous camera was a Canon digital point & shoot). I bought 2 spare replacement batteries from B&H for about 1/2 what the Leica branded battery and have not noticed any difference from the original in regards to battery life, etc. I used the camera this summer for a rail/coach trip through Switzerland with 2 ea 2 GB SD cards. When shooting in the JPEG mode, each card holds about 380 photos. The 3 batteries lasted the 12 days of the trip without recharging.

 

When I first started using the camera; I was worried that I bought "too much camera" for me. Lots of mode options, and almost too much choice for a guy used to a point and shoot. The manual is about 150 pages. I've slowly come to terms with the camera and frequently use the AUTO mode; although I really like the "Auto Bracket" mode to compensate for lighting/EV issues.

 

Comments of a mid-60s guy learning to deal with a product that is as complicated or as simple as you want to make it.

--davez

retired EE

[lagrassa]

I have a C Lux-3 and was very impressed with the ergonomics and build and picture quality for a point-and-shoot camera. The relatively wide 5x lens range is great.

 

Based on my positive experience, I am getting a V Lux-1 and expect to be very happy. I also have a Nikon D100 which is a bit bulkier with everyhring I need to take with it, so I'm hoping the V Lux will fit right in the middle.

[marco888]

Hi everybody,

 

someone has some idea about which color space use the v-lux1?

 

I can't find any informations about this...

 

Thanks in advance

Marco

[JohnnyVegas]

HI all,

A little background on me, I’m a Technical Management student with a lot of spare time on my hands well after studying. I’m also in a car club and love taking photos of the cars in our group. I own a Casio Exilim EX-Z850 point and shoot but its has some fun settings. So my dilemma is I’m having a hard time deciding what is going to be my next type of camera to buy...? The V-Lux1 has caught my eye with its all around photo shooting without changing lenses. Love to get into a DSLR someday when I could afford the cost of all the lenses I want to use. Another question is toward all the V-Lux1 owners that have been experimenting with the photo quality of the V-Lux1 (wide-angle, Macro, Sutter speeds) shots.. Any Photo examples posted would also be great to look at.

Big Thanks,

Johnny

[elansprint72]

Check out the car pictures on my site- many of them were shot with the V-Lux1 (link down the bottom). Welcome to the forum.

 

Presumably you are not this Johnny Vegas

BBC - Comedy - Johnny Vegas Profile

 

HI all,

 

A little background on me, I’m a Technical Management student with a lot of spare time on my hands well after studying. I’m also in a car club and love taking photos of the cars in our group. I own a Casio Exilim EX-Z850 point and shoot but its has some fun settings. So my dilemma is I’m having a hard time deciding what is going to be my next type of camera to buy...? The V-Lux1 has caught my eye with its all around photo shooting without changing lenses. Love to get into a DSLR someday when I could afford the cost of all the lenses I want to use. Another question is toward all the V-Lux1 owners that have been experimenting with the photo quality of the V-Lux1 (wide-angle, Macro, Sutter speeds) shots.. Any Photo examples posted would also be great to look at.

 

Big Thanks,

Johnny