Leica D-Lux 8 - the wait is over!

[Topsy]

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I still have and use my Typ109 and I am happy enough with it not to have bothered with the DL7 nor will I bother with the DL8. It makes an easy carry snapshot camera that IMO has plenty of IQ for that job. I also use it on my Landscape trips when I take either my Bronica SQ-Ai or Fuji GFX 50S and use it as a framing tool to test a composition before breaking out the big camera.

If I want absolute IQ then I will use the GFX but I also have and use M9s which I love but again nowhere near as clinically good IQ as the GFX but I still love the shots I get with them.

The D-Lux range isn't about the IQ those who want the best IQ should be looking at the latest 100MP digital MFs from Fuji, Hasselblad or evern Phase not at Leica compacts.

[MFT-Lehrling]

Am 23.5.2024 um 17:27 schrieb JohnSantaF4:

I think Leica wants to get in on the booming sales of Fuji X100vi.

Well, then they should do a fixed prime lens with aps-c/mft sensor/body in the Style of the D-Lux 8, which is realy good looking.
(e.g. the panasonic-leica 25 1.4 II). i would take a look at that camera for sure. I do not dislike the D-Lux7/8 LX100 II. It is just another type of camera, that happens to be in the similiar price range.

Right now i do not see any product from leica or panasonic that fights over customers from the "beloved" self created shortage of the X100VI "hype". 

[fotografr]

23 hours ago, SrMi said:

I like to use DLux-7. DLux 8 seems an improvement in ergonomics. 
 

How so? It looks to me like the exact same body. I also enjoyed my D-Lux 7 until I drowned it when caught out in a sudden downpour. I was eagerly awaiting the D-Lux 8 but am very disappointed that it's not much of an upgrade. Panasonic just introduced a Lumix about the same size with a full frame sensor and 26mm pancake lens that is much more appealing to me.

[fotografr]

On 5/23/2024 at 5:02 PM, ho_co said:

Has anyone commented on the fact that there was a pile of D-Lux 7s available just a few months back? Then suddenly they disappeared from dealer shelves.

Could Leica have recalled them, installed new physical controls, and turned the cameras into D-Lux 8s?

DNG, functionality with Leica Photos, and a cleaned-up menu all sound like major improvements.

And hasn't Panasonic said they were getting out of the high-end compact business?

 

If Panasonic said that, they lied. 

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1828736-REG/panasonic_dc_s9kk_lumix_s9_mirrorless_camera.html

 

[SrMi]

10 minutes ago, fotografr said:

How so? It looks to me like the exact same body. I also enjoyed my D-Lux 7 until I drowned it when caught out in a sudden downpour. I was eagerly awaiting the D-Lux 8 but am very disappointed that it's not much of an upgrade. Panasonic just introduced a Lumix about the same size with a full frame sensor and 26mm pancake lens that is much more appealing to me.

D-Lux 8 has better UI (menu), better EVF, better LCD, better charging.

The buttons layout is streamlined, more in line of a Leica camera than a Panasonic.

S9 is not a compact camera as it does not have an integrated lens.
The S9 has no EVF, no stabilization unless you mount an OIS lens, worse UI, no mechanical shutter. It gets quite larger and heavier once you attach a 24-70 zoom.

S9 has much less appeal to me than a CL.

[fotografr]

42 minutes ago, SrMi said:

 

S9 has much less appeal to me than a CL.

Same here, but the CL is discontinued.

[matttraubphoto]

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Hear me out. The MFT benefit is that it is small. I actually think Leica could really hit the X100V type of customer and me as well if they had this body with the new MFT sensor from the panny g9ii and a fixed 35mm instead of these zooms that suck dust, Make it weather sealed, a great EVF, and fast connectivity like the SL3. It would be a true “baby Q”! it would be smaller and more portable than an X100V. That camera would sell like gangbusters. 
 

I’d love that camera as an everyday companion! I really hope this Dlux8 sells well so they have the desire to keep investing in small cameras! 

 

 

 

Edited May 25, 2024 by matttraubphoto

[dkmoore]

I have a D lux 7 and agree that IQ is fine. But, they will miss two potential types of buyers:

1. those that have the 7

2. Those open to Fuji or Ricoh 

it’s simply an opportunity to lose customers. I get it, they are trying to capitalize on a hot market but this seems a bit lazy. 

[dkmoore]

2 hours ago, fotografr said:

How so? It looks to me like the exact same body. I also enjoyed my D-Lux 7 until I drowned it when caught out in a sudden downpour. I was eagerly awaiting the D-Lux 8 but am very disappointed that it's not much of an upgrade. Panasonic just introduced a Lumix about the same size with a full frame sensor and 26mm pancake lens that is much more appealing to me.

100% agree with you. 

[dkmoore]

9 hours ago, SrMi said:

The top-of-the-line FF sensor (IQ-wise) is the five-year-old 60MP sensor used by Sony, Leica SL3, and Q3.

I could have been more specific. There will be no performance enhancement for IQ. Prob same clunky focusing as well. 
 

Your point is valid. 

Edited May 25, 2024 by dkmoore

[Louis]

15 hours ago, plantagoo said:

It has definitely USB-C.

 

 

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!

So, you can charge the battery through it?

Edited May 25, 2024 by Louis

[SrMi]

14 minutes ago, Louis said:

So, you can charge the battery through it?

Yes.

[Indeepthought]

The cost of the D-Lux8 is chicken feed as opposed to other current Leica cameras and lenses.. my current D-Lux7 produces excellent images. I’m going to push the ‘Buy’ button as soon as B&H have them for sale.. 😎

 

 

Edited May 25, 2024 by Indeepthought

[RSH-Photo]

21 hours ago, SrMi said:

According to DPR, D-Lux 8 has an updated viewfinder and rear LCD, as well as a USB-C port for charging.

 

I don't see those as enough of an upgrade to persuade me to upgrade from my D-Lux 7. A new, more powerful sensor with improved low-light performance, for example, would prompt me to upgrade. My point remains the same, the D-Lux 8 is not a significant advancement over the D-Lux 7.

[SrMi]

30 minutes ago, RSH-Photo said:

I don't see those as enough of an upgrade to persuade me to upgrade from my D-Lux 7. A new, more powerful sensor with improved low-light performance, for example, would prompt me to upgrade. My point remains the same, the D-Lux 8 is not a significant advancement over the D-Lux 7.

No technology is available to provide better low-light performance, considering the size of the sensor.

It is a personal decision whether D-Lux 8 is worthy of an upgrade.

 

[FrozenInTime]

The D-Lux8 and Lumix S9 had my attention, but ultimately both failed to hit the mark.

However they rekindled my interest in Leica/Lumix m43 lenses.

I previously owned the 'Leica' DG Summilux 15/1.7 and 25/1.4, but sold them when moving to the L-mount TL2 and CL.

Looking back, they produced great results, so I've jumped back in to m43 and added the G100D, 9/1.7 and 25/1.4; the 15/1.7 will follow soon. Good thing I did not sell the GX85.

It took me days to untangle the G100D menu conflicts to get the camera set up how I desired, so a Leica UI rewrite of Panasonic code for the D-Lux8 seems like a good thing.

Leica seems embarrassed to promote m43; there is not a dedicated forum heading for these here, which is a shame as there is a unique performance vs. size balance to be had.

A Leica branded GX85 update along the lines of the D-Lux8/LX100II would get Leica closer the X100VI market than the D-Lux8. PDAF from the G9II sensor may reinvigorate the platform. Full frame is not really needed for most casual applications, and choosing between large or slow FF AF L-mount lenses further diminishes the FF appeal. For MF M-lenses and the M system remain unbeatable.

 

Edited May 25, 2024 by FrozenInTime

[yst]

14 hours ago, jaapv said:

Depends on the user I suppose. Over 70=fail. 

There is no newer 4/3rds sensor AFAIK, and I don't see anything wrong with the images it produces. They were pretty good five years ago...

Agree.... Consistently I have produced excellent images with a "D-Lux 7"...   

Though I’m curios wanting to know if it is utterly important for me to upgrade from 17mp of the DL7, to 21mp of the upcoming DL8?

[2M6TTLs]

On 5/24/2024 at 7:18 PM, PeterD said:

Pretty, but... I wouldn't be bothered about the lack of a movable screen, since I never use one. I like the design overall.

It really does seem to be a baby Q, but I question whether it really is competitive when stacked up against Fuji and the rest. I would be most concerned about the sensor resolution, which isn't that competitive when compared with other cameras in the price bracket. I like the zoom. The list of "accessories" is a bit confusing. I find the idea of a Leica with a fast-ish lens  (it's no Noctilux! ), reasonably sensitive sensor (though I don't see ISO figures anywhere) and a flash a bit of an anathema. Leica photography is all about using available light - isn't it?

Overall it's really a "don't know" from me. Wouldn't mind trialling one, though 😃

Still prefer my M3 and IIIf 😃

How is it a Baby Q? No full frame,Not even APS-C,  limited cropping ability, less dynamic range, no Summicron lens, no tilting screen, ...etc

[2M6TTLs]

6 hours ago, Indeepthought said:

The cost of the D-Lux8 is chicken feed as opposed to other current Leica cameras and lenses.. my current D-Lux7 produces excellent images. I’m going to push the ‘Buy’ button as soon as B&H have them for sale.. 😎

 

 

I'd rather look at a used CL. A better camera in every way.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica Lux

[jaapv]

1 hour ago, yst said:

Agree.... Consistently I have produced excellent images with a "D-Lux 7"...   

Though I’m curios wanting to know if it is utterly important for me to upgrade from 17mp of the DL7, to 21mp of the upcoming DL8?

As a new camera it is definitely underwhelming. Basically the same camera as the 7 with the UI of the rest of Leicas cameras and a few cosmetic tweaks.