Leica D-Lux 8 - how does it compare to Q, and iPhone 15 Pro?

[Rokkor]

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Hi everyone, 

 

curious to learn more about the D-Lux 8 from existing users. From what I read I think it sounds more like a Leica then the previous "Panaleicas". Given that it is 4/3 (with an "old" sensor) I wonder if the quality gets close to the Q (first version) and how it would compare to the iPhone 15 Pro (which produces great results for a daily camera and always ready)?

Having an M10 and a Q ( first version, that I use a bit infrequently and just take the M) I wonder if a D-Lux could be a serious replacement for the Q or if an M10, Q, iPhone 15 setup still is a better choice? I would assume DOF is more limited with 4/3 and megapixel wise the D-Lux is also a bit more limited. But then it has AF and a compact size. 

 

Seeing more photos out of the D-Lux 8 will also be interesting to see what is possible with this little camera.

 

Thanks for your hints and kind regards!

 

[wda]

They are two different cameras. Each has its merits. They are not mutually exclusive, in my view 

I have the original Q and a. precursor to  the D Lux, (the typ. 109) . Each serves its purpose and performs very well, and I see no reason to upgrade either. . Adding your modern iPhone gives you even greater flexibility. 

[nicci78]

Original Q has way better image quality. No competition here. 

However against iPhone 15, I would say that D-Lux still has upper hand. Smartphone photos are ok when viewed on smartphones. The latest one are still not yet on par with proper cameras with 1 inch or bigger sensor.

Except for videos which are so good on iPhones that I don't bother to use anything else. 

[Einst_Stein]

The differences are M43 Zoom camera  vs FF prime camera  vs. phone.

Or, thinking real knives (Dlux 8 or Q) vs Swiss Army all-in-one pocket tool.

[SrMi]

I tested D-Lux 7 with iPhone 15 pro max. An adequately processed D-Lux 7 image is much better at low light than the always-processed iPhone image. However, the iPhone image looks very good on the iPhone screen.

[Rokkor]

vor 14 Minuten schrieb SrMi:

I tested D-Lux 7 with iPhone 15 pro max. An adequately processed D-Lux 7 image is much better at low light than the always-processed iPhone image. However, the iPhone image looks very good on the iPhone screen.

Thanks - that is interesting. Also for Pro RAW images. I have not printed from pro RAW images to compare differences but the images look really great from the iPhone nowadays. Good to know that D-Lux might still be a lot  better. Would have been great if they built in at least an APS-C sensor. 

[Rokkor]

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Thanks for all of your comments which is very helpful. It might be fair to say that the D-Lux 8 is somewhat better than iPhone 15 Pro / Max and Q1 is still in a different league (because of FF sensor) concerning image quality. In the end it is about FF vs portability between Q and D-Lux and slightly better image quality between D-Lux 8 and iPhone. 

Portability: iPhone -> D-Lux 8 -> Q

Image Quality: Q-> D-Lux 8 ->  iPhone 

D-Lux 8 seems midway between iPhone and Q then with the bonus of a zoom (vs Q) which the iPhone has as well. 

[SrMi]

6 hours ago, Rokkor said:

Thanks for all of your comments which is very helpful. It might be fair to say that the D-Lux 8 is somewhat better than iPhone 15 Pro / Max and Q1 is still in a different league (because of FF sensor) concerning image quality. In the end it is about FF vs portability between Q and D-Lux and slightly better image quality between D-Lux 8 and iPhone. 

Portability: iPhone -> D-Lux 8 -> Q

Image Quality: Q-> D-Lux 8 ->  iPhone 

D-Lux 8 seems midway between iPhone and Q then with the bonus of a zoom (vs Q) which the iPhone has as well. 

Ergonomics: Q > D-Lux 8 > iPhone

[Rokkor]

vor 8 Minuten schrieb SrMi:

Ergonomics: Q > D-Lux 8 > iPhone

Good one.

Resolution: iPhone 15 Pro ->Q->D-Lux 8 

[SrMi]

4 minutes ago, Rokkor said:

Good one.

Resolution: iPhone 15 Pro ->Q->D-Lux 8 

Since the iPhone 15 Pro has a Quad Bayer sensor, its actual resolution is 12MP, and the 48MP mode has a real resolution somewhat above 12 MP.

[Stuart Richardson]

In my experience the iphone images look way overprocessed. I have had to print for clients using iphones a lot, and in general they tend to look ok from afar, but when you start looking they kind of fall apart. I have talked to a few photographer friends and they seem to agree with me that the iphone photos looked better in the X, Xs days. I think the lenses and sensors are probably better now, but they apply so much software manipulation that it is really unnatural looking. Colors are over-saturated and the sharpening is really intense and baked into the raw file, so it cannot be undone even with "raw". I would always recommend a camera with a larger sensor for serious work, while at the same time acknowledging that the best camera you have is the one you have with you. So by all means use the iphone if you have one (I do), but be aware if you set out to print your images, larger cameras will have an advantage. Not all megapixels are created equal. In this case, the Q with its 24mp full frame and good lens is going to run rings around both the iphone and D-Lux. If you never print and primarily use photos for social media, then the difference is less pronounced. If that is the case, the D lux with its zoom and decent ergonomics are probably a good choice.

Edited July 8, 2024 by Stuart Richardson

[Rokkor]

vor 1 Stunde schrieb Stuart Richardson:

In my experience the iphone images look way overprocessed. I have had to print for clients using iphones a lot, and in general they tend to look ok from afar, but when you start looking they kind of fall apart. I have talked to a few photographer friends and they seem to agree with me that the iphone photos looked better in the X, Xs days. I think the lenses and sensors are probably better now, but they apply so much software manipulation that it is really unnatural looking. Colors are over-saturated and the sharpening is really intense and baked into the raw file, so it cannot be undone even with "raw". I would always recommend a camera with a larger sensor for serious work, while at the same time acknowledging that the best camera you have is the one you have with you. So by all means use the iphone if you have one (I do), but be aware if you set out to print your images, larger cameras will have an advantage. Not all megapixels are created equal. In this case, the Q with its 24mp full frame and good lens is going to run rings around both the iphone and D-Lux. If you never print and primarily use photos for social media, then the difference is less pronounced. If that is the case, the D lux with its zoom and decent ergonomics are probably a good choice.

Great summary that resonates. Thank you. For serious photography I also have the M 10 and the Q is also great for 28mm. So maybe I should not change this winning team but also might have a look at the D-Lux 8 in reality still. I do not print as much as I would like to but realized the other day, that even on a big TV screen quality of images is easily recognizable. And from time to time fine art printing and photo books is a lot of fun with great image data.
 

Thanks again to all!

[Einst_Stein]

If you substitute D8 with any real modern digital camera to compare with iPhone, the answer would be about the same. 

[nicci78]

Just add a hood to any digital camera. It'll destroyed any smartphone in a sunny day.

No hood = lack of real contrast. No matter how good your processing is. It will not bring back what is not there at the first place.

 

[nicci78]

Another pros for D-Lux 8 : its accessory flash. Cameras with leaf shutter are god send for flash photography. 
Sadly no smallTTL flash for the Q/Q2 except SF24D which does not work with Q3. 

[Einst_Stein]

Smart phone can smash Dlux 8 and Qx in a second.

Smartphone can make a phone call!

[jaapv]

On 7/4/2024 at 12:36 PM, nicci78 said:

Original Q has way better image quality. No competition here. 

However against iPhone 15, I would say that D-Lux still has upper hand. Smartphone photos are ok when viewed on smartphones. The latest one are still not yet on par with proper cameras with 1 inch or bigger sensor.

Except for videos which are so good on iPhones that I don't bother to use anything else. 

??? The Samsung Galaxy S23 has a 1" sensor and there are more, like the Sony Xperia Pro-i

[nicci78]

Both has smaller than 1 inch sensor if you account effective area. 
S23 is officially a 1.3” sensor 200MP 

Xperia Pro-I is worst, being a cropped 1 inch sensor using only the center 12MP over the max 20MP. It is quite similar to D-Lux 8 using a cropped m4/3 up to 17MP part of the sensor instead of the whole 20MP  

 

[Rokkor]

Is MFT not bigger than 1“?

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica Lux

[jaapv]

Yes.

 

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