Different 'looks' of Digilux 3

[burkey]

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Domke also make a couple of nice straps in different widths. I have one on my D3 and it really helps out with the weight. By the way, a great set of photos of the D3 with "R" lenses. I makes me start searching for alternative lenses for my D3. Thanks.

. . . Burkey

[stuny]

Leo & richard S:

 

Please describe all the plusses and minuses of using the R lenses on the D3. One of the things I wonder about is not haivng the aperture automatically stop down after composing -- Remember those days from the 1960s?

[rsolomon]

Stuny:

From my perspective.....

 

her are some items to consider ...

 

1. finding the official R adapter : it's hard to locate in NY, i had one on order but stumbled across one at Willoughbys

 

2. the Adapter: i beleive leica could have produced the adapter to transfer some type of lens info back to the D3, perhaps via the rom contacts on R lenses, then again i have seen much value to the ROM contacts as of yet but thought this would be a great use for them.

 

3, no exif data related to the lens or apeture

 

4. i am not finding the VF to dark to focus, infact i find it workable and the focus confirmation a great help and rely on it.

 

5. balance: some of the larger lenses surely feel "front heavy"

 

6. the kit lens is very nice and i find myself taking more "snapshots"...and happy with them.

 

7. DOF on the R lenses is different - im still experimenting here - it appears the 2x crop factor plays big role here

 

8. i feel like the D3 is truly a system camera offering more than ANY other leica out there. what it lacks is the highest resolution RAW files that the DMR and M8 produce, but IMO i used very little.

 

in short i spend more time in the field taking pictures and less time post processing -always my number one complaint about the DMR.

[rivi1969]

Indeed the R glass look fine in the D3, unfortunately all that glass is useless wide open in any 4/3 sensor camera. I bought the 35mm and the 50mm Summicron in my failed attempted to find a cheaper alternative to the M8 -after I sold my RD1- to realized that the 50mm at f2 when focusing objects 1mt away has 1mm of depth of field, converting this glass in a useful 50mm f4. I guess any longer lenses will have even shallow depth so what is their real use?

 

I just sold them by the way.

[Overgaard]

I'm considering the Digilux 3 again but I'm a bit confused about the signals I get.

 

I like the size of the camera and see it will go well with the D2, but with R-lenses mainly. And as the D2 lacks tele capability, it's interesting that a 90mm f/2 on the D3 will give you a 180mm f2 lens!

 

What confuses me is how easy the D3 with R-lenses is to work with for reportage photo. I don't necessarily have subjects standing still but need to be able to focus almost as fast on as on a traditional R camera.

 

Some say it's easy, others say the screen is so small and dark it is hard. Also, that the lenses has to be wide open for the metering and focusing to work well.

 

Thing is I always use the lenses wide open and I usually use manual metering anyways.

 

So my main concern is the focusing. I guess it is easy to work with if you are taking photos of houses and trees. But does any have experience with shooting kids, people and stuff on the D3?

[mgcd]

 

But my question was this. How does the files from D3 and DMR compare (the RAW files)?

 

They don't, the Digilux 3 files are not in the same league as the DMR raw files.

 

On the strap topic, I use the standard R8 strap with my DMR since the beginning and it feels absolutely fine.

 

Cheers,

[lmr]

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Thorsten:

 

R lens on Digilux 3 focus and exposure has been my main issue. There are technics for subjects that are still using live view (Frame, Live view Focus, and snap - tripod needed), or shoot at f5.6 of f8, but for moving subjects it is a bit more challenging.

 

I have the L1 version, I love using it with my 100 APO f2.8 or 180 f2.8. The Panasonic/Leica lens are actually very good 4/3 lens. I have the 25 f1.4 (50mm lens) is a fantastic lens. The kit lens is no slouch either. All in all, I use the PanaLeica lens more on the L1. Can't go wrong with it.

 

There are Zuiko and Sigma lens for the 4/3 cameras and it looks like the options are opening everyday.

 

I will resize one of the L1/180 f2.8 R picture and post it here..

[Overgaard]

Thanks. Just spoke with a Leica shop and that made me remember that the EVF is not a screen but a non-prism viewfinder.

 

I had envisioned there would be a screen and that on the screen there would be a green dot or something as a focus-confirmation.

 

So it turns out there isn't which make it almost impossible to take sharp pictures with lens fully open (which is the idea with Leica glass - use it wide open). What a damn shame with such a half solution when the D2 was the right tool and just needed an update (i see absolutely no point in buying a heavier camera with a larger lens that requires higher ISO to produce the same as the D2 with it's 2 - 2.4 lens).

[lemalk]

Thanks. Just spoke with a Leica shop and that made me remember that the EVF is not a screen but a non-prism viewfinder.

 

I had envisioned there would be a screen and that on the screen there would be a green dot or something as a focus-confirmation.

 

So it turns out there isn't which make it almost impossible to take sharp pictures with lens fully open (which is the idea with Leica glass - use it wide open).

 

Thorsten, maybe I'm not understanding the question completely - but in the optical viewfinder, you do get a green dot that lights up when you're completely in focus.

 

If you use Live View, you look through the LCD and you can fine-focus since it magnifies the image (I believe it's either 4x and 8x). Is this what you mean by EVF? If so, it's MUCH better than the EVF found in the Digilux 2/LC1.

 

The viewfinder is smaller than on other DSLRs, but it's actually pretty usable. There is also a magnifier eyecup (1.2x) that some really think is worthwhile, but I haven't had any experience with it.

 

The only issue I've had is manual focus in extremely dark situations. In decent light, it's really pretty usable.

[Overgaard]

Hmm, that's strange. I was told there was no focus confirmation (wonder if there is more than one kind).

 

I would usually use the D3 in low light (like concert shots), fully open, depending on being able to focus manually and get confirmation (not relying on having so little DOF that the picture 'might' be ok).

 

Guess I will have to find one and test it myself with a 80mm f/1.4 and a 90mm f/2.0. I often find that equipment depends on how you get along with it and how well you know it. Right now I'm pursuing a DMR as the first priority as that will definitely do the job, though not as light a companion to the D2 as the D3 would be.

[lemalk]

You have to install Firmware 2.0, I believe, to get the focus confirmation light.

Maybe the version the Leica shop referred to was still using the original firmware?

 

Good luck, Thorsten.

I've got some samples of my Digilux 3 and a 50mm Summicron-R and 135 Elmarit-R (but I believe they're all indoors or in daylight. I'll dig around for some low-light shots if you like.

[Overgaard]

Thanks for the info. That make perfectly sense.

 

The real issue for me is how it works in my hands with R lenses and focusing. The quality of the RAW and JGP I feel confident about will be at level or better than D2.

 

Thank you so much for the information so far.