Are you still happy with your D-Lux 8?

[just3aBro]

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And are you still happy with this camera? I really like taking photos with it, even if I sometimes think that my iPhone would be enough for the photos, or that others comment like that. Would the Fuji x100 series be more suitable for me? Have any of you used it? I would be interested in some brief feedback after a few weeks or months of use and would be very grateful for your response.

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[Topsy]

5 hours ago, just3aBro said:

And are you still happy with this camera? I really like taking photos with it, even if I sometimes think that my iPhone would be enough for the photos, or that others comment like that. Would the Fuji x100 series be more suitable for me? Have any of you used it? I would be interested in some brief feedback after a few weeks or months of use and would be very grateful for your response.

I don't have a D-Lux 8 but I do have the earlier Typ109 and I also have a Fuji X100T (again an earlier model). I prefer the D-Lux for the zoom lens and I love the switch on top of the lens for aspect ratios, however, I htink the files out of the Fuji are nicer srtaight out of camera. That said I use the RAW files form the D-Lux and am happy with the results. I also like the fact that the Raw files in the D-Lux are cropped the same as the JPGs so it makes one think hard before applying a different aspect ratio. Of the 2 cameras the D-Lux goes out with me way more than the Fuji.

[SJH]

Yes really liking the DL8, bought it the day it was released and of course we all know it's a warmed up LX100 II but Leica have done a great job with some key aspects around the EVF, build, rear panel, menu's etc. Wish it had the Leica 'Looks' but FOTOS now allows you to add these to any JPEGS you transfer. I have an SL3, M11P & M plus Q3's but the beauty of the DL8 is size and the lens is pretty good. For a lightweight travel camera it's just brilliant and it has more than enough megapixels really, an added bonus (not in the manual) is that if you select S JPEG size then you can zoom up to 148mm for the DNG's.

Once you starting zooming then the higher Megapixel cameras with fixed lenses start to become comparable really in file size anyway. Richard Butler at DPReview named it his 'Gear of the Year'. In the past I've had the X100v and GR3 but I much prefer the DL8 now really, it's more portable than the X100 series and has a viewfinder unlike the GR3. There are some quirks like no stepped zoom and you can't save profiles (export) but the build, menu's and the FOTOS app are just a joy.

[weevi]

Coming from the LX1, LX3, LX5, LX7, LX100 and D-Lux 7, the more I use the D-Lux 8, the more I miss the step zoom and zoom position recall.

Apart from that, it is as good as I expected.

[Foxtwo]

I don’t miss stepped zoom at all. It makes more sense to simply zoom as necessary to frame the shot as composition warrants. 

It’s a zoom lens camera, makes perfect sense to use it accordingly.

One has to wonder if any Q users complain about being restricted to a fixed step zoom. So primitive. 😉

[prymsnap]

I'm really enjoying my D-Lux 8. The lack of step zoom is a non-issue for the way I use this camera. I would, however, love an option to assign "return focus point to center" to a physical button. Fingers crossed for a future firmware solution, but it's not a deal breaker for me. Does Leica have a feature request portal?

[ceflynn]

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5 hours ago, prymsnap said:

I'm really enjoying my D-Lux 8. The lack of step zoom is a non-issue for the way I use this camera. I would, however, love an option to assign "return focus point to center" to a physical button. Fingers crossed for a future firmware solution, but it's not a deal breaker for me. Does Leica have a feature request portal?

Within the last few months, I was informed at a Leica store that the Leica Fotos app has a "feedback" feature. I have not explored this claim. 

[Einst_Stein]

Sounds you are not sure whether a m43 with zoom or an Apsc-prime would be better for you. 
Only you yourself can answer this for you.

There is no magic, assume similar capable camera company, a m43 with zoom is not going to beat an APS-C with prime when shooting in the same (eq) focal length, and APS-C with prime is not going to beat a M43 with zoom when the prime FL is not the best proper FL.

Your best bet is to get a zoom camera such as DL8 accompanied with a prime lens camera. Whether the zoom camera should have the same sensor size or larger or smaller than the prime camera can be debatable. 

Or, get an interchangeable lens camera.

Edited December 30, 2024 by Einst_Stein

[NRogalski]

Am 27.12.2024 um 13:05 schrieb weevi:

Coming from the LX1, LX3, LX5, LX7, LX100 and D-Lux 7, the more I use the D-Lux 8, the more I miss the step zoom and zoom position recall.

Apart from that, it is as good as I expected.

Fully agree. Leica must have had their reasons to exclude these from "the essential" but having used the D-LUX 7 before, step zoom and zoom positon recall are the only features I miss in my D-LUX 8. I shoot RAW only, consciously set focal length and crop in post after leveling horizon and correcting parallax.

Other than this, Leica have very well done their home work on the menu structure, C-MOS sensor, EVF, USB-C, etc.

[ChrisKul]

I've owned a Fuji X100, Lumix gx9, Konica Hexar, and various Leica cameras, but my D-Lux 8 is, by far, my favorite small camera. It is pleasent and intuitive to use (the most important trait in a camera in my experiance.) And has all the features I need, yet fits in a coat pocket. I do wish it had a zoom ring on the lens and weather sealing, but nothing is perfect. The image quality is more than acceptable, far better than some of the early digital cameras that I shot magazine covers and two-page spread with. And it's certaily better than any 35mm film camera, including my old M4 with a 50mm Summicron! But that's probably irrelevent since I've always believed that photography is 90% art and only 10% image quality.

[ceflynn]

Peter Fritz video (29 min. 36 sec.):

Leica D-Lux 8 OWNER Review - Compact Perfection

Edited December 31, 2024 by ceflynn

[Chottobaka]

On 12/26/2024 at 1:32 AM, just3aBro said:

And are you still happy with this camera? I really like taking photos with it, even if I sometimes think that my iPhone would be enough for the photos, or that others comment like that. Would the Fuji x100 series be more suitable for me? Have any of you used it? I would be interested in some brief feedback after a few weeks or months of use and would be very grateful for your response.

I own both D Lux 8 and X100VI. Apples and oranges. The Leica is my choice for relaxed, easygoing snaps, primarily due to the zoom and smaller size.  Its no slouch when it comes to manual controls, but I use it primarily in aperture priority mode.

The Fuji is less pocket-able and, cropping in camera notwithstanding, requires more physical involvement (zooming with my feet). Objectively, the X100 VI has many more in-camera options and is on par with my X-T5 capability wise. I don't feel there is much redundancy and it's not an either-or situation for me.  I am very pleased with, and am keeping, both.

[xpc316e]

I owned a Fuji X100F for a couple of years and got to really dislike it. Eventually it was sold onto a new owner. After a few months I did hanker for an EDC camera and my research pointed me to the Leica D-Lux 8. When the camera was released onto the main mass market in the UK in October 2024 I bought one.

My main reason to buy one was to give me a real camera that was easy to carry while still giving me the kind of control that phone cameras don't have. I needed something that would produce images that would compare to the ones from my Sony A7Riv. I travel around on budget airlines and having my full-frame equipment with me is too difficult.

I must admit that the D-Lux 8 has not been a disappointment and the more I use it, the more I love it. I have been away on holiday with it and not felt that I was missing my Sony. I am keen on street photography and the D-Lux 8 is a great tool for the job. There is absolutely no buyer's remorse from me regarding this gorgeous camera. It is my first Leica and I love the whole experience.

[Max EPR]

I have the D Lux 8 and cancelled a Fuji x100VI, which was about to be shipped. Why??....after a great deal of research and thinking I came to the conclusion that the DL8 was a better choice for me. First the DL8 compliments my SL3 & M11. What I appreciated about the DL8 was the menu layout, phone app, DNG files,  f/1.7-2.8 (24-75mm) lens, large eye-level viewfinder, UHS-II card compatibility, and 5Gbps USB-C port. Once one uses the new Leica menu layout vs the overly complicated Fuji menu layout one will appreciate what Leica has created. The complex Fuji menu system, fixed lens, lack of UHS-ll support, no DNG files and heavier weight and larger size were the biggest negatives for me with regards to the Fuji. With regards to the 17MP images vs the Fuji 40 MP, the 17MP is good for a 300 dpi 15.8 x 11.8 inch photo....how many of that size does one make? Yes you can crop a Fuji file, but there is a resolution loss. The DL8 can zoom to 75mm with no cropping required. 

[Brad55]

I have two concerns which I would appreciate comments on:

The chord provided for tethering the lens cap to the camera is too short. This prevented the lens from fully extending twice. Each time the lens immediately retracted. I am worried that this may have damaged something inside.

The green horizon shooting aid is clearly out by a few degrees. Why would this be? Can it be recalibrated?

many thanks

David

david.bradley55@icloud.com