help Choosing - D-Lux 6 v D-Lux 7 v D-Lux Typ 109?

[BotleyJoe]

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Can experienced D-Lux users help me make a decision please? I am comparing D-Lux 6 v D-Lux 7 v D-Lux Typ 109. On paper there doesn’t seem to be much difference between the 7 and the 109. In practice is there much real world differences between the images produced by these compared with the D-L 6? Then there’s the Panasonic LX100 II which I understand is just a D-L7 with a different badge (or is it the other way around?)

The reason for the question is that I would like more analogue type control over the basic camera settings. I have a Canon G11 which in most respects is perfect for my type of photography but I’m fed up with the fiddly controls and multiple menus. I just want to be able to change the aperture and shutter speed quickly to control depth of field without having to use a screen which is even more difficult in bright sunlight.

I’m looking to buy secondhand – what should I do?

In a perfect world my perfect camera would be my Olympus OM10 in digital format.

Thanks in advance - Joe

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[Einst_Stein]

I have no comment on their analog control. To me, they are very similar, but YMMV. 

My choice would be simple: sensor size , then lens, focal length and aperture. So

Leica Dlux 8,7 (and Lux LX100 II/I, m43 sensor) > Lumix LX10 (1" sensor) > Leica Dlux 6 (and Lumux LX7, micro sensor, 24-90mm) > Leica Dlux 4 (Lumix Lx3?, 24-60mm lens).

Except Digilux 4.3, I would skip any older Dlux and LX, inclusing Digilux 2.  

 

 

Edited February 14 by Einst_Stein

[stuny]

There are minor improvements as each model updates, suggesting going for the newest used model you can find.  With all of them you can control aperture & shutter speed manually without going into the menu.  Few people know this:  When shooting in high quality jpeg all those cameras have an iZoom function that is a clever algorithm to double the long end of the zoom range (to 150MM) equivalent, and unlike "digital zoom" it does not throw away pixels, but interpolates to produce nearly lossless results.  For that, you only need to go into the menu once to set it, after which it's always available when in jpeg mode.

[Einst_Stein]

Though they are rarely mentioned, especially in Leica forum, Lumix LX10 and Lumix LX7 worth some attention, if the price is right.

Roughly, you can get LX7 (24-90mm, F1.4, micro sensor) for about US$250 and LX10 (24-72mm , F1.4, 1" sensor) for about US$450. Of course they do not have the same low light performance as their big brothers, but still pretty decent.  

Far better than the over hyped Digilux 2.

Edited February 15 by Einst_Stein

[Jeff Newburg]

The D-Lux 6 has the fastest lens in the entire D-Lux series, if that’s particularly important to you.  I bought mine for less than $500 in like-new condition, and results are consistently amazing.