Leica D-Lux 8: Initial impressions

[rsolomon]

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With latest firmware I’ve noticed startup is quicker, shutting down feels about the same…. Nothing scientific just feeling it. 

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The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[CoxJul]

Really enjoying getting back into photography after a long break with this camera. With its almost manual options rather than relying on an automatic mode. The fact that you separately put the aperture and shutter in and out of auto means they're there if you want. If only ISO was also a dial like that.

I suppose the main bugbear is its behaviour when plugged in. It's either charging or in file-transfer mode, not both. So after a long session synching files etc the battery has taken a big hit. Nor can the wi-fi or anything else work while in charging mode. Seems a bit outdated.

Oh yeah, then 6 weeks after I buy mine, they release the Leica 100 edition with silver bits... I wouldn't have wanted one anyway for the extra £150... that's what I'll keep telling myself anyway

Edited June 27 by CoxJul

[ljclark]

2 hours ago, CoxJul said:

The fact that you separately put the aperture and shutter in and out of auto means they're there if you want. If only ISO was also a dial like that.

I suppose the main bugbear is its behaviour when plugged in. It's either charging or in file-transfer mode, not both. So after a long session synching files etc the battery has taken a big hit. Nor can the wi-fi or anything else work while in charging mode. Seems a bit outdated.

While not visible all the time, programing the thumb wheel button to select ISO with the thumb wheel is "almost" as nice as a dedicated mechanical ISO selector and does allow you to make ISO changes without going into the menu or even taking the camera down from your eye.

As for file transfers directly from the camera using the USB-C cable...That's a personal choice.  I think I tried that one time with the first camera I had that offered that capability, and couldn't figure out any advantage.  I have a couple of Anker SD/microSD USB-C card readers (30 grams each) that travel with me.  

And pretty much the same thing regarding in-camera charging: Why?  If you look around, you might find a used or old stock Nitecore UL109 3-pin dual charger (58 grams) which has an attached USB plug.  Although Panasonic seems to have stopped making them, they did have a charger for the LX100 line for the same (but much less expensive DMW-BLG10PP) battery as the D-Lux 7/8 Leica battery.  When I got my D-Lux 8 the next purchase was a pair of the Panasonic batteries.

Another thing to mitigate inconvenience is to carry a spare card and battery.  ThinkTank has their "CF + SD Battery Wallet (7 x 6  x2 cm) which holds one battery in the main pocket and SD card (in its plastic protector) in a flapped flat pocket on the back. (56 grams).

I never carry, pocket or pack loose batteries or SD cards.  The SD cards are kept in those little plastic cases.