How does the Digilux 3 handle

[Cadfael_tex]

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Did a little bit of digging but with my wife currently in the hospital didn't dig to far - sorry. However, I'm wondering about the controls and how well they work. The 'analog/film' like layout is a great draw for me and menus being one of the big reasons being why I haven't gotten an D-slr yet. I've been using my Nikon F2 a lot recently and love the feel.

 

So, does the Digilux 3 really deliver on the feel of a traditional film camera control?

 

Also, it doesn't seem like Leica has many lenses out there for the 4/3 mount yet? I read rumors of a longer but it seems to be in doubt. Any danger of this being an orphaned type with future Digital M's and R's rumored as well?

 

TIA,

Tony

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[cboudier]

With any digital camera, one day or the other, you HAVE TO go in the menu, simply because no digital camera have all the buttons or wheels to avoid this.

 

With a "classic" camera, you need to access to :

- aperture

- speed

- manual focus or auto focus (in this case, you need access to AF mode)

- metering mode (if several)

- program mode (if any)

- flash settings

 

and probably also to :

- exposure shift (if possible)

- program shift (if possible)

 

With a digital camera, you also need to have access to, at least :

- iso

- white balance

- memory card format

 

and probably also to :

- colorspace (may be)

- sharpening

- contrast

- saturation

- file type (jpeg, RAW)

- image quality if jpeg

- display settings

 

and I certainly miss some more !

 

The Digilux 3 brings the aperture and speed rings

an iso button (ring would be better...)

a WB button (ring would be better too)

no memory card format button... but it's not a bad camera for this !

and 2 FUNC buttons for your wish (personnaly, I use one for film mode and the other for OIS mode)

 

EDIT : may be you can set one FUNC button for memory card format :-)

 

To summarise : access to menu are really reduced with the D3 compared to others

The only odd thing is that the power must be on to use the focus ring --> It's an electric ring, not a mechanical one :-(

[dist]

Note, though, that only Panaleica lenses have an aperture ring; if you opt for one of the Olympus lenses (there are some really great lenses in their portfolio!) you'll have to forgo the aperture ring; FUNC1 is preset to get you into the aperture select menu. Using the latest DL3 firmware, though, you can select aperture directly with the little thumbwheel - i.e. without pressing FUNC1 before. Not a big deal really.

[cboudier]

Note, though, that only Panaleica lenses have an aperture ring

You're right, but not even all PanaLeica (see the one one the L10... not aperture ring (cheaper)

[MJLogan]

I fear that the "D-system" might indeed be orphaned. In fact, the words "D-system" were removed from the Leica website not long ago--now they refer simply to "Digilux 3."

 

Rumor has it that Leica are unhappy because Panasonic won't allow them to market the stand-alone lenses under the "Leica" brand. It's also clear that neither the Panasonic L1 nor the Digilux 3 set the DSLR world on fire. Panasonic's second DSLR is a much more conventional affair, whose kit lens lacks an aperture ring.

 

That said, I love my Digilux 3, and own all three of the PanaLeica lenses. As I wrote a few days ago in another thread: while the lenses are superb, it's the control layout and handling that makes the camera unique.

 

If you're not in a hurry to make a purchase, the future will probably be clearer by September, when new Leica products will be revealed.

[normanf]

Leica supplies the specifications and quality assurance for the lenses made in Japan. Panasonic supplies the camera bodies. If Leica wanted to produce both on its own in-house in Solms, Germany, it can do so anytime it wants. In fact, it does just that with the M8 camera line.

[Telecentric]

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So, does the Digilux 3 really deliver on the feel of a traditional film camera control?

 

TIA,

Tony

 

Well yes and no.

 

In appearance and feel the Digilux 3 handles more like a traditional film camera than any other model from any other maker that I have yet encountered. I have owned and disposed of a number of them from both of the top selling brands as they handled more like image processing engines with a camera wrapped round them than a camera with digital technology integrated into it, in my opinion.

 

Before I go any further I must stress that this is my own personal experience and opinion; not everyone else will agree and nor should they. I am biased. There is a reason why I think this way which is that my first cameras were rangefinders and I have continued to use them, off and on, over the intervening years whilst using numerous different SLRs too. If you use and love "proper" SLRs please do not be offended I am absolutely not having a pop at you nor your preferred choice, which I respect.

 

The Digilux 3 is a unique beast as it looks and, to a degree, handles like a traditional film rangefinder camera but is actually an SLR with digital technology blended into it. It has a proper shutter speed dial on top of the body, the shutter release is located exactly where it should be in the centre of the shutter speed dial, and (with the Leica branded 14-50mm, 14-150mm amd 25mm lenses) has a proper aperture ring round the lens barrel.

 

There is no bulky pentaprism sticking out of the top plate (which I hate), the viewfinder eyepiece is exactly where it should be, at the extreme left hand end of the camera body, and there are even two windows of the front of the camera though they are not rangefinder windows but house the autofocus assist lamp and the white balance mechanism respectively. Leica would probably call these "design clues".

 

The only give away is that the camera is too fat (deep) being about twice as thick in the body as a real film rangefinder is, presumably to accommodate the SLR mirror box. However, having said all this, the Digilux 3 sits in my hand in a familiar and comfortable way that no other D-SLR out there possibly can. Oh, and before anyone says it then let me, "except for the Lumix L1 of course". Now remember, as I said I am biased.

 

Now a confession. I was, in my film days, a very big fan of the Contax G2 and its Zeiss lenses. This is a very brave admission for me to make on a Leica forum, so please bear with me. The biggest restrictions on the G2 were that the longest focal length lens that would work on it was the Sonnar 90mm and that the electronic rangefinder autofocus system that was best described, and I am being kind, as quirky. But the look, feel, handling and optical quality were top notch. By now I have probably alienated a lot of Leica supporters, but I did love my G2. I also loved my M3 and its Leica lenses for a lot of similar reasons - am I forgiven?

 

For me the Digilux 3 overcomes the G2 issues in that, being an SLR in rangefinder clothing, I can have lenses as long as I like out to a 1000mm equivalent if I so desired and the autofocus system, whilst not the fastest in the world, is one of the most accurate I have encountered. It does all of this in a high quality, metal bodied rangefinder look alike with some top end Leica branded optics (and some super Olympus glass too, as someone has already commented).

 

So I have found my digital camera nirvana. Sadly, there seem to be some indications that Leica will not be continuing with its foray into the our thirds SLR system world and that the Digilux 3 may well be its first and last offering in this world. This is sad, as they have created a unique instrument that has a bit of a cult following. Photokina in September may clarify this, but I am not holding my breath for a Digilux 4, at least not in the D-series.

 

Er... end of rant.

[normanf]

I agree with your observations. The only objection I have to the camera is the paucity

of quality Leica D lenses other than the stock kit lens. The stock lens is a good all

around "walkabout" lens. Leica Digilux 3 users would like to have more options for

their equipment. We'd like to see Leica's commitment to supporting the 4/3rds SLR

format. It shouldn't be too much to ask Leica to supply a range of suitable lenses for

its camera.

[goodbokeh]

Did a little bit of digging but with my wife currently in the hospital didn't dig to far - sorry. However, I'm wondering about the controls and how well they work. The 'analog/film' like layout is a great draw for me and menus being one of the big reasons being why I haven't gotten an D-slr yet. I've been using my Nikon F2 a lot recently and love the feel.

 

So, does the Digilux 3 really deliver on the feel of a traditional film camera control?

 

Also, it doesn't seem like Leica has many lenses out there for the 4/3 mount yet? I read rumors of a longer but it seems to be in doubt. Any danger of this being an orphaned type with future Digital M's and R's r umored as well?

 

TIA,

Tony

 

The controls and looks are very much like my M6 TTL chrome... just a little larger, I recommend it! Olympus lenses are, in spirit, the Japanese Leica. Without any hesitation get on the waiting list for the 25mm Summilux

[normanf]

Isn't it the list at B&H? I am on it too. I don't see them having in the 14-150 Varit Elmar at a more reasonable price. The macro is supposed to be out Heaven knows when and then there's a wide angle lens, unless the 25mm Summilux can do double-duty.