To Digilux or not to Digilux

[Cadfael_tex]

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I've been toying with the idea of getting a D-slr for a while now. In the mean time, I've rediscovered film and loving it. Here the options I see right now that I'd like to get opinions on.

 

1. Get the Digilux 3 (actually there's a Panasonic L1 that has a really good price I'm eyeing that would be a bit more affordable). Really like what I've read about the control layout.

 

2. Stick with film and get an older M body to play with (currently using a Nikon F2).

 

3. Stick with film and get an older R body to play with.

 

4. Hold off, enjoy what I have for now, and see what comes out at Photokina for the fall.

 

 

1's big drawback (besides the wife killing me for spending so much) would be if Leica drops the 4/3 format (emailed them and got a response that they are dedicated to it for what that's worth).

 

2's big drawback is price. I could get a Bessa for not much but...

 

3's big drawback is redundance with what i have already.

 

4's big drawback is that I don't have a new toy to play with over the summer

 

 

Thanks for any input.

[normanf]

The Panasonic L1 can be obtained for the price of the excellent lens, so you get the camera body for virtually nothing.

 

A lot of people still have film cameras. The future though is digital.

 

You could get a 4/3rds adapter mount from "R" lenses from Leica and use the R lenses with an L1 or Digilux 3.

 

There will always be new technology. Something new will always come along. But as people are realizing, new doesn't always mean better.

 

The heavyweights in the camera industry have invested a lot of money, time and technology in the 4/3 camera format. Its not going to go the way of the film format.

 

The price on the L1 fell to the point where one gets a rangefinder style camera and the excellent lens for less than it costs to buy the current L10 kit new. Way less.

 

If you already have a DSLR, then there's no need to upgrade.

 

What are you looking for in the way of a camera? If this is your first DSLR, all one can say is buy into a system and stick with it. It'll be an investment, especially if you're going to buy whatever else you need later.

 

Those are my thoughts about your to Digilux or not to Digilux dilemma. Good luck.

[lemalk]

I had a similar dilemma a few months ago.

 

I ended up getting the Digilux 3 (although it's identical to the L1) and I love it - especially with the addition of a nice fast prime lens (the 30mm f1.4 Sigma or the 25mm f1.4 Panasonic) and some fantastic R glass (the 50mm and 135mm).

 

I also picked up an M5 in great condition for a fantastic price as well as a user-grade Summicron and Nokton.

 

I also have a Pentax K-1000 - but I ended up using all its lenses on the Digilux 3.

 

Although I sometimes shoot film with the M5, it does get expensive to develop, scan and print in batches of 24 or 36.

 

The DSLR is incredibly versatile, and some vintage lenses help bring back some of what's great about old film cameras - that being said, film is still fantastic.

I think the next move for me is an RD-1 or M8 (but it's still a way's away).

 

Leica is involved with the Four Thirds standard as long as Panasonic is a partner. I don't really worry about that. A ton of vintage lenses work on the system and Olympus glass is ridiculously underrated.

 

Film is getting tougher to acquire and expensive to develop. It still has its uses - but, honestly, digital is the way to go.

[cboudier]

1. Get the Digilux 3 (actually there's a Panasonic L1 that has a really good price I'm eyeing that would be a bit more affordable).

Have a look here Tony !

[Overgaard]

Anytime, anywhere, I would go for the Leica edition if I could afford it.

 

Reason is that Panasonic fall to lower second-hand prices than Leica, so in any case the camera will cost one the same amount in the end, if/when one part with it to upgrade.

 

I've seen this several times, and experienced it with Digilux 2 of which I have two and have had one Panasonic edition as well.

[ASpes]

Buying into an M film body could be seen today as a step to digital in a more or less close future, but you can have two advantages, you make some good experience with a RF and you can slowly lay your path to digital with some lenses so that when you're ready for the jump you can step on it by just adding a digital body.

On the other hand you could be satisfied with the film option and never look further. This is still acceptable today but for how long will film be available? and, even before that, for how long will dev labs? All this is shrinking almost by the day. Like it or not digital is the way and has already swept the market. Last but not least with Leica M in any case you must put up with a rather huge investment, let me say what is not Leica M will just be an "appetiser" for it.

 

As for the D/3, it's certainly a good player even in today's market where new DSLRs are announced almost weekly. Even if Leica might stop this line, which I do not believe, you are not left out in the cold as you have a full system around 4/3 to suit any need you might have in the future.

Besides, if not the results (but its lens is one of the best around), the layout of this camera is definitely something unique, well worth having in any case, and letting you have some sort of a traditional use in a digital body as you already know. A D/3 with some primes (seen the new Oly pancake?) is not that far from an M in handling and even size, and with a fairly cheap adapter you can also play with any Nikon lens you might have or mount Leica R lenses on it.

 

So, as you see, with the D/3 (or the L1) you could have plenty of "toys to play with over the Summer", and I'm sure you'd enjoy its pictures too ... :-)

 

Just my 2(euro)cent of course.

[normanf]

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While I agree about film, I think it will never disappear completely. There are just things about old-fashioned technology that retains a timeless appeal. Its not completely obsolete though digital is going to be the mainstay for photography as it has been for the last few years.

[jrethorst]

I've seen this several times, and experienced it with Digilux 2 of which I have two and have had one Panasonic edition as well.

 

I have a Digilux 2 and am very happy with it. Thanks again for the pictures taken with it on your web site (especially Arhus old town and interior), the glow of which helped me decide to buy it.

 

Just curious, why do you have two (or three)? Do you carry more than one on a shoot, perhaps set to different ISO/white balance/other? Is one a backup, against the day when they'll be hard to find?

[Overgaard]

I have two Digilux 2 so that I have a backup with me in the car or hotel, so I'm not suddenly with a camera not working.

 

The one actually has to go now because I dropped it on the floor, causing something inside the zoom to lock. I think it's a small thing because Leica fixed it for free last time. But I anyway have to send the camera for some time.

 

I've been considering getting a third to have a backup while the other is away. But now I'm looking at other digital bodies instead. On the other hand, one can always get the price one paid for the Digilux 2 again.I don't think that will change within the next 5 years.

 

By the way, note that I' ve been doing some blog posts about shooting with the Digilux 2 on mu UBER blog:

Thorsten Overgaard - Uber - 100,000 exposures later... [Part 1]

Thorsten Overgaard - Uber - 100,000 exposures later… [part II] - Shooting with my wife

Thorsten Overgaard - Uber - 100,000 exposures later ... [PART III] - dodge and burn

[earleygallery]

Well without getting into a big discussion film photography is not 'dead' whatever that really means.

 

Approaching your query from another angle I would ask why do you want to go digital? What do you want from digital that film doesn't give you? Most people have gone down the digital route for convenience's sake. If you don't have issues with the time/workflow of film then the speed of digital isn't really a benefit. Cost savings of no film/processing need to be considered against the cost of a digital camera, lenses, batteries, extra computer hardware/software etc etc.

 

If you just want to 'play' with it, then it is probably best not to commit too much initially. Look at something like a Clux or Dlux compact, or a Nikon D40/60 which you can use your current Nikon lenses with.

 

Buying a film M camera - if you fancy trying rangefinder Leica photography - is a sound proposition. Buy a decent s/h M and lens, if you don't take to it you would probably get pretty much the same money for it if you decided to sell. So you can try it out with no financial risk.

[Cadfael_tex]

Well, after looking at the finances, it looks like hold off it is after all. It will be interesting to see what new comes out and where Leica goes with the Digilux 3's replacement (if it does indeed come out before I've saved enough).

 

Thanks for all the replies

Tony