Finally give up with D-Lux 3

[intex]

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As much as I try to like this camera, I have finally called it quits. The fault probably lies with me, as I was the one who opurchased this camera without a viewfinder.

After several weeks on the road in Europe, it is of no use during the day in the summer sun. I have no idea what I am framing. If there is no prominent item in the viewfinder that stands out, you basically can not tell what you are taking a pix of.

 

If Leica (or Panasonic) thought that viewfinders were not important, why the heck is it on any professional camera, including my M8.

 

I am starting to check out other compacts with viewfinders, any luck with Canon's G8, or the new Nikon ?

 

PS- I should note that I have post 50 eyesight, but do not need glasses!

[leica dream]

..........................and I thought it was just me being old fashioned and hooked on viewfinders. I have to say that is one of the reasons why I went for a V-Lux1 where the screen is there if one wants it, even though it is more expensive in battery power, (and it is useful for viewing captured pictures) but the prime "aiming" device is the viewfinder.

I have been very happy with my camera, although being quite a casual hobby photographer it does not get as much use as some. I say "photographer" but I still cannot accept digital pictures as photographs. To me they are "images" because one can do so much to them post capture. The real art and excitement of "you get what you shoot" is lost for me. Nevertheless, I am looking forward to my pending holiday in Switzerland to put the camera through it's paces.

Good luch choosing your next camera.

Richard

[stuny]

Robert -

 

Since you already have invested in the D-Lux, there is one more thing you might want to try. Search the Forum for adding viewfinders to the D-Lux. There have been step-by-step threads showing how to do so. This would permit you to frame, which might be just enough.

[stuny]

Robert -

 

I jsut did a search on D-lux viewfinder and found this from 11 March 2007:

 

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/digital-forum/18737-street-walking-d-lux-3-a.html.

[bcorton]

<After several weeks on the road in Europe, it is of no use during the day in the summer sun. I have no idea what I am framing. If there is no prominent item in the viewfinder that stands out, you basically can not tell what you are taking a pix of.>

 

Just on the chance you may have overlooked it (doubtful, but just in case), have you tried using the 'power lcd' setting? I've been using it this summer in Italy, and have had a much easier time than what you describe. I too prefer a viewfinder (I also have my R9 with me). But I find that the 'power LCD' option actually works for 99 attempts out of 100. It does consume battery power at a somewhat higher, thought not prohibitive, rate.

 

Anyway, sorry to hear of your frustration.

 

Brent Orton (the other Brent)

[markgay]

First let me say your choice of camera is just that: your choice.

 

I overcame the lack of a viewfinder pretty quickly as I always use it on the 16:9 setting, and usually at the widest aperture.

 

That means I can estimate the picture by holding the camera to my face, just below my eye. You have to do that anyway to get a steady shot - so there's nothing stupid in it.

 

I am not hooked on the LCD screen. I take a rough glance at it, to see I've got it centred.

 

Having said that - with the optional-viewfinder version soon to be released, I can see a lot of people giving up on the D-Lux 3 just now.

 

Mark

[Tom Barry]

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I use the D-Lux 2 and also find the power-LCD setting helpful in bright conditions. I'd still like a viewfinder, however. It bothers me to hold a camera away from my face, image-stabilization or no image-stabilization.

[farnz]

...I still cannot accept digital pictures as photographs. To me they are "images" because one can do so much to them post capture. The real art and excitement of "you get what you shoot" is lost for me. ...

Richard,

 

So dodging and burning, enlarging, and sandwiching in the darkroom don't count then?

 

Pete.

[bill]

I have an LX-2 and a G8 and find the "optical viewfinder" of the latter no great advantage. It is so poky and inaccurate that it may as well not be there. I took my LX-2 to Italy and shot as others have described. I would also like a decent optical viewfinder, but they seem to be a lost art.

 

Regards,

 

Bill

[leica dream]

Pete, I take your point about hours in the darkroom and, yes, I have to put my hand up as guilty. However, I have not been lucky enough to have a darkroom for many years now, so I guess that relying on what modern film processors can do (or are prepared to do) has been the real world for me for a long time so has become the norm.

The world has moved on and I am determined to get there with digital!

Richard

[Dlegrec]

Is anyone aware if Leica is to produce (and when) the competitor of the Panasonic DMC-LX3 and sucessor of the D-Lux 3 ?

 

Thanks.

[Guest DuquesneG]

I find that with OIS I can safely hold this camera (I have the Panasonic version) in one hand. I cup my left hand over the LCD and it shades it just fine even in bright sun. I think also there are stick-on folding hoods (like the old Speed Graphic had) you can buy, or you could make one from cardboard. You could always drape your jacket over your head like th black cloth view camera guys use Where there's a will there's a way. I've never seen a p&s digital with an optical viewfinder that wasn't squinty and at best cropped 15-20% off the periphery.

[ronaldh]

Ricoh GRD ll is the answer if you can live with the 28mm fixed focal length

[biglouis]

I share your frustration but have to add that after 2.5 years with a D-LUX2 I can get over the lack of viewfinder. One thing I do use which helps a lot is to use the gridlines that you can superimpose on the LCD display. I find that I can usually just make out enough of the scene and ensure I have fairly good horizontals and verticals.

 

LouisB

[bussta]

I share your problems/frustrations too intex.

 

I have recently sold my D-Lux 3 and replaced it with a Digilux 2.

 

I know that the D2 is a much bigger camera, but for me you really can't beat the feeling of holding a camera up to your eye and focusing through a view finder, be it an EVF or optical viewfinder.

 

Honestly speaking I feel that the D-Lux 3 is massively over rated, yes in the right hands and more so in the prefect conditions it is capable of producing some great results, but it is also capable of producing very bad quality images - more often than not if you ask me.

 

There is no competition in my eyes quality wise between the Digilux 2 & D-Lux 3, even though the D2 is larger & has 1/2 the number of megapixels. The Digilux 2 shoots the D-lux out of the water in every respect, the images are so much sharper and the handling of the camera is so much more intuitive.

 

I bought the D-Lux as my first Leica, i loved the look of it and wanted to like it soo much, but it just has too many flaws to be worth the £400+ price tag I paid for it.

 

I hope Leica do something soon like a smaller cheaper style digital rangefinder like the M8 or a new Digilux 2 perhaps.

 

Each to their own, but to me being a photographer is about seeing the image through your eyes and composing and capturing that moment through the camera. I just couldn't seem to do that looking the LCD screen on the back of the D-Lux, it made me feel detached from the moment - almost as if I was watching someone else taking a picture.

[Iron Flatline]

I punted the D-Lux 3 to my wife, and bought a G9. Love it. Can't say the Viewfinder is its strong point (it's tiny) but better than nothing.

[andym911]

sold mine as well, felt like a 'poncy' camera, no disrespect intended but thats what it felt like to me.

replaced it with a GRD....perfect

 

andy

[Guest DuquesneG]

Is anyone aware if Leica is to produce (and when) the competitor of the Panasonic DMC-LX3 and sucessor of the D-Lux 3 ?

 

Thanks.

 

My guess is that it's one of the "exciting new" products Dr. Kaufmann was alluding to for Photokina.

[Paul Edwards]

Hi

I have a D lux 3 and am also disappointed with the lack of ability to view the screen in most situations.

 

I was thinking if it might be possible to attach some kind of waist level view finder to this camera . or is there already one available that I don,t Know about ?

 

I think I would definatly use it more especially for candid shots as there is nothing more obvious than holding a point and shoot at eye level and at arms length trying to compose a shot.

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[nugat]

I am quite happy with D-lux 3 for what it is: a support and special tasks camera.

The LCD can be made really bright with the "power lcd" setup. I could use it in bright Greek sun this summer no problem.

If you want to shoot clandestine, pick "high angle" LCD setup, lower the camera to your waist and flip it up side down.

I usually choose aperture priority and set manual focus to a convenient hyperfocal value.

With F4 and wide, everything from 1.5 meters (6 feet) in front of the lens is in focus.

Then set the stabilizer to mode 2.

With such set ups in 16:9 the camera becomes a very convenient guerilla phototool.

For night shots, set ISO to 800 and LCD picture to B&W (process the RAW original). The noise is pleasantly filmic.

What I'd like to do with D-lux 3 is activate "video out" while in photo mode. That would enable me to use a separate LCD, say on my left wrist, for totally unobtrusive shooting. I don't know how to do it or if it's at all possible. This option strangely shows as grey in photo setups, so it is half-present.

The camera is very flexible, offers numerous manual setups, gives good picture also in 16:9 , is small enough to belt strap or hide in the big pants' (trousers!) pockets.

A friend of mine shot a billboard advertising campaign on it (hush, hush, lest the client finds out).

I would not use it as the only camera, but it is with me most often of all gear.