D-Lux 4 identical to the Pana LX3

[Ecaton]

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Again "Chasseur d'Images" who seem to have the info first. Go see under: Serious Compacts - Photography, News, Discussion, and Reviews of Advanced Compact Cameras. Obviously Leica following the same strategy as with the predecessor model with the only difference between the Pana and Leica being the design and a steep price difference. If it only had a bigger sensor........

[Iron Flatline]

Bummer.

[geoff]

...Obviously Leica following the same strategy as with the predecessor model with the only difference between the Pana and Leica being the design and a steep price difference.....

 

 

This is an often repeated myth about the Leica repackaged Panasonic cameras.

 

Traditionally, while the cost has been higher, it is usually balanced with a longer warranty, better bundled software, and sometimes an extra battery, which if acquired separately, in addition to a Panasonic package, narrows the cost difference down significantly to a negligible amount.

 

Additionally, some would argue that the Leica adjusted version of the firmware is improved. Basically, if anything, the color rendition is different, as the Panasonic versions tends to accommodate a Japanese consumers’ preference for slightly pinker flesh tones.

 

Having said all of that, I do like the ergonomics of the Panasonic body design, with the inclusion of a hand grip, minor as it is.

 

 

Geoff

myspace.com/geoffotos

[radugrozescu]

If it had a real (zooming) viewfinder, let's say for the 3:2 or 4:3 format, calibrated for 2 meters it would have been the most interesting compact camera on the market.

 

I suppose the "multiformat" and the added bulk and cost were the reason to drop it, but the external 24 mm viewfinder is not enough.

 

At least, if the external viewfinder have had both 24 and 60 mm lines in pure Leica M tradition ...

 

Radu Grozescu

Corporate and editorial photography by Radu Grozescu

[wlaidlaw]

I am afraid you would have to have "MUG" tattooed on your forehead to buy a D-Lux 4 at a UK price of £590 against a UK price of the virtually identical Panasonic LX3, available for as little as £308. I was one of the mugs who was persuaded by my local Leica dealer that I should buy a C-Lux (1) for my wife to go with the Digilux 2 I had recently bought from him. What a heap of junk the C-Lux was. The first one died within a week. The second one had the worst low light noise I have ever seen on any camera except for a Contax U4R, which I had on beta test. The report I wrote on it, killed that camera off in the UK. Someone should have done the same for the C-Lux 1. It has now died totally after just under three years. My son still has in a drawer, a 1999 Canon digital that works as well as it did new (not very well). My daughter's Casio of the same age as the C-Lux is still working perfectly and it was half the price of the C-Lux.

 

Wilson

[geoff]

With the recent announcement of the Leica D-Lux 4, there is about a USD$175.ºº cost difference premium after factoring in the cost of adding Capture One and an extended warranty to the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3.

 

 

myspace.com/geoffotos

[wlaidlaw]

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With the recent announcement of the Leica D-Lux 4, there is about a USD$175.ºº cost difference premium after factoring in the cost of adding Capture One and an extended warranty to the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3.

 

 

myspace.com/geoffotos

 

San Disk have recently been giving away free copies of C1 V4 with a 2GB Extreme III SD card. With my original copy which came with my M8 and two San Disk serial numbers, I have C1 V4 on all 5 of the family Macs and my brother-in-laws one as well at zero cost to me. I am not convinced of the worth of a two year warranty on a consumer digital. My experience has they either go wrong in the first few weeks or last about 3 years, after which you are going to replace them anyway. In France, if you buy the Panasonic LX3 from Darty, you get a two year warranty anyway.

 

Wilson