Digilux3 - Lens Selection

[charbinjr]

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Hi all,

After getting excited enough to trade my DL2 for a Digilux 3 because of the interchangeable lens feature Leica hyped, then to learn that they probably never even intended to actually produce a full featured longer lens like the original, my bubble has burst :- ( I was mislead.

SO - I need help. I don't want to use an adapter on the camera which will limit automatic features. Apparently, Panasonic has produced 4/3rds in about a 50-300 length that will work on my Digilux 3. Has anyone bought or used one? Will it work just as the original does? At about $1200 USD, I really need some advise from the gurus in the community.

Thanks for your advice.

Charlie Harbin - Norcross, GA

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[rsolomon]

i have a digilux 3 and think its a gret camera, i do use R lens along with the kit lens. i must say the R lenses provide OUTSTANDING results. i do understand you desire to maintain all the "auto" futures. As you may know any 4/3'rds lens will work directly on the camera without adapters. some of the functions may not be available, for example the ois "anti-shake" feature that leica put in the lens my not exisit with all 4/3rd lens makers as some camera's have placed the "anti-shake" in the camera body.

 

see the website below for a listing of all 4/3rd lenses. the one o eas lokoing at is the Oly 50-200 (100-400 in 35mm format) f 2.8-3.5. They produce an ED version and a SWD (newer) version. my feeling was this complimented the kit lens well.

 

Also keep in mind that the digilux 3 with the kit lens offeres "digital" zoom of 2x and 3x making the kit lens operate(with some loss of imiage quality) like:

 

the kit lens in 35 mm format..

normal: 28-100

digital zoom 2x: 56-200

digital zoom 3x: 84-300

 

 

Olympus lens overview for Digital Cameras - DCVIEWS

[dist]

I second the recommendation for the 50-200 Oly lens. Go for the older version as the increased AF speed afforded by the SWD drive will be of no use for the DL3.

Oly glass is very decent (they have three grades of glass, can't remember how they name them but it's something like consumer (slowish zooms), semi pro (very good, more expensive but still affordable) and pro (very fast, supposedly very good, and outlandishly expensive).

Forget about the digital zoom proposition. That's nothing but a simple crop. You can always apply a crop in post processing.

YMMV.

Cheers

[jdlaing]

Charley

 

Panasonic has a 14-150 that has built in Image Stabilization.

 

If ever there was a perfect all in one walk around lens that one is close.

 

It is roughly the same size as the 14-50.

 

Greetings from Dunwoody.

 

If you ever want to try some different 4:3 lenses on that D-3...........let me know.

[merg51]

Charlie,

 

I have a D-3 and will also echo the comments regarding the Olympus 50-200. I have the ED version and have been very happy with it.

[charbinjr]

Thanks JD - I am leaning in that direction. Nice to know of another user so nearby.

Charlie

[MJLogan]

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My 14-150 lens broke about a month after I bought it. Getting it fixed was an adventure, but after I insisted that Panasonic send me a new one by overnight courier, they actually did. My second lens feels much better-built, and functions perfectly. I am assuming that I just got a bad example, and that the lens will make me as happy as the 14-50 kit lens and the brilliant fast 25 mm prime have done.

 

My lens broke toward the beginning of a long European vacation. Rather than limit myself to 25mm shots for the whole trip, I bought an Olympus 70-300 f/4-5.6. It is one of the less-expensive Olympus lenses. I have to say I was not impressed after using the Panasonic/Leica 14-150 for a brief time.

[charbinjr]

I'd like to thank everyone for their advice. It has been helpful and enlightening.

Charlie

[Humberto_miramontes]

hi i am alsow thinkin of buying a cuple of R lenses does any one have any thoughts on the Leica vario elmar R 80-200mm whold this work well with the adaptor for the Digliux 3, what are the pos and cons to it?

 

thanks