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Hooked on Digilux 2


John Thawley

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It would have been nice if they could do a new version of the D2 with a modern sensor which could really take advantage of the lens. I really feel that the D2 lens is one of the best digital lenses on the market.I love the fact that it does not change size and all movement is within the lens, pity they couldn't fit a varient of it to the X1. Compare that to a Pen with its plastic lenses and so ugly when in use.

 

As a D2 owner I am always amazed at how much this camera is loved, and I love it too, but doesn't a D-Lux5 produce better images?

 

"Better" is a subjective word - "different" may be more accurate. If you look through the "Do the D2 photos have a distinctive look?" thread, it is quite obvious that the D2 has a unique "signature" and a loyal and devoted following.

 

A D2 with a bigger sensor would require a (much) bigger lens, unless a fixed focal length lens was used (X1!). Search the forum for threads on D2 and you'll find plenty urging Leica to build a D4 very much in line with the D2...

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... A D2 with a bigger sensor would require a (much) bigger lens, unless a fixed focal length lens was used (X1!). ...

Is it really so? Look at the zoom lenses of several 3/4 cameras, which are also not that big.

 

... Search the forum for threads on D2 and you'll find plenty urging Leica to build a D4 very much in line with the D2...

Oh yes! And I am one of them urging for an updated D2. :) And if necessary for a big sensor, I could even live with a slightly enlarged lens. :cool:

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That exposure is indeed 'spot' on! The reflections on the pole ends are very good and so is the shadowdetail...

 

 

You know now that you have mentioned it, yes i do now notice the reflectios of the pole ends :)

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Right. That exactly is a point that again and again impresses me with the Digilux 2.

Nice picture, by the way. :)

 

I trust the D2 to deliver. Very reassuring.

Thank you kindly :)

 

 

...

 

 

Oh no! My Digilux 2 won't turn on. Tried different batteries and SD cards. Guess it is off to Leica. I hope they are still repairing them. Anyone have some insight?

 

John

 

 

Hi John

 

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/digital-forum/159495-digilux-2-not-working.html

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I bought one of those £6 +10macro lenses (67mm with 69>67 adapter). Focuses to 4 inchres (10cm).

Setting lens to 50mm and beyond to avoid vignetting.

 

Lots of busy foliage all around the subject.

Im just shaking my head at the gorgeous bokeh of the D2 lens.

 

 

 

L1080132-e.jpg

 

L1080119-e.jpg

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Very nice, Dopey. I also love to use a close-up lens, though "only" +5. It is a 72 mm lens, and I use a 69-72 mm step-up ring. In most cases, I use a focus length of 90 mm equiv., or slightly shorter.

 

Best regards, Peter.

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Dopey has shown good results above, using a low cost Macro lens with adaptor - I see that the big auction house also lists wide angle lenses. Of course you get what you pay for - but has anyone tried one out?

 

Then again, there's always the now discontinued official Panasonic WA kit - if they can be found - they come in at a somewhat higher price bracket. Might be nice to try though.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Ramblings of an Old Leica D2 User,

 

Well, it has been a while since I posted, and frankly I got on the forum to see if anyone said that the D-Lux 5 had the "Leica Look: like the D2 did. I sold my D2 about a year ago. I sold my M6 Panda body because I never used it and the chemicals in my darkroom look like day old coffee. I sold the R8 and DMR which had a fantastic look but was too heavy for my international travel and too much money tied up to set and not be used. I still have my SL and 2 cam lenses; they will have to pry it from my cold hands someday. Tried a D3 for a week when it came out and returned it. Maybe it was suppose to be the evolution but someone, somewhere lost sight of what was so good about the D2. It didn't have the feel nor the look in the pictures.

 

Why is it that when I go through my shots sooo many of them that pop out as outstanding were shot with a bulky, slow writing, huge lensed 5 megapixil camera - the Digilux 2? Now I have a Panasonic G1 and its good but not like the D2. Doesn't have the "Leica Look" nor the handling. But then I have adapters that let me put my M lenses on it. Now that is a awkward marriage that does have a good look but can't really decide what it is suppose to be and the focus magnifier is burried so deep in the menus. I know, the M9 might get the look but that is a big hole in the pocketbook and my pockets are not that big. A digital R would be nice. Maybe I could use all my M lenses to make a down payment on a digital R camera and use the R lenses on without an adapter. R lenses on a Canon 5D, now that is a smooth operating combination.

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I heard at one time that they did not go forward with the D2 concept because it would rob too much from the top end cameras. I thought the D3 was Leica's attempt to cash in on the continuation of the D2 concept like M2 and M4 were for the M series. D3 was such a flop and I think they misread the reasons why it did so. It was more like the M5! Think they fire saled the last of both of those.

 

So, I too am thinking about retro buying a used D2, but I still keep thinking, nay dreaming, that maybe someday, something - D-Lux 5 - who knows what, will have that magic look, feel and simplicity of the D2. Your know it says something when we are willing to pay $700 US$ for a used, 7 year old, beat up, f stop settings on the barrell, manual focus on the barrell, ei 400 top speed, slow 5 mp camera. The look, the feel, are the reasons. Or maybe I can rip that big Summicron off the front of a defunct D5 and stick it on my G1!!! Saw a D2 not working sell on eBay for $125 US$, That's a 0 MP camera!

 

So I will keep considering buying a used D2 until someone who has shot with a D2 says Eureka! I've found it, and it is the &^%$$##.

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....

 

So I will keep considering buying a used D2 until someone who has shot with a D2 says Eureka! I've found it, and it is the &^%$$##.

 

By all means, buy the D2! It made me stop using anything else for four years; tried Nikon D200 with pro glass, the Panasonic G1, the D-Lux 3 and the D-Lux 4. None of them was ´the &^%$$##´, not even close.

 

That said, I´ve owned my M9 for over one year now, and I must admit that at last, this one IS ´the &^%$$##´! But pricewise, it may not be an alternative, and even now, there are some thing the D2 does better.

 

I certainly won´t part with my D2!

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Your know it says something when we are willing to pay $700 US$ for a used, 7 year old, beat up, f stop settings on the barrell, manual focus on the barrell, ei 400 top speed, slow 5 mp camera.

 

I know, it's weird, isn't it? I've become almost obsessed with getting hold of one of these things, and this is from someone who used to shoot with things like the Canon 1D3 which fires at 10FPS and the 5D2 which has 21 MP.

 

I blame Thorsten Overgaard:)

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