D-Lux 4 questions... and misteries...

[Massimo Micciulli]

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I just got the new D-Lux 4 and I'm admired for its quality and design, but I also have two main questions to do:

 

- Why the lens range goes from 24mm (excellent) and ends up with a poor 60mm (at least I hoped a 90mm).

 

- Why the zoom is so short: 2.5 x ?

 

If the first question may have a technical answer, the second one is a mistery

 

Can someone please give me an answer?

 

All the best

 

Massimo

[alw]

I guess the zoom has to be short in order to preserve the 2.0-2.8 aperture range?

[rob_x2004]

Probably to keep the IS and AF up to speed. Personally I think it is a shame they go out to 24equiv. 28-60 would have been fine. Give me a better quality less extended lens any day. People are already moaning about 24 end distortion.

[snowball]

i can't seem to find the B&W function, not stated in the manual either.

[Bo_Lorentzen]

Snowball,

 

Press the little "joystick" this will bring up the menu, toggle to the left, the far left option is "film mode" then toggle down, until you get to B&W.

 

Enjoy.

 

 

Bo

 

Random D-lux4 images - Zenfolio | Bo Lorentzen | d-lux 4 images

[nostatic]

I find my feet to usually be an excellent alternative to a longer (slower) lens.

 

My bet is that if they went much beyond 60mm they wouldn't be able to get a 2.8 aperture. Would I like a longer lens? Sure...but everything is a trade-off

[mjh]

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- Why the lens range goes from 24mm (excellent) and ends up with a poor 60mm (at least I hoped a 90mm).

 

- Why the zoom is so short: 2.5 x ?

 

If the first question may have a technical answer, the second one is a mistery

Nothing mysterious really. You want a lens that is both sharp and fast and that has a short focal length at the wide angle end? You can, but you have to accept a compromise, a rather short maximum focal length in this case. The D-Lux 3 had a lens with a greater zoom range, but it wasn’t as fast (f2.8 to f4.9) and the wide angle wasn’t as wide.

[Ruhayat]

My educated guess is they took a look at the serious compact market segment and saw the cameras they had to beat: Ricoh GRDx, Ricoh GXx00, Canon Gx and Sigma DP1. Obviously, the new D-Lux had to be something special to stand out.

 

Which is probably why they decided to stick a Summicron on it for the first time -- it's the biggest advantage they have, since none of those cameras have f2, and it probably would be the hardest hurdle for the others to overcome. And as the Ricoh GXx00 has 24mm, 28mm wouldn't be as good for the marketing bragging rights (it's instructive that Panasonic last year had made such a big deal about how their compact cams had the widest lenses).

 

I'm guessing the focal length was a result of the compromises that had to be made once they selected the aperture and widest end of the lens. Happily, I also think with the D-Lux 4 we get the combined best unique feature of each camera: a 24mm and zoom like the Ricoh GX, a sharp and big aperture like the Ricoh GRD, a big-ish sensor and good IQ like the Sigma DP1, and the slightly bigger -- and easier to handle -- form factor of the G10.

 

I've already sold off my D-Lux 3. D-Lux 4 coming next week!

[ianho_]

What's wrong with 24-60mm? Most ppl who buy the D-Lux 4 r SLR users who need a good solid compact companion. A good SLR walkabout lens is also 24-70mm f2.8. But look again n u'll see that the lil lovely Leica is f2!