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D-Lux4 vs LX3 Part 2


ianho_

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Interesting stuff - and no fast food! Hurrah! :D

 

The LX3 versions look slightly yellowy (others would say brighter, perhaps) to me. I don't think you'd notice anything in isolation, but seeing them side by side (as it were) I marginally prefer the DLux 4 variants.

 

Cheers

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Interesting. Am I missing something or do the pictures look identical? Ivor at Red Dot was telling me yesterday that the lenses on the LX3 and D-LUX 4 have different coatings and the firmware has been tweaked to create 'Leica-like' colours on the D-LUX 4.

 

LouisB

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Interesting. Am I missing something or do the pictures look identical? Ivor at Red Dot was telling me yesterday that the lenses on the LX3 and D-LUX 4 have different coatings and the firmware has been tweaked to create 'Leica-like' colours on the D-LUX 4.

 

LouisB

 

The lens coatings r indeed different between my LX3 n DLux4. U can see it in LX3 vs DLux4 Part 1. I posted a picture of the LX3 n DL4 lenses side by side. U can easily see the difference in coatings there.

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They sure look mighty similar to me. Do we have definitive proof that the coatings are different? I saw the pictures of the lenses that Ianho_ posted, but I don't know. If the coatings were actually different, you'd think that the pictures would be different wouldn't you? And if one coating is better than the other, wouldn't it make sense for Leica to use it on both cameras? After all, they but their name on the lens.

 

I am very skeptical of the two coatings theory.

 

Nick

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Guest wls.shanghai

....I think they made all in the same factory.

 

....just with different "gimmick's" ;)

 

somebody "just" must explain the "double price" :cool:

 

wls

 

 

good stuff "Life is Good"

Well done

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Actually. I've tried using the ISO Intelligent option lately and setting the max ISO at 800. At most point, the pictures were taken at around 400 ISO (without flash on) and this causes the picture a bit "spotty". Can obviously see the noise at most of the pictures taken though. Is this normal for the (Auto ISO) settings?

 

thks.

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Guest Essemmlee

I've downloaded these pix and magnified them in CS4. I am completely unable to tell any difference between them in detail or in colour resolution. That doesn't mean much as I believe they are exactly the same camera

 

That being said, I have just bought a D-Lux 4. It wasn't for any other reason than I wanted it more than I wanted a Panasonic.

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The lens coatings r indeed different between my LX3 n DLux4. U can see it in LX3 vs DLux4 Part 1. I posted a picture of the LX3 n DL4 lenses side by side. U can easily see the difference in coatings there.

 

In the coatings comparison shot, it's obvious from the lighting on the camera bodies and lens extensions that the two cameras are at different angles to the light source. Reflections off the lens surfaces will of course vary.

 

And then there's the retracting lens cover on one lens but not the other. This will also change light behavior.

 

Thanks for the attempt, though. They may in fact be coated differently, but I don't see how you can draw that conclusion from this comparison shot.

 

John

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In the coatings comparison shot, it's obvious from the lighting on the camera bodies and lens extensions that the two cameras are at different angles to the light source. Reflections off the lens surfaces will of course vary.

 

And then there's the retracting lens cover on one lens but not the other. This will also change light behavior.

 

Thanks for the attempt, though. They may in fact be coated differently, but I don't see how you can draw that conclusion from this comparison shot.

 

John

 

Arrrrggggh I'm getting really fed up of explaining this already. So many ppl keep saying different aperture, different angles n what nots. They r different on my LX3 n DL4. In all lighting conditions, in all different positions, up down left right whichever way I put them, with or without the LC1 cap, camera on, camera off, they appear with the same darker blue tint on the DL4.

 

By the way, that table lamp is directly above the lenses with no change in angles.

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I personally think they are identical - I've heard the coatings 'theory' so many times but never seen anything official - surely Leica would want to differentiate themselves if this were the case?

 

Coatings on same model M and R lenses often look slightly different too when viewed with the naked eye. Also bearing in mind that the lenses/cameras are all made by Panasonic, logically they are looking for economies of scale, so it would probably cost them more to run two separate lens production lines. I really don't think that's the case - anyone able to prove otherwise? Firmware is easy so I can see why they would make adjustments to that. Panasonic are likely to sell more to the average consumer who would prefer a punchier shot.

 

From all the comparison photos I've seen I'd say they are 98% the same. I do think the Panasonic software applies a tad more contrast/sharpening to the photos.

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I personally think they are identical - I've heard the coatings 'theory' so many times but never seen anything official - surely Leica would want to differentiate themselves if this were the case?

 

Coatings on same model M and R lenses often look slightly different too when viewed with the naked eye. Also bearing in mind that the lenses/cameras are all made by Panasonic, logically they are looking for economies of scale, so it would probably cost them more to run two separate lens production lines. I really don't think that's the case - anyone able to prove otherwise? Firmware is easy so I can see why they would make adjustments to that. Panasonic are likely to sell more to the average consumer who would prefer a punchier shot.

 

Well, that is one of the more intensively speculative posts I've seen in a while. 1. Leica might want to differentiate themselves, but that doesn't mean they did in this particular case. 2. "Panasonic is looking for economies of scale" (in all areas of production? How do you know that?). 3. To have two different coatings, they'd need two production lines (I very much doubt it. Batch processing is easy. And there are other very easy production engineering solutions.). 4. You already have proof from the O.P., but have rejected it. 5. Everything cannot be done or corrected with firmware, at least as far as I know.

 

OK. My rant is over.

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It is amazing what people do to justify having spent double the money for an identical product. The world is full of private label business and besides tradename, packaging and outer product design manufacturer and private label company sell a technical identical product.

From a pure rational standpoint, buying the D-Lux4 does not seem to make sense. But, hey, what´s the point, this is an emotional product after all. Why trying to justify your decision, go out shooting :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

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  • 6 months later...

I managed to find a D-Lux 4 for three times the price of an LX3. Naturally I snapped it up.

I can now go out shooting with more pride than those who have payed only double the price. The red dot on the triple price model looks a bit redder than on the double price one and the anodising looks blacker.

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If there are differences, they seem to be minimal. I bought the D-Lux 4 because the outside looks nicer and I admit that I am sensitive to that, very sensitive, willing to pay 220 Euro more. The panasonic would leave me unhappy, it is not about appearances; I don't car if people seem me with a Leica Dlux 4 or a Panasonic LX 3. The difference in feeling is important to me only . When I buy something I want it to be a nice experience, not merely functional. Some drinks do taste better in a nicer glass, eventhoug it is the same liquid. The price difference that comes along with it, is something I accept because I'll be happier with the buy for a much longer time. I imagine that there are more people out there that rationally know that there is no difference but do buy emotionally. There is nothing wrong with that, is there?

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Actually. I've tried using the ISO Intelligent option lately and setting the max ISO at 800. At most point, the pictures were taken at around 400 ISO (without flash on) and this causes the picture a bit "spotty". Can obviously see the noise at most of the pictures taken though. Is this normal for the (Auto ISO) settings?

 

thks.

 

its normal for the ISO setting. auto is just setting the ISO based on the aperture /shutter setting that you have set. i do the same thing, but set the iso limit to 200. it gets a lil too noisy for my liking at a higher setting.

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Interesting. Am I missing something or do the pictures look identical? Ivor at Red Dot was telling me yesterday that the lenses on the LX3 and D-LUX 4 have different coatings and the firmware has been tweaked to create 'Leica-like' colours on the D-LUX 4.

 

LouisB

 

what do '"Leica like" colors look like?

Colors are afected by film choice, exposure, color temperture, white balance settings etc.

 

Cheers,

 

Michiel Fokkema

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It is amazing what people do to justify having spent double the money for an identical product. ...

 

Paying double for it would be a bit too much. The LX3 (when I purchased) was $500 and the Leica was $700. The better resale value, cooler looks, software, and increasedwarranty justified it. Not to mention, the red dot sticking out of the hand stiched Luigi case was the manly equivalent of carrying a Nuti or Gucci purse.

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