V-Lux, D-Lux or other for the wife?

[mdozier]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Hello,

I would like to ask for advice again from anyone regarding a Leica for my wife, "Kathy Kodak".

I presently have an M6 and recently got an MP and she has shown an interest in upping her game.

She has an Elf that she takes everywhere she goes. She has literally worn out 2 Olympus point and shoots as well as one Nikon and the Elf is on it's last leg.

 

She wants more flexibility on composure with some wide angle and tele possibilities but she's definitely a digital girl. I let her fiddle with the Nikon F3 to see how she liked SLR but it was too much. She could deal with focus but I think she'd prefer autofocus.

 

She seemed to like the MP but I'm not sure she wants to deal with multiple lenses (and she's got to have digital) so I think the M8 is out (much as I'd like that excuse).

 

I know nothing about the V-Lux, nor do I have any experience with the R system. Could you offer some advice here?

 

Thanks in advance for any help.

Matt

[someonenameddavid]

The Vlux is virtually identical to the Panasonic fz50, with a price differential of $200 us for the missing Leica red dot...

 

HTH David

[Tenor1]

What a nice Christmas gift! I have a V-Lux and getting a D-Lux 4. The V-Lux may be to large and heavy if she is used to an Elf. The D-Lux is quite limited on the zoom, but does have a nice wide angle lens. I also have the new Canon G-10 and would recommend it to you. It has a 5x zoom and takes excellent pictures.

 

Regards,

Carlos Marques

[bjmike]

After the current rebate, the V Lux 1 is about US$20 more than the Panasonic FZ-50. The Panny is getting more difficult to find & I think is a discontinued model. I haven't tried the D Lux 4 for any real work out, but the V Lux 1, which I have, is a nice but not perfect camera. The lens is superb. The autofous, for its type & class isn't the fastest around but usually adequate. A pocket camera, this ain't. But its a heck of a lot easier to cart around than my DSLRs and a pile of lenses. I expect tp acquire a D Lux 4 sometime in the future, but if I could only have one camera, of the current inventory (2 Oly DSLR's, 1 Nikon DSLR, 1 Nikon film SLR, 1 Oly p & s, 1 Leica V Lux 1) plus a future D Lux 4 for personal use, it'd without a doubt be the V Lux 1. For work purposes, the Oly's do the job but even then the Leica can stand in. The D Lux 4 would be fun to have when I don't want to carry a camera, but isn't versatile enough for general use. But that's me. YMMV.

[stuny]

Welcome ot the Forum.

 

Any way you can have her handle the V-Lux? If she likes it, terrific. I she wants smaller, also consider the C-Lux or Panasonics with Leica branded lenses. Their T series has quite a wide zoom range, and lovely results from Forum member Caryl. I carry the Panasonic equivalent of the C-Lux in my briefcase every day. Tiny, easy to use. Most of the photos in the last 10 pages of NYC photo galleries on our site are made with this camera.

[Isabelle Lenatio]

Why not consult with your wife as she will be the main user and the cameras are very much different.

[mdozier]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Thanks to all for the input and advice.

To clarify a bit, the nearest Leica dealer is 3.5 - 4 hrs away so we really don't have any chance to test drive the various models. We do have a great shop here for pro-line SLR equipment but otherwise it's Wolf and then the usual Best Buys et al.

Our local Wolf can get the Panasonics, Canons, and Nikons but no one has Leica.

 

As I mentioned, she liked the M6/MP but really wants an auto/digital and has deferred to me to get her what she needs/wants. She's most definitely not equipment focused but is seeking, flexibility and ease of use that will give her higher quality images than the point and shoots.

 

I'm going to check the local stock at Wolf but being so fond of the Leica glass and simplicity of the M's I thought I'd check with you folks for advice and council.

 

Thanks again for your assistance.

Matt

[leica dream]

All the points above are very valid, but the one important factor which made me choose a V-LUX was that I retained an Eye View Finder, with the (albeit very small) screen as back-up for certain situations. There is no EVF on the C or D ranges. The V-LUX camera takes excellent shots, with terrific lens range but although classed as a miniature it certainly isn't a pocket or handbag item.

Richard

[wparsonsgisnet]

The bride has a C-lux-2, which she received in the spring. She does not miss a viewfinder and composes exceedingly well with the viewing screen. This camera, and the current C-lux-3, are missing a hot shoe.

 

I have seen someone using a D-lux-? (a 3 presumably) to shoot a wedding about a year ago. This camera has a hot shoe of course, but the lens does not fold into the camera all the way it appears. The Dlux4 also shoots raw which would be important for me.

 

The Clux3 is really small and the bride carries it in her purse -- all the time. My only complaint about this camera is that the flash isn't very powerful, so I have set her iso to 400 all the time so that it will cover an indoor group portrait.

 

Did I say, she loves it? It has become her photo book, as well, because it's always in her bag.

 

How 'bout your wife looks at the two on the web site and decides what size and how flat suits her, and does raw matter?

 

I can guarantee that they're nice presents....

[elansprint72]

Agree with the C-Lux3 dudes; for its size it really does the job, I'm thinking about upgrading C-Lux 2 for C-Lux 3, just to get that 25mm wide angle.

I also have a V-Lux1 and it is an excellent tool but it only just squeezes into the biggest pocket in a Barbour jacket (and that is big). Having said that; how many cameras with 420mm equiv only measure 6", 150mm from front to back?

 

Buy both.

[euston]

Have you considered Panasonic's micro two thirds camera, the G1? It is smaller and lighter than dSLRs but can produce comparable image quality. It does use interchangeable lenses but the kit lens is said to be a cut above the norm and, with adapters, it will be able to take standard two thirds and M-mount lenses.

 

I like my V-Lux very much and will never part with it but it is a small sensor camera and carries the IQ handicap that a small sensor brings with it. I regard the G1 as a natural successor to the two-year-old V-Lux with the advantage of the latest advances in camera technology.

[mdozier]

Thanks again to everyone for the help and advice.

After a bit of investigation into the various available models it seems the V-Lux 1 is the preferred choice by the wife. Primarily for the all inclusive features and the range of focal length. Just wish she could handle it first.

 

I found a new one from Broadway Photo but I've never dealt with them. Their price is right and in fact less than some used prices I've seen.

 

Is it kosher to ask if anyone has any feedback on this shop?

 

Thanks and please forgive me if this is inappropriate, I'll withdraw the post if need be.

 

M

[pleeson]

I'd recommend B&H or PopFlash.

Don't forget the Leica USA $250 rebate -- I doubt you'd get it from a "grey market" version, likely sold by these scammers:

 

Broadway Photo / A&M Photo World, Regal Camera, Prestige Camera, Preferred Photo, Royal Camera, more - bwayphoto.com - Reviews, Ratings and Prices at ResellerRatings

 

Note the 50+ fraudulent "very satisfied" ratings -- truly scumbags...

[glenerrolrd]

My wife uses both cameras . She started with my dlux 2 and then picked up a Vlux to use for travel. From a quality standpoint they are both excellent . The two major differences are the EVF and the telephoto range (out to a 420 equivalent) .....this makes the V Lux her preferred camera . She goes to the Dlux when she wants a small purse camera or the 28mm wide angle.

 

Based on the improvements since the Vlux was introduced you might consider a newer panasonic .

[bjmike]

I bought a V Lux 1 thru Amazon back in Sept. They sold it thru another dealer that provided a pretty good price, US warranty (thru Leica) etc. No grey market, just a good deal. If I remember, the store was Willoughby. Generally, all the photo stuff I've done through Amazon has been qick & trustworthy. You can check out their 3rd party dealers' feedback, too, which is useful. Hope that helps (and doesn't violate any forum rules).

[Larry Livingston]

I think the two concerns would be size (it is about the same size as a Canon Rebel digital camera, which she could handle at a million different stores) and the limited wide angle zoom- it only goes to 35 mm. That would be my chief complaint. The lens is pretty fast, though, throughout its range, and very compact for 420mm. Good luck! Larry

[elansprint72]

I think the two concerns would be size (it is about the same size as a Canon Rebel digital camera, which she could handle at a million different stores) and the limited wide angle zoom- it only goes to 35 mm. That would be my chief complaint. The lens is pretty fast, though, throughout its range, and very compact for 420mm. Good luck! Larry

 

That's why I said buy both the V-Lux and the C-lux3 If only they could do 24mm to 420 mm on one body!

 

Lots of V-Lux shots on my site www.petetaylor.org: Welcome mainly in the car racing galleries but you'll get the idea.