martinvath Posted January 21, 2009 Share #1 Posted January 21, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hello I´m going to buy a Digilux 2 or LC1. Can anyone here confirm that there actually is a difference between the output of the two cameras. I´ve read about a slight difference in the jpeg processing, making the Leica files more filmlike, but is it visible in print and/or on screen? Kind regards Martin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 21, 2009 Posted January 21, 2009 Hi martinvath, Take a look here Digilux 2 vs. LC1. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Overgaard Posted January 21, 2009 Share #2 Posted January 21, 2009 It's a minor difference and tend to be a "Leica touch" to the Digilux 2 image quality. I would be more concerned about design and resale prices. If one prefer the look of Leica, that's the one. If one prefer a black camera, it's the Panasonic. Resale prices will stay higher for a Leica all the time (look at Digilux 1 for an example of this, resale prices 2-3 times higher than the equivalent Panasonic). I've ha both and now have two Digilux 2. Never felt the Panasonic was the "real thing" though I liked the all black look. And then I wanted my backup to operate the same way (and some of the buttons are slightly different on the two) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
photogdave Posted January 21, 2009 Share #3 Posted January 21, 2009 Looks is highly subjective, as is image quality, but the LC1 is certainly nicer to hold with its built-in grip. IMHO! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riley Posted January 21, 2009 Share #4 Posted January 21, 2009 the LC1 has mainly cosmetic differences, however there are rather quite a few of them silver top deck/black top deck step in deck pressing is different step D2/sloped LC1 and clipped corner Grip on LC1 grip extends to rear of camera on LC1 speed dials are different colour metering mode dial and tang is different metering icon set is different on/off switch is different on/off lettering in different location LC1 has an on led lamp flash button icon is moved command dial is different front names are different and in different location top deck Leica Digilux 2 and SD logo's are different LC1 has LUMIX on flash top red dot and L logo are different firmware is different lens lettering on front is is different speed indicator on top deck, dot for D2, line for LC1 silver LCD surround on D2 silver baseplate on D2 rotary dial is different lens cap is different ev button letters on D2 and icon set on LC1 LCD naming is different delete button logo is different micrphone aperture on front is different Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinvath Posted January 21, 2009 Author Share #5 Posted January 21, 2009 Thanks for Your answers. I´m aware of the physical differences between the two. I actually had a LC1 a few years ago, but sold it to buy a DSLR, big mistake! I´m not going to let that happen again, so resale value not that important;o) I´ve found some of my old raw files 400iso and compared them to a Tri-x resently developed and scanned. The LC1 files look quite similar I think, much more filmlike than my EOS 30D files. I´d rather have some grainy noise, than the picture destroyed by jpeg noise reduction, and the noise free Canon files are just too boring imho. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
elansprint72 Posted January 21, 2009 Share #6 Posted January 21, 2009 Hello I´m going to buy a Digilux 2 or LC1. Can anyone here confirm that there actually is a difference between the output of the two cameras. ? Kind regards Martin For sure: If you can also find a brown case for the D2 it will take far superior snaps compared to the other one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
audidudi Posted January 21, 2009 Share #7 Posted January 21, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) As it happens, I own one of each (well, two LC1s, actually, but one has been converted to IR-only use) and while there are noticeable differences between their .jpg images (the most significant of which is that IMO the D2 renders blue skies more naturally and colors overall are less saturated), I don't see much, if any, difference between their RAW images. Personally, I prefer the LC1's all-black finish and different styling, and have been tempted to swap the guts between the D2 and LC1 cases for just this reason ... haven't gotten around to it yet, though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Thawley Posted January 22, 2009 Share #8 Posted January 22, 2009 I also own both. If I could only have one it would be the Leica... I simply like the look. That said, though... I do position of some of the switches on the Panasonic and I like using an all black camera now and then. I like the sculpting of the grip... but not more than I like the looks of the Leica. The only image differences are in the JPEG. Personally, I think the Leica JPEGs are phenomenal... if you like smooth life-like colors. If you want slightly pumped up colors, the Panasonic seems to lean more that way. Prices at this point seem to refelct the same percentage difference as when new... around 20% - you can find a very clean Panasonic in the $500 range and a similar Leica in the $650 range. But... if you're going to "steal" one... it will more likely be the Panasonic. Even the lesser savvy seller tends to trump up the Leica badge. You're probably going to get more than one anyway... as you can see, most do. JT Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Thawley Posted January 22, 2009 Share #9 Posted January 22, 2009 For sure: If you can also find a brown case for the D2 it will take far superior snaps compared to the other one. It's true, you know. LOL Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riley Posted January 22, 2009 Share #10 Posted January 22, 2009 always surprised me that no-one painted a D2 black Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Thawley Posted January 22, 2009 Share #11 Posted January 22, 2009 always surprised me that no-one painted a D2 black What stopped me was the lettering. It's not de-bossed into the metal... so replacing the lettering would be a major challenge. Also, you'd need to figure out the buttons, switches and shutter dial. JT Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riley Posted January 22, 2009 Share #12 Posted January 22, 2009 yeah you would have to disassemble it to do a nice job. I never figured out how to do the lettering either, that is the core issue really You can get red dot Leica badges, that would help I guess Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
audidudi Posted January 22, 2009 Share #13 Posted January 22, 2009 yeah you would have to disassemble it to do a nice job.I never figured out how to do the lettering either, that is the core issue really You can get red dot Leica badges, that would help I guess Actually, the lettering isn't such a big deal, provided you're willing to live with having it engraved instead of silkscreened. I found a trophy shop that was willing to tackle it but ultimately decided it was silly to put the money and effort into purely cosmetic details. A bigger issue, though, is the metal flange that is visible under the edges of the LCD cover and as well as the silver buttons and switches. If there's a way to remove the LCD cover without breaking it, then I don't know of it and unless you do this, you won't have a truly all-black camera. And while you can swap over to Panasonic-version black switches and buttons easily and without advertising their origins (although they do look different than the Leica buttons and switches), you can't swap over a complete Panasonic back (which comes with the LCD cover installed) without it reading "Lumix" where it should read "Leica Camera Germany." Still, where there's a will, there's an inheritance -- er, way -- and if someone is determined enough to have a black D2, I'm confident it can be done, but I would be surprised if it proves to be affordable. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riley Posted January 22, 2009 Share #14 Posted January 22, 2009 come to think of it, it would be cheaper to turn an LC1 into a black Leica ! (except it would always say "Panasonic" in the EXIF) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinvath Posted January 28, 2009 Author Share #15 Posted January 28, 2009 Ok, I understand there might be a slight difference i the jpegs. Does that include the b/w mode or is it the same in the two cameras?? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
elansprint72 Posted January 28, 2009 Share #16 Posted January 28, 2009 For goodness sake! Just go out, buy either one of these obsolete cameras, take some photos, post them here and I guarantee that nobody here will be able to tell which one you used. The reason for this will be that they both produce excellent quality images; any difference is down to the guy operating the tool. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Thawley Posted January 29, 2009 Share #17 Posted January 29, 2009 I guarantee that nobody here will be able to tell which one you used. Ah... but therein lies the rub. What matter is it that NO ONE HERE can tell the difference? Like Thorsten.... I have several and while I willingly admit it is all in my head, my head is where I create my pictures. And, whenever I shoot with the Panasonic, it feels a bit like a step child. Even though it's a bit more comfortable, there's something about shooting with the Leica. I know, I know... it's all in my head. But guess what? So is everything else. JT Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
parigby Posted January 29, 2009 Share #18 Posted January 29, 2009 The question is quite simple really - do you want The Red Dot ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean_reid Posted January 29, 2009 Share #19 Posted January 29, 2009 I did comparison tests a few years back. There are some very small differences even in the RAW files but they're minor. If you're working in RAW, you should see quite similar output from either camera. Cheers, Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
audidudi Posted January 29, 2009 Share #20 Posted January 29, 2009 I did comparison tests a few years back. There are some very small differences even in the RAW files but they're minor. If you're working in RAW, you should see quite similar output from either camera. As a second data point, I have also made this comparison (shooting real-world images, not test charts, in case that matters) and could see no difference between the images of the two cameras in RAW format. I can, however, see a noticeable difference between their .jpg images and IMO, the D2's images have much more accurate color/saturation than LC1's images. Alas, my attempts at fiddling with the LC1's images in Photoshop so as to make them look like D2 images have all been unsuccessful, so if you plan on shooting .jpgs, the extra money for a D2 versus an LC1 is well spent. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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