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D-Lux 4 Market Research

Kirk

By Kirk
in Digital Forum

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OttoG

OttoG

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Kirk, they may only be tests taken with a prototype Foveon X3 sensor, but check out these photos: Test Photographs Made with the Foveon X3 Prototype Sensor

 

If they can get this kind of clarity and sharpness with a Sigma lens, imagine the results with a Summicron.

 

I used to be very optimistic of the X3 technology, and I guess I still am to some extent, but these images are too downsized to tell anything about the image quality possible. Each pixel in the gallery images would correspond to several pixels of each color in, for example, the M8 CCD. These examples do not change what someone else wrote, that nothing has yet been shown to substantiate the image-quality claims.

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sinusoids

sinusoids

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I'll be more generous than you guys: I'll give Leica/Panasonic a form factor nearly up to the size of the CM to play with. What do I expect in return? Less noise in less light, the key to which isn't the sensor, it's the optics. At f/1.8 - f/2, I only need 400 to do my thing. Then 800 or 1600 gets Noise Ninja'd or whatever. Now, can they make a zoom (or fixed -- 50mm equivalent please) with that kind of performance in that small a size?

 

You know what? Now that I've written this, isn't this what the 3 should really be -- a digital replacement for the Minilux/CM size camera? Forget the zoom. Give me a speedy lens somewhere around 40mm-50mm equivalent, an aperture dial, and paint it black. Easily worth a grand or more. I'd take this over an M8 every day of the week, twice on Sunday, and just keep my 7...

I definitely agree with you!That's just what I want to say.if I can control it like a cm,no doubt,I will purchase one!I hope the image quality is better than lx2.

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MJLogan

MJLogan

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I'm still using my original D-LUX (it had no number designation, but I suppose I should call it a D-LUX 1) for P&S stuff. I hesitate to replace it because it has a very useful optical VF. Of course, it also has 3.5 MP and a noisy sensor, but it does some pretty amazing work. It's also a stunning bit of industrial design--much prettier than its successors.

 

For the D-LUX 4, I'm with the OVF crowd. I'd probably buy one if they included that.

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  • 10 months later...
jrc

jrc

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Optical viewfinder -- and they should try some "outside the box" thinking on it. I'd go for an external hot-shoe mounted viewfinder. If would be great if it could be squarish and flat, with built-in lens-covers (not a leather carrying case) so that you could carry it in a pocket. The bullet-shaped viewfinders make a big lump in your pocket and are generally hard to carry.

 

Different external surface. It's so slippery that I've almost dropped it a few times (always use the wrist strap.)

 

Zoom. I wouldn't buy a 4 (or 5 or 6) without the zoom.

 

You should be able to turn it on (for reviewing photos) without first removing the lens cap.

 

JC

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earleygallery

earleygallery

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I think the design/spec of any future D Lux model will be led by Panasonic not Leica, and they will be building down to a price to compete with other digicams from Nikon, Canon, Fuji, Sony, Samsung etc. These are firmly in the consumer end of the market - not to say that they aren't very capable cameras but its hard to see Panasonic including the types of features mentioned in this thread.

 

However, there is a niche in the market for a quality fixed lens compact, Ricoh have attempted and now Sigma, but it would appear that this could be an ideal product for Leica, once they have the time to devote to it.

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rsmithor

rsmithor

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Nice thread of wish lists for a possible D-Lux 4... a rangerfinder... please. My hats off to all you savvy D-Lux 3 users regarding the short cut of "press and hold" of the "joy stick" to access the ISO... nice feature... hmmm that was on my wish list... lol. :)

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22hornet

22hornet

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I'm still using my original D-LUX (it had no number designation, but I suppose I should call it a D-LUX 1) for P&S stuff. I hesitate to replace it because it has a very useful optical VF. Of course, it also has 3.5 MP and a noisy sensor, but it does some pretty amazing work. It's also a stunning bit of industrial design--much prettier than its successors.

 

For the D-LUX 4, I'm with the OVF crowd. I'd probably buy one if they included that.

 

Hello,

I bought the original D-Lux as well and like it. When I first saw it at the Leica-site, it was love at first sight. Very beautiful and it was a good 3.2MP camera in it's day. Since then I have been waiting for a new version that I would like.

 

In the past, you could buy a small and handy Minilux or CM and have a handy camera that could take pictures of a quality comparable to a good SLR or Leica M.

 

Now, sadly, you can not buy a small and handy digital compact that shoots pictures on par with a good SLR or Leica (digital) M.

 

I suggest Leica takes a long look at the fine Ricoh GRD, to find out where to start, and makes a masterpiece once again.

(Big sensor, best quality lens, viewfinder, large aperture and no zoom if a fixed focus proves any better - The whole package should be no bigger than a Minilux, a size that should allow for a bigger sensor and larger lens).

 

The original D-Lux was launched at 999 euro, a price that now seems fair for a best quality compact, but only if it is up to SLR picture quality.

 

Kind regards,

Joris

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sebastian

sebastian

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Small-sensor digicams are always going to have issues, but I don't want to tote around a DSLR.

 

So...

 

Keep the size exactly the same. I don't want to have to track down another leather case.

Don't sweat adding more megapixels. It already makes great 13X19" prints.

Keep the 16X9. It's wonderful and you can always crop.

Faster lens (The f2-2.5 on the Digilux 1 was fabulous).

Two lugs so a neckstrap can be used. Horizontal or vertical, it doesn't matter.

Keep the zoom as it is, or if necessary for a faster lens, drop it to 28-90 equivalent.

Figure out some way to add a lens hood... surely one could clip on the way the cap does.

Better performance at ISO 200 & 400 (higher speed films looked lousy, too... remember?)

Shoe for add-on optical viewfinder, with click stops at 28-35-50-90 and indications on the LCD when the zoom is at those focal lengths.

 

But even with all that, I'm very fond of my D-Lux 3 and don't plan on replacing it until it dies.

 

PS to previous poster: You can view previous shots without removing the lens cap. Just set the dial to the play position before you turn the camera on.

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Black Dot

Black Dot

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I think the design/spec of any future D Lux model will be led by Panasonic not Leica, and they will be building down to a price to compete with other digicams from Nikon, Canon, Fuji, Sony, Samsung etc.

 

Bingo! The wishlists here would be great for a Digital CM but let's face it, the D-Lux 4 will simply be another rebadged Panasonic. It will undoubtedly have 12 megapixels on the same size sensor and that's if we're lucky. They may use a smaller sensor to give it more zoom. What I would like to see is Leica doing more in firmware to differentiate their version of it.

 

Instead of pushing higher (and useless) ISO speeds how about including ISO 50 instead? How about more control over noise reduction? I think Extra Low and None would be nice options for those who do not like watercolor paintings. Do some tweaking so noise has a film-like grain to it like the Ricoh GR-D instead of smearing everything into unrecognizable blobs. Finally, why not use a homegrown GUI like that used on the M8 as opposed to the blocky and pixelated mess that is found on the Panasonics?

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pierovitch

pierovitch

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chuck in a foveon chip and a bit of cross licencing and .....

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

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  • 4 months later...
nostatic

nostatic

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After playing with my D-lux 3 for a few days now, I figured I'd resurrect this thread with my $0.02 (metric dollars).

 

USB 2.0 - good gawd, could it take any longer to transfer the pics? I don't use card readers as that is just one more thing to futz with, and I don't like going into the battery compartment that often. Just implement faster transfer...like most other cams now have.

 

Optical viewfinder? I can do without that. I would hate to see the body enlarged to do it, as I'm used to framing off a screen. Put it on a hot shoe so I don't have to have it.

 

NR - off option

 

Auto lens cap on retract. Is there a reason why they don't do this (other than aesthetics/retro feel)?

 

Other than that I can't really complain. The menus are pretty good, the joystick tricks to get at certain parameters quickly is a great touch, and I love the manual flash. I have always hated having to remember to turn the flash off on my elph when switching modes. Flash evil...

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