clickclock Posted March 23, 2009 Share #1 Posted March 23, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) OK; I have lurked for about a month now, and searched and read. I think I still need some advice. I am travelling this summer, probably for a month or two. The chances of a Leica being stolen aside, I am stuck between the D-Lux 4, Digilux 2 and V-Lux. Zoom is not decisive, I don't need anything ultra-portable, nor does it need to be new (sh Digilux 2 would work fiine), and my price range is under $1000. So no M8! Any thoughts? I guess my main question is which of these has the lowest ceiling on the potential quality of the pictures. By this I mean that if I bring fantastic pictures home, which is going to let me enlarge most (A3?) and / or provide the best quality of image. Comments will be considered thoughtfully, so please respond if you have an opinion. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 23, 2009 Posted March 23, 2009 Hi clickclock, Take a look here Choosing between.... I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Bo_Lorentzen Posted March 23, 2009 Share #2 Posted March 23, 2009 ClickClock, All of those are great, I own a D-lux4 and find it to be one of those rare cameras which performs better than it should. I would be perfectly comfortable bringing this camera with me for a trip. Particularly I am impressed with how the D-lux4 handles high-lights, unlike most digital point and shoot cameras it rolls off nicely when it burn out. . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RASO Posted March 23, 2009 Share #3 Posted March 23, 2009 Easy for under 1000 bugs get two D2. You are up and running with a back up in the bag. If you don´t like them after your trip (you´ll be more likely to buy one more), just sell them for the same. ROI, you won´t get that from any other!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuny Posted March 23, 2009 Share #4 Posted March 23, 2009 Clickclock - You're leaving out important information: where are you going and what do you expect to photograph? For example if you expect to shoot a lot of wildlife, the V-Lux-1 has a long enough lens for most situations. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
clickclock Posted March 23, 2009 Author Share #5 Posted March 23, 2009 Clickclock - You're leaving out important information: where are you going and what do you expect to photograph? For example if you expect to shoot a lot of wildlife, the V-Lux-1 has a long enough lens for most situations. Good point - truth is I don't really know. Mostly Russia and China, but some freighter travel inbetween. Perhaps wildlife. What advantages other than lens might the V-Lux have? I hear it mentioned so infrequently compared to D-Lux 4 or D2. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
clickclock Posted March 23, 2009 Author Share #6 Posted March 23, 2009 Easy for under 1000 bugs get two D2. You are up and running with a back up in the bag. If you don´t like them after your trip (you´ll be more likely to buy one more), just sell them for the same. ROI, you won´t get that from any other!! btw two D2 for under 1k US? Show me! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuny Posted March 23, 2009 Share #7 Posted March 23, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Clickclock - The major advantage of something like the V-Lux-1 is that you have such a wide range of focal lengths included. The equivalent to 420 MM at the long end is good for most wildlife, but the 35 at the wide end might not be wide enough for some interior and some landscape shots. The D2 has a wider range of focal lengths than the D-Lux-4, but the D-Lux-4 has more pixels. All three will have enough information to produce acceptable A3 prints. If you go for a D2 get one in which the sensor has been replaced -- you don't want the old, original Sony sensor to go out when you are in the midst of your trip. Leica has been doing the replacement at no charge. Another possibility is to take a D2 and a Panasonic TZ5. I find that about 65% of my shooting is covered by the 28-90 range of the D2. The TZ5, with Leica designed lens would be a small back-up camera with a range equivalent to 28-280 MM plus macro. You could buy both combined for under USD1000. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andit Posted March 23, 2009 Share #8 Posted March 23, 2009 Hi there ClickClock, Welcome to the forum and hopefully the wonderful world of Leica. Have you had a look at the Digilux 3 yet? This is an interchangeable lens SLR camera based on the 4/3rds standard. It is about to be discontinued and Leica have had some amazing closeout specials. Much like the V-Lux1, it is a very under rated camera (Leica brought it out a year too late) that gives you the option of using different lenses - notably the Olympus line of lenses. These are optically virtually on par with Leica. Otherwise, a really good little camera is the D-Lux 4 that you mentioned. Capable of some amazing images. Andreas PS: If you can find a Digilux 2 that has had the sensor replaced (this was done by Leica free of charge under a warranty claim), it is an excellent machine - check out Stuart's website above to see what can be done with one of these. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RASO Posted March 23, 2009 Share #9 Posted March 23, 2009 btw two D2 for under 1k US? Show me! Ooophs you´re right. I calculated the euro to dollar the wrong way. Bought two D2 in November here in Germany for 510 and 560 € so quite a bit more. Sorry for that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
USA road racer Posted March 23, 2009 Share #10 Posted March 23, 2009 I have both the VLux 1 and a DLux 4. Leica has discontinued the VLux 1 as of now. So, you MAY be able to find a used one at a good price. A friend of mine bought a Panasonic FZ 28 for around $325 USD and it isn't a bad camera. I WOULD NOT leave home without the DLux4!! It is a fantastic camera!! If you can, get BOTH; a DLUX 4 for sure~ and find something with a longer lense for your wildlife photos. OR you could just build a complete kit for the Dlux4 with all the lense adaptor tubes & tele lenses. I understand that the X3 isn't very good quality but the X2 isn't bad. Using the digital zoom, that would give you a 20X tele! All of that would fit into a Billingham Airline compact bag! That includes the charger, a Metz 28 flash (Leica CF 22) , batteries, 4 SD cards in a case, 52MM lense tube with UV & Circular polarizer, extra 52MM lense caps, color-right WB device & all the cords & manual that comes with the camera! I would also take at least 2 spare batteries. Hope this helps! When I go with both cameras, I use a Billingham Pro Hadley bag with tons of room to spare! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuny Posted March 23, 2009 Share #11 Posted March 23, 2009 Regarding digital zoom, I demur. The way digital zoom works is to essentially crop the photos, which removes data-- the pixels. The greater you zoom digitally, the less pixels you have to use when printing A3. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
clickclock Posted March 24, 2009 Author Share #12 Posted March 24, 2009 All so helpful, and thank you. Any thoughts on where to buy sh D2s? I know popflash, I am suspicious of ebay. KEH doesn't seem to have that many. I have time to try this out before I leave, and the resale seems strong. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Overgaard Posted March 24, 2009 Share #13 Posted March 24, 2009 Digilux 2 is the great all-round camera but V-Lux 1 is actually also a great camera. The major difference is that the Digilux 2 is very simple and intuitive to use with straight-forward manual controls when you want to (like in an old SLR camera) but also works well in Auto. The V-Lux 1 you depend on the camera to take good pictures, and if you want to go manual, it's via displays and all. One could say it's a choice between the photographing feeling (Digllux 2) or taking pictures (V-Lux 1). leica.overgaard.dk - Thorsten Overgaard's Leica Sites - Leica Digilux 2 sample photos and tests (as well as Panasonic DMC-LC1) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
joppepop Posted March 24, 2009 Share #14 Posted March 24, 2009 I had a vlux until a year ago, and if I recall right it was fairly easy to go manual with it. Just dial in M with the top wheel and then adjusting aperture and shutter with the thumb and the pointing finger. Like a regular, recent SLR, actually. No difference - and no less photography feeling either - if you're used to newer SLRs. Anyway, I'm more used to old school SLRs, so I went with a Digilux 3 instead of the vlux. It's an individual preference. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tenor1 Posted March 24, 2009 Share #15 Posted March 24, 2009 I own all three of the cameras you mention and would suggest the D-Lux 4 because of the 24mm lens. I just cropped to enlarge portions of a picture and was pleased with the sharpness image, but I only made 4x6 pictures. Consider the Canon G-10 as a good travel camera. The battery is very large, 5x zoom and takes good pictures. Low-light shots are not quite as good as the D-Lux 4 but I am still pleased with the overall results. Have fun planning your trip, that's one of the best parts of it in my opinion. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted March 24, 2009 Share #16 Posted March 24, 2009 Don't forget that the DL4 offers high definition video, which could come in very handy on your travels when used with the 24 mm lens. I'd never shot video before but used the DL4 to shoot fireworks in HD at New Year in tandem with stills on my M8 and I was amazed at how good it was. I was expecting YouTube-quality footage but it was crystal clear. The size of the DL4 is another factor in its favour imho (although I love my D2 too ). Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
clickclock Posted April 4, 2009 Author Share #17 Posted April 4, 2009 Digilux 2 on the way, will report! Thanks for all the advice. Will probably add a D-Lux4 before the spring is out... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.