Backup for M8.2 - Sigma DP1 or DLux-4

[m8point2]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I want a small backup for my M8.2. I'm looking at Sigma DP1 or Leica DLux-4.

 

DP1 has slower lens but bigger sensor than DLux-4. SP1 has 28mm fixed lens, but I usually shoot wide, so DLux-4 zoom lens is not that important for me.

 

Which camera has better image quality?

 

Is there any difference in ease of handling and use quality?

 

Thanks,

 

El

[stevem7]

The DP1 will have slightly better IQ but its resolution is low. The DP1 is slow as molasses and misses focus quite a bit. I personally HATED the DP1 after 2 months of use. I sold it and bought a Dlux 4. The Dlux 4 is the best compact I have ever used. I am shooting a Canon G10 now and its OK, but the Dlux 4 is better. Just my opinion though. Good luck.

[Jeff S]

Haven't tried the DP1, but I also like the dlux 4 very much as a back-up, and as just something different.

 

I might be a broken record on this, but I highly recommend Sean Reid's reviews (small annual subscription cost...reidreviews.com). To your question, he covers both cameras, as well as the new DP2.

 

Jeff

 

PS...didn't mean to slight Steve Huff's free site, linked above...also very helpful.

[pmun]

Don't forget the Ricoh GRD2. In terms of handling and lens quality it is one of the best digital compacts.

[anupmc]

Here's another vote for the Ricoh GRD2 as a backup to the M8.

 

And IMHO, it's high ISO noise is a lot more pleasing to the eye than the noise from virtually every other P&S including the DLux-4.

 

Give it a spin some time before you pick one.

[Jeff S]

Broken record, part 2...given above posts, all the more reason to check out Sean's site. He covers and compares, among other small sensor cameras: the dlux 2,3 and 4; Ricoh GRD and GR2; Ricoh GX 100 and GX 200; Sigma DP1 and 2; and, Canon G9.

 

I have no affiliation with Sean's site...just an enthusiastic follower. His reviews are quite thorough...done from a practicing photographer's perspective, with a good mix of technical and real life information.

 

Jeff

[m8point2]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Thanks for the info on the Ricoh.

 

After reading more about the Ricoh and the DP1 on the web, I think I'll give the DP1 a pass.

 

So now the question is how does the GRD2 compare to the DLux-4? It's a lot less expensive. Again, I'm fine with just a 28mm fixed lens. Both have fast lens 2.4 versus 2.0.

 

I'm sure Sean's reviews are great and very scientific, but right now I don't need to read about a lot of cameras and lenses I won't ever buy. I'm more interested in ordinary users impressions. So what do you think - GRD2 or DLux-4?

 

Thanks,

 

El

[sliversurger]

Here's a thought, why don't you just buy both cameras and test them out yourself then return the one you don't like? Its pretty useless trying to base your decision on a camera you've never tested yourself and just on opinion and reviews alone.

[Jeff S]

Thanks for the info on the Ricoh.

I'm sure Sean's reviews are great and very scientific, but right now I don't need to read about a lot of cameras and lenses I won't ever buy. I'm more interested in ordinary users impressions. So what do you think - GRD2 or DLux-4?

 

Thanks,

 

El

 

No big deal to me...but you missed my point...Sean is a photographer, just like you and me...not a typical technical writer. He offers practical, real life comparisons from a photographer's point of view on the very cameras you're interested in. He's trusted by many on this forum (I learned of him here from numerous other LUF "vets"), so while he represents only one opinion, it's as good or better than the other opinions you'll get. Ok, I'm done now.

Jeff

[m8point2]

Thanks Jeff. Maybe I'll check Reid Reviews out even though I just have a few questions about the comparison of the Ricoh GRD2 and DLux-4.

 

Maybe people could help me with these questions.

 

How does the ease of use for manual focus compare on these cameras? I like to zone focus for street shooting, so want to be able to set the distance for 2m and leave it there. Obviously this is easy to do on my M8.2, but how do I do this on the GRD2 or DLux-4. Will the setting change if the camera is turned off or goes to sleep? Will it change if I bump some little button on the back?

 

How does the image quality of these cameras compare at high ISO and low light.?

 

Also, how does the ease of usability (access to menus/changing settings/etc) compare?

 

Thanks,

 

El

[Jeff S]

One point to keep in mind is that since both cameras you're considering are small sensor cameras, both will show greater depth of field at the equivalent focal length of your M8.2; hence can be easier to keep more things in focus. And, both have wide angle options to begin with, so depending on your subject matter, focusing can be controlled relatively well.

 

The dlux, which I own (in addition to an M8.2), can zone focus in manual mode by using a bar that appears on the lcd. It's actually quite easy to use, and started with the dlux 2 and 3. I think Ricoh later adopted a form of this for their GR.

 

I think the GR will maintain its focus setting if turned off and on, but I think that the GR has a fixed focal length. The dlux4, however, has a zoom lens and will retract to its longest setting when turned off, then zooms to the widest setting when turned back on. That may not be the focal length you were using when you set your focus zone.

 

There are many other factors to consider here...aspect ratios (the dlux can quickly show 3), fields of view, other ergonomics, etc. etc. I know just where you can find out about these differences:rolleyes:

 

Also, just curious...you started out considering a DP1, but I haven't heard you comment on the DP2, which many think is much improved...but still might not suit your needs.

 

Jeff

[Ecaton]

Thanks Jeff. Maybe I'll check Reid Reviews out even though I just have a few questions about the comparison of the Ricoh GRD2 and DLux-4.

 

Maybe people could help me with these questions.

 

How does the ease of use for manual focus compare on these cameras? I like to zone focus for street shooting, so want to be able to set the distance for 2m and leave it there. Obviously this is easy to do on my M8.2, but how do I do this on the GRD2 or DLux-4. Will the setting change if the camera is turned off or goes to sleep? Will it change if I bump some little button on the back?

 

How does the image quality of these cameras compare at high ISO and low light.?

 

Also, how does the ease of usability (access to menus/changing settings/etc) compare?

 

Thanks,

 

El

 

I'm not sure why you would prefer forum members biased opinions (eventually the camera we bought and kept is always the the best, in our minds) over a professional's user/reviewer, such as Sean.

As many, I'm on the never ending search for a truly excellent compact digital camera and bought and sold many of them over the last 3 years.

IQ wise, Sigma's DP1 and DP2 run circles around any other compact. UI wise, nothing touches Ricoh's GX (100 or 200) or GRDII, but noise is their issue, less so for the GRD II than for the GX series. Pana's LX3 selling point is its f2.0 lens, but other than that, it is just good, not excellent. The only compact, which still excites me after more than one year of use is the DP1, its IQ can stand its own against any camera and does not make me constantly regret of not having taken out the M8. And the DP2 is even the slightly better camera in many respects.

As a truly shirt pocketable compact, with some excellent qualities, I'd consider the GRDII.

[Leicaiste]

What about the new Olympus EP-1 (4/3).

 

http://43rumors.com/ft5-fullsize-of-the-whitebeige-e-p1/

 

And it will accept leica-M lenses.

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!

[m8point2]

Thanks.

 

I think I'll take one of those.

 

El

[el.nino]

What about the new Olympus EP-1 (4/3).

 

Olympus and Panasonic rumors

 

And it will accept leica-M lenses.

 

damn, that's exactly what i wanted to post.

[offshore]

I want a small backup for my M8.2. I'm looking at Sigma DP1 or Leica DLux-4.

 

DP1 has slower lens but bigger sensor than DLux-4. SP1 has 28mm fixed lens, but I usually shoot wide, so DLux-4 zoom lens is not that important for me.

 

Which camera has better image quality?

 

Is there any difference in ease of handling and use quality?

 

Thanks,

 

El

I can't speak for the Ricoh but I did buy a Canon G10 and a Panasonic LX3 to try as backups for my M8. After several months of use and image comparison I sold the G10 and kept the LX3 as the image quality from it is superb all the way to 13"X19." There have been debates over the differences in the Leica Dlux-4 and the LX3 and perhaps, other than price, differences do exist but if the DLux-4's image quality is the same as the LX3, and better as some would claim, then you should be very pleased with the DLux-4 as your backup. The new Olympus 4/3's camera, shown in the photograph on another post, looks like a winner, although I can't understand the 37 mm filter diameter (why not 39 so all the Leica filters will work?) and you might want to wait to check it out because of all the Japanese optical companies Olympus's images appear more Leica like than any other Japanese optics I've used,

[Iansky]

I currently carry the DP1 as a backup to my M8.

 

As I shoot mainly landscape and street I can live with the slower write time (still faster than my Ricoh GRD).

 

I have never had a problem with the focus under the conditions I shoot and the images it produces are on par with many a current DSLR on the market.

 

I would not hesitate to recommend it and if you are interested you can see some of my DP1 images here (the image through the old window was used at the Sigma stand in USA and printed at 20x30")

 

Iansky Photosite: Sigma DP1

[wda]

I currently carry the DP1 as a backup to my M8.

 

As I shoot mainly landscape and street I can live with the slower write time (still faster than my Ricoh GRD).

 

I have never had a problem with the focus under the conditions I shoot and the images it produces are on par with many a current DSLR on the market.

 

I would not hesitate to recommend it and if you are interested you can see some of my DP1 images here (the image through the old window was used at the Sigma stand in USA and printed at 20x30")

 

Iansky Photosite: Sigma DP1

 

Your sample pictures taken with the DP1 are very impressive with remarkable detail in mid to longer ranges. It would interesting to see some comparative images taken with your M8 and its equivalent 28mm lens but I could not find any on your site.

[Iansky]

Hi David,

 

Thanks for the comments and glad you liked the images.

 

I must admit that I do not tend to duplicate DP1 / M8 images - the images on my DP1 site were actually taken before I got the M8.

 

It is however, now my backup camera as I know it can produce the goods when needed and if used carefully.

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[DavidStone]

Given that the original question was for a backup to the M8, then my vote also goes to the DP1. I've had one for some time now, following a positive review from Sean Reid. I make mainly BW prints, and the results from the DP1 bear a strong resemblance to those from the M8. Printing on A4, it's difficult to tell the difference between M8/DP1. I can make very good A3 prints from the DP1 files. Using the same output spec., the DP1 will make an A3 print, whereas the M8, with its larger sensor, makes an A2 print, of more or less equivalent quality.

 

I have now abandoned the use of the processing software supplied with the DP1, except for opening the RAW file. I then save it, without any processing, as a tif. This is then opened in Capture One 4.8.1 and I start from there.

 

So if what you need is a camera that produces files that resemble those from the M8, the DP1 will do this - up to a point. It has its limitations.The M8 remains, of course, a far better camera in every respect, but for its price, the DP1 is impressive.

 

David