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What Is the Better Touring Camera: D2 or DL4?


Tenor1

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I only want to carry one camera around my neck while touring Greece and Italy and cannot decide between the D2 or DL4. Which would you recommend and why?

Carlos,

 

I've faced the same dilemma and ended up taking both: the D2 slung round my neck and the DL4 on my belt in a holster made by cutting the flap off one of the cheapy, after-market, looky-likey Leica leather cases. Both cameras complemented each other perfectly and I never noticed the DL4 until I chose to use it.

 

I also use the Ricoh LC-1 lens cap, which doesn't need to be removed so it's a matter of whipping the DL4 out with your right hand, flipping the on switch with your thumb on the way up and by the time it gets in front of your eyes it's ready to shoot. :)

 

Pete.

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Carlos, I took my D-Lux 4 (my LC-1 is still in need of repair) when I toured Northern Europe a few weeks ago. All the shots in this set on Flickr were taken with it. I echo Pete's comments - it is an excellent travel camera because it is "always there". My other camera on the trip was my R7 btw.

 

Regards,

 

Bill

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Carlos, I took my D-Lux 4 (my LC-1 is still in need of repair) when I toured Northern Europe a few weeks ago. All the shots in this set on Flickr were taken with it. I echo Pete's comments - it is an excellent travel camera because it is "always there". My other camera on the trip was my R7 btw.

 

Regards,

 

Bill

 

 

Bill,

 

If I recall correctly, you use the SBOOI viewfinder with your D-Lux 4? If I may ask, what would you say the proportion of your shooting was with viewfinder versus LCD?

 

I have yet to use my D-Lux 4 for an extended shoot like a holiday, so I haven't experienced my happiness/unhappiness level relying on the external VF (a 24mm Leica in my case). I was in Maine for a week's holiday in June, but only took my recently acquired R9, 35-70 zoomer, and a couple of primes. That was *very* enjoyable!

 

Jeff.

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Bill,

 

If I recall correctly, you use the SBOOI viewfinder with your D-Lux 4? If I may ask, what would you say the proportion of your shooting was with viewfinder versus LCD?

 

That's a very fair question, Jeff, and one that has made me think about the answer long and hard. I think it's fair to say that without checking the EXIF on each shot, I probably worked at the long end of the zoom range for approximately 60% of the shots I have uploaded. Of that 60% and purely going from memory I probably used the SBOOI for about half of them. In practice, it gets most used in sunny conditions when travelling, or when the ambient light levels are low.

 

Regards,

 

Bill

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That's a very fair question, Jeff, and one that has made me think about the answer long and hard. I think it's fair to say that without checking the EXIF on each shot, I probably worked at the long end of the zoom range for approximately 60% of the shots I have uploaded. Of that 60% and purely going from memory I probably used the SBOOI for about half of them. In practice, it gets most used in sunny conditions when travelling, or when the ambient light levels are low.

 

Regards,

 

Bill

 

 

Thanks for the insight. In my admittedly meagre use of my D-Lux 4, I almost exclusively shoot at the WA end, just so I can use the external finder. This is quite limiting, of course, so more often than not I don't leave the house with the D-Lux 4, opting instead for my M7 or R9.

 

A lessen learnt, I guess. There's a great deal I like about the D-Lux 4, but not sure I'll be buying any cameras without an optical finder or EVF in the future. Just don't like the arms-length composing.

 

Jeff.

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I'd have to say the DL4 based on my last experience with my late D2. I'd flown a third of the way around the world with the D2 only to have the sensor fail when I went to use it.

 

A second reason is the DL4 RAW buffer, or more specifically the lack of one on the D2. I missed a lot of shots with the D2 waiting for the files to write to the card.

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Does the greater reach of the D2 tele end of the zoom matter to you? If not, DL4.

 

I agree with stuny. Wide angle is the far more interesting part of photography. Why is Leica offering these tremendous wide angles for the M-series now?

If necessary I use the digital zoom of my Digilux-4.

Jan

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Bring 'em both! Although I've never had any problems (other than finding myself with a discharged battery at an inconvenient time), I wouldn't chance traveling that far and risk not having a working camera ... in fact, i'd probably take three cameras with me, just in case.

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Bring 'em both! Although I've never had any problems (other than finding myself with a discharged battery at an inconvenient time), I wouldn't chance traveling that far and risk not having a working camera ... in fact, i'd probably take three cameras with me, just in case.

 

People of the atomic energy business would propose 6 pieces.

Jan

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We never needed them in the film era!

Perhaps not but there was always the potential for damage to film stock from X-ray machines or it being lost or damaged by processing labs. I even had a batch of brand new Velvia 120 that turned out to have odd patterns over it that ruined 30 rolls I shot in NZ.

 

The risk to film stock or failure of a digital camera probably works out to be roughly even in the long run.

 

Pete.

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