Digilux 1: First Impressions

[oliver_s.]

This is just my personal view, and I ask the moderator to delete this thread as soon as we get a real test.<br<On Friday, a local camera store presented the M7, with the entire M and R lines and the binoculars around--and the Digilux 1 in a corner, finding very little attention. So I jumped...</p>It looks ugly, metal and chrome randomly heaped into a disparate, disproportionate bunch. Overcoming the repulsive feelings, it felt good in my hands; it's not too small or too large--and with the ring around the lens barrel, you can hold it like an SLR (or M)!</p>The finder is a zoom finder à la P&S, with just two LEDs for flash and AF status; no exposure information, no brightlines, no parallax compensation, not even AF sensor area outlines. Ack.</p>Most digicam users are familiar with recessed rubber buttons measuring 1x1.5mm which you need to press for two seconds to make the camera do something (or not) another two seconds later. All the Digilux's controls are reasonably sized buttons and switches with clear tactile feedback and an instant response by the camera. And you needn't press two buttons simultaneously to access any function, or navigate through 13 menu levels!</p>The rear LCD is large and provides exposure information, and much more; nevertheless I <i>really</i> miss a finder that deserves that name.<p>A lot of fuss has been made about the LCD hood. It's an L-shaped plastic part that screws into the tripod socket. (Relax: it has a metal 1/4" nut inserted.) From the bottom part, a plastic frame reaches up and around to the LCD's edges. The hood resembles a waist-level finder, i.e. it folds down and doubles as an LCD protective cover. Quality--I'm glad this mother of all flimsy thingies isn't part of the camera.</p>Shutter lag is in the SLR range. This is none of my frequent typos; the Digilux 1 actually takes the exposure so fast any traditional digicam user would assume a grave and serious malfunction.</p>I know that some people think that digital can never, and will never, yadda yadda. Many of us may have considered a digital camera for some time, however. Do I like the Digilux 1? Yes. Despite its disadvantages, some features make it attractive, especially the short shutter lag.

[oliver_s.]

And the image quality? Hard to judge from the rear LCD--their laptop

[not a Leica product ;-) ] had crashed, and the reps had no clue how

to reboot it.

[maestro logos]

Hi Oliver,

 

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Thanks for the review. I'm actually considering getting the

Panasonic DMC-LC5 for my brother. (Essentially the same

camera as the Leica, only that it has better styling in my opinion.)

 

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Is the viewfinder optical or digital? Is it bright and clear? How

speedy can exposure compensation be engaged?

 

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Thanks.

 

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Logos

[dan_brown4]

Groan...

 

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Should digital discussions (even about Leica branded products)

be discussed elswhere? Like maybe in a sub-forum. Tony, any

thoughts in this idea?

[oliver_s.]

Dan: I've put it in the "Leica in a digital world"

category.</p>Maestro Logos: the viewfinder is an optical one, bright

and clear, but providing very little information. I didn't check how

to dial in exposure compensation as I found moving to manual mode and

then setting shutter speed and f-stop to be faster. Both are

entered via a toggle switch near the right bottom corner of the rear

LCD, in easy reach of the thumb, when you're in manual mode. Btw I,

too, would rather get the DMC-LC 5 as it has the same lens and is sold

for �150 less over here.

[jay_.]

5MP is already available (Nikon CP5000) and 6MP is surely only months

away (already here in consumer digital SLR's like the Fuji S2 and

Canon D60). Just like the Leicaflex I (with non-TTL metering) the

Digilux was obsolete before it hit the street.

[dennis_goldstein]

All digital cameras are obsolete before they hit the street. They

should be considered techno-trash. There won't be a used market for

them. Just get one that suits your needs and stop reading about the

new ones just about to be introduced.

[johannes_fleischhauer]

Hello Oliver,

thanks for reproting on the camera. I was wondering if the camera has

any kind of settings in the menue to shoot B&W or sepia pictures? I

did not find any information on that in the official website.

Can you give any impression on how fast TIF images are stored in

highest resolution mode?

Thanks a lot

 

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Johannes

[andy_piper2]

"their laptop...had crashed, and the reps had no clue how to reboot

it."

 

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IMHO this about sums up Leica's electronic engineering skills (R3, R4,

R4 motor, R8 motor, etc.)

 

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Oliver - good initial report - no need to delete it; we'll just add on.

[oliver_s.]

Johannes: I had the camera for just a short time, and I prefer to do

conversions to b&w in Photoshop; I checked what's important for me in

a camera. Wrt time for writing high resolution files to the SD card: I

can't say precisely as I don't carry a watch, but it was about the

same as with other current digicams. (Measuring shutter lag: I did so

by photographing people walking through the store's

door.)</p>Obsolescence: of course. But we know our computers don't get

slower or lose RAM when a faster model with more memory hits the

market; I agree with Dennis : "Just get one that suits your needs"...

the more so as there seems to be a market for slightly obsolescent

digicams. Or are they dumping the 4 Mp models on the European market

right now? I see so many of them in the stores and in use.

[adrian_morgan2]

Whilst I haven't had a chance to play with the new Leica Digilux yet,

I have been able to use the Panasonic version (LC5). Same Camera,

different body.

 

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In answer to Johannes questions.

1. No sepia or B&W modes. With a digital camera it is generally

better to shoot all colour and then change it to B&W using Photoshop -

or something similiar. there is a great article on

http://www.outbackphoto.com/ on how to do this with the greatest

ammount of control.

2. As per all tif writes, it is a very long time. You would never

use tif in the field, just because of the writing time - It took

around 40 seconds to write a full size tif file. In that time the

Yeti would have passed you.

 

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Some things to think about. In Australia they have just released the

LC5. No spare batteries as yet - they don't arrive until Mid may -

which coincedently is the timme when the Leica is released. Also the

only way to charge the batteries is in the camera - this is just

painfull. Apparently Leica will have a charger that recharges 2

batteries and also uses 12V, 110V and 240V for the round the world

travellers.

 

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The LC5 comes with a 32M SD card - and apparently has a voucher to

get another - bringin the total up to 64M - not enough for a whole

days shooting however.

 

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I have been doing a comparison with the Nikon 995 (already own) and

the Canon G2. In image quality the LC5 wins hands down. The

sharpness and resolving power are greater than either the 995 or the

G2. Also the shutter lag and focussing times are way down. It is

more like a point and click type shutter lag. This for me brings it

into the lead by a long shot - every tried taking pics of friends

goofing off using a 995? They have finished by the time you have

got the camera started. The start up time on the LC5 is also greatly

reduced.

 

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These things have pushed me over the edge for the LC5 - the only

downside is I need all new media now. I have Compact Flash cards -

and the LC5 takes SD.

 

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BTW virtually everything you buy is already obselete (with the

exception of the M6 and possibly the M7) Don't use that as a reason

to not try digital. It does improve your abilities as a

photographer - instant feedback is wonderful!

[dan_roe1]

TWIMC,

 

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Before you buy a Panasonic/Leica digital anything, take a long and

serious look at the discussions going on at http://dpreview.net (I'm

sorry but I don't know how to add a link)

 

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Go to Forums - Other digital cameras

 

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Apparently, the pix from the Panasonic show a posterization effect

which is really objectionable to most. The debate in these forums

has been raging (and I mean raging) for some days now with little

sign of letting up.

 

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Enjoy,

 

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Dan

[dante_stella1]

Maybe a little less serious <a href="http://www.dantestella.com/technical/digilux.html">review</a>

of the Digilux...

[michael b]

Thanks, Dante LOL

 

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BTW which one will be considered a "classic" for what that's worth?

[dante_stella1]

Which one a classic? Every car looks like a classic the year it comes out.

[oliver_s.]

As the thread is still there, I've decided to post why I did <b><i>not</i></b> buy a Digilux:<p>After playing with one for some time, I realised that the bottom got very warm during operation. Also, noise at ISO 400 is excessive. And you get the same quality for much less money in a Canon Powershot G2 or G3.<p>As of 01/01/2003, the Digilux's street price in Germany is still the original outrageous � 1,200. You get a Sony DSC-F717 for less.