I don’t normally write about this sort of thing, but occasionally something happens that gets me a bit more than mildly excitied. This is one of those occasions (others include e.g. new Apple products, or when a super cool new scrapbooking tool is on the market, or an exciting new Rowan knitting book has been released to name but a few, hehe) :
The release of the new Leica D-lux 4 camera has just been formally announced over on the Leica website (coinciding with the big Photokina 2008 photography expo).
I’ve been waiting for this for MONTHS! I’ve wanted a nice SLR-quality pocket-sized camera since well before Christmas last year and was all set to ask for the D-Lux 3 for my birthday this summer when I heard rumours of the next model being on the cards. And *FINALLY* it’s here.
It won’t actually be available in the shops until October 2008 and even then it might be hard to find for the couple of months after that as it’s in such high demand. I had a little shop-floor play with the D-lux 3 at the beginning of the summer and homygoodness was that a beautiful camera if ever there was one. I can’t even begin to think how exciting the D-lux 4 is going to be. Gosh I hope it lives up to its expectations in field tests and gosh I hope I get to play with one at some point. Owning a piece of Leica is one of my dreams.
For those that are interested, here’s a bit more info taken straight from the Leica website:
The Small System Camera
The compact nature of the D-Lux 4 means it can be with you all the time. But despite its compact size, it offers top Leica quality and gives the photographer plenty of artistic freedom. The D-Lux 4 is ideal, whether for subjects composed with lots of forethought or for spontaneous reportage.The high-aperture professional lens
The LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMICRON lens 1:2.0-2.8/5.1-12.8 ASPH is a high-aperture lens for digital compact cameras that allows the real enthusiast to work with an open shutter. Its high speed makes the LEICA D-LUX 4 ideal for available light exposures. Whether in poor light or for selective use of field depth, the lens of the LEICA D-LUX 4 gives the photographer scope for highly individual picture composition. The aspherical zoom lens with a focusing range of 24-60 mm opens up new creative options in reportage photography.
The lens design consists of eight elements, of which four are aspherical. These are matched individually to the camera sensor, working in harmony with the electronics and software, to produce stunningly brilliant pictures in true-to-life colours.
Powerful sensor
At a standard resolution of 10.1 megapixels, the overlarge size of the 1/1.63″ CCD image sensor increases image quality distinctly. The smallest details of the subject are reproduced exactly. The D-Lux 4 can take photos in all three formats (4:3/3:2/16:9) to suit the particular recording or playback situation. On the 3″ LCD monitor with a resolution of 460,000 pixels, pictures can be viewed and assessed in excellent quality before and after they are taken. Leica Camera AG has developed its own unique colour matching, contrast and picture definition profile which produces digital characteristics complimentary to Leica M film photography.
More creative possibilities
The ergonomic layout of controls and intuitive operating system make it a pleasure to handle the D-Lux 4. Focus, shutter speed, stops and exposure override can all be set manually with the joystick giving the real enthusiast scope for highly individual picture composition. Of course you can also use the intelligent automatic mode: Depending on the subject and photographic situation, the camera automatically selects the best mode from Scene Select, either macro, landscape, portrait, night portrait, or night scene. The professional software Capture One 4 (RAW data converter) makes sure that the RAW data supplied by the CCD sensor is “processed” in optimum quality. Data recording can be in Fine, Standard, RAW or combinations. The D-Lux 4 is also prepared for photos in HDTV format with a HD port for TV connection.
Expandable, just like a small system camera
The D-Lux 4 is a real Leica, not just in its design, its looks, and its performance, but also its being the first digital compact camera that can be used with an extensive range of accessories – just like a system camera.
That means even more photographic possibilities with the camera that can claim to be
“son of M8″
15 Responses to “EEEEPS! The Leica D-Lux 4: It’s official!”
How expert would you have to be to use a camera like this? I have been interested in getting a compact digital camera.
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Not an expert at all- it’s a point and shoot, but just a very good one (excellent lens, brilliant CCD sensor inside, and quality in-camera data processing). It shows in the price though- it’s about the same if not a bit more than the cost of a basic LR+lens kit. But a lot of people argue that you’re paying for the red dot. Leica are owned by Panasonic and there’s a Panasonic camera that’s almost identical except there are subtle differences in the Leica that make people consider it worth it. Plus the prestige of the red dot.
The Canon G9 is also very excellent (I think the G10 is on its way too) and I was considering that too and it’s about half the price, but I’ve always had my heart set on a Leica ever since I discovered when I was about 14 that James Dean had one and for some reason that made it ubercool. My dream is the M8 but that’s about £5000 or something ridiculously unjustifiable.
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Thanks for the information. I think the Leica is about $849. Does it come with everything you need?
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You don’t need anything else with it as it’s an all-in-one point and shoot. The price is bound to come down after it’s been out a while. The D-lux 3 was WAY cheaper before it got discontinued.
You can get a Canon Xti SLR with a lens for $615 on Amazon and that’s a great camera too. All SLRs can also be point and shoot if you leave them on auto settings
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Hmmm…but the Leica has a 3″LCD and the Canon only 2.5″. Also the Leica seems to be more compact. I need to start comparing. Thank you.
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The screens are actually about the same size- the Leica also has the option to shoot in a 16:9 format (widescreen) so the screen is wider to accommodate that. In the regular photo aspect ratio (4:3), the image size on the screen is about equal.
It really depends what you want to photo- if it’s people, then the Canons all have a fantastic facial recognition focus thingy and you have settings to optimise skintone. I prefer taking landscape shots which is why I like the widescreen format of the Leica.
Here’s some discussion about the similarities and differences between the Leica and the Panasonic which many argue are the same:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1000&message=29329576
http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/digitalcameras/0,39030232,49285839,00.htm
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Oh my gosh I want.
Need to find a Sugar Daddy…
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I know the feeling. I need to win the lottery
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Thanks again for the info. I will read it.
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Oooh, now that is very cool! As much as I love my DSLR, there’s a reason I refer to it as “my big camera.” I’ve got an older point & shoot which has served me well, but it might be neat to upgrade to something that could take higher quality pictures AND be held with one hand.
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uh hooooooo. trouble ! hehe
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wow, such fun!
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I am having Camera Lust.
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My uncle has one of these and I got to play with it this weekend. It was funny, my cousin was playing with it and I caught a glimpse, my mouth fell open, and I said “Is that the D-Lux 4?” She wasn’t sure, but we looked on the camera and there it was. My uncle overheard and said I was the first person to know what it was. (I think that means he should buy me one, too, haha, but he disagrees.)
It’s even better and more amazing than it sounds in the write-up. Now I pretty much need one! You probably need one, too, what with the new baby and all. The shutter delay is almost non-existent and it has such a wide aperture – I was shooting inside in relatively dim rooms and never once needed a flash, which I definitely had to switch on when I had to give it back to the uncle and went back to my D40.
So yeah, the point of this longest comment ever is that this camera rocks and we need it! =)
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[...] yes, DrG also let me play with his Lumix camera, the Panasonic sister of the Leica D-Lux 4 that I’ve been lusting after since its announcement last February. DAN. GER. OUS. Yes, I used it to take the photo above. Yes I [...]