Customer Reviews

Leica D-Lux 4 Digital Camera (Black)

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I have been a pro shooter for 15 years now, and have always used Canon gear. Today, my kit includes the 1Ds Mark III and over a dozen L-series, or special purpose lenses. I can honestly say that this little Leica gives my pro system a run for its money, at a fraction of the cost, and weight. It also allows me to keep a very low profile if needed, even though this camera is gorgeous.

The lens produces astounding sharpness, the color and contrast of the JPEGs are amazing right out of the camera, and yes, the dynamic black and white mode does produce that magical "Leica feel" right out of the camera. I was skeptical at first, however, even after one sunset test shoot, I would also agree with other users on this point. At 460k, the LCD screen has ultra high resolution, while all camera operations are quite fast. It's simply an incredible camera.

As for the cons that other users mention...in my opinion, no, the mode dial is NOT that easy to accidentally turn. Once you pick up the camera you'll see that your index finger, once poised over the shutter button, simply won't be close enough to the mode dial for an accidental spin. Also, the autofocus for spontaneous shooting, even in low-light is also plenty fast enough, and does not unnecessarily go hunting for subjects, in my opinion.

CONS: (1) Do not waste your money on the optional 24mm viewfinder. The optics, even at $350, do not zoom to match whatever focal length the lens happens to be at, which forces you to shoot at 24mm each and every time, which sort of defeats the purpose of having a zoom lens capability. Additionally, it does not even offer shoot information in the display, unlike a DSLR which does this and makes traditional viewfinder shooting possible.

(2) Don't waste your money on the Leica battery. Instead, buy the one for the Panasonic LX3, which is identical, only it doesn't say Leica and costs about half as much. The principle of Leica charging more without giving you any additional battery capacity simply irritates me.

OPTIONAL: I did splurge for the brown leather Leica case. It's a little overpriced to be sure, but if you've read this far, then you're someone willing to pay $700 for a point and shoot anyway, so you might as well just complete the package. It's pure class all the way around. If your goal was also to bask in Leica social cachet, then this case completes the package. If you're a pro shooter, then it also provides instant reassurance to your clients that yes, "this guy is actually pulling out a point and shoot camera on this shoot, but oh wait, it looks like a serious machine. It's all good."

In the end, I promise you will NOT be disappointed. This little gem is worth the money, and has definitely earned the following it has already attained.

Happy shooting...

~WC

Even with the $150 rebate (until end of 2008) I paid $200 for the red dot. Mind you, I'm not complaining. It is an estimable camera at the top of the heap in its class. I bought it for the f2.0 fast lens, the wide angle, the build quality, the Leica processing software in the camera itself (it is better than my Panasonic DMC-LZ50 - less chunky and exagerated color at extreme magnification), the accessories like even more wide angle with an accessory lens or the 24mm optical finder. I have done some photojournalism in my life and this is what I wish I had back then.

I have gone through at least four digital cameras since I decided to leave my Nikon film SLR on the shelf a few years ago. I have never looked back. But this beauty allows me to do the photography I like best, to be inconspicuous, to be quick, to feel like taking it along because of its relatively light weight and size, to not spook people who are shy when an SLR is around. It looks (other than that wonderful red dot) like any P&S, but I'm thankful it isn't.

I've seen minimal barrel distortion, maximum sharpness and contrast, easy menus, abundant automatic as well as full manual features.

Unless you have a fetish about Leica, go with the much less costly extra batteries (under $15.00) and other items. A tip about non-Leica brand batteries: remove the stick-on label because it is just thick enough to make it difficult to remove these after market batteries. When I did this, they fit just as well as the Leica ($75.00) batteries. Get the S005 battery that the Panasonic twin uses. These aftermarket are just as good as maker branded batteries. Get a few of them. They charge up in just 45 minutes or so.

I have used the 720P HD video (use the wide 16:9 format at the right side of the lens barrel selector switch) and am impressed at the quality. Certainly a dedicated 1080P HD videocam would do better, but being able to use a 24mm wide angle lens is a real plus. On my digital TV and on my computer monitor the results were satisfying. My computer played it with a little stutter the first time but playing it again it was smooth on succeeding times. Go figure. I have a low end graphics card so that may be the cause. My HD videos have been less than one minute so far - I understand there may be a limit of five minutes or so (per file). Don't buy another still camera without HD video!

A tip about what some pros and advanced amateurs do with a quality new camera to preserve its resale value is to cover as much surface on the camera as possible with adhesive plastic (such as the PDA screen protector materiel) to minimise wear (and actually, it gives you a better grip than the stock exterior). This is for a user camera. If, like some Leica owners, you just want to show it off rarely for the feeling that you know enough about cameras to choose a Leica you can skip this tip.

Oh, one thing. Do not trust the Leica neck strap. It almost came loose at the camera end while on its first use. Use a sailor's knot there - don't trust the tiny plastic sleive to hold. We don't need any Leicas hitting the concrete.

UPDATE for August 2011
Just downloaded the ROM 2.2 D-Lux 4 upgrade to its operating system. Go to the Leica Germany website to download it, unzip, move the file to an empty SD card recently formatted on the camera. install the card, turn on camera and follow directions given. Hardly takes a minute. Numerous upgrades to features including square format. E-mail Leica USA service department if you have any questions. No need to get a D-Lux 5 for many of the new features except 90mm which this upgrade does not, and cannot, address. Just crop by a third or so to get 90mm equivalent.

Fantastic and superbly versatile compact digital camera. The lens is really great (although it has easily noticeable barrel distortion at the wide end, hence four stars and not five) and the sensor too. Great in low light. User interface is easy to learn and pleasant to use; I'm used to Canon digitals since the EOS D30 in 2001 but quickly became Leica-acclimated with this camera.

As of November 12, 2008, neither Aperture nor Lightroom support the RAW format used by this camera. Surely in time they will, but if this matters to you then look into it.

Most cameras are usually something I tire of after a few days of use. They are usually to complicated to use. If you want to get creative then you have to sort through cumbersome layers of menus in order to make creative changes. Not so here. After an hour of reading the manual I could photograph nearly anything with incredible results. The controls are intuitive and in just a few hours I was taking breathtaking creative photo's like I would see in photo journals. Even my wife was amazed at the clarity and color of the pictures I took in the French Quarter today. B&W photo's in the dynamic mode are amazing. I photographed (dynamic B&W) a heavily chromed Harley today parked on Saint Peter St and I'm going to have to frame this picture as it's just stunning. This is the camera for the rest of us who want to take great photo's and gave up because of complicated cameras. The LCD screen also has a higher resolution than the point and shoot cameras I've used (many). The flash will also handle most lighting conditions with ease although the lens is fast enough that rarely have I used the flash. Last night I photographed 5 intoxicated Santa's dancing together in the French Quarter with just the available light from two headlights heading their way (yes..naturally they were in the street). Funny and great photo stuff. Isn't this what a good camera should do..capture a moment with great results and add to your life without stress! Finally one that does just that.

My quest for the best P&S is finally over..

Am I paying too much for the red dot? Probably so. But do I have any regret? None what so ever. I started my search for a perfect (to me) P&S about a couple of months ago and have gone through most of the top of the line Canons. In my opinion, Canon makes the best cameras in the market. However, none of the compacts has come even close to my expectations. Then I decided to take the plunge, went to the dark side and ordered the D-Lux 4. Before this, I considered the Panasonic DMC-LX3. May be the LX3 does the same thing, but I am tired to being disappointed and shipping cost to return items. Just a note, I also own a Canon 5D Mkii, Canon A620 and Panasonic LX-2, these are excellent cameras and produce amazing images.

I only shot the D-Lux 4 for only about a week, but I already know that I will keep this camera. I love it so much, the 60mm maximum focal length and plastic battery door are non-issues for me. BTW, those were the only complaints I heard for other owners. The colors in Vibrant mode are gorgeous; Dynamic B&W produces images that are rival to those shot in B&W with a filmed Leica. Very acceptable lag time too. 24mm minimum focal lenght and f2.0 make tremendous differences. Not as fast as an DSLR, but I believe it is as good as you can get with a P&S. The large image sensor (largest in P&S, except Sigma DP1) produces images that have virtually no noise. I shot mine at ISO 80.

Someone said these Leica cameras have better resale values. I am not so sure. But if it is, I can certainly see why. Right now, I have no intetion of parting with it. This camera also comes with 2-year warrantee and that makes the price a little bit more bearable. I was willing to pay almost $500 for the Canon G10. This camera leaves the G10 in the dust. I am paying a premium price for a compact P&S, but have no regrets.

4/24/09 update: HD video is great, except for the following:

1. Only 10m30s each, even there is still plenty of space on the SD card.
2. Can not refocus or zoom, if you move closer you have to stop and restart.

I shot a wedding with over 300 frames, some with flashes and 5 videos that averages 5 minutes each and only used up half of the battery juice!

Still love it!!

When the D Lux 4 first came out it looked so similar to the D Lux 3 I already had that I did not consider buying it, but then I read about two things that sold it to me: 1) the faster, wider lens and 2) availability of the external optical viewfinder. I ended up getting the Titanium edition set, which includes a mathcing "ever ready" case, but in practice I find the standard black leather case easier to use (yes, bought that too!).

What I was not expecting was the significant upgrade of every aspect of the camera when compared to the D Lux 3. The menus, effects, "film" selection options, indeed every aspect of the operation of the camera is significantly improved over the D Lux 3 (which BTW is still available as a current model). I was also very pleased with the lens performance - combined with the new (larger) sensor, it too represents a big improvement over the D Lux 3, which is also a very good performer.

The only disappointment has been the external optical viewfinder. Very expensive and hard to use - you cannot focus through it nor see any of the shooting data that appears on the LCD screen - it really is just a viewfinder and only useful for composing the photo. One still has to use the LCD screen for focus and data. The viewfinder also only represents the widest lens setting but I did know that when I bought it. Also, you have to attach the viewfinder every time you use it because the camera will not fit in any of the available cases when the veiwfinder is attached. To date there is no case available for the viewfinder either, other than the little pouch that comes with it.

So, buy the camera by all means and enjoy the excellent images and quality look and feel of the device itself. Get one (or more!!) of those excellent cases as well, but I would suggest against buying the optical viewfinder - it's limitations mean that you will very rarely bother using it and you may as well save several hundred dollars!

Unbelievable photographic tool. Image quality is superb, shadow detail, colour, B&W plus the ability to bracket multiple film types are just the beginning. User controls are a bit small but highly functional & intuitive. ISO is highly usable up to 400 beyond which the usual compromises begin to take hold. The speed of the lens at f2.0-f2.8 combined with the image stabilization system makes for the BEST low light camera I have had the pleasure of using. The focal length 24-60mm is quite usable-- need 10x this is not the camera for you - use your feet get up move around compose, try different viewpoints - its called photography -- experiment let the limits nudge you into your more creative side. Multi- Format 4:3 3:4, 16:9 allow for a lot of creative possibilities and experimentation. I don't understand some of the complaints from other users and reviewers about barrel distortion - I have not seen it as a problem - unless you are more interested in technicalities of the device rather than the outcomes and the pleasure of a well composed photograph. The grid line option in the viewfinder is a god send for properly aligning and composing.
Now the only complaint and it is a major one is the LCD VIEWFINDER IS Useless in most daylight situations. It totally defeats the ability of carefully composing and constructing a well taken photo. The LCD is more like a mirror rather than a viewfinder. I realize Lieca had to make some compromises in terms of size and all BUT this is ridiculous. I tried the 24mm hot shoe viewfinder - very useful if all you shot is 24mm otherwise at half the cost of the camera hardly worth it. The only acceptable although somewhat kludgy solution comes from The Hoodman - product name is the HoodLoupe3.0 with the cinema strap option for attaching the Loupe. Actually works quite well once I figured out how to attach with minimum interference on the cameras miniature controls. Obviously increases the size of the kit quite a bit but it essentially turns the d-lux 4 into a mini digital view camera !!! So given the obvious compromises I still give the D-Lux 4 a 5 Star rating- why because life is full of compromises even if you had unlimited resources - we as consumers need to stop looking for perfection in things and focus on whats important in life - whatever your choices - Enjoy and stop fusing over meaningless specs and measurements in the end the photo is what matters. Capture the light and the moment.

I am a semi professional photographer who has always been a supporter of Leica. This new version of the Leica is even a kick for those who have an M-8 but want a quality, wide angle capable, and fully adjustable mini Leica to carry everywhere. In it's 'standard black and white' mode it is uncanny how the images have the "Leica feel". The "Leica feel", for those who don't know, is the unique feel and image quality that you can only understand if you have used a Leica for many years. This camera is terrific in available light. There is very little vibration from the shutter. This is aided by vibration reduction, but is more obvious here than in other cameras with VR. There is some distortion in the most wide angle images but if you are careful with how you shoot it's not any problem.
Over all this is a wonderful, but expensive toy for more serious photographers.

Having had many digital cameras over the years (my last one was the Canon G9), this camera is by far the best "point and shoot" camera that I have ever used! The clarity and colors are amazing. The "auto" mode is truly the best that I have ever seen with amazing auto white balance. It is also a wonderful camera that uses available light (I'm not a fan of flash photography). It also has the ability to allow the photographer to manually set any parameter that they choose. I was wary of the price tag at first, but I now can say that it is truly worth it!

I've had the DLux 4 for three months now and have used it extensively, including a four week trip to Japan last fall. I also took my Nikon D300 plus two lenses and found that I used the Dlux 4 more, primarily because I always had it with me. I love the fast and wide lens and the small size. I wish it had a handgrip and optical viewfinder and would not mind some increase in size to accommodate these. I had a Canon G7 a few years ago and recently upgraded to the G10 and am very happy with it also. It is significantly larger but has a handgrip and an optical VF. The latter is only fair but it does zoom and once you factor in its limitations it is quite usable, despite the negative reports. I think that the image quality is similar, with a slight edge to the DL4. Because of its smaller size and fast wide lens I find myself using it more than the G10 (but use the G10 more when outdoors). If I'm going out with the intent of shooting I take my Nikon.