Customer Reviews

Leica 'Digilux 2' 5MP Digital Camera with 3.2x Optical Zoom

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

31 DEC 04: Let me preface this review with a little personal history. I have been taking photographs for 53 years and ran a part-time wedding photography business for 24 years. I fought the change to digital for years, but finally succumbed in 2002. Since that time, I have never looked back. The Digilux 2 is my sixth digital camera and I can honestly say it takes better photographs than any of my other cameras, including my Nikon D-100. The Nikon is more flexible, with interchangable lenses, but the Leica is much more portable and intuitive.

Some might complain that the camera is "only" a five megapixel unit. But, there are megapixels and there are megapixels....not all are created equal. The CCD on the Digilux 2 is very large, providing larger megapixels. This solves a lot of problems currently being experienced by high-megapixel "pro-sumer" cameras and creates stunning photographs.

Having used range-finders and other "analog" cameras for many years, the Leica is like an old friend. There is no other digital camera on the market that is easier to use, when switching from "automatic" to manual or shutter/f-stop priority. This camera is usable by everyone, from a beginner (just go "full auto", until you learn more about the camera's capabilities) to a professional.

The Digilux 2 is built like a tank and will stand years of service and abuse. The LCD is HUGE, as well as being the clearest and brightest I have ever seen. It's usable even in bright sunlight. The built-in straight or bounce flash capability is extremely useful.

My only complaint is that Leica should have made the switch from "Autofocus" to "Autofocus-Macro" a little stiffer. It's easy to move the switch and not be aware that you have done so (if you set the display to show the switch position, it is easy to check through the viewfinder before you take the shot). With all the other things going for it, I will not let that minor thing keep me from giving the camera a full five stars.

If you can afford it, the Digilux 2 will serve you well for many years.

UPDATE (5 JAN 05): Now that I have used this camera for a longer period of time, I would like to add some additional thoughts/information, based on that usage. (1) Because of the weight, configuration, minimum shutter lag, and lack of "monkey motion" (flipping mirrors, etc.), it is extremely easy to hand-hold the Digilux 2 at low shutter speeds that would be impossible with digital SLRs or most other digital cameras. Check out the sample photos on this site, many of them taken hand-held at 1/20th - 1/25th sec. (2) The depth-of-field is amazing, even at F-2.0. (3) The "out-of-the-camera color is the best of any digital camera I have ever owned or used, including top-of-the-line SLRs. (4) The custom white balance settings are quick, easy, and spot on. (5) The tonal values, when the camera is set on B&W are outstanding. (6) Contrast is also outstanding. BOTTOM LINE: I am in love!.
UPDATE 2 MAR 05: Check out the two new photos I have added. The landscape photo has been enlarged to 16 x 20 by a custom shop the level of detail is incredible (even the horses at the bottom right of the photo have amazing detail). This camera has an OUTSTANDING lens/sensor combination.

I am very much an amateur who had been using one of the older S series 2 megapixel Canon Digital Elph cameras for several years. Recently, I decided to upgrade, and considered purchasing the 7 megapixel Power Shot S70 before instead opting to move not only up in megapixels but also over into the realm of true photography. After some careful research concerning the tools I'd need,I stepped up and bought a Digilux 2.

In a word, it is awesome

The bottom line here is that is that most amateurs who tote along a digital camera to take some pictures on holiday seem to think that megapixels are everything.

This is a flawed mindset, for several reasons. First, assuming that all you want are some snapshots to serve as memories or to email to your friends and relatives, then a modestly priced 3 megapixel miniature model will serve quite nicely. Viewed on a typical computer screen or printed out as small pics, the subtlties of fidelity in image reproduction that pro and semi-pro reviewers go into on any of the plethora of available websites will typically go unnoticed to the rank amateur. If this is your cup of tea, then spending $1500+ for any digital camera, much less one with, gasp, ONLY 5 megapixels will seem and be totally unnecessary.

But if it's photography you wish to persue, then realize first and foremost that unless you want to produce really large prints, provided you have a reasonable minimum of 4 megapixels or so, that image quality doesnt come from megapixels but from the photographer and the lens. All the megapixels in the universe can not and will not make up for the limitations of a mediocre or miniaturized lens (or a poor artist) After all, your system will ultimately always be limited by its weakest component.

The best trained doctor cant perform quality microsurgery with a rusty butter knife, even if he is trying to do so in the world's highest tech operating room

And when it comes to glass, Leica Summicron simply has no peer. Every digital camera I had ever worked with or whose output I had seen typically produced pictures that were somehow, "soft", is the best way to describe it. Until the Digilux 2. The color fidelity, sharpness, and overall OOMPH of the images produced by this lens are incomparable. I dont know the exact words to describe the technical reasons for this, but I suggest that if you are considering this camera, then find someone who has one, and take ANY prosumer level digital camera of your choice along and do side by side comparisons of pictures taken with the two. You'll either appreciate the difference or you wont. If you dont, then stop right here. If you do, you'll buy a Digilux 2 post-haste.I guarantee it!

The pros -
1.First and foremost, the lens and the incomparable image quality it renders.

2.Next, the LCD. Most cameras have one that leaves you guessing at best as to what kind of picture you've REALLY taken. This one is big enough to not leave this to guesswork. The biggest overall advantage to digital photography is the ability to see what you've got and if need be, discard the pic and shoot again without having to wait for your developed film. This advantage is lost if your LCD leaves you guessing.

3.Elegant and functional ergonomics, logical menus, and silky smooth (if occasionally frustratingly slow) operations. Traditionalists will immediately take to the, well, traditional, setting rings on the lens. Refined might be the best adjective to use here. The camera has a simple but stylish "retro" look and a solid and quality feel to the all the components including the body itself.

4. The bounce flash feature is neat. Not $1500 neat in and of itself, but a nice touch that helps remind you of the difference between high end and the everyday

The cons
1.The lack of a RAW buffer means that the camera must finish writing one RAW file before you can shoot the next. Even with the fastest SD cards currently available, this means your rapid sequance capabilities will be rather severely limited in RAW mode (Figure 5 seconds or so between shots) Remember what I said about a system being limited by its worst component? This IS the Achilles heel of this camera IMHO.

2. It's BIG. For someone used to the ease and unobtrusiveness of a pocket sized-miniature, I am still trying to find the best way to tote it around and not feel a little laden down.

3. There are some hidden expenses. You can buy one from a Leica dealer at around $1500 delivered, but figure to be into the system for a little over $2000 when it's said and done

a.You'll need to spend some dough to buy two SD cards with the speed and capacity to do justice to this camera. At least 512, and better yet 1 Gig. One to use and a backup is worth the expense to ensure that a card malfunction doesnt ever shut you down for the day. And if you even think you might want to explore the possibilities of shooting RAW, you'll need a fast card like the Sandisk Ultra II or Extreme III, or you'll find that transfer times are way too long. Figure $150-$250 for two good fast cards

b. You will also want to buy a UV filter, if for nothing else than to protect that magnificent lens. Leica sizes are such that you cant expect to walk into any run-of-the-mill camera shop and find one (I actually had an employee of a well known retail chain look at me like I was from Mars when I told him I needed a 69mm filter, claiming that no such beast existed). Filters can be found of course, and can be had for $60 or $70, but if you want to go with Leica brand, it'll be $100-$120. Compare this to $15 or so for an off-brand filter in a more standard size.

c. For macro work, you'll want a cable release to overcome the problem of camera shake. The Leica Cr-DC1 will run you $75-$90

d. A small tripod ($20 or less for a table mount model) is money well spent.

e. An extra Leica BP-DC1 battery for the same reason you carry an extra SD card - $30-$40

f. An external flash unit for the more serious. The Leica SF-24D runs $250-$300

g. A cardreader - The Digilux uses a standard size SD card. A one function reader can be as cheap as $10. One that has ports for any memory device currently available is around $35

These little extras are individually trivial compared to the cost of the camera, but they do add up.

On a side note, I dont personallly see much need for a digital wallet, or image tank, as they are otherwise known. Yes it's a backup copy of your images, but if you paranoid about losing pics to corrupted date files, you can usually find a copy shop or somesuch that'll burn your stuff to disc for $10 or so

4. The electronic viewfinder is subpar compared to the rest of the camera. For those used to using one, it may well prove a disappoitment. I am used to lining up shots using the LCD, so to me, this is not a real issue, save to say that it wouldve been more aesthetically appealing if the rangefinder was of the same quality as the rest of the camera. If this would be a real issue for you, I'd suggest getting an accessory optical finder

5.When in autofocus mode, it is very easy to inadvertantly and unknowingly slip it from normal to macro. This typically happens when zooming. A few ruined shots, and it'll be second nature to double check, but it's a pain in the behind

6. That gigantic LCD? So big that it can be challenging to handle the camera without occasionally smudging the LCD with finger grease.

7. Numerous reviews that I researched were about unanimous in their opinion that image quality was rather badly compromised by noise at ISO 400. I havent yet experimented with that setting

8.Some might have an issue with the lack of lens interchangabiltiy in this price range. I for one am convinced, however, that one great lens beats a bagful of also-rans


Originally through Dec 31, 2004, and then extended through the end of January, Leica had program whereby buying a new Digilux entitled you to send in for an extra battery and an external flash unit. The end of that deal corresponded almost exactly with a drop in retail price from the $1700-$1850 range to $1450-$1600. Basically, it's about a wash

Some folks take issue with the fact that the camera is in fact produced in Japan, and that the electronics are made by Panasonic. To that I say, "Big deal" Remember, what you buying here is above all Leica quality glass - whether it's made by a guy who orders his dinner in German or Japanese isnt really important

As for the version of this camera with the same combo of eletronics and lens but branded Panasonic? It's about $300 cheaper. You are very much paying for the little red dot. But bottom line, the two camera could be identical and yet when it comes to either resale value, collectability (if any digital cameras ever achieve that status) or just prestige - as illogical as it might seem to some, Leica has it, and Panasonic doesnt and wont. Some might argue with me, but I say if you're going to step this far up, then dont not take the last little step

The competition? I suppose one could cite the Canon Digital Rebel, the Nikon D70, or the Panasonic brand version of the Digilux. Leica would of course say that they HAVE no competition. Follow my advice and take the time to do the legwork to track down a Digilux owner so you can try it out and do some side by side comparison. You'll either "get it" or you wont. Either way, your decision to buy or not buy will be clear cut.

To sum it up, for the artist, great glass is at the root of outstanding pictures. If you understand this,it might well be the resson you havent yet gone digital. This issue is now moot, provided you can afford the privilege.

Only 4 stars and not 5 because it does have a few equivalents of the cup-holders in a BMW

As for this camera becoming obsolete. Advances in technology may forever expand the bounds of what is possible. When this happens, medicority becomes obsolete, and quickly. Quality on the other hand, will forever stand as a classic

AESTHETICS: The Leica Digilux 2 can be described as a modern "retro" design. The body style is a direct descendant of the M6 and those before it. The body looks huge. It is about 33% larger than an M6, but this isn't readily apparent until you set it next to any Leica M chassis. There is a gaudy overabundance of faux chrome in the back. This is the least appealing part of the camera, because of the chrome finish that surrounds and accentuates the presence of the LCD monitor. I would have preferred a more predominant use of either a black finish or the faux leather. The rubber around the eyepiece is bulbous, but acceptable. Overall, it is a handsome camera.

ERGONOMICS: What sold me are the traditional manual adjustments: The focusing ring, the aperture ring, zoom adjustment, and shutter speed dial are so much more workable in the field. You do not have to take your eye away from the viewfinder like you would with touch pads and four-way rocker switches. Leave that for reviewing the recorded images. The box construction has the familiar feel of an M body, but weighs less. The "grippy" black rubber finish is handsome and remotely resembles leather. The flash has two positions: press halfway and it will set up for bounce flash. Press all the way down, and it will point directly towards the subject.

PRACTICALITIES: At the average price of about $1850 U.S. dollars, one would have to factor in the name. But also figure in the build quality. There is the magnesium body, real metal hinges on the doors (which are designed beautifully), traditional aperture ring, manual & auto focusing, shutter speed dial, superior image processing (for markedly lower noise levels than the competition), aspherical Summicron lens, larger than average lcd monitor; and a few more, but the general impression is that it's built well. The baseplate is bare, but there are three 1/8" diameter round rubber feet, and one round plastic foot that is molded out of the battery door itself. Attention to small details are what I like about the Leica. For example, the camera strap also comes with two leatherette scuff protectors that fit around the camera strap eyelets. And not only is a lens cap included, but a lens cap for the lens shade.

THE BOTTOM LINE: The photographs are the bottom line. The images and image quality are on par with the pro-level dslr's. There is a real Summicron aboard this camera, and of it, I rest assured. There are and will be cameras with higher pixel counts, but I've come to realize that if most of my photographs will be printed smaller than 11" x 14," then I am not lacking with the five megapixels. I've compared identical images side by side with images from my Olympus C8080, and the Digilux 2's images can almost qualify as 8 megapixel images!! Magnify both the C8080 & the Digilux 2's images to 200%, and the Leica wins convincingly. This is not a point-and-shoot, as most would regard it as such. It can be set up for that if you wish, but the manual focusing, aperture and shutter adjustments make the D2 a capable tool for anybody who pursues photography seriously.

Keats once wrote that "a thing of beauty is a joy forever". That sums up how I already feel about the dl2 after a single day. I've never owned a digicam before because of the limitations this technology has had in relation to pro film cameras. However, the dl2 bridges the gap for sceptics like me, who want the best of both worlds. The dl2's big hits are (a) its build quality and attention to detail (like, the in-built flash can't open accidentally when the hot shoe flash is installed - very nice touch, one of many!) (b) the super fast 28-90 lens where f2 doesn't mean f8 (which is the digicam equivalent) but real f2, so there's lovely DOF effects that bring subjects into psychological focus as you would expect in a "real" film camera, (c) having the usual manual control rings on the fixed length lens, which doesn't do a blind man's shuffle when zooming like most other AF cams, digital or not, (d) its near silent operation, (e) the massive LCD, (f) the very large CCD whose 5Mp output isn't the product of sacrificing true quality for an artificially beefed up spec (g) the rational ergonomic menu and corresponding manual controls, (h) the staggering optics - the focus and resolution is as good at the edge of the image as it is at the centre.

Minuses? Yes, it IS chunky but not excessively heavy either, it IS retro looking, but that's not a bad thing in some minds, the RAW mode IS slow to save but consider its upside if you really need it, as hi-res JPEG is good for most situations and newer fast memory cards will deal with this in time, and finally the price - forgotten long after you remember the quality and the incredible service it gives you - I have already! This is a scientific instrument in terms of build quality, calibration and optical precision, so you can't really compare it to other would-be competitors even among SLRs as most are clumsy and riddled with excessive feature creep, and hence appear over-hyped and over-priced for what they offer by comparison to the Leica's ergonomics, elegance and ease of use that don't come at the price of a performance compromise.

I read every review I could find of the Leica D2 and still had qualms about buying one. Having received it and used it, I can now say that it was the right purchase. Others have commented on the D2's outstanding picture quality (don't go by the number of megapixels alone, the quality of the lens is at least as important). What I'll add is that the D2's lens is so fast that you can take almost any reasonably lit indoor picture without using the flash -- a major plus for natural-looking pictures. I'm not as impressed by the ergonomics of Leica's traditional brick-with-a-lens shape as other reviewers, but the ease of use and solid feel of all of the controls more than make up for that.

The key point is that within the first half-hour of using the D2, I was paying more attention to the pictures I was taking than to the camera itself -- which is what I imagine Leica had in mind when they designed this great camera. Is the D2 worth what it costs? Not if you would only take it out of the drawer for holiday and vacation snapshots. But, if you are the kind of photographer who often grabs the camera on the way out the door just to take pictures, it is well worth the price. You will enjoy using it every time you pick it up.

Okay ----- many people have criticized me for buying a $1,400 digital camera, that is almost 2 years old and has only 5 megapixels

they were wrong to criticize

I ordered the camera about a week ago (early August, 2005) and just received it today ---- I have spent all day shooting with it, and I am deeply happy that I purchased it

so let's go over pros and cons, etc -

1. The Director in Us ---- Personally, I'm a filmmaker --- I'm not crazy about cinematography, and for me, I know enough about cameras to take it seriously, but at the end of the day, I see it as a personal hobby ------ this is OUR kind of camera ------ no interchangable lenses to deal with and complete manuel controls

2. Lense ----- the lense is terrific, and Leica glass is awesome ---- I'm having a good time looking at all the pics I took over my iPhoto, and there a clear difference between my Nikon/Sony pics versus the Leica ----- however, as mentioned, the lense is NOT changable ------ for me, I like this because I'm not interested in carrying 5 lenses to a bunch of locations ------ but for true photographers, this is a problem - so keep that in mind

3. RINGS!!!!!!! ----- Rings for ZOOM, Aperture, and FOCUS ---- I'm in hog heaven!!! There is nothing on this camera that isn't controlled manually, whether it be the rings, the shutter speed, or anything else ----- that is the best part!!!! With the exception of White Balance, I think everything is contolled by either a switch or a ring - which is neat!

4. On Board Light Meter ------ the light meter here is adjustable and very accurate ---- I depended on it whenever I set the aperture, and was very pleased with the results ---- in addition, if you hate the pic, you can always erase it

5. Stability ---- I shot all day in 4 fps and 2 fps shutter speed modes, and impressively, the camera never showed any blurred lines, provided that I held it still (however, I didn't have to stand like a statue)

6. CloseUps ----- closeups were great ----- the focus could probably focus anything in front of me, probably anything that is farther than six inches or more

7. BURST shooting ---- you can set the camera to shoot in bursts of 3 or 5 ---- this is a fun mode and works well with the camera

8. FLASH ---- I can't stand digital cameras with flashes that are way too strong ---- the flash on this is simple, quick, and not very strong ---- but good enough to produce great imaging

9. COMPRESSION ---- I took most of my pics in the LOWEST compression of JPEG, and they are beautiful -- most of them are less than one megabyte in size and very nice looking ---- in comparison, the high compression pics do look better, but there isn't much difference

Are there cons? For some, one lense is a con, but not for me ------- I shot all my pics in JPEG (my fav format) but I hear that the RAW can be slow ---- when shooting in JPEG, the camera was very fast to write each pic and move on

Don't let the 5 megapixel thing scare you ----- the pictures are gorgeous!

I even tried the latest Rebel by Canon today, and I'm just glad that I picked the Leica

Did I also mention that this camera just looks COOL too???

I'm just having too much fun with all of the manual settings at my disposal

Highly recommended for the Liebowitz in all of us!

The Leica Digilux 2 is one of the best digital cameras on the market, if not the best. The fact that you could operate the camera manually makes it an excellent tool for learning photography. It is an expensive camera but worth the price. Many old school Leica purists have also switched to Digilux 2. It has been such a pleasure using the camera.

The positive:
+Classic retro design; a delicate balance between old & new technology
+The Lens is just simply amazing, sharp like a razor
+Images are comparable to film
+User-friendly digital interface and buttons
+LCD display is large, bright and clear
+Battery life is long enough for hours of shooting
+Built-in flash & bounce mode
+Camera has a fluid, dynamic feel in hands
+Leica strap is included

The negative:
-Expensive
-Camera life span & value over time are questionable
-RAW mode might be too slow for some users

Having used both Canon and Leica film cameras for years, I moved to digital first with a Canon S40 which took surprisingly good pictures, but I always missed 28mm wide angle capability. So had been thinking of getting a DSLR (e.g. Nikon D100) for a while but quite simply liked the aesthetic appeal of a Leica but in digital format (Digilux 1 was just too weak). Made the jump to the Digilux 2 for a number of reasons - slightly smaller than a DSLR, Leica lens (speed and sharpness), image contrast and definition, look and feel. Despite the hurdle of the expense - and it is comparably expensive - this is an awesome camera. For sure, you could technically get more quality/value per se in a DSLR for same price or less but is just isn't the same as the feel of the Leica. This is really the first time in the digital space that I feels like I'm using a "real" camera again.

Pro's :
- Fast extremely high quality lens
- Wonderful and intuitive manual-like controls for good "flow"
- Unless you're into action photography the RAW write lock times on a fast SD card (e.g. Sandisk Ultra II) is hardly noticable.
- Large LCD screen for good previews
- Actually not a bad EVF - despite what some of the reviews have said.

Cons:
- Expensive for what it is. Personally, I think it's worth an extra few 100 bucks for the feel of this camera..just makes you want to take more pictures.
- Supplied software, especially RAW conversion is terrible. Only practial way to do RAW properly is with raw plug-in for Photoshop CS
- RAW mode also stores a JPEG on the card, which is odd. It's useful in that you can preview stuff quicker, although with CS file browser you can do this anyway. Downside is it takes up space.

Sure, the Nikon 5400 is capable of similar pictures, at least in ideal situations, if you have the time to fight your way through its menus. But what makes the Leica d-2 the best camera currently available is its ease of use, the brilliant design of every knob and lever. Whatever you want to do, this camera can do it, simply, logically, and quickly. Bottom line: if you're rich, this is the best camera currently available. If you're poor, other digital cameras offer similar performance for a third of the price as long as you're willing to deal with their confused, convoluted, time-consuming menus and controls.

The Leica Digilux 2 resembles nothing more than a scaled-up version of the classic Leica M 35mm rangefinder camera (think Leica M3, M2 or M4) and handles nearly as well as its film-based ancestors. It is very easy to use and the picture quality is superb, thanks to its new Vario-Summicron lens. It's a second generation digital camera designed jointly by Leica and Panasonic, and thus is a major improvement over its predecessor, the original Leica Digilux. This is not a camera meant for the casual user, but instead, one who is either a serious amateur or professional photographer interested in a high grade non-interchangeable lens digital camera. I wish it was a little cheaper, but to its credit, Leica has produced a capable picture-making tool that is not horrendously expensive.