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Leica D-Lux 3 Anonymous
Leica D-Lux 3...Y/N?

I'm an amateur photographer looking to hone a craft and I'm leaving on a trip to Moscow and St. Petersburg in a couple months so I thought I would get a nice camera. What do you guys think?

If you have any other cameras to recommend please keep in mind that I need a very upscale P&S and I thought this would be a good one to use.
>> Anonymous
$600 p&s = lunacy.

Canon A-series.
>> Anonymous
Ricoh GR Digital II
>> Jeremo !iKGMr61IHM
it's perfect, if you want to appear upscale, then that red sticker will do it.

It's not that great of a camera though.

You doing the trip for business? I can understand why one must seem upmarket in Russia to be successful these days.
>> Anonymous
>>131955
I know im just having major red-spot syndrome >_<

how about the powershot G9 btw?
>> Anonymous
>>131957
this seems even more expensive

is it any better?
>> Anonymous
>>131959
G9 definitely. It's the best camera ever made. Ever. Just ask DPReview forums.
>> Anonymous
No but yes. The Panasonic LX2 is the exact same camera in a different (better) body for half the price.

If you don't need it to fit in a pocket, the Panasonic FZ8 has a more ergonomic body- including a viewfinder- but a smaller sensor (=more noise) and a less-wide lens. It does have much more telephoto, however, so keep that in mind.

Also, if you're going to shoot JPEG (and not raw, as you should) get a Canon something instead. These cameras have the best lenses in any point-and-shoot, but some dipshit programmer at Panasonic invested their whole line with bad JPEG processing. If you process the files yourself, though, you can't really go wrong with either of them.
>> Anonymous
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>>131962
THIS BABY IS OFF THE CHARTS!
>> Anonymous !SDPEsPMnww
>>131950
You might as well get the Sigma SD-1 for $1000US.
>> Anonymous
>>131959
Good camera, but the lenses are better on the Panasonics and you lose wide-angle from the LX2 or telephoto from the FZ8.

If you're at all serious about photography, though, same advice as with a DSLR: play with every body you're considering buying in the store. Buy the one you jive with the best.
>> Anonymous
>>131966
im not finding that specific model

I see a Sigma DP1 and the SD series doesnt look very compact
>> Anonymous
>>131961
If you can live with 28mm prime lens. Theres also external viewfinder available.
>> Anonymous !SDPEsPMnww
>>131969
Sorry, I meant to say DP1.
>> Anonymous
k so far I would have to say that although the FZ8 may be a nice camera I will not be able to use it due to its bulk

Ricoh GR Digital II is even more expensive and the reviews im looking at dont seem as positive as the Leica nor the Panasonic

if anyone could please include either a picture of the camera body or a sample shot with future recommendations I would really appreciate it
>> Anonymous
>>131973

hmmm I dont know much about cameras (yet! im a quick learner) and so far I seem to be basing off of reviews and effective pixel count

the DP1 is anywhere from 100-200 dollars more than the Leica and merely half of its pixel count...does it still produce better images than the Leica? is my judgement on pixel count faulty?
>> Anonymous
trawl much?
>> Anonymous
>>131977
Forget the pixels.

Just get the Leica and be happy with it. One cant go wrong with choosing a Leica.
>> Anonymous
not op

i've always wondered, what does something like this or a leica m8 offer better than your average dslr other than being more compact?

serious question, i'm a digitalfag and don't even know what a rangefinder is.
>> fence !!POey2hdozCZ
>>131982

there's no big mirror or pentaprism to get in the way. the overall profile of the body is much smaller, though the lenses can still be kind of big.
>> Anonymous
>>131982
nostalgia faggotry & misplaced elitism.

Seriously, film Leica rangefinders were win. Sure, a Yashica Electro can come close when it comes to image quality while a Hexar can be just as quiet, but besides IQ you have viewfinder brightness, durability & a nice selection of lenses.

Digital Leica, from what I've seen, aren't worth your $5,000
>> Anonymous
>>131983

hmm, i asked other than being more compact and discrete...

>>131984nostalgia faggotry & misplaced elitism.

is that all there is to these cameras
>> fence !!POey2hdozCZ
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>>131983

disregard this, i suck cocks. didn't see the "other than being more compact.."

yeah, the leica m8 definitely isn't worth the five grand. if it was some magical, full frame sensor, sure. but it's a crop sensor of questionable build quality.

check moaan's flickr for decent examples of what an m8 can do, and why film kicks it's ass.

http://www.flickr.com/moaan/

here's a photo taken with his m8. boooo-urns, blown highlights and weird sharpening artifacts.
>> fence !!POey2hdozCZ
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taken on probably the same day in definitely the same park with definitely the same lens on fuji velvia with his m7.

note the extensive creaminess.

on the other hand, i've read that leica isn't planning on replacing the m8 anytime soon, since they aren't getting so swept up in the digital fever. instead, i've read that eventually you'll be able to send an m8 back to leica to get a sensor swap whenever the technology demands it. they've already released a $200 firmware update, so this isn't so hard to believe.
>> Anonymous
okay, so it's really just a niche product that somehow sells for 5,000$?

i can see a professional photog using this as a backup or for candids on his off time

but if anyone else buys this, is it safe to assume they're just jackasses with a lot of money

and that they probably wear a beret
>> Anonymous
>>131989
so what say you of a D-Lux 3?
>> Anonymous
Spare the Leica bull, get a decent point and shoot that can shoot clear photos, no need to blow more than $400. The rest is all you.
>> Anonymous
>>131992
LIKE WHAT? thats what im trying to find out

so far im looking at the Panasonic that the Leica is based on
>> Anonymous
>>131993
Fuji F50
>> Anonymous
>>131993

Heh, sorry for not being more specific. I really, really, like the Panasonic DMC-FZ8. It could be because I have better alternatives available, but that little thing goes with me everywhere. Okay it's not that little, but it's cheap, and I've got an affection for it not unlike that shared between a little girl and a cute bunny.
>> Anonymous
>>131995

Might not be what you're looking for, but I suppose what I'm trying to say about it, is I think it's a /sweet/ little camera. Not sweet like awesome, but sweet like aww, I wuv.
>> fence !!POey2hdozCZ
>>131991

get the panasonic. they're honest-to-god the exact same camera with the exact same lens, except the panasonic doesn't have the nice badge.

or shoot 35mm, for christ's sake. your choices are myopic if you decide to shoot compact digital, whereas you can pick up a voigtlander bessa-t for 200 bucks. kinda decent body, mounts leica's m lenses.

you can even go upscale and get a bessa R series, which has a viewfinder.
>> Anonymous
>>131995

i'm not so sure i agree.
>> Anonymous
I have a G9 for when my 1D or 5D is impractical and it has yet to steer me wrong... I love that little camera.