Leica D-LUX 3 10MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black)
Every picture taken with the LEICA D-LUX 3 has a story to tell. The unique manual setting options give you the freedom to create images that express your own style. Use the high-quality Leica lens to take stunning shots from the wide-angle to the telephoto range. With O.I.S. optical stabilization technology and ultra fast processing, the LEICA D-LUX 3 sets new standards in its class. Choose between 3 picture formats, achieve first-class image quality with the camera's 10 megapixel sensor and assess your shots on the wide-screen display. Small and elegant, the LEICA D-LUX 3 is always ready to make your personal view of the world reality. Aperture - F2.8-F8.0 (wide angle) F4.9-F8.0 (telephoto) Flash modes Choice between automatic ON with or without preflash (red-eye reduction), manual ON (fill-in flash) with orwithout preflash, SLOW sync for longer shutter speeds (with preflash), flash OFF Video Recording - In 16 - 9 format a choice between 1280 x 720 pixels 15 fps or 848 x 480 pixels 30 fps/ 10 fps,in 4 - 3 format a choice between 640 x 480 pixels 30 fps/10 fps or 320 x 240 pixels 30 fps/10 fps.Limited only by memory card capacity, recording with audio. File formats - Still - RAW, JPEG (Fine/Standard), Movie - QuickTime Motion JPEG. Scene Programs - Portraits, sport, night scenes, night portraits, fireworks, parties, snow, self-portraits, food, high-sensitivity mode, Baby 1, Baby 2, soft skin, candlelight, starry skies, landscapes, print Dimensions (WxHxD) - 4.2 x 2.3 x 1 inches (105.7 x 58.3 x 25.6mm) Weight - 6.5oz / 7.8oz (185g/220g) (without/with battery, memory card and lens cap)
Leica D-LUX 3 10MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black) Accessories
 SanDisk 2 GB SDSDX3-2048-901 Extreme III SD Memory Card (Retail Package)
Leica 18669 Classic Leather Case for D-Lux 3 Digital Cameras
Leica Brown Classic Leather Case for the D-Lux 3 Compact Digital Camera.
Leica BP-DC4 Lithium-Ion Battery for C-LUX 1, D-LUX 3 Digital Cameras (18645)
SanDisk 4 GB Extreme III SDHC Card (SDSDRX3-4096-A21, Retail Package)
SanDisk SDSDH-2048-901 2 GB Ultra II Secure Digital Memory Card ( US Retail Package )
Leica 18668 Cordura Camera Case for D-LUX 3 Digital Camera (Black)
ShieldZone invisibleSHIELD, LCD Screen Protection for the Leica D-LUX 3 Digital Camera
Leica Accessory Kit with Battery for D-Lux 3 Digital Camera (18644)
Leica BP-DC4 Lithium Ion Battery for Digilux 3 SLR Digital Camera (18640)
Leica D-LUX 3 10MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black) Reviews
I did not want to go the slr route because of the size and weight of those cameras. Somehow the camera balances color, saturation and contrast, almost to perfection. I found myself making an adjustment and then re-adjusting back to the original over and over again. Within 2 days of shooting with this camera I found myself using a few of the manual settings as if they were second nature,like the Auto exposure lock which I found to be a great feature. I wanted a very small and light point and shoot camera with the ability to make manual adjustments. Focusing manually isn't that easy but it isn't necessary to focus manually all the time.
Having owned this camera for only a month I can say that so far I am very pleased with the results. I put the heavy camera and the bag of lenses behind me 20 years ago. There was no frustration in attempting to take a shot that the camera wouldn't adjust to. My only disappointment is that the mode dial isn't color coded and can't be easily seen without my glasses on like with the TZ3.
Shooting with a wide angle lens is a must for me and this camera exceeded my emotional need for space.forground, sky, and the panoramic feel of the 16:9 ratio. As a Panasonic Lumix TZ3 owner I wanted the ability to manually focus and adjust aperture and that was my main reason for purchasing this camera.
MY conclusion is the cameras operating software is top notch. Ironically this camera is lighter than the Lumix TZ3.
When working on the photos in Adobe Photoshop I was surprised to discover many shots did not require major adjustments or corrections. It is only needed at those times when the auto focus can't focus on what you want it to focus on.
I also wanted a camera with an excellent lens.This camera choice wasn't difficult (having owned other Leica's, Nikons, Olympus, and CAnons) knowing first hand that the quality of the Leica lenses were a cut above the others.
I HAVE NO IDEA. Get the Samsung NV11, it's been getting GREAT reviews all over the place. ALSO, why in the world is the camera now more than twice the price I paid for a few months ago. I purchased the camera expecting the best point and shoot around ( I shelled out $650 for it) and after having the camera for more than six months the pictures are average, not excellent. The images lack sharpness and the shutter is crazy slow, even in burst mode. Of course I wasn't expecting DSLR speed, but if this shutter where a car it would do 0-60 in 15 seconds. But honestly, it's not worth it.
I got hooked on that with my D70. The best camera is the one you'll have with you to get the shot. And being able to shoot RAW is a big deal to me. I would have preferred that Leicasonic made this a 7MP camera with really high dynamic range and able to shoot high ISO.
You can't have it all. Perhaps that the same number of pixels are being stuffed on a sensor that is almost an order of magnitude smaller in surface area. I get so tired of people whining about noise on small sensor cameras. That changes the way you frame and shoot. At least it has for me.
And speaking of that D70, I just sold it because I am happier with the images I'm getting out of my D-Lux 3. Yes, they can be noisier, but I also can fit the Leica in my pocket. This also gives you very good manual control over things. "OMG, it is noisier than my 30D/D80/etc." Hmm.what was your first clue. Where would you put it.
But they didn't.because consumers want big MP numbers. The MP race is stupid, but so are most consumers. This beast is a very good compromise between portability and performance. This camera is unique because it is native 16x9.
Leica D-Lux 3 is another offspring of the Panasonic-Leica cooperation, surely benefiting both partners. D-Lux 3 is a re-badged Lumix LX2. 2-3Mpix size, even ISO 400 images can be still well usable. ISO 800 is a stretch, but no worse than any competition in such small cameras, or rather such small sensors. If sampled down to approx. Me too.
Nonetheless, D-Lux 3 is a nice and handy camera for numerous occasions. Fascinating is the 16:9 ratio wide panorama mode. Writing of such a vast amount of data takes time: Leica D-Lux 3 needs 3-4sec to store a raw file even to an Extreme III class of SD card, and this clearly renders Leica/Lumix RAW mode useless in all action situations. We both with my wife like to have this little great camera handy, and we like to think that the Lumix-Leica cooperation will help Leica to succeed in its transition as a provider of top-notch digital cameras. Of course, all photographers who do not like Jpeg's limited dynamic range are thrilled by the RAW mode. The LCD display is nice, but it still has a very narrow angle of view. Turn the camera by as little as 30-40 degree, and the colors will strangely change or even reverse. Neither Panasonic nor Leica seem to be capable of or willing to give an answer to this simple question.
2) Panasonic RAW format produces files titanic in size, why not to use DNG like in the L1 camera. 1) First, I would like to know the Analog/Digital resolution in bits per pixel. Being in the $500.600 class, it opens up the noble marque Leica to many photographers, who would have otherwise not even considered to invest in equipment with the famous red circular logo.
Main asset of both cameras is clearly the Leica VARIO-ELMARIT Lens, quite sharp on both ends. However, herein I see two issues:. The D-Lux 3 produces always *.raw and *.jpg file, and they both occupy whopping 22Mbytes typically.
This is over twice as much as in a typical 10Mpix Nikon NEF or Canon CR2 file. 10Mpix is a good resolution, helping to get over the usual noise and noise correction smearing of details, which is visible even at ISO 100. My impression from conversions in Lightroom is that the dynamic range of the RAW images is barely over the 8-bit range of the jpegs, maybe 9-10bit/pixel effective.
I love my old, heavy, rugged, film cameras, and I love being fluent in their operation. This camera is tiny and light. It is discreetly understated. I'm going to have to learn something, but I've held out long enough: I wish I had known sooner that a point-and-shoot could do what this one does. And, yes, it makes a remarkable photo. I'm also old enough to dislike lugging heavy cameras around all day, or being noticed for having lots of gear.
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