Leica D-Lux 4 discussions

[JoePro]

Hi Tomcat,

Thanks for all the useful advice and suggestions given. Appreciate your time and thoughts on the 2 choices of compacts.

I'll weigh my needs and decide if I am willing to sacrifice IQ for convenience and speed. Your comments on the process you use for the Sigma on RAW only rather than JPEG would make me consider the Leica more seriously. However if the Sigma's Pro Photo RAW converter you refer to does the job painlessly then I might opt for that.

The speed issue is always referred to in reviews where the DP-1 is concerned and that is of course one of my main apprehensions - but as can be seen from your pics - IQ is outstanding! (as summed up in your last few sentences)

Portraits aren't really so important for my needs at the moment. Loved having the 85mm from Nikon but I think I'm past the hobby phase of photography as my skill level is pretty basic and my passion for carrying equipment has kinda died. The street scenes and travel photography is what I am really looking for - having said that coming from having so many dslrs in the past IQ is hard to give up.

I've also looked at Jim Radcliffe's site and his comments on using Adobe Photoshop for PP rather than relying on the camera's algorithms - however not all of us have his talent for this or his time. http://www.boxedlight.com/dlux4/
For others who may be interested this link also has pics from the earlier D-Lux 3 and the Sigma I am considering.

By the way I really enjoyed your shot of the Marina Barrage from your D700 and Sigma fisheye http://www.pbase.com/pschia/image/107380505

WELL DONE!

joe

I always shoot in RAW, so all these shots were taken in RAW and converted using the proprietory conversion software provided with the respective cameras. The 2 images are taken within seconds of each other. The difference in tonality is inherent in the sensor output and raw processing algorithm used.

In any case, the Sigma DP1 as with all Sigma DSLRs with Foveon sensors, is not that good taking jpeg out-of-camera. The best image quality is obtained by shooting RAW and converting using Sigma Photo Pro. The D-Lux 4 (and LX3) on the other hand seems to be designed for jpeg shooting and would require more post processing work if used in RAW mode.

Whether DP1 or DP2 is more suitable for you would depend on what you want to shoot. Both are actually more suitable for landscape and street photography and can't really be used for close-up portrait photographybecause of the wide angle perspective distortion effect. DP2 would better for landscape and worse for portrait in this sense.

You should be aware that the DP1 is rather slow and hesitant in AF especially if lighting level is low compared to DSLRs, especially fast ones like your D300. You may have trouble adapting to this initially if at all. According to my dealer, the sale of DP1 and Ricoh P&S cameras have dropped to rock bottom after the launch of the LX3, so it should be available at much lower price now than when I first bought mine. But if image quality in a compact camera is of paramount importance to you, there is really not much choice. The DP1 and the forthcoming DP2 is light years better than any compact P&S in existence at the moment.

 

[tomcat]

Hi Tomcat,

Thanks for all the useful advice and suggestions given. Appreciate your time and thoughts on the 2 choices of compacts.

I'll weigh my needs and decide if I am willing to sacrifice IQ for convenience and speed. Your comments on the process you use for the Sigma on RAW only rather than JPEG would make me consider the Leica more seriously. However if the Sigma's Pro Photo RAW converter you refer to does the job painlessly then I might opt for that.

The speed issue is always referred to in reviews where the DP-1 is concerned and that is of course one of my main apprehensions - but as can be seen from your pics - IQ is outstanding! (as summed up in your last few sentences)

Portraits aren't really so important for my needs at the moment. Loved having the 85mm from Nikon but I think I'm past the hobby phase of photography as my skill level is pretty basic and my passion for carrying equipment has kinda died. The street scenes and travel photography is what I am really looking for - having said that coming from having so many dslrs in the past IQ is hard to give up.

I've also looked at Jim Radcliffe's site and his comments on using Adobe Photoshop for PP rather than relying on the camera's algorithms - however not all of us have his talent for this or his time. http://www.boxedlight.com/dlux4/
For others who may be interested this link also has pics from the earlier D-Lux 3 and the Sigma I am considering.

By the way I really enjoyed your shot of the Marina Barrage from your D700 and Sigma fisheye http://www.pbase.com/pschia/image/107380505

WELL DONE!

joe

Thanks. Glad you like my Marina Barrage shot.
Sigma Photo Pro is a simple raw converter with very little fanciful adjustments like other raw converters. However, it produces the best colours as far as I'm concerned. Adobe Camera Raw also converts DP1 raw but I don't like the colours it produces. Being so simple, Sigma Photo Pro is also very easy to use. Just open the raw file in Photo Pro and select Auto for adjustments and everything is done. Most of the time, the auto adjustment is sufficient.

 

[JoePro]

Hi Tomcat,

Thanks for the advice again this time on the Pro Photo Software. For a 4 gig card should be able to get about 250 images which is decent enough.

OK and :thumbsup: on the auto mode vs the other 2 modes...

where is your dealer? thought it looked like P Silk but i called them today they were asking for something like $1300++

Do you or anyone else know where I can get a decent deal? Looked at Amazon and some online sites they are asking about US$624 (before shipping)

The good thing about the US online stores are the accessories are usually discounted. Flash is like US$50 but viewfinder is a little ex.

Think I'd like to have those accessories to augment the low light issues for ISO that some mention as a problem and of course the ability to use the camera on sleep mode and shoot a pic off a little faster with the external viewfinder...

Any lobang - or place to try? (sorry to post this on the Leica forum)

Thanks!

Joe

Thanks. Glad you like my Marina Barrage shot.
Sigma Photo Pro is a simple raw converter with very little fanciful adjustments like other raw converters. However, it produces the best colours as far as I'm concerned. Adobe Camera Raw also converts DP1 raw but I don't like the colours it produces. Being so simple, Sigma Photo Pro is also very easy to use. Just open the raw file in Photo Pro and select Auto for adjustments and everything is done. Most of the time, the auto adjustment is sufficient.

 

[tomcat]

Hi Tomcat,

Thanks for the advice again this time on the Pro Photo Software. For a 4 gig card should be able to get about 250 images which is decent enough.

OK and :thumbsup: on the auto mode vs the other 2 modes...

where is your dealer? thought it looked like P Silk but i called them today they were asking for something like $1300++

Do you or anyone else know where I can get a decent deal? Looked at Amazon and some online sites they are asking about US$624 (before shipping)

The good thing about the US online stores are the accessories are usually discounted. Flash is like US$50 but viewfinder is a little ex.

Think I'd like to have those accessories to augment the low light issues for ISO that some mention as a problem and of course the ability to use the camera on sleep mode and shoot a pic off a little faster with the external viewfinder...

Any lobang - or place to try? (sorry to post this on the Leica forum)

Thanks!

Joe

I think the prices of the DP1 is starting to drop in other countries probably in preparation for the launch of the DP2. In the past, Sigma Singapore would also follow with a price drop in Singapore like in the case of the Sigma SD14. So if you can wait, the price of the DP1 here may drop too... or you can consider the DP2 when it is launched.

If you can't wait, then order from those online stores in the States with the low prices.

 

[viceroy666]

Macro shot

 

[viceroy666]

One shot taken in 'auto' mode in Malacca

 

[Hacker]

Macro shot

Favorite computer bags.... :thumbsup:

 

[stevenyeo123]

just saw the limited D-Lux4 on display at cathay @ penisula. Quoted $1600, tempted due to limited to only 500 set worldwide. Personally still like the original gun metal finish and the red dot logo.

 

[benny]

just saw the limited D-Lux4 on display at cathay @ penisula. Quoted $1600, tempted due to limited to only 500 set worldwide. Personally still like the original gun metal finish and the red dot logo.

I had the impression that the 'limited' Titanium finish is a limited run of 'only' 10,000 pieces.

http://us.leica-camera.com/news/news/1/6239.html

Cheers,

 

[viceroy666]

Snapped this picture while walking. Do not want to jeopardize this old lady

 

[stevenyeo123]

I had the impression that the 'limited' Titanium finish is a limited run of 'only' 10,000 pieces.

http://us.leica-camera.com/news/news/1/6239.html

Cheers,

Yeah, it's 10,000 pieces...a wrong info I got from other souce.

http://www.crunchgear.com/2008/12/09/confirmed-leica-special-editions-on-the-way/

 

[chiif]

Snapped this picture while walking. Do not want to jeopardize this old lady

I'll offer her a HAWAIIAN TROPIC next time I see her... :bsmilie:

Nice capture!

 

[viceroy666]

The interesting (but eerie) thing is that it took me very long (i mean very long since last two weeks) before I can get this photo up to my host site. It will alway hang halfway, errors or etc. Whereas other photo loads up easily. ONLY this photo :dunno:

 

[viceroy666]

Took this snapshot of this CNY shopper looking curiously at the price tag of S$1.50.

And I think the onlooker agrees

 

[nousername]

I always shoot in RAW, so all these shots were taken in RAW and converted using the proprietory conversion software provided with the respective cameras. The 2 images are taken within seconds of each other. The difference in tonality is inherent in the sensor output and raw processing algorithm used.

In any case, the Sigma DP1 as with all Sigma DSLRs with Foveon sensors, is not that good taking jpeg out-of-camera. The best image quality is obtained by shooting RAW and converting using Sigma Photo Pro. The D-Lux 4 (and LX3) on the other hand seems to be designed for jpeg shooting and would require more post processing work if used in RAW mode.

Whether DP1 or DP2 is more suitable for you would depend on what you want to shoot. Both are actually more suitable for landscape and street photography and can't really be used for close-up portrait photographybecause of the wide angle perspective distortion effect. DP2 would better for landscape and worse for portrait in this sense.

You should be aware that the DP1 is rather slow and hesitant in AF especially if lighting level is low compared to DSLRs, especially fast ones like your D300. You may have trouble adapting to this initially if at all. According to my dealer, the sale of DP1 and Ricoh P&S cameras have dropped to rock bottom after the launch of the LX3, so it should be available at much lower price now than when I first bought mine. But if image quality in a compact camera is of paramount importance to you, there is really not much choice. The DP1 and the forthcoming DP2 is light years better than any compact P&S in existence at the moment.

I know this message is a little late, but thank you so much for the great info!

I've been kind of divided between a Leica D-Lux 4 and the Sigmal DP1 just last night (admit I was a little lazy to do a search on the forums).

I've been wanting to get a high-end compact for my mom, but also would like to use it for myself from time to time as well. I guess in this case shooting in JPEG is something I'll probably need more than RAW (Mom doesn't know the diff - probably wants as little trouble as possible to get the pictures printed for her scrapbook albums).

Just wondering... is the free case promo still on? I'm thinking of getting this a little later so as to coincide with a surprise, but if the promo end date is coming up soon I'd probably get the Leica sooner.

 

[madmacs]

I know this message is a little late, but thank you so much for the great info!

I've been kind of divided between a Leica D-Lux 4 and the Sigmal DP1 just last night (admit I was a little lazy to do a search on the forums).

I've been wanting to get a high-end compact for my mom, but also would like to use it for myself from time to time as well. I guess in this case shooting in JPEG is something I'll probably need more than RAW (Mom doesn't know the diff - probably wants as little trouble as possible to get the pictures printed for her scrapbook albums).

Just wondering... is the free case promo still on? I'm thinking of getting this a little later so as to coincide with a surprise, but if the promo end date is coming up soon I'd probably get the Leica sooner.

i was at john316 2 days back. heard that schmidt extended the free case promotion till CNY.

 

[nousername]

Just called Schmidt a while back and according to John who answered, the promotion's "extended one or two months, one month at least" and that it was due to "great demand", and to capture the crowd during the New Year.

To be fair he said he didn't have the complete details because he's not from sales.

I don't know if the one month is as of today, or was it sometime back? Aware that the promotion was originally meant to be until 31 December 2008?

 

[shuee88]

may i knw hw much is the Leica D-Lux 4? which camera shop do u guys go to buy the cam?

 

[jnet6]

may i knw hw much is the Leica D-Lux 4? which camera shop do u guys go to buy the cam?

about 1.1~1.2

 

[viceroy666]

Was trying out the 'film grain' function of the d-lux4.


During CNY visit to my granduncle place. A very old kampong style (and run down) place where i used to play when i was a young boy.

The back of the house where there used to be a duck pond