Leica D-Lux 4

[virus530]

Hi,

I am totally new to Leica Camera. But i know the brand and the quality of colour it can produce by their reputation though I have never witness it before first hand.
Now I am currently using a D700.
I was just wondering will their compact camera during day time shot be good or even close to DSLR? Cause wanan back to the old days of carrying compact camera rather then a DSLR.

Advice anyone?

 

[tomcat]

Absolutely nowhere near a DSLR.

Don't bother getting this or the LX3 if you like to shoot RAW as its RAW output can be worse than its jpeg output due to the poor optical quality of the lens (very suspectible to purple fringing and other chromatic aberrations which is automatically corrected by the built-in jpeg engine but not when shot in RAW).

Also, only get this if you don't intend to print big or view at full resolution as it can be very noisy even at low ISO speeds.

If you want to carry a compact camera but want DSLR quality, wait for the launch of the Olympus m43 camera later this year.

 

[virus530]

Thanks so much for the input.

 

[vicpeh]

The difference in IQ between the DL4/LX3 and the D700 is too far apart IMO. But amongst compact P&S cameras, the DL4/LX3 is among the best you can probably get at this point in time. I like the DL4 for B&W and street photography though, there are some places and occassions that a DSLR is just inappropriate.

For simple pics like this one, I think the DL4's IQ is good enough (unedited resized jpg direct from DL4):

Of course, if I were you, I'll wait for the new Oly m43 as tomcat suggests. IQ should be at least on par with the G1 or GH1 but then again, IMHO, will still be a step down from the D700.

 

[virus530]

Thanks for all that help clear my doubt.
I moving on to compare Leica M8 with D700 which i guess I should open a new thread as the header for this thread is diff.

 

[mdzmr]

Thanks for all that help clear my doubt.
I moving on to compare Leica M8 with D700 which i guess I should open a new thread as the header for this thread is diff.

What's the point you want to compare between M8 & D700. Rangefinder and DSLR. Its totally different game ball.
Why don't you compare ur D700 & Medium Format cam with Digital back.

 

[brian]

don't forget the Sigma DP1/DP2 with a DSLR-sized sensor. Too bad the usability of this point and shoot camera is far from pleasant.
Instead of comparing cameras with different sensors/size, why not look into pancake lenses with your D700? They might be mostly manual, but you can get used to it. Look into Nikon's 45mm f2.8, or Voigtlander 40mm f2 ULTRON. Makes your D700 look like it has no lens on.

 

[tomcat]

Thanks for all that help clear my doubt.
I moving on to compare Leica M8 with D700 which i guess I should open a new thread as the header for this thread is diff.

You would be comparing a manually focussed camera (an extremely expensive one at that too, even when looking at the body alone) with an AF DSLR. Are you comfortable with manually focussed camera in the first place or like me, have been pampered to death by the speed and convenience of P&S and DSLR cameras?

I have an Epson R-D1s and while I appreciate the difference in shooting style, I cannot accept the slowness and the lack of versatility when compared to an AF DSLR like the D700.

If I have to choose a slow focussing camera, I would have preferred to take the Sigma DP1/DP2 instead of digital rangefinder like the M8 or R-D1s on my shoots. And I always bring one along as a second camera on my holiday trips overseas. The image quality from the Foveon sensor in the DP1/DP2 is unbelieveable and is only matched or exceeded by a full-frame sensor of a DSLR.