This serious compact camera from Leica/Panasonic was released in 2004. It has been 8 years since it's release. This camera only last 2years in production. It never had a replacement model since then. The closest model that look, feel and similar spec to Digilux is the Fujifilm X10. The Digilux 3 (sold alreaady) is a 4/3 DSLR and the lens is too bulky for me to use it often. A m4/3 like GF1 and OM-d are better choice for me.
I have been eyeing this camera for a few years. No one seems to be selling it and when they sell, it was at a premium price. I finally found one in B and H (USA online) and quickly order it before it was gone. It was at 1/5 of the original $1800 price.
When you do a search on this camera and read on http://www.overgaard.dk/leica_digilux2.html who seems to love the handling and output of this camera, you will know why it is still so popular now. In the Leica Forum, L-forum, this group of users has swear by it's great handling and photo output.
If Panasonic and Leica are to do a Digilux 2 revamp, it will sure sell like hotcakes but seems like FujiFilm knows what the market is looking when they launch the x100 and x10 in 2011.
This camera design to some user, they link to the Leica M8. The aperture ring is on the lens and the shutter speed dial is on top. As this camera is using CCD sensor and is 8 years old tech, one have to just still to ISO100. The noise at ISO400 is suitable for Black and white shot.
Although the sensor size is the 2/3" small sensor (same size as Fuji X10) it's bokeh and sharpness from the lens it produced is magical . This camera I believe during the design phase is more focus on the handling/ image output than selling to the mass. The lens look big as has alot of glass as the aperture is F2-2.4. Equivalent 28-90mm (35mm terms).
The jpeg skin tone / colour output is better than some DSLR and definitely GF1. Olympus / Leica skin tone and colours are my favourite.
Here are some shots taken during a sand castle building outing with my kids.
No comments:
Post a Comment