Leica Digilux 2 - thoughts?

davek

davek

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I've read a lot about this camera recently (but mostly older stuff).
I've searched on these fora for info but there is very little.
Are there any current users of this camera on board now and, if so, I'd be grateful for your comments on it (and some photos too!!)?

thanks

David
 
If I were buying I'd probably get the Panasonic version - it's a lot cheaper!
 
I dont have one ( but would if I had £600 to spare). To be honest, the Panny version is only about £100 or less cheaper, so if I were you I would go for the Leica version. It looks much nicer and if youre going to pay that much for a 5mp ish camera, I would want the red dot on the front!
I read up a lot on these when I thought about getting one originally ( I ended up with a leica X1 :love:). They are highly regarded by owners and theres no doubt they produce some really nice pictures. Some mention a colour cast over the images but maybe its just the colour rendition; the shots I have seen are superb, but, I think to get these images you need to put a little more effort in.
There are plenty of images on Flickr and other photo sharing sites. www.reddotcameras.co.uk always seem to have some for sale. If I was going to get one, I would get one from them, that way you get some guarantee.

If you do get one, dont forget to post some images and impressions of the camera, I am still thinking about getting one as soon as finances allow.
Allan
 
I looked into one of these a while ago and was very impressed with the image quality. I think the images are about 5mb which isn't very big but the quality is there and if you're only editing for the net then they will be fine. The camera also looks pretty special!
 
i used an LC1 on 3 trips abroad in 2008 & found myself always going back & looking at the pics & thinking how good they all looked. since then i've been shooting an LX3 a Nikon D200 & a D2Xs yet i still had a yearning for an LC1 or Digilux2.
well 5 months ago i spotted a very nice, little used, boxed with all accessories etc example on ebay & stuck a bid in. i paid £510 which seems to be the going rate these days. since then i've not had a lot of opportunity to get out & about with it but the few pics i've taken look pretty good. the B&W mode is excellent & like has been said before the lens is amazing :thumbs:

there are plenty of sample images on flickr- Flickr: The Leica Digilux 2 Pool

plus there are some very good user sites also - leica.overgaard.dk - Thorsten Overgaard's Leica Sites - Leica Digilux 2 sample photos and tests (as well as Panasonic DMC-LC1) - Page 1 of 3

plus John Thawley has written many interesting articles about using one in his journal

The Leica Digilux 2 - Journal - Motorsports Photography by Motorsports Photographer, John Thawley :: American Le Mans, Grand Am,

plus more links to digilux related items here

Search - Motorsports Photography by Motorsports Photographer, John Thawley :: American Le Mans, Grand Am,

also a massive thread discussing the "look" of the Digilux2 images on the L-camera forum. some nice ones on this page plus more as you scroll back through the topic
Do Digilux 2 photos have distinctive look? - Seite 63 - Leica User Forum

tbh i think you should have a good read up on its strengths & weaknesses buy it & try it (you wont ever loose money on it. at worse you'll break even) see how you get along with it. they have an almost iconic/cult status & i'm certainly not disappointed that i bought into it. yes the lower resolution might be a problem if you're doing very large prints but all full screen size preview on my 23inch cinema display they look great :thumbs:

as for the operational speed yeah for sure they're not as fast as a pro bodied DSLR but are any f the faux rangefinder styled pretenders. even the modern ones :)
you just need to remember that these cameras are from an era where photography was about capturing light. nowadays everyone seems to want to be able to take pics of a moving subject, in the dark, with no flash!

go for it. you'll love it :love:
 
My wife has had a Digilux 2 for around 4 years now and loves it. We bought a Canon 5D MkII to 'replace' it but my wife keeps going back to the Leica and now refuses to use the Canon!

Downside, it takes several seconds to write a single RAW file and noise is present even at 200 ISO! That said, its beautifully built and a real joy to use.

We purchased ours second-hand off Ebay around 4 years ago, and Leica replace the sensor free of charge around a year after we purchased it - how's that for service!
 
I bought one from a specialist shop a while ago. Like so many cameras with a cult following I just didn't get it. I discussed the return with vendor and he agreed that he couldn't see what all the fuss was about either.
Yes, there are great images available online but I would suggest they're down to the togs skill rather than the cameras' abilities. The build quality is somewhat lacking too.

It's a lot of dosh for a clunky camera but the good news is that they are still sought after so you'll have no problem reselling.

Sorry to lower the tone of the thread!;)
 
this is a sooc jpeg from an overcast day last year. i reckon it looks pretty good :thumbs:

6096687095_55d1e796b9_b.jpg
 
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