Don't even bother wading through
the Polish translations -- Leica has finally got its act together and pushed out English releases to explain its latest trio of cameras to the world. First up is the C-LUX 3, a pocket-friendly shooter that packs a 10-megapixel sensor, 25 to 125-millimeter 5x optical zoom lens, all-metal chassis, optical image stabilization, face detection and a 2.5-inch LCD monitor. Movin' on up, we've got the 10.1-megapixel D-LUX 4, which adds in the ability to extend its zoom range of 24 to 60-millimeters via lens adapters, and a choice of either an additional flash or a 24-millimeter optical viewfinder. Last up is the highly anticipated €4,400 ($6,236) M8.2, which
keeps the 10.3-megapixel sensor but adds in a metal blade focal plane shutter, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal coverglass for the LCD, a new "snapshot mode," redesigned bright frame lines in viewfinder and a Quick Override setting. Pricing for the earlier two is still undisclosed, though they should be available in shops this October / November, respectively.
Read - C-LUX 3
Read - D-LUX 4
Read - M8.2
posted Sep 15th 2008 9:42AM
leica cameras make me rub my bits
Only because you know you'd have to cut them off to afford one ^^
I'll stick with SLRs i think, lovely as Leica's are..
i dont like-a, the price of these
Yikes, the M8.2 is really expensive. I've heard good things about the less expensive dlux 3d.
http://www.jr.com/leica-digilux-3-slr-digital-camera/pe/LEI_DIGILUX3/
Or you could buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2 which is identical to the D-Lux 3; the D-lux 4 will likely be the Panasonic LX3. The Panasonic FX100 is the C-Lux 3. They are identical, you are paying twice the price for the red badge.
Also, the $5k+ Leica M8 is severely flawed at the moment and has a lot of noise. The CCD sensor is far outdated- a cheaper Rebel can take vastly better pictures (you can even mount Leica lenses to EF mount with an adapter). They should have upgraded the first sensor instead of putting stupid sapphire on the LCD screen.
read all about it here:
http://web.mac.com/kamberm/Leica_M8_Field_Test,_Iraq/Page_1.html
Flawed.
He's using the wrong post-processing.
i'm no photog but how do these compare to professional DSLRs? cause they're surprisingly more expensive than half of those
Leica is one of those rare brands that only produces professional cameras, even if you think they are of the point-and-shoot variety. Traditional Leicas were rangefinders, not SLRs, meaning that you didn't actually see the image through the lens, but instead though a window that approximated where the image was. There is a special beauty about the perspective of these cameras that made them very desirable, much like my old Pentax 67 (but i digress).
Rob, if you're not familiar with a rangefinder design, the M8.2 would be comparable in quality to an SLR, it has interchangeable lenses (Leica makes some of the best lenses in the world in terms of sharpness, detail, and bokeh.) However there is no auto focus, and the way you focus a rangefinder is a little different than focusing an SLR because you're looking through a separate viewer and not through a mirror (you see two images if it's out of focus, you turn the focus until they come together.) The fact that it doesn't have a mirror to move out of the way makes the camera MUCH quieter, the camera responds quicker from when you press the shutter to when the picture is taken, and your viewfinder doesn't black out when the picture is taken. The camera is also much lighter and more durable than SLRs. The film versions of this camera are what war photographers always used to use, it was used during the Crimean war, it was on the beach at Normandy, it was in Vietnam.
The others are basic point-and-shoots, definitely not on the level of an SLR. They are basically the same as their related Panasonic brothers.
I can't believe the M8.2 still has the 1.3x magnification. I would have thought they would be "full frame" by now. The sapphire crystal is definitely a lot of $$$$!
Rob, the Leica is known to have mystical qualities that makes doctors, lawyers, and dentists have a need to buy it. They were once the premier camera for photo journalism because of their speed, their quietness, their low light abilities of taking pictures and its history of famous photographers using it. However, back in the day when all the really famous people used to use it there weren't many viable choices. In today's world though, they still hold the same qualities as before but it's awfully expensive to be carrying a Leica in the seediest part of town. Can you imagine losing a Leica M8.2 and your $16,000 50mm f/.95 lens to a bum that will pawn it for $50? It's mainly a nitch and collector's product today.
Most of these improvement have already been offered as an optional upgrade since last February (the Sapphire Glass, Quieter Shutter.) I've been lucky enough to have been able to use an original M8 for a couple months last spring. It is the most most fun camera I have ever used. It's small, light, and quiet so you can take it anywhere. I've been able to sneak Leica's into concerts many times, even through pat-downs. And it's build like a tank.
I know a couple people at Leica USA, and the biggest complaints they received were:
1) It picks up a little to much UV and IR light (they do have filters to fix that but you have to screw them on, but if you want a camera that can do IR, this is a good choice)
2) the metal shutter was too noisy and didn't have that Leica shutter kiss sound.
3) scratching of the rear LCD screen
4) the automatic re-cocking of the shutter makes a little noise, and when you're trying to be discrete, in the old days you used to fire the shutter, then put the camera under your coat and advance the film, can't do that if the camera automatically advances.
5) the charger was way too huge to carry with you.
6) high ISO noise could be better
2,3,4, and 5 have been dealt with in this upgrade. I really want to see an improved sensor that can do 6400ASA with noise on par with the D3 or 1D Mk III. It will come eventually.
All in all it is a sexy camera and if I had the cash to blow, I'd love to have one, but it's not going to happen any time soon.
The M8.2 looks really sexy.
Digital Photography Review did one of their characteristically comprehensive reviews of the M8:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/leicam8/
A fascinating read.
Hmmm, I'd need a couple of extra jobs to afford these.
Expensive, but these are the best digital cameras in the world...
The M8 is a classic rangefinder - the other two are not... and just designed for use in gated communities and cruise ships...
Honest question. Since Panasonic is responsible for all the computer-y parts of these camera (and, indeed, all but the M8 are simply re-badges with slightly tweaked firmware and a few extra software packages in the box) and Panasonic is notorious for their poor low light performance (it's gotten better, but it's a stink that won't wash off) how's the M8 for shooting at night? Because if it sucks then all of the "handmade by Germans" in the world won't make up for the fact that you're buying a fashion accessory instead of a serious photographic tool.
That all being said, I can't be the only one who wasn't disappointed that the first u4/3 camera didn't have a rangefinder form factor (like a mini L1). I dunno, possible flaws and ludicrous price aside, the M8 just says "THIS is a camera" to me.
Panasonic has nothing to do with the M8. The sensor is a Kodak chip. The low light sensitivity is alright, not great though. 800ASA is sort of usable, beyond that is desperation territory. The good news is if you have an f/1.4 (or dare we dream... f/ 0.95) you've got a couple extra stops on your side, plus because there's no mirror vibration you can handhold it down to a 1/15th or an 1/8th as long as your subject isn't a moving car or a sports event.
Did I mention I love this camera?
dpreview also has prices for the C & D:
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0809/08091502leica_dlux4_clux3.asp
£420 & £590
The D looks nice, I'd love to see reviews coming. It would have to be a good bit nicer than the LX-3 at that price, and I'd love to see a comparison with the Ricoh GX200.
At least the dollar's up lately, a month ago the $6600 would be more like $8000.
They may just be fashion accessories, but they are damned NICE fashion accessories!
COVET, COVET, COVET
Overpriced crap for illiterate snobs. I'd rather have a Nikon or Canon camera.
Illeterate? Are you sure you used the right word there?