Leica D-LUX 3 Digital Camera (Black) with Deluxe Accessory Kit USA

Comments about Leica D-LUX 3 Digital Camera (Black) with Deluxe Accessory Kit:

The camera is great in all respects except one: It needs to have a viewfinder because sometimes there is so much glare on the screen you can't compose your picture properly.

Comments about Leica D-LUX 3 Digital Camera (Black) with Deluxe Accessory Kit:

I bought this camera because I do not like lugging around an SLR but often wish I had my camera with me. I am a bit spoiled and am using the 1ds Mark 2 Canon so I am not easily impressed by image quality of other cameras. I am very happy to have this little Leica. I have turned off all the beeping sounds, the auto focus and auto everything else. I love shooting on the manual mode and find that when I do, the otherwise very slow camera is very fast. I am able to point and shoot faster than any other small digital I have used. The f8 aperture makes manual focus easy when you have good light and a general idea of your probable subject distances. The many scene settings in auto mode that this camera has are very fun to use and the portrait mode takes incredibly clear portraits. The macro focus is beyond amazing and honestly makes me want to sell my 100mm macro canon lens on eBay. I will never use it again. This camera's flash is very powerful and folds neatly into the camera. The flash is easy to turn on and off and adjusting its output is simple and quick. At an ISO of 100 the images are incredible for a small digital. At higher ISO's the images deteriorate rapidly and are unusable at 1600. The noise at higher ISO's is overwhelming and ugly like a poor video screen capture, not pleasant like film grain. I dont really understand the need for taking videos with a Leica(not exactly very purist), or the need for the 16:9 ratio. I turned that off immediately for the regular 35mm equivalent of 3:2. But now the camera is only 8.5 mp. I love that I have the option to shoot in RAW. The write speed for which is slower than waiting for cold molasses to pour, but at least the option is there. If you dont have any experience with digital photography I would recommend this camera as its auto and scene modes are easy to use. And if you are familiar with photography you will absolutely have to read the manual to get the most out of this little camera. This little camera does have a lot to offer so its worth it. I have heard that there is an equal Panasonic for much less, but I cannot bring myself to carry a camera named Panasonic yet. I find the Leica look of the camera pleasing and inspiring. Mine came with a leather case that smells great! All in all I love his camera and believe it is the best small digital I have used, and the macro feature puts it into a realm of its own.

Expertise: Enthusiast/ Professional

Problems Encountered: I wish this camera did not have a video option, or claim to have a useful 1600 ISO. This camera needs to be adjusted by the user to be made into a rel Leica point and shoot. As a Leica I wish it were more purist.

Previous Equivalent Item Owned: Nikon d70, Canon 1ds Mark 2, Canon Rebel xt, Nikon FM, Voigtlander Bessa R

Items I Recommend: Leather Case

Comments about Leica D-LUX 3 Digital Camera (Black) with Deluxe Accessory Kit:

I believe that this little Leica (traditional Leica look-alike) produces the sharpest images I have ever seen. I thought for years that my Contax G2 with its Carl Zeiss lenses couldn't be out done. But now I'm not so sure.I think this tiny little camera could be just a little bigger for easier handling...thank goodness for its image stabilization feature. I don't think your going to find a better camera in this size.

Expertise: One heck of a windmill repairman.

Problems Encountered: The D-Lux 3 could be just a little bigger for better handling and I wish it had an optical viewfinder along with its great LCD monitor.

Items I Recommend: Cordura leather case

Comments about Leica D-LUX 3 Digital Camera (Black) with Deluxe Accessory Kit:

Light, small, easy to use and powerful.This camera is stealth in appearances. It looks just likeany old point and shoot camera but there is hidden power.The Leica D-LUX allows for aperture (F 2.8 to F8) controland shutter speed (up to 1/2000 second) control. The manualfocus is sharp and easy to use. The macro auto focus optionpractically turns the D-LUX into a microscope! Minimum focuslength is a mere 5cm. The huge LCD screen makes detailedfocusing a breeze. You can control white balance, ISO andyou can shoot RAW images. This camera has most of theamenities of a digital SLR in a lightweight point and shootbody.Overall, this is a whole lot of bang for your buck.

Problems Encountered: The one huge, overriding downside is that all previewinghappens through the huge LCD screen. While the big and crispscreen makes manual focusing a breeze it is big, highprofile and easy to scratch. Since this is the only way topreview your images I foresee lots of militantdon't-touch-the-screen! andstop-cleaning-it-with-your-T-shirt! screaming at myco-workers. I'm looking for a plastic cover right now but Isee nothing. The cover would make me much less stressed outabout ruining the only optic I have on this camera.

Previous Equivalent Items Owned: Nikon D70

Items I Recommend: extra battery, 2GB SD card, carrying case