3 Reasons I Love the Leica D-Lux 4
A few months ago, in what I would call an act of impulsiveness, I picked up a Leica D-Lux4. I was looking for the much less expensive Panasonic DMC-LX3 – which on the inside is the same as the Leica from lens to sensor to LCD… but what it didn’t have was clean lines and a pretty red badge that makes most photo people get a little weak in the knees. So I made the mistake of holding the Leica in one hand and the Panasonic in the other, and the clean lines and little red badge with so much history behind it sold me.
Brand whore? Maybe, but I don’t regret the purchase one bit… in fact after using it for the first time, my opinion of point-and-shoot cameras changed for good. In my opinion, this camera is the all-around best point-and-shoot available today. Read on to find out why…
Ya, I said it… Its the best point-and-shoot camera ever. You might say, hey there buddy, aren’t you a Canon guy? What about the G10? Well, yeah I’m a Canon guy, but before all you Canon G series users get all upset, let me explain why the Leica is the best…
1. Image Quality
f/2.8 : 1/60th : 60mm : ISO 800
I could go into a long explanation of why I think the image quality is great.. but instead, just take a look at some of these shots. Yes, they came from a point-and-shoot. Note: In well exposed and well lit photos, I’d say the Canon G10 is as good or better than the Leica. I think part of it is that Canon’s RAW format is a bit better.. but we all know every shot isn’t perfectly lit or exposed. In overall image performance, I prefer Leica shots over any of the other similarly equipped compacts.
2.Low-Light Performance
f/2 : 1/30th : 24mm : ISO 320
The image above was shot hand-held, at night, at the Coachella Music Festival in Indio, California. This shot and many others from the festival are what really made me fall in love with this little workhorse.
f/2 Leica Lens + Image Stabilization = Big Win
Ya, I thought it was a typo the first time I read it too, but the D-Lux 4 does in fact have an f/2 lens. This great little lens, coupled with pretty solid image stabilization technology makes for some pretty interesting low-light opportunities. I’m talking consistent, sharp, hand-held shots at as slow as 1/8th of a second.
Now, of course you can’t expect this lens to give you the blur of an f/2 SLR lens, because you you have to keep in mind that the f/2 is relative to the smaller physical size of the lens and sensor, but you do get the speed advantages which means sharp images at slow speed, which is half of what you need in low-light.
Usable ISO 800+ on a Compact? OMFG!
f/2 : 1/40th : 24mm : ISO 800
High ISO is really where the Leica shines over the competition. Does it even come close to any of the newer generation Canon or Nikon DSLRs? Absolutely not, but it’s not supposed to. THe smaller the sensor and the pixels in the sensor generally, the more noise you get, so the quality achieved with this camera is even more notable.
3. Form Factor
I’ve mentioned before that I’m a Canon guy, so obviously the G series was very intriguing to me… RAW, hot-shoe, manual controls… everything the Leica has, but Canon.. but what in the end kept me away is that it is a frikkin BRICK! You just can’t fit the thing in your pocket. If i want something I have to carry in my hand or a bag, I’d bring my SLR. Although depth-wise with the protruding lens, the Leica and Canon are similar, but I challenge you, try to put each in your pocket and I think you’ll agree with me.
Quick Specs
| Focal Length | 5.1–12.8mm (24–60 mm in 35mm photography). |
|---|---|
| LCD | 3“ TFT-LCD (3:2), 460,000 pixels |
| Focusing | MF, AF: Face recognition, AF tracking, 11-field, 1-field-high-speed, 1-field, 1-spot. |
| Resolution | 10.1 Megapixels |
| ISO Sensitivity | Auto/80/100/200/400/800/1600/3200 |
| Exposure | Automatic program, shutter speed priority, aperture priority, manual; manual override ±2 EV in 1/3 steps, automatic bracketing (3 exposures with ± 1/3 to 1 EV steps). |
| Shutter Speed | 60 – 1/2000 s @ 2.5 fps |
| Quality | Fine/Standard; RAW/RAW + standard/RAW + fine |
| Video | 16:9 720P HD max. |
That’s gonna wrap it up for the first “real” post I’ve done on CameraPorn for quite a while. I hope you enjoyed it 
Want More of the D-Lux 4?
- Flickr Group
- All my Flickr Photos shot with the D-Lux 4
- Review: Boxed Light
- Review: Serious Compacts
- Review: Photography Savvy
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Great camera I agree but you’re posting a picture at 500 max res of course it’s going to have low noise..
Not sure what you mean Alex. Could you elaborate?
I think what Alex meant is that the pictures posted have a width of 500px, therefore it’s harder to see the noise since the image has been shrunk.
The high resolution version of the picture would be more representative of the quality of the picture.
MPC
Thanks for the detailed review and the shots. This is a camera I’ve been looking at for a long time now as a camera to bring with me everywhere when my DSLR is a bit too big.
You’ve certainly fueled the fire.
First of all, welcome back CP! It was a welcome surprise to see my RSS reader light up with this review.
I also have the DLUX4 and I absolutely love it. While it does toe the line between a compact and an SLR, I find that it’s such a versatile camera and takes great pictures- it’s definitely my go-to camera for just walking around.
900$…. holy crap.
Thanks for your thoughts — I agree and would love to have this piece.
@Alex and @Maxime – I gotcha. Yes, of course there is noise at those ISOs with a sensor so small, thats why I say “Usable at ISO 800+” Most point-and-shoots I’ve used before fall off dramatically in detail above 400 or so… and wouldnt even be usable at 500px width.
Heres some links to larger files so you can get a better idea:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3562/3451576305_2af08dede2_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3629/3458148201_2b6c0da6db_b.jpg
Definitely noise, but much better than the average point and shoot and totally usable.
@Dave – it was 900 bucks, but goes for around $699 right now unless you go for the new titanium style one. $699 is a steal if you ask me.
Well here in Montreal it’s still 900 looneys. I’d be willing but I’d seriously updgrade by XTi before. But I so want a SFF camera with some serious power to it also to lug around all the time with me. Tough call.
Check dxomark. The actua ISO is very different than the indicated ISO.
Would love to hear from someone who has stepped up from the D-Lux 3, which I own and love, to the 4, about their experiences.
@Gary Interesting… That’s a cool site I was not aware of before. Thanks!
But still doesn’t change the fact it rocks for a compact camera
That camera makes short work of my Canon S5 IS.
I have had the old Pana LX2 since it came out and love it. But will give that to my parents and now get the DLux 4 as an upgrade instead of the new Pana LX3. The thing I love most about the old LX2 is that silly manual pop up flash. I was in a museum with an Oly point & shoot, and had to hunt down through buttons and menus to tun the darned flash off.
I;m a serious shooter and for a new toy, it was a choice between a Nikon D90 and this. I’m getting this. Owning heavy pro level dslrs, I just don;t need another one.
I’ve upgraded from the D-Lux 3, all I can say is that the 4 is way better again. Better quality images, brighter viewfinder, HD video, more solid feel to it and what clinched it for me – a 24mm wide angle. I’ve sold my Sony A350 SLR and kept the D-Lux 4!!
Outstanding camera. Simple.
The D-lux 4 is a fantastic camera for its size, you will find it hard to sell pictures taken using this beautiful demigod of the compact world, but you will have correctly exposed high quality pictures taken with a high quality camera, this camera is without doubt a full blooded LEICA.
Well I got the Lumix LX3 which is the exact same camera but for 400$ less and I AM IN LOVE WITH IT.
I got the wife an LX3 but she kidnaps my Leica when she can.
The new Ricoh GR III has been released, with a 1.9 lens and a new larger sensor. It will be the best point & shoot camera hands down. Only drawback…. fixed prime lens… no zoom.
But it’s a joy to use & Ricoh images are great!!
[...] cameraporn [...]
wasup everyone. so i been shopping around the the Leica d lux 4.
everywhere is sold out and on backorder
found one . used ( a bit scratch on the lcd on the back for $400
do you guys think its worth it to get the used one or wait for a new one
please let me know your thoughts.
nemo@lastnightent.com
Bought the Leica D-Lux 4 and just returned it yesterday and waiting for the G11. I really wanted to love the D-Lux 4 however being a pro shooter that likes to travel on vacation with just one point and shoot the short zoom just did not work for me. With Canon improving the image quality of their G series with G11 I can wait another month or so in order to get the same or better quality with a longer zoom. I will miss HD video but hey after all it is a digital still camera.
Just sold my G10 and got me a D-Lux 4. Sweeeet Baby Jesus! What a wonderful camera. The guys at the camera store waxed on about the amazing 3D-like qualities of the Leica lens and gushed so much that I thought I was going to be ill. But I bought it. I have had it with me everywhere I go since.
It. Is. Amazing. And, if I decide I want a G11, I can always sell the Leica for what a G11 costs. Yay!