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Nikon D80

Leica DIGILUX 3 7.5MP Digital SLR Camera with Leica D 14-50mm f/2.8-3.5 ASPH Lens with Optical Image Stabilization

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Brand: Leica
Category: Photography

Buy New: $2,999.99

New (1) Refurbished (1) from $1,799.00

Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars

10 reviews
Sales Rank: 9564

Media: Electronics
Optical Zoom: 3.6
Display Size: 2.5
Maximum Focal Length: 50
Minimum Focal Length: 14
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 5.7 x 3.4 x 3.1

MPN: 18284
Model: 18284
UPC: 799429182847
EAN: 0799429182847
ASIN: B000J6CDL4

Release Date: November 15, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Features:

•	First Digilux camera with an interchangeable lens for the Leica D system
•	7.5-megapixel LiveMos sensor for magnificent standard of imaging
•	Leica D Vario-Elmarit f2.8-3.5/14-50 aspherical lens
•	Shutter speed, focal length, aperture, and focus can be set by hand on the camera and the lens
•	High-quality materials and precision craftsmanship ensure reliability under tough conditions of reportage photography

Accessories:

•	Induro Carbonflex 8x Tripod CX-114
•	Adobe Photoshop CS4 Upgrade
•	Induro Carbon 8x Tripod C-013
•	Induro Carbonflex 8x Tripod CX-213
•	Adobe Photoshop CS4

Similar Items:

•	Leica 18667 Neoprene Case for the Digilux 3 Digital Cameras
•	Leica Lithium-Ion Battery BP-DC3 for the Digilux 3 SLR Digital Camera (18663)
•	Leica 18665 Neoprene Case for the V-Lux 1 and Digilux 3 SLR Reflex System Camera
•	SanDisk SDSDH-2048-901 2 GB Ultra II Secure Digital Memory Card ( US Retail Package )
•	Leica 18669 Classic Leather Case for D-Lux 3 Digital Cameras

Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
The Leica D system gives ambitious amateurs and professional photographers a whole new range of possibilities. The Leica Digilux3 is the first Digilux camera with an interchangeable lens and therefore forms the basis for the Leica D system, a completely independent digital SLR system. The clear design of the camera housing and the operating concept of the Digilux are in keeping with the best Leica tradition. The shutter speed, focal length, aperture and focus can be set by hand on the camera and the lens--a fast, precise and creative solution in comparison with conventional SLR cameras. The interplay of Leica's legendary performance and the latest technology is almost revolutionary: the newly designed lens Leica D Vario-Elmarit f2.8-3.5/14-50 Asph combined with state-of-the-art optical image stabilization and a 7.5-megapixel LiveMos sensor result in a magnificent standard of imaging. High-quality materials and precision craftsmanship ensure that the Leica Digilux3 will work reliably for many years, even under the tough conditions of reportage photography. The Leica D system is a valuable companion made to last.

Customer Reviews: Read 5 more reviews...

4 out of 5 stars

Only for diehard Leica-brand fans December 29, 2006
jasmine park (Seattle WA)
34 out of 36 found this review helpful

After using & loving my Leica Digilux 1 for years, the Digilux 3 seemed like the perfect step-up to the DSLR world. The lens is fantastic & has been winning rave reviews, & I'm a big fan of the camera's analog controls & the retro body styling. After a week of using the Digilux 3 extensively while travelling, I'm extremely happy with my choice; the image stabilization, the bounce flash, the aperture ring on the lens, & the Live Preview LCD are all excellent features. But buyer beware: There's basically no way to justify getting the D3 over its Panasonic twin, the DMC-L1, which Costco was selling for literally half the price of the D3 during this X-Mas holiday. Despite the excellent lens, the L1 is about the right price for this camera, which makes the D3 a plain rip-off; almost any camera pro would tell you your money would be better spent on a Nikon D200 or Canon 30D, w/ hundreds to spare on lenses. Despite this, I've managed to justify the extra cost of the D3 on strictly emotional/nostalgic terms - for everything that the Leica brand evokes & for how aesthetically pleasing the D3 is. But I'll be the first to admit that these aren't very compelling reasons, & would point most other buyers to the L1 instead.

4 out of 5 stars

Leica retro camera with 21st Century electronics. August 12, 2007
R. Ocampo (North America)
33 out of 34 found this review helpful

First things first, Leica and Panasonic have been a team in the digital camera world in terms of Leica lens know-how coupled with Panasonic technology (just like Carl Zeiss lens is with Sony as well as Schneider Optics is with Samsung). Take note I said Leica lens "know-how" because Leica is not really the lens manufacturer here, but Panasonic is - being a licensed manufacturer of Leica lens. So to Leica purists, this isn't a Leica-assembled product. Despite all this, it's still sold exclusively by Leica and manufactured by Panasonic for a limited batch run alongside the sister model of Panasonic, the DMC-L1. Everything about how the Digilux 3 and DMC-L1 operate and function are the same EXCEPT for a few minor adjustments. The most talked about and only difference is how it processes JPG pictures.

Most notable option:

- If you're going to shoot using RAW in order to tweak your own photos, then buying the Panasonic won't make a difference with the more expensive counterpart. Panasonic will save you a lot of money and help you get more accessories with it.

- If you grew up with the Leica brand and are familiar with the characteristics of how Leica photographs come out, Leica has especially tweaked the JPG (not RAW, for obvious reasons being RAW) photos to look the same way analog Leica photographs come out looking.

Of course it's not all that simple. Without going into a debate as to why buy Leica over Panasonic and vice-versa, I'll talk about the general controls.

MEMORY CARD:

The camera uses SD or MMC cards. It will take SDHC cards which come with minimum 4GB. As for MMC cards, they are slow and I would suggest not even thinking of using it.

The supplied 1GB memory should be enough for one day of fun. But a 4GB SDHC or higher is recommended when shooting RAW.

BATTERY:

Good for 450 pictures per CIPA standards.

LENS:

The supplied 14-50mm lens is what makes this camera purchase worthwhile. It's very sharp and beats any 7-8MP digital SLR cameras out there as well is arguably at par with 10MP digital SLR cameras.

It patronizes the "Fourt Thirds Mount" set by Olympus. So camera and body built on this standard make them interchangeable.

- It has a zoom ring, an aperture ring and a focus ring in a grooved rubber application.

- O.I.S. - Optical Image Stabilization to help decrease blur when doing handheld shots with a slower shutter speed.

BODY:

All the necessary settings a pro may need is right there by their finger tips and individually labeled - aperture, shutter, metering mode, multiple shots, auto/manual focus, flash mode, ISO speed and white balance. Plus there are two more programmable buttons for quick access to special camera features.

INTERNALS:

- LiveMOS technology is the reason to get this camera from other cameras. They say it has the best of both worlds for the quality of the CCD, but with the power-saving of a CMOS.

- Dust Reduction Function - a staple in higher end SLR cameras to shake off any dust sitting on the image sensor and useful when changing lens.

- Live View mode which effectively helps you focus in real-time the subject via the LCD monitor rather than the viewfinder. A good idea on paper, but with an actual clunky application.

WARRANTY:

For the first six months your camera and lens (not accessories) is protected by accident. If something happens to it for any reason no questions asked, they will repair or replace it.

After the six months accident protection, you are warranted for three years from any defect of the camera. No one can claim the same. Not even it's sister model, the Panasonic DMC-L1.

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PROS:

1. Leica lens quality and sharpness.
2. LiveMOS sensor.
3. Manual controls right there by your fingertips.
4. Leica build quality and retro design that makes it a stand out.
5. Four Thirds Mount that will help you build your lens library.
6. Manual flash button rather than automatic pop up.

CONS:

1. Boxy, clunky body that may turn off a lot of users.
2. Weight coupled with the boxy body will cause more stress in gripping the camera.
3. LiveView mode definitely is version 1.0.
4. O.I.S. is definitely not perfect. It helps, but it doesn't lead you to believe that you can take better pictures with less blur. An expensive technique rather than building the image stabilization into the body.
5. Manual focus ring is typical of any digital SLR lens. It just turns around and around without telling you have reached the end.
6. Expensive camera slapped on with a red Leica logo, but actually produced in a Panasonic plant alongside a sister camera that depreciates almost monthly.
7. The strap placement may be an issue with hand placement.

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In summary, this is first and foremost for Leica customers who know and appreciate the quality that Leica brings. The warranty is second to none. They will stand behind this 100%.

The design is extreme. If you don't fall in love with it, you are better off looking elsewhere. But if you spend a day with it, you will know why they have designed it that way. The controls are very intuitive.

If you have the money to splurge. Offer no apologies to anyone as they can only salivate to patronize a Leica. If you are the sensible kind, you know where to go as this isn't for the faint of heart in the ever-changing, fast depreciating digital world of electronics and gadgets.

5 out of 5 stars

Impressive, But Expensive, Leica Entry in Four Thirds Digital SLR Photography December 24, 2006
John Kwok (New York, NY USA)
15 out of 19 found this review helpful

Recently I read a most impressive review of this digital SLR camera and its zoom lens in the pages of Popular Photography. But this isn't the sole reason why I would consider purchasing one. I've been fortunate to handle the camera and lens a few times lately, and have been quite impressed with how well this camera handles. It truly feels more like an overgrown 35mm Leica rangefinder camera than a digital SLR, well-balanced with both hands gripping onto the camera and lens. Indeed, it it truly designed as a digital SLR for the active photographer interested in photographing moving objects, judging from its relatively narrow ISO range from 100 to 1600 (This is a range suited ideally for the sports or other action-oriented photographer.). And yet how well this camera handles isn't my best reason for getting one. Optically its performance is absolutely stellar, at least at lower ISO speeds, yielding crisp images with superb contrast and resolution (The Leica D 14-50mm f2.8-3.5 ASPH lens yielded a performance, that according to Popular Photography, was outstanding, and much better than other digital SLR zoom lenses of similar focal lengths, due not only to its superb Leica-designed optical formula, but also to its digital imaging stabilizer.).

With the Leica Digilux 3, Leica - and its partner Panasonic - have officially become the latest member of the digital four-thirds system pioneered by Sigma and embraced too by Olympus (EDITORIAL NOTE: I erred in assuming that Sigma had pioneered the digital four-thirds system, which the comment (see below) by another customer notes correctly. However, contrary to what he has written, it was developed jointly by both Kodak and Olympus. I have had several opportunities to use this camera and have been quite impressed with its performance.). This means that potential users of the Leica Digilux 3 can use too superb lenses made by both firms, most notably the Olympus 50mm f2 macro lens. Both Leica and Panasonic have promised additional Leica lenses for its four-thirds digital SLRs (The term "four-thirds" refers to the image ratio that's obtainable from the camera's digital imaging sensor; other image formats, including the standard three two from 35mm photography are also available.); I have no doubt that optically their performances will be second to none. And yet, the unanswered question is whether this new digital four thirds SLR camera and its Leica-designed zoom lens are well worth the expense in acquiring them. I think the answer is a most definite yes if you are seeking the highest possible optical quality from a four-thirds digital SLR.

2 out of 5 stars

Leica Digilux 3, Digital SLR September 11, 2007
Raymond S. Iorio
12 out of 28 found this review helpful

I sent the Leica Digilux 3 back to Amazon because of missing parts. I did however get to examine the camera and my conclusion is that while the lens is superb as all Leica Lens are, the camera body had a cheap plastic feel. With 7.5 megapixels (I recommend at least 8 mg) and a price of $2,499, a bit overpriced I went back to the drawing board.

My suggestion for anyone really desiring this camera is to buy the Panasonic model which comes with the same Leica lens and a metal body (actually just about the same camera) for less than 1/2 the price.

Reviewing Popular Photography Magazine and JD Powers for the best Digital SLR Cameras I discovered that the Nikon D300 and Olympus E-3 digital slr cameras released in Nov. 2007 are the top rated new cameras along with a Canon model.

After examining the D300 and the Olympus E-3 in person, I decided to purchase the E-3 with the cost just about what the Leica Digilux 3 is. However, the Olympus has 10 megapixels, a metal frame body, and the lens is also metal and not plastic. The Olympus is almost a carbon copy of the familiar 35mm SLR cameras with less weight and bulk and a lot more features. Ditto for the Nikon D300.

Anyway I digress, for those of you who can afford the Leica Digilux 3 I recommend examining the Olympus E-3, or for diehard Nikon fans the D300. Either camera is great and, you can use the Leica 4/3 lens on the Olympus if you happen to have one.

For further information on the Olympus or the Nikon just type in the Amazon search "Olympus E-3" or "Nikon D300". Read the company and Amazon information on both cameras. Then more importantly, read the comments of the people who actually bought and use the product.....their comments are what you want.

Hope this has helped you in deciding which camera to buy.
Happy Shooting!
-Ray

4 out of 5 stars

Good! But Still Expensive. December 1, 2006
Ji Il Jeon (New York, NY USA)
10 out of 15 found this review helpful

Digilux 3 has almost every function that I want.
Live view, Dust Reduction, Image Stabilization(Lens),
Classical Design, 16:9 aspect, Flash Bounce, etc.

However, its noise in ISO1600 is worse than I thought
and Focusing Speed is a little bit slow (Especially in Live View mode, there's a delay).
Also, it's much more expensive than its twins - Panasonic DMC-L1.

I think this is good for amateur like me.

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