Leica D-LUX 3 10MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom Silver Description:
The Leica D-LUX 3 is a compact digital camera with 10 megapixels, & has a LEICADC VARIO-ELMARIT 1:2.8-4.9/6.3-25.2 ASPH lens with a focal range from 28 to 112mm. The optical image stabilizer (O.I.S.) ensures that sharp pictures are obtained without a flash or tripod in critical light situations. The 2.8″ display gives the photographer a reliable, precise evaluation while recording & playingThe CCD 16:9 sensor shows the image in the format filling 16:9 ratio. The built-in flash unit is activated manually for fill-in lighting & is neatly concealed within the camera body when not used. There are a number of programmed motive modes as well as the manual setting options for fast as well as creative/individual photography. There is no viewfinder because of the large displaySimply Beautiful:The Leica D-LUX 3 is a compact but powerful companion. Available in black or silver finish, the 10 megapixels D-LUX 3 is an attractive companion with its clean-cut lines. Once again, Leica has combined quality optics and high-grade materials. It will appeal to existing customers & new groupsLeica Lens:From wide-angle to telephoto The D-LUX 3 offers superior image quality not only based on a high resolution. A decisive factor is the LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT 6.3-25.2 mm f/2.8-4.9 ASPH. With a fast maximum aperture of f/2.8 & an interesting focal length range of 28-112 mm (35 mm format equivalent), there are hardly any limits to photographic creativity. The lens compris
- Amazon Sales Rank: #45504 in Camera & Photo
- Color: Silver
- Brand: Leica
- Model: 18308
- Released on: 2006-11-01
- Dimensions: 1.00″ h x 2.30″ w x 4.16″ l, .49 pounds
- Display size: 2.8
Features
- 10-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 18 x 24-inch prints
- Unique manual setting options give you the freedom to create images that express your own style
- High-quality Leica lens takes in stunning shots from the wide-angle to the telephoto range
- O.I.S. optical stabilization technology and ultra fast processing
- Pure, discreet, timeless design in a housing of high-quality aluminum
Customer Reviews:
Worthy Successor to Leica’s D-LUX 2
The brand new Leica D-Lux 3 is a stylish update of the popular Leica D-Lux 2 which was available in limited release late last year. It carries on the now grand tradition of Leica digital point and shoot cameras with improved optical image stabilizing and enhanced Leica-designed firmware for ultimate image quality. I had the chance to use this camera briefly twice recently, and was extremely impressed with both its easy handling and superior image quality. Like its predecessor it offers three different types of image formats. But, best of all, you don’t need to rely on the camera manual to pick it up and use it immediately (EDITORIAL NOTE: I had the opportunity to use the camera from 11/20/06-11/30/06 primarily to photograph some of the most impressive Christmas store displays here in New York, NY, and to photograph fellow Brunonian – and former classmate – author Rick Moody at a private reception held in his honor prior to a public event featuring him at the venerable 92nd Street Y. I’m greatly impressed with both the image quality and the realistic color saturation of the images I took using the least amount of .jpeg compression at a maximum pixel size of 8.5 Mb. I am grateful to Leica Camera USA for allowing me to borrow a current production version of this camera.). Although the Leica D-Lux 3 is available in a superb black finish, I am more than a bit partial to chrome, since the chrome version reminds me more of such classic Leica M-mount 35mm rangefinder cameras like the M3 and M4.
The Leica D-Lux 3 has approximately the same dimensions and features as its illustrious predecessor (Dimensions (WxHxD) – 4.2 x 2.3 x 1 inches (105.7 x 58.3 x 25.6mm) Weight – 6.5oz / 7.8oz (185g/220g) (without/with battery, memory card and lens cap)). But it is replete with an extensive list of features that weren’t available in the D-Lux 2. For example, I believe there is more opportunity for creative manual control via its manual control features. There is also ample flexibility in available apertures for different kinds of photography from wide angle to telephoto (Aperture – F2.8-F8.0 (wide angle) F4.9-F8.0 (telephoto)). There is also a flexible array of flash options ranging from red eye reduction to second curtain synchronization modes. And then there is a flexible in image format modes. There is a video recording mode in which you can choose between 16:9 and 4:3 formats: – In 16 – 9 format a choice between 1280 x 720 pixels 15 fps or 848 x 480 pixels 30 fps/ 10 fps; in 4 – 3 format a choice between 640 x 480 pixels 30 fps/10 fps or 320 x 240 pixels 30 fps/10 fps. Your only limitation is the storage capacity of the SD card you use. Images can be stored in the following file formats: Still – RAW, JPEG (Fine/Standard), Movie – QuickTime Motion JPEG. Last, but not least, you can dictate the type of digital photography being done and let the camera handle the rest via these scene programs: Portraits, sport, night scenes, night portraits, fireworks, parties, snow, self-portraits, food, high-sensitivity mode, Baby 1, Baby 2, soft skin, candlelight, starry skies, landscapes, print . Quite simply this camera offers so much at a relatively reasonable price for a digital Leica – or indeed any other digital – camera in this class.
Very nice, but not perfect.
I purchased a silver one a few weeks ago, and have taken it to a few trips and events and now have the following comments:
1) It is very small and light. This thing really is a point-and-shoot. The good news is that it’s more portable than I expected, though one should not purchase this camera expecting it to feel hefty like an M3.
2) It’s very pretty, and the fit and finish are of a high standard.
3) The lens is a thing of beauty to behold in all its multi-coated splendor (if you’re into that sort of thing). The lens cap feels cheap.
4) Images taken in the near macro to about 30 ft. range are very sharp, clear, contrasty, and beautiful. They are so good, in fact, that you could easily convince someone that they were taken with a hefty SLR system camera rather than a pocket-sized one.
5) Long shots (landscapes, etc.), seem a little bit soft, and this disappointed me a bit, though when I compared it to my Nikon Coolpix S2, it was actually sharper. I will need to perform more tests at infinity focus.
6) The flash is not very powerful and does not have much “reach.” This is problematic indoors if your subject is more than 8-10 feet away.
7) The display is gorgeous, and puts my other camera’s display to shame.
The manual controls are good, and there really is an astonishing degree of manual control for a pocket-sized machine.
9) The lens is a bit soft when wide open, and while this could be nice for portraits and such, if you want to sharpen things up you can use aperture priority and a tripod, and then they’re beautiful.
10) One of the strengths of this camera is its large glass and fairly fast lens (for this camera class), and its ability to capture really nice images indoors in available light, though you need a steady subject and either tripod or to rest it on a solid surface to get the most out of it.
Leica got it right
I have to say I’ve only had the camera for several days so far, but it’s all that I expected from Leica. You perhaps pay a bit more for the name, but it’s in the details where it succeeds. The screen is beautiful, with the font large and so easy to read. The menu is simple to navigate and the three picture format sizes is perfect, well beyond any other camera for the price. About the only thing that would have been a nice addition would have been a simple case for it since the screen is large and probably easily scratched through normal use. The delay normally experienced with digital cameras when taking a photo is still true with this camera, but is minimal compared to competitive brands.
Manufacturer Description
Every picture taken with the Leica D-LUX 3 has a story to tell. The unique manual setting options give you the freedom to create images that express your own style. Use the high-quality Leica lens to take stunning shots from the wide-angle to the telephoto range. With O.I.S. optical stabilization technology and ultra fast processing, the Leica D-LUX 3 sets new standards in its class. Choose between three picture formats, achieve first-class image quality with the camera’s 10 megapixel sensor and assess your shots on the wide-screen display. Small and elegant, the Leica D-LUX 3 is always ready to make your personal view of the world reality.
Stylish design
The design of the D-Lux 3 is totally in keeping with Leica tradition: pure, discreet, timeless–in a housing of high-quality aluminum.
Always on the move
The D-Lux 3 is so light, compact and unobtrusive that there’s no reason why you should leave it at home. Small as it is, it’s a great performer: three file formats–from simple JPEG to the RAW format rarely offered in this class of camera–ensure optimum image quality for further processing as well. The image stabilizer (O.I.S.) leads to sharply focused images even in situations where there’s not really enough natural light. The camera is also perfect for digiscoping–taking photographs through a spotting scope–to capture the fascination of nature at close range.
Plenty of scope for creativity
The D-Lux 3 still gives the photographer the freedom to create his own view of the world without any automatic settings. The 16:9 picture format with the full resolution of over 10-megapixels produces fantastic images for frame-filling viewing on HDTV equipment. The brilliant 2.8-inch display also has an aspect ratio of 16:9.
What’s in the Box:
Camera with lens cap and hand loop, 64 MB SD card, charger, Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery, A/V cable, USB cable, extensive software package (Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0 (PC)/3.0 (Mac), Quicktime Movie Player).
