Compared to...

Below you will find a studio comparison between the Leica Digilux 2 and Canon PowerShot G5. Because the G5 features the lower noise ISO 50 we have provide comparisons at both ISO 50 and ISO 100 for this camera.

Studio scene comparison (Digilux 2 @ ISO 100, G5 @ ISO 50)

• Leica Digilux 2: Aperture Priority mode, ISO 100, Default Image Parameters,
  Manual white balance, +0.0 EV compensation
   
• Canon PowerShot G5: Aperture Priority mode, ISO 50, Default Image Parameters,
  Manual white balance, +0.0 EV compensation
   
• Lighting: Two 800W studio lamps with dichroic daylight filters bounced off the ceiling

Leica Digilux 2	Canon PowerShot G5
ISO 100, 1/4 sec, F5.0	ISO 50, 0.3 sec, F5.0
3,500 KB JPEG	2,082 KB JPEG

With the G5 at ISO 50 it's a pretty much neck and neck performance from both cameras. In some crops the Digilux 2 is looking slightly sharper, in others the G5 has the edge but overall there's very little difference between these two cameras. Perhaps the only noticeable difference is the color response with the Digilux 2 producing better reds and blues, the G5 better greens.

Studio scene comparison (Digilux 2 @ ISO 100, G5 @ ISO 100)

• Leica Digilux 2: Aperture Priority mode, ISO 100, Default Image Parameters,
  Manual white balance, +0.0 EV compensation
   
• Canon PowerShot G5: Aperture Priority mode, ISO 100, Default Image Parameters,
  Manual white balance, +0.0 EV compensation
   
• Lighting: Two 800W studio lamps with dichroic daylight filters bounced off the ceiling

Leica Digilux 2	Canon PowerShot G5
ISO 100, 1/4 sec, F5.0	ISO 100, 1/6 sec, F5.0
3,500 KB JPEG	2,362 KB JPEG

With the G5 at ISO 100 the difference is more obvious, the Digilux 2 keeps noise under control either through noise reduction or simply having a cleaner analogue stage. The G5 has always been known for being noisy at ISO 100, the Digilux 2 appears to be much better.