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Leica vs Panasonic

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Mastermurphy

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I was inquiring at local stores for the Leica C-LUX 01 when a salesman told me that I would be better off to buy the Panasonic FX01 which is almost identical in every way to the Leica. Also about 30% less. The specs appear to be the same but as a potentially first time Leica owner can anybody tell me what I would be giving up in buying the Panasonic over the Leica ? Any help or advice appreciated.
 
Well, theoretically, in some of the Leica-Panasonic clones, the firmware or software (that processes an image after it's captured) is different. Whether different=better I don't know. I have a Panasonic Lumix DMC-LC1 (the 5MP with a 28-90mm Leica Zoom lens. I'm happy with it and it's results are better than other 5MP non-SLRs I've compared it to, but I have not been able to compare it with results from it's Leica cousin.
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  • Vikas
 
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Greg Gebhardt in
Jacksonville, Florida
D Two Xs
Leica M7
 
Well, I think that the software (firmware) is improved by Leica and for the Leica cameras. I have the D-LUX 2, and the colours of the pictures are the best I've ever found on a digital camera (better than my Canon 30d). Unfortunately, I don't know how they are with the equivalent Panasonic.

Besides, the Leica D3 has a three-years warranty, instead of only one-year for the Panasonic L1. It's the "Leica's spirit" : your Leica cam is built to last.

And, at last, the Leica has more accessories than the L1 (one 1GB SD card and a housing cover ; not a big deal but with that all you need is in the box).

Of course a Leica cam is more expensive than the equiv. Panasonic, but for a SLR like the D3, the 3-years warranty is enough to justify the price.
 
I bought a LCG instead of a Digilux 2 because the two are basically the same (and I like the LC1 black body). However since my LC1 broke out of warrantee, I've been wishing I had spent the extra money on the Digilux.
 
I'm wondering along similar lines...Leica DLux3 or Panasonic LX2? I know for example the Leica body is metal, is the Panasonic? Is it the same lens and sensor?

Any advice welcome!
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Pat JT
 
Asking wrote (excerpt):
Asking said:
...my LC1 broke out of warrantee, I've been wishing I had spent the extra money on the Digilux.
Click to expand...
THAT does make a difference... 3 years, eh?
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OK, I admit it... I capture souls with my camera!
from the Oregon Coast,
Roy NN7DX
DSLR's and 12x super zooms...
Now the pixels are really hitting the fan...
 
I can tell you that I recently bought the FX-01 and for this style of camera I seriously doubt that the extra money for the Leica would be worth it. If you shop around you can find the Panasonic for well under $300. The hardware is the same - same lens, chip etc - not sure about the warranty on the Leica - but unless the software seriously reduces noise at higher ISO's I can't imagine it's going to make much difference in normal picture quality. In good light the picture quality is sharp and excellent. With the ability to go to higher ISO's it's also a good stealth camera for low light but the noise is obvious. It's a nifty little camera by the way if you're just looking for something with a wide angle you can carry around in your pocket for snapshots.

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Pete F.
 
Considering the best part of the camera is the lens, but slightly let down by the sensor, you're better off getting the Panasonic and buying extra SD cards. Yeah, the extended warranty is nice and all, but I've had my Olympus for 5 years and it keeps on going, but if it breaks tomorrow, it will cheaper to buy a new camera than fix it, digital cameras just aren't worth that much after a few years, same goes for my FZ-20, I'd be better off with the FZ-30/50.
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-Eric
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Olympus 3040
Panasonic FZ-20
Minolta XG7 - Minolta MC 1.7/55
FED 2 - Industar 26, 61 L/D
Kiev 4 - Jupiter 3, 8, 12
Praktiflex FX - several m42 lenses
 
Well that tells me that Panasonic should give a 3 year warranty too, since the cameras come off the same assembly line only with different badges.
 
Panasonic has never given more than one year, and Leica has always given at least two years. That's one of the things you pay extra for with the Leica, also usually better and more complete software, bigger memory card, etc. And now for the first time it is being reported that they cameras ARE different, at least the internal firmware which could have a distinct change in image quality.
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Galleries: http://www.koo22images.com/-/koo22images/
 
Any Leica will hold its value better and longer than any Panasonic. All you have to do to confirm that is take a look at ebay prices for both after a couple of years. So it's questionable as to whether you're 'saving' money in the long run.
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Galleries: http://www.koo22images.com/-/koo22images/
 
Also, Leica does put some better software in their package, but if you already have software, you might go the Panasonic route and save a few $$

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Al Patterson
 
I am surprised that nobody picked up on an -at least for me- important point.

Beside all the technical specs, details everything.... A camera is a very emotional product for me.

You look for it for choosing for weeks - some even longer. We spend how many hours in the forum to make up our mind? I do - guilty!

You can´t wait until it arrives - you unpack it, charge it and try the 1st pictures....The camera will travel with you for a hopefully long time. It might become an extension of yourself.

For me a Leica looks way more beautiful comparing to the similar Panny. Just compare the LX2 versus a black D-Lux3. That´s why I decided as well for the Leica version and not for the Panny one.

How much money is that worth in a calculation?

That depends on everybody´s own view.

beside the comparison which were discussed already, just my 5 cents..

Heiner
 
At a Leica product launch in Singapore yesterday, a reica representative from Germany said that there is a Leica representative at the Panasonic factory who is responsible for monitoring quality. While the context of the question he was asked imlied that this representative monitors quality for Leica products, it's also possible that he may be there as part of the Leica-Panasonic collaboration to assist with quality monitoring generally.

The Digilux 3 DOES feel like a much better built camera than my old Panasonic (the Digilux 2 counterpart) but I have not had an opportunity to compare it with the the new Panasonic DMC L1 (The Digilux 3 conterpart). However I also tried the M8. You have to understand that this is a clearly diferent class of camera. Feels different, controls feel better and more precise and so on. Of course there's the small matter of price difference...
JPG said:
And basically that's the only difference.
Click to expand...
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  • Vikas
M6, CL, FX-01
 
Way back when ;-) I purchased the LC1 and later the Digilux 2 - it is nearly impossible to tell the difference between the two.... but here is an interesting thread from then and before both were out. Now over two years old and here we are back at the same sort of discussion.

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1033&message=7865136

It will be interesting to see how this all plays out with the vlux and digilux when they are out. From reading here the general feeling seems to be the LX2 and DLUX 3 close but different, I might be wrong about that reading of things.

Cheers. Terry.
 
I read that Leica tweaked the LX2 firmware a bit. So is the IQ any better, in any noticeable way?
 
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