D-lux 8

[AREMAC JSF]

Crazy as it sounds, I traded a Leica M 11 body for a D-Lux 8. I was having problems focusing, and the rendering lag of the 11. I love the size; even with larger hands, I can maneuver with ease. The D-Lux 8 feels like a Leica. The metal body is small, but when you hold it, you know it's a Leica. The number of programmable minimal buttons on the back and top is perfect. Allows you to shoot fully automatic or quickly fully manual. So far the pictures are great in low light, with great color and clean images in B&W. The size and weight make it a perfect camera to drop in a small bag, and once out, it's a real leica. The menu is easy to move around; it doesn't have as many options as larger DSLR, but when you are used to M cameras, it is more than enough. Picture quality is not the level of a Leica Q camera. But, 1/4 the price and half the weight, I still feel like once again I'm shooting with a Leica. Software upgrade are easy to install, and transferring pictures to my iPhone works, maybe a little slower than a Q but it works. Picture quality is better than expected.

 

[UsherFellig]

This is why Leica is considering an M-mount EVF camera.

 

[NoGutsNoGlory]

Thanks for the review. So far I have had the flux 8 for about a week and agree with your assessment. It is my first Leica camera. I love the handling of this very small camera! Leica nailed the button placement and minimalist design; and the menu system is fantastic. I have had other camera systems including canon FF, Lumix FF and Fuji and while those cameras were all fantastic, I would pick the d lux 8 for its simplicity and ease of use over the other systems. I found that with other systems I spend more time fiddling with settings than shooting. With the D Lux, it is designed to shoot.

In my opinion what would make this a perfect camera would be the addition of an interchangeable lens mount. I realize that would make the camera a bit bigger but Leica could do it without adding too much bulk. I think that would sell really well. Because I think there are a lot of people who -like me do not want the M, Q or SL systems because they are too bulky and heavy- or do not want to spend the money for those systems.

Good luck with the new cam!

 

[JNK 100]

Thanks for the review. So far I have had the flux 8 for about a week and agree with your assessment. It is my first Leica camera. I love the handling of this very small camera! Leica nailed the button placement and minimalist design; and the menu system is fantastic. I have had other camera systems including canon FF, Lumix FF and Fuji and while those cameras were all fantastic, I would pick the d lux 8 for its simplicity and ease of use over the other systems. I found that with other systems I spend more time fiddling with settings than shooting. With the D Lux, it is designed to shoot.

In my opinion what would make this a perfect camera would be the addition of an interchangeable lens mount. I realize that would make the camera a bit bigger but Leica could do it without adding too much bulk. I think that would sell really well. Because I think there are a lot of people who -like me do not want the M, Q or SL systems because they are too bulky and heavy- or do not want to spend the money for those systems.

Good luck with the new cam!

This is a nice camera but it is a predominantly Panasonic design. As such, it would seem highly unlikely and probably a technical impossibility, to add an interchangeable mount.

 

[Heritage Cameras]

In my opinion what would make this a perfect camera would be the addition of an interchangeable lens mount. I realize that would make the camera a bit bigger but Leica could do it without adding too much bulk. I think that would sell really well. Because I think there are a lot of people who -like me do not want the M, Q or SL systems because they are too bulky and heavy- or do not want to spend the money for those systems.

This is a nice camera but it is a predominantly Panasonic design. As such, it would seem highly unlikely and probably a technical impossibility, to add an interchangeable mount.

The D-Lux cameras have a tiny leaf shutter inside the lens, instead of the larger focal plane type in the body you'd want for interchangeable lenses.

Surprisingly the APS-C Leica CL with a pancake lens isn't that much bigger:

https://camerasize.com/compact/#923,726.690,726.696,570.397,ha,t

...but when you add a lens with a similar range it gets much larger.

I find it interesting to compare these sizes to the Panasonic GM5 (which could have been Leicafied), but that ship has sailed...

 

[Francis E]

This is a nice camera but it is a predominantly Panasonic design.

Less so, I find, than its predecessor the D-Lux 7. The D-Lux 8 shares many Q3 features absent from the D-Lux 7.

 

[John McCormack]

If only the D-lux 8 had f/stop step zooming and zoom resume after power off it would be my next camera. Power off/on is sloooow. Until then I will pass. Anyone found work arounds?

 

[bloodycape]

This is a nice camera but it is a predominantly Panasonic design.

Less so, I find, than its predecessor the D-Lux 7. The D-Lux 8 shares many Q3 features absent from the D-Lux 7.

Which features? I was kind of looking at the D-Lux typ 109 due to price being reasonable(& the same as the LX100 in the open market).

 

[JNK 100]

This is a nice camera but it is a predominantly Panasonic design.

Less so, I find, than its predecessor the D-Lux 7. The D-Lux 8 shares many Q3 features absent from the D-Lux 7.

Which features? I was kind of looking at the D-Lux typ 109 due to price being reasonable(& the same as the LX100 in the open market).

As far as I am aware the only shared features are the menu and Fotis app.

It is a mildly refreshed DL7 and hence has the same sensor and lens as the Panny.

 

[NoGutsNoGlory]

As far as I am aware the only shared features are the menu and Fotis app.

It is a mildly refreshed DL7 and hence has the same sensor and lens as the Panny.

The body has been redesigned so that it is consistent with the Q3.; it is much simpler than the Lumix or 7. The 8 also has an improved LCD screen and a new processor compared to the 7. So, not a massive difference but in my view a very noticeable difference.

The overall shooting experience with the change to the design certainly seems very Leica, especially compared to the Lumix and 7. Of course the price is also very Leica like! Not being a prior Leica shooter, these changes were enough for me to buy it. And I read many comments that this is not a true Leica. But I don't think I would ever by a Q, M or SL because they fairly large and heavy and I really want a small, light camera.

 

[bloodycape]

EVF is also larger & OLED like the newer Qs from the reviews I saw.

 

[JNK 100]

EVF is also larger & OLED like the newer Qs from the reviews I saw.

The Q3 EVF is both bigger and higher resolution.