Leica D-Lux 4 Digital Camera (Black)

Not much of a review here -- more like a report. I bought this for a foreigner who was visiting and noticed the great price from Amazon. He said it was much more expensive in his country, but the camera had a great reputation and was a highly desired item in Lower Slabovia. From the few photos he took while testing it out here, we could see it was performing far above the average digital point-and-shoot. But beyond that, I can't say much.

Leica D-Lux 4 is a sweet spot camera with all the style and technical prowess one would expect from Leica optics. Tight, compact and technically superior to run-of-mill cameras. What a deal for me.

This camera delivers a crisp true picture. Maybe a little expensive but you certainly get your moneys worth with this product. Well made, easy to carry. Good family camera.

I wanted to upgrade my digital camera (a Casio point and shoot I got as a gift). After agonizing about which DSLR to buy (Canon 7D, Nikon 300S?) and lenses for those, I just went for this camera. (I'll still get a DSLR). This is one AMAZING camera right out of the box. It is easy to use, and very easy to ALWAYS have with you. Now I realize that I am taking shots that I would never get with the bigger cameras for a couple reasons. One, I just wouldn't have them with me. Two, holding a larger camera would be impossible in situations like street photography, shots in restaurants, even at home when a larger camera makes everyone sit up and think "photo in progress." It's totally unobtrusive, and looks like a dinky little point and shoot. Surprise, surprise. It is capable of taking beautiful images in several formats, sizes, low light, macro, etc.

A question people might have is "Why the Leica"? Well, because it's a Leica, and I have read in several places that the software (specifically the color and B & W menu options) is customized. I am very glad I bought this particular camera. Also, when I bought it (check the Leica web site) the warranty was extended for three years.

Finally, the bottom line. If you search the web, or search Flickr for the Leica D LUX 4 group photos you can see what this camera is capable of doing. That's what the gear is all about anyway- a tool to make photographs.

I once read a review which the comment was stated: "every camera is a compromise". No truer words. I currently have a Nikon D200 and was looking to having a feature-laden small camera easy to take on trips. This camera gave me exactly what I was looking for. The images and features are exceptional. The only complaint I have is as a result of my own new-found preference - I really miss having that view finder up to my eye. I wish now that I had gotten a Nikon D90 which would be only a little larger and would have fit in with all my Nikon gear. Again, I can't take away anything from this camera. It's a gem which I'll keep. As a suggestion, for youself, do a little more thinking than I did as to your own personal needs.

I had many cameras in price range up to $1,000 dollar. I took few pictures with Leica and knew right away that this one is the best I ever had. Now I wondering to myself, why I did not know it before. Therefore I hope you do not make same mistake like me, to buy something else than Leica.

I read so many reviews on this camera raving about the picture quality and how the $700 pricetag is justifiable. Well, I bought this camera and tested it against my Sony TX1 (ultracompact), Olympus E-P1 (micro four-thirds), and Sony A700 (DSLR). I took many A/B/C comparison shots and I've concluded the following:

Picture quality on the D-Lux 4 is better than the TX1, excellent for a point and shoot and very very sharp, but overall picture quality is not in the same league as my Sony DSLR and micro four thirds Olympus. For example, depth of field for portraits - just couldn't get the right bokeh (blurred backgrounds), and natural light photography was challenging at best (lots of noise above ISO 400). Also, the white balance just didn't look as true, pics had a grayish overtone (even with the latest firmware upgrade 2.2, though improved) - I probably wouldn't have noticed this if I hadn't directly compared shots to the other cameras. And while it beats other ultracompacts, it's not an ultracompact camera, you won't be able to easily slip this in your back pocket like my TX1.

That being said, if you're looking for a camera that you can easily carry (but not necessarily in your pants pocket), has a pop up flash, takes excellent, sharp point and shoot pictures, and has the Leica cache, then the D-Lux 4 is for you. For people looking to replace their DSLRs for something smaller and lighter, I would suggest looking at the Olympus E-P1 or Panasonic GF1, these micro-four thirds cameras come close to DSLR quality and are only marginally bigger than the D-Lux 4 if you go with a prime lense.

I got this camera to carry to special functions and on commutes where a DSLR was awkward to bring along or might be intimidating to others (we have a D2X and D70 we use on dedicated photo events). This camera hasn't been a disappointment, works great for what we got it for.

Pros
- Excellent color
- Great performance up to ISO400, especially zoomed wide open, and the auto ISO function that allows setting a maximum ISO to use works great for those times where the lighting varies or is uncertain
- Love the wide zoom for working close rooms as well as for quick landscapes or building shots
- Very nice movie mode, and surprisingly good audio capture.
- Relatively quick autofocus (not in DSLR league, but much better than other point and shoot cameras)
- Very low noise up to ISO400

Cons
- Cheap lens cap
- Lack of viewfinder, unless purchase the optional one
- Manual focus not very useful in most cases
- Some distortion on wide end
- Pop-up flash awkward location, although more powerful than expected
- Too expensive?

be sure to go to [...]to get the latest firmware. it improves white balance and adds 1:1 aspect ratios. my straight from amazon gift had firmware 1.1, which is several revisions old.

Although the LX3 and d-lux4 are basically the same camera, you do get a few extras:
+ significantly better industrial design :)
+ phase one capture one raw processing software - this is a pro-level raw processing tool by a medium format manufacturer that outclasses most other tools out there. i love it.
+ 3 yr warranty - register on [...] to get the extended warranty
+ marginally less processed JPEGs
+ cachet

in all, i think the first 3 points make the $200 premium over the panasonic LX3 worthwhile.

i've been a canon shooter my entire life (EOS 1Ds, G10, SD790IS make up my current arsenal), so i feel comfortable with this comparison:

d-lux4 vs G10:
+ astounding lens. wide open aperture (f2.0) is still sharp but great low/available light performance. there are shots only this compact or an SLR with a large lens (or the new GF1) can take. Also significantly less chromatic aberration than the G10 lens in my shots.
+ significantly smaller/lighter
+ better noise characteristics. there is significantly more chroma noise on the G10 than D-lux4/LX3 at high ISOs. G10 does a ton of noise reduction in JPEGs.
+ 720p video recording. however, the camera applies a LOT of sharpening to the video, you're limited to 24 fps, and they use the antiquated MJPEG codec, meaning you can't record as much as per GB as you can with AVC.
- shorter telephoto. at 60mm equivalent vs. 140mm equivalent on the long end, there are some shots you will simply not get on the D-lux4/LX3.
- fiddly joystick, vs the machined dials. changing exposure on the G10 is downright easy & fun - there's a dial for EV, a dial for ISO, and a dial for aperture (my usual setup) or shutter. on the d-lux4/lx3, you have to use this tiny joystick. it's not significantly slower, but it detracts a little from the 'this is a serious camera' feel.
-/+ lens cap. yes it's an issue. for getting the camera out and ready to shoot it's not too bad - i'm able to one-handedly draw my D-lux4 out of its case, use one finger to pry off the lens and turn on the camera at the same time. putting the cap back on still needs 2 hands though.
- hard to use with gloves. the G10 is very usable with gloves, the D-lux4/lx3, not so much. gloves have to come off.
+ better RAW processing software. actually, if you take a free upgrade to capture one (to 4.8x), it will support the G10 as well!
+/- about the same performance around auto focus, and shot-to-shot latency.

X-factor - ultimately, there was a pop in the JPEGs out of the leica that struck me the first time i looked at my test shots, and even more lovely detail when i worked the RAWs. this is a remarkable camera with a remarkable lens. the different film modes make you think creatively. i still keep/use by G10. here's what it boils down to:

- stopped down (about F4.0), in bright light (ISO 80), nothing beats the G10. it has a super-usable range 28mm-140mm, is easy to use one-handed and has incredible resolution.
- for all other purposes, i take the D-lux4 - indoor available light shooting, early morning/late evening, wide panoramas. most of the usability issues can be worked around by setting up custom modes (you can save up to 4 settings), and setting up the FN button to something useful.

I love love love this camera .. especially for taking pictures of my eBay
jewelry, charms and coin items. See for yourself .. I am just a beginner
when it comes to photography. But see for yourself the great macros images
this camera takes.

[...]

This camera produces very high quality outstanding images. It's almost same quality contrast that come from Schneider Kruznach optic on Rolleiflex. Wonderful contrast, crisp blacks, spark liveliness in eyes, breathtaking sharpness and good color balance. To me contrast is the most important principle of design and crucial in making the art exciting and of high quality. I don't care about cameras that have all the fancy features, even produce sharp image, but as far as contrast - completely dead. I grew up on Rolleiflex 6x6 with Schneider 80 mm f2.8 (the best camera ever). Then I gave it to a missionary friend not knowing what I had. Later, after getting same looking camera, I noticed after about 10 rolls that something was wrong with contrast. After close look, it came to me that it had a different lens "Carl Zeiss" . . . (don't take me wrong it's sharp from Zeiss but different contrast, . . not for me . .). I was so stupid not look carefully on the lens while buying it in used store (they look almost same). Building my own enlarger as a little boy, done a lot of work in darkroom, image manipulation, work with many different filter and many special techniques helped me to train my eye for contrast. I teach black and white, digital photography and also AP Studio Art 2D Design in high school. To me what makes picture to be real picture; is the optic on the lens, not the features on the camera. The coding on the glass and optic itself determines the contrast and foretells the quality of anticipated results. The image that is reflected through optic on the focal plane of a film or on chip, picks up on its way into the camera the contrast that is inscribed by the optic and its coding. Leica's optic is very highly reflective glass that enables and empowers the image with breathtaking contrast. If you don't necessary care about contrast and great color balance, but want to still have sharp pictures without life, then get C . . . . (I don't want to drop a bomb, ha, ha . .)

Leica D lux 4 is a nice little camera with outstanding quality of image that comes very close to the level of Schneider glass. By the way the Lord blessed me with another Rollei with Schneider Kruznach 80 mm f 2.8. Both Rolleiflex with Schneider and Leica D lux 4 are keepers. Notice that I am comparing this little Leica to a medium format, different level camera. You will not be disappointed in getting this camera.

Carry it in the case or slip it in your pocket -- this is terrific camera. Easy to use. Excellent picture quality. Lens versatility does well in most situations: nice, logical, easy to understand electronics read-out.

The shoe-mounted viewfinder is of limited use, but helps if you don't have your eyeglasses and your arms aren't as long as they used to be. Somewhere on the net I found a gauge for estimating zooming, but viewfinder's probably not worth the money.

The more powerful flash is useful and worth having (expensive though): I lost mine, but found it so useful that I bought a second one to replace it (ouch!).

The brown or black leather case is also worth having, even if pricy. It is good protection and smart-looking (styled like something Cary Grant or Myrna Loy might have boarding a steamer in an old B&W flick). One of the metal rivets on the strap tabs connecting the case to the shoulder strap broke after a couple of month of light use (must have been a latent defect), but Leica (in NJ) replaced it without any fuss (something 17th St Camera wouldn't do).

I can't imagine why anyone (who doesn't have a bwana or me'm sahib complex) would spend the extra few hundreds for the "Safari" finish, however.

The screw in hand grip is a good feature, but unfortunately won't fit into the leather case. In any even, there's a wrist strap that protects from accidental dropping (the wrist strap will fit into the leather case).

The lens cap is attached by a string lanyard -- which is a but of a kluge as it can hang into the picture frame sometimes; but it beats losing it, given the ludicrous replacement prices camera companies get for such simple things. Be careful you don't accidentally throw out this lens cap lanyard with the packaging. It's easy to overlook, as I discovered.

It's a nice, nice camera. Excellent picture quality. Bright, bright lens with good if limited zoom range. Light as a feather -- especially when I've been carrying my heavy Olympus E-1 with its heavier still Zuiko ED 14-35 mm (28-70 mm equivalent) 2.0 SWD lens (roughly the same zoom range as the Leica) which weighs a ton.

Try the D-Lux 4; you'll like it.

Nice tactile feel for the controls - nothing springy or plastic. Has a nice weight and balance making it easy to control. Display is sharp and easy to use. Location of visual indicators in the display perimeter make it easy to verify settings before shooting. Understated appearance is nice. No need to have control panels on the front of a camera. A first class design. Performance of the camera itself is good. Video shot is fine for home use. It integrates easily with the HDTV setup. Better than packing around another camera when on the road. It's also unobtrusive so no one seems to mind that you are shooting pictures. Image quality is good. Image stabilization is good as well. Low light performance was a factor in selection of this model and that is also good. A superb camera that is living up to its positive reviews.

Update - 9/29/2009

Ok - I have had the camera for a solid 2 weeks. It is exactly what I expected. Perfect in every way. I am still trying to understand what the big deal is over the lens cap. If you really must have an electronically controlled lens cover, buy one of the plethora of other P&S cameras. I personally have to deal with this for all of my DSLR lenses and it has become almost a mechanical action that doesn't even register in my brain as work anymore.

The picture quality on this camera is far superior to any other P&S that I have had in the past and of course this camera is more than just point and shoot given all of the creative user controlled adjustments. All I can say is build quality, picture quality, accessories and software are all superior. The only one nit I have is with the instructions. While they do explain everything (and not in Jinglish either) they are somewhat cryptic to me. Could just be the Germans. I would have preferred plain language instead of so many proprietary references to everything without much explanation of what these terms mean. I guess I am just so used the "Lantern" series of instruction manuals for the higher end DSLR's. Other than that, you will not be disappointed. Leica lives up to it's tradition regardless of whether made in Germany or Japan.

end update

Well I have read every review here. Let me begin by saying that once this camera arrives in a few days, I will put it through some testing and update this review. Since I had to choose how many stars to give it now, I gave it 5 and the benefit of the doubt since I am willing to live with the negative points that other reviewers have pointed out such as the lens cap issue, the viewfinder and so on. I ordered it anyway, already resigned to the idea that these problems are real and are downsides.

I consider myself a capable amateur photographer from both a technical and creative perspective. I do not earn my living with photography, but could certainly make some spare change with my skills if needed. I currently use a Canon DSLR (50D) and have an investment of well over $20K in lenses, studio flash equipment and other stuff.

Before I got into the Prosumer DSLR's, as a kid I had a few Minolta 35mm camera's and eventually moved towards digital P&S before DSLR's hit the scene. I've had 1 Canon, 2 Sony Cybershots, 1 Olympus and an HP. As one other reviewer pointed out, to get a picture in the moment with my high end gear, it takes at least 10 minutes to choose the right lens and set it up. At least 10, usually 15. All of my lenses are "L" types, very heavy glass. Long story short, I almost always miss great shots of opportunity. That is why I wanted not just a good point and shoot, but a great point and shoot. My primary motivator is the picture quality and if the D-Lux 4 delivers as everyone here says, I will have made the right choice. Stay tuned.

I've had the D-lux 4 since April of 09 and have been very impressed with the quality of the camera and the photos. It goes everywhere I go, in my pocket, ready to shoot.
It needs to go in for service however, I'm getting a black image in the center of some outdoor shots. I'm told it may need cleaning but I feel it maybe a sensor, as it only happens in bright sunlight. Warranty will cover it but can't bare to part for the 3 weeks.

In short, I recently sold two Leica M6's, I just couldn't deal with film anymore. This camera (see all my photo's, captioned Fricassee) is all that I will need for a long time to come. My only suggestion to Leica would be to make another D-Lux 4 with a second lens that pick's up where this lens leaves off and takes you out too telephoto shooting. That way I could own two of these beauties.

Unbelievable photographic tool. Image quality is superb, shadow detail, colour, B&W plus the ability to bracket multiple film types are just the beginning. User controls are a bit small but highly functional & intuitive. ISO is highly usable up to 400 beyond which the usual compromises begin to take hold. The speed of the lens at f2.0-f2.8 combined with the image stabilization system makes for the BEST low light camera I have had the pleasure of using. The focal length 24-60mm is quite usable-- need 10x this is not the camera for you - use your feet get up move around compose, try different viewpoints - its called photography -- experiment let the limits nudge you into your more creative side. Multi- Format 4:3 3:4, 16:9 allow for a lot of creative possibilities and experimentation. I don't understand some of the complaints from other users and reviewers about barrel distortion - I have not seen it as a problem - unless you are more interested in technicalities of the device rather than the outcomes and the pleasure of a well composed photograph. The grid line option in the viewfinder is a god send for properly aligning and composing.
Now the only complaint and it is a major one is the LCD VIEWFINDER IS Useless in most daylight situations. It totally defeats the ability of carefully composing and constructing a well taken photo. The LCD is more like a mirror rather than a viewfinder. I realize Lieca had to make some compromises in terms of size and all BUT this is ridiculous. I tried the 24mm hot shoe viewfinder - very useful if all you shot is 24mm otherwise at half the cost of the camera hardly worth it. The only acceptable although somewhat kludgy solution comes from The Hoodman - product name is the HoodLoupe3.0 with the cinema strap option for attaching the Loupe. Actually works quite well once I figured out how to attach with minimum interference on the cameras miniature controls. Obviously increases the size of the kit quite a bit but it essentially turns the d-lux 4 into a mini digital view camera !!! So given the obvious compromises I still give the D-Lux 4 a 5 Star rating- why because life is full of compromises even if you had unlimited resources - we as consumers need to stop looking for perfection in things and focus on whats important in life - whatever your choices - Enjoy and stop fusing over meaningless specs and measurements in the end the photo is what matters. Capture the light and the moment.

Reviewers hail the Panasonic LX3 (of which this is only a rebranded version) as a low-noise camera. I bought one, wasn't impressed with the lens and horrified with the noise as early as ISO 320, and returned it to get a Sigma DP2 instead.

I read the reviews to replace my aging Olympus E-10.

I went for image quality, lens speed and low footprint.

If I were a pro, I'd probably go for a DSLR.

As a food blogger, it's stealth and great macro are a bonus. It's unintimidating profile encourages candid 'moments' and I can't find sufficient hyperbole to describe image quality, particularly as all I do is web. The anti-shake really works with F2.0 1/20 shots to avoid attention. I rarely use the internal flash.

Battery life is great; hi-def movies and bright screen [even in Texas sun] don't faze it much.

It shoots 16:9, 4:3 & 3:2 aspect ratios. HD movies [albeit with fixed zoom]are in 10 minute bursts.

The leather case [aka fast-release belt holster] and 'red dot' help; one with protection [I've dropped it twice with NO damage] and the other with semi-pro shoot cred. The cachet premium has been worth it for me.

With leather case, extra [branded] battery & 16GB card [images are 9MB or so, and movies 180MB approx], it was half the price of my E-10 8 yrs ago, and blows the Olympus away in every respect.

Initially I was concerned with the cheaper-feeling plastic body & parts, but the camera seems tougher than it looks. I wish there was a daylight filter to avoid lens damage.

I am having fun again, and a great investment/upgrade...

This is a photographic powerhouse! I just came back from a trip to Colorado, took many pictures of Monument Valley, arches, and the beautiful Colorado scenery, and they are the most beautiful pictures I have ever taken! The colors are amazing, the images seem to come out of the pictures, as if they were 3D. All in all, a purchase you will not regret. I will always own a Leica from now on.

I actually set out to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 but it was out of stock at all reputable or even semi-reputable merchants, so when a sales rep at Willoughby's took time to phone me and offer to ship me that very day the Leica D-Lux 4 (which is essentially the same as the Panny but without the Panasonic's built-in grip and with a much longer warranty) for the same price as the Panny, well, that was hard to turn down. So I made sure I could add a grip to facilitate one-handed shooting. I can. And I bit.

The D-Lux 4 arrived and I have put it through several rounds of at least casual tests. Here are the highlights and the lowlights.

First off, I loathe and despise the lens cap. What were they thinking?!?! When someone buys a compact camera, they are usually intending to use it as an SLR *replacement* (read: a camera one can walk around with and pull out and have ready to go at a second's notice in those spur of the moment photojournalistic situations, *not* a camera you have to spend five minutes prepping and fiddling with to be able to even snap the shutter). I resent the time I lose having to remove the lens cap to take a picture. And even more the insane amount of time I have to spend trying to get the lens cap put back on the lens--since if one isn't careful one ends up grazing one's thumb over the surface of the lens in the process. &%$#

I carefully threaded the provided lens cap thread through the eyelet on the cap itself and then wedged the other end into the eyelet on the camera. So now any time I want to take a shot, I have to remove this lens cap and then try to hold my arm steady as the cap swings back and forth in the breeze jerking the camera to and fro with it. (I suppose the other option is to always find somewhere to store the lens cap while shooting, but, news flash--women's clothing often does not have pockets.) There is a reason for compact camera manufacturers generally having an automatically retractable iris to protect the compact camera's lens. For photojournalism style photography, every milisecond counts!

So the lens cap sucks. But to mention a significant positive, I would like to note I stand in awe of the low-light capabilities. My Panasonic Lumix DMC FX-01 could never get much of anything in the dimly lit bar I visit weekly with friends. And I refuse to use the flash in such situations, since then pictures have that icky washed-out look. Not to mention it annoys your subject(s) and renders all shots posed rather than candids. The Leica D-Lux 4 handles beautifully in low light. OK, a little noise, but not so much that you can't bear to look at the shot you've taken. I'd rather take the shot and have it be a bit noisy than not take it at all. One never knows when that'll be the last shot one gets of this, that or the other pal. People move out of town... My old Panny,even set at its highest ISO setting and with exposure compensation turned all the way up to +2 just could do nothing in low light. As in, we're talking a black rectangle for the resulting image capture. The D-Lux 4 is a camera I am now so grateful to have in my life, for the low-light capabilities alone.

I love the wide angle. That was a primary selling point for me. Although this is not a perspective corrected lens, so prepare for, say, door frames to take on that fish-eye look if they're at all near the edge of the frame in your image. There's no substitute for wide-angle. I like the wide-angle lens.

But I regret the almost total lack of zoom. Be prepared for that before you commit to buying it. Brace yourself. I thought I had braced myself, but apparently not enough. I experience regret on the lack of the camera's zoom almost every time I shoot with it.

And cases. Ugh! This camera is bulkier than your typical compact camera due to this protruding lens, which also makes it a weird shape. I spent over six hours scouring the web, looking on forums and merchant website after merchant website trying to find a case that fits this camera. (The one Leica makes looked cool, but the way that case appears to hug the protruding lens barrel, I felt it'd take forever to wrestle the camera out of the case. Ditto with the Panny case made for the sister camera, the Panny Lumix DMC-LX3.)

I had one mail-order fiasco and endured no fewer than three trips to Best Buy and its return counter 'til I finally found a case that works for my shooting style. That is the Canon Deluxe Soft Case PSC-85. It has a velcro closure--which is way faster than a zipper. Velcro is also better than a magnet since, c'mon, these digital images can be wiped out by a magnet. What are the case manufacturers thinking when they put magnetic closures on camera cases meant to be used with *digital* cameras? Duh...?

Battery life has been fine. No complaints. Charger works fine, and quickly.

Joystick takes some getting used to but when it works, it works. As in, I can use it to adjust exposure compensation without having to burrow through menus. That I like. But I get frustrated there's some seeming logical inconsistencies with which modes one can use the joystick to adjust the aperture in and which modes one cannot.

I like the ability one has to limit how high the camera will take the ISO. Nice. And any camera worth its salt will (as this one does) let the user specify the camera is disallowed from using "digital zoom," since digital (as opposed to optical) zoom is a scam. All that is is in-camera cropping.

On balance, I feel ambivalent. I would say I feel grateful to have the camera in my life because of what it can do. For low-light shooting, it's great. But I don't enjoy this camera. It's so bulky it takes up over half my purse (time, I guess, to become one of those women who carry those obnoxiously large handbags--ugh). Plus, I forgo taking a lot of shots due to my dread of having to wrestle with the *%$# lens cap. Once I wrestle the camera out of the somewhat cramped/snug case and the lens cap off, it's not bad to shoot with. It's just they've made it so aversive for the user, well, this user, to be willing to do the shooting in the first place. I keep trying to grow up and just get used to this whole lens cap situation. If I ever can, I think I'll really enjoy this good-quality camera.

When the D Lux 4 first came out it looked so similar to the D Lux 3 I already had that I did not consider buying it, but then I read about two things that sold it to me: 1) the faster, wider lens and 2) availability of the external optical viewfinder. I ended up getting the Titanium edition set, which includes a mathcing "ever ready" case, but in practice I find the standard black leather case easier to use (yes, bought that too!).

What I was not expecting was the significant upgrade of every aspect of the camera when compared to the D Lux 3. The menus, effects, "film" selection options, indeed every aspect of the operation of the camera is significantly improved over the D Lux 3 (which BTW is still available as a current model). I was also very pleased with the lens performance - combined with the new (larger) sensor, it too represents a big improvement over the D Lux 3, which is also a very good performer.

The only disappointment has been the external optical viewfinder. Very expensive and hard to use - you cannot focus through it nor see any of the shooting data that appears on the LCD screen - it really is just a viewfinder and only useful for composing the photo. One still has to use the LCD screen for focus and data. The viewfinder also only represents the widest lens setting but I did know that when I bought it. Also, you have to attach the viewfinder every time you use it because the camera will not fit in any of the available cases when the veiwfinder is attached. To date there is no case available for the viewfinder either, other than the little pouch that comes with it.

So, buy the camera by all means and enjoy the excellent images and quality look and feel of the device itself. Get one (or more!!) of those excellent cases as well, but I would suggest against buying the optical viewfinder - it's limitations mean that you will very rarely bother using it and you may as well save several hundred dollars!

My quest for the best P&S is finally over..

Am I paying too much for the red dot? Probably so. But do I have any regret? None what so ever. I started my search for a perfect (to me) P&S about a couple of months ago and have gone through most of the top of the line Canons. In my opinion, Canon makes the best cameras in the market. However, none of the compacts has come even close to my expectations. Then I decided to take the plunge, went to the dark side and ordered the D-Lux 4. Before this, I considered the Panasonic DMC-LX3. May be the LX3 does the same thing, but I am tired to being disappointed and shipping cost to return items. Just a note, I also own a Canon 5D Mkii, Canon A620 and Panasonic LX-2, these are excellent cameras and produce amazing images.

I only shot the D-Lux 4 for only about a week, but I already know that I will keep this camera. I love it so much, the 60mm maximum focal length and plastic battery door are non-issues for me. BTW, those were the only complaints I heard for other owners. The colors in Vibrant mode are gorgeous; Dynamic B&W produces images that are rival to those shot in B&W with a filmed Leica. Very acceptable lag time too. 24mm minimum focal lenght and f2.0 make tremendous differences. Not as fast as an DSLR, but I believe it is as good as you can get with a P&S. The large image sensor (largest in P&S, except Sigma DP1) produces images that have virtually no noise. I shot mine at ISO 80.

Someone said these Leica cameras have better resale values. I am not so sure. But if it is, I can certainly see why. Right now, I have no intetion of parting with it. This camera also comes with 2-year warrantee and that makes the price a little bit more bearable. I was willing to pay almost $500 for the Canon G10. This camera leaves the G10 in the dust. I am paying a premium price for a compact P&S, but have no regrets.

4/24/09 update: HD video is great, except for the following:

1. Only 10m30s each, even there is still plenty of space on the SD card.
2. Can not refocus or zoom, if you move closer you have to stop and restart.

I shot a wedding with over 300 frames, some with flashes and 5 videos that averages 5 minutes each and only used up half of the battery juice!

Still love it!!

I have been a pro shooter for 15 years now, and have always used Canon gear. Today, my kit includes the 1Ds Mark III and over a dozen L-series, or special purpose lenses. I can honestly say that this little Leica gives my pro system a run for its money, at a fraction of the cost, and weight. It also allows me to keep a very low profile if needed, even though this camera is gorgeous.

The lens produces astounding sharpness, the color and contrast of the JPEGs are amazing right out of the camera, and yes, the dynamic black and white mode does produce that magical "Leica feel" right out of the camera. I was skeptical at first, however, even after one sunset test shoot, I would also agree with other users on this point. At 460k, the LCD screen has ultra high resolution, while all camera operations are quite fast. It's simply an incredible camera.

As for the cons that other users mention...in my opinion, no, the mode dial is NOT that easy to accidentally turn. Once you pick up the camera you'll see that your index finger, once poised over the shutter button, simply won't be close enough to the mode dial for an accidental spin. Also, the autofocus for spontaneous shooting, even in low-light is also plenty fast enough, and does not unnecessarily go hunting for subjects, in my opinion.

CONS: (1) Do not waste your money on the optional 24mm viewfinder. The optics, even at $350, do not zoom to match whatever focal length the lens happens to be at, which forces you to shoot at 24mm each and every time, which sort of defeats the purpose of having a zoom lens capability. Additionally, it does not even offer shoot information in the display, unlike a DSLR which does this and makes traditional viewfinder shooting possible.

(2) Don't waste your money on the Leica battery. Instead, buy the one for the Panasonic LX3, which is identical, only it doesn't say Leica and costs about half as much. The principle of Leica charging more without giving you any additional battery capacity simply irritates me.

OPTIONAL: I did splurge for the brown leather Leica case. It's a little overpriced to be sure, but if you've read this far, then you're someone willing to pay $700 for a point and shoot anyway, so you might as well just complete the package. It's pure class all the way around. If your goal was also to bask in Leica social cachet, then this case completes the package. If you're a pro shooter, then it also provides instant reassurance to your clients that yes, "this guy is actually pulling out a point and shoot camera on this shoot, but oh wait, it looks like a serious machine. It's all good."

In the end, I promise you will NOT be disappointed. This little gem is worth the money, and has definitely earned the following it has already attained.

Happy shooting...

~WC

I was disappointed to discover that the camera is made in Japan. I've always associated the Leica brand with Germany and assumed they actually manufactured their own cameras.