Panasonic and Leica digital camera models are siblings (not the M8 or R9/DMR of course). Panasonic does the manufacturing, Leica provides the lens design, engineering collaboration on the lens manufacturing process and performance specs, quality assurance testing on the design and additional QA on the finished goods carrying their brand name/packaging. The D-Lux 3 is sibling to the Panasonic LX2, the V- Lux 1 is sibling to the Panasonic FZ50, and the Digilux 3 is sibling to the Panasonic L1.
On the earlier LX1/D-Lux 2 siblings, I owned the LX1 and compared it against a borrowed DLux 2. There were NO difference at all other than styling and Leicas branding/QA/warranty. With the L1/Digilux3, Leica's specification for the in-camera JPEG rendering options is very different from Panasonic's. I have the L1, borrowed a Digilux3 and compared the RAW files on a standard target subject. There is no difference in the RAW data itself, but the metadata is somewhat different reflecting the JPEG processing differences. Only other difference is that the Leica model outputs DNG format RAW files, where the L1 puts out Panasonic RAW files (I convert them to DNG format on import to Lightroom). Since I never use JPEGs from the camera, the cameras are identical for my use. I don't know whether the D Lux 3 or V Lux 1 have similar differences now. I've had three Panasonic cameras (FZ10, LX1, and L1). All three have been excellent performers. The L1 in particular is a far better camera than the review press makes it out to be. The Leica siblings are similarly excellent performers. I'm not sure why Jens is saying that they're cumbersome to handle ... the FZ10 and L1 certainly are not, the LX1 was a little fiddly like most compact cameras of its size/design. Yes, I'd like an M8 too. Body and Elmarit-M 24/2.8 ASPH lens, please. Definitely out of my salary bracket at the moment... ! ;-) Godfrey On Sep 25, 2007, at 5:13 AM, Jens Bladt wrote: > I'd love to have the M8, but until I can afford to spend more than > a months > worth of wages on at camera - I'll stick to my trusty old Pseudo > Leica - the > Leica CL :-) > BTW - the Panasonics are not too bad imagemakers (nice lenses) - > but just > kinda cumbersome to handle: > http://flickr.com/photos/bladt/1085606405/in/set-72157601372352118/ > > > Leica P&S cameras. Aren't they just re-badged Panasonics? > >> Speaking of Leica, has anyone looked at/tried the latest Leica P&S >> that is >> 10 megpxl? I was looking at one the other day and it was priced >> at about >> 500.00 and looked/felt pretty spiffy. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
