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- Dan
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And I'm already a Nikon user... so what's up?
I'm about to get myself a compact camera. A Leica D-Lux 4, to be precise! OK, so there's the £175 red dot tax on top of the already expensive Panasonic LX3, and I know in my heart of hearts that there's absolutely minimal difference between the cameras [especially in RAW]. They're both well made, and both nicely rounded in terms of photographic ability.
I just want a Leica at some point, and if that Leica happens to be among the very best of its type [which the DLux and LX3 are] then all the better. The M8 is the 'best' in its one horse race, but it's too damn expensive for what it is - if I were going that route, I'd get an old M6 and a 50/90 combo for thrills, shoot some film and scan the negatives.
Plus, the D-lux is less obtrusive than an M8 or an SLR - it'll be in my briefcase, my pocket, my hand. Where a camera should be... A lovely morning, this morning at about 6-ish, but on my way to work I hadn't the time or the camera. At least tomorrow morning I'll just not have the time..
There are four things I'm really looking forward to. First, the high speed flash sync up to 1/2000 with the digital shutter means some of my favoured 'low key' style portraits during daylight at shorter focal lengths. Second, the macro capabilities of the lens are quite excellent, looking at what others can do - and this camera costs only a bit more than replacing my sold-off 60mm micro with the newer AFS version. Thirdly, it shoots quicktime movies, and as the proud dad I am, wouldn't mind a few moving pictures to complement the ever-growing photo pile....
The most useful thing for me, though, is the ability to use my tripod everywhere. When I use my ageing [Canon A60] compact, I have this little G-clamp tripod that's no bigger than a small diary. I use it everywhere, and so kept the ISO down even with the long exposures. My Manfrotto is a nice chunky piece of kit, but - let's face it - I'm as guilty of not wanting the extra bulk sometimes as anyone else. I can honestly say there were very few shots I ever took without a tripod on my compact, whereas that's a gold standard I rarely achieve with my bigger setup.
I'm going to be selling some kit soon, but not all - the D80 and 70-300 are still my wildlife combo, and when I shoot that I'm generally only going out to shoot, so I don't have to worry about kit bulk, weight or discretion.
I tried briefly a Sigma DP1 last year, which would have been great except the battery was flat every time I tried to use it. That alone made it unfit for my purpose...
Anyone else bitten by the compact bug, or am I spouting heresy and heading for the chopping block!
I'm about to get myself a compact camera. A Leica D-Lux 4, to be precise! OK, so there's the £175 red dot tax on top of the already expensive Panasonic LX3, and I know in my heart of hearts that there's absolutely minimal difference between the cameras [especially in RAW]. They're both well made, and both nicely rounded in terms of photographic ability.
I just want a Leica at some point, and if that Leica happens to be among the very best of its type [which the DLux and LX3 are] then all the better. The M8 is the 'best' in its one horse race, but it's too damn expensive for what it is - if I were going that route, I'd get an old M6 and a 50/90 combo for thrills, shoot some film and scan the negatives.
Plus, the D-lux is less obtrusive than an M8 or an SLR - it'll be in my briefcase, my pocket, my hand. Where a camera should be... A lovely morning, this morning at about 6-ish, but on my way to work I hadn't the time or the camera. At least tomorrow morning I'll just not have the time..
There are four things I'm really looking forward to. First, the high speed flash sync up to 1/2000 with the digital shutter means some of my favoured 'low key' style portraits during daylight at shorter focal lengths. Second, the macro capabilities of the lens are quite excellent, looking at what others can do - and this camera costs only a bit more than replacing my sold-off 60mm micro with the newer AFS version. Thirdly, it shoots quicktime movies, and as the proud dad I am, wouldn't mind a few moving pictures to complement the ever-growing photo pile....
The most useful thing for me, though, is the ability to use my tripod everywhere. When I use my ageing [Canon A60] compact, I have this little G-clamp tripod that's no bigger than a small diary. I use it everywhere, and so kept the ISO down even with the long exposures. My Manfrotto is a nice chunky piece of kit, but - let's face it - I'm as guilty of not wanting the extra bulk sometimes as anyone else. I can honestly say there were very few shots I ever took without a tripod on my compact, whereas that's a gold standard I rarely achieve with my bigger setup.
I'm going to be selling some kit soon, but not all - the D80 and 70-300 are still my wildlife combo, and when I shoot that I'm generally only going out to shoot, so I don't have to worry about kit bulk, weight or discretion.
I tried briefly a Sigma DP1 last year, which would have been great except the battery was flat every time I tried to use it. That alone made it unfit for my purpose...
Anyone else bitten by the compact bug, or am I spouting heresy and heading for the chopping block!
It might only be a Panasonic compact, but at least it's got Leica written on it. Daft I know, but it does make a difference. And while it's hardly one of those lovely film Leicas, if Cartier Bresson was around today, I bet he'd pick that one over any other Leica.
One camera does not do everything, and never will.
... I would have even gone for the Titanium version had it not been that it is just the colouration rather than the metal and for me Leica is 
