Leica D-LUX 4 Review

The Leica D-LUX 4 features an unusually large CCD image sensor for this class of camera. Measuring 1/1.63“ and offering 10.1 megapixel resolution, this camera is able to differentiate the finest details and faithfully reproduce tonal values.

Our Rating (4/5)

Good: image quality, terrific wide lens, assistance mode, high def lcd, leica color
Bad: deep feature menus, leica x1 available, poorly located dials, proprietary raw, noisy past iso 400

crunchgear reviews writes:
“The D-LUX, like the LX3, has a 10-megapixel sensor, 3-inch screen, and a 10x optical zoom. The minimum focal length is 5.1 mm and the max is 12.8 (about a 24-60mm equivalent on a 35mm frame). It has a tiny pop-up flash and ISO sensitivity from 80 to 3200. It weighs 8 ounces.”

wired.com reviews writes:
“This is an excellent camera: Small enough to go unnoticed in a coat pocket but solidly built, with full-on manual controls, a decent and large LCD viewscreen, and a capable, 24mm wide-angle lens with an enormous range that makes up for noticeable image bending at the edges.”

pcworld reviews writes:
“Leica’s D-LUX 4 looks very stylish and it takes clear and natural-looking photos. It has good speed, plenty of manual settings, and its scene modes are very useful. However, you do have to forego a sizable chunk of your income to procure it.”

dpexpert reviews the LEICA D-LUX 4 and writes:
“Image quality at low ISO speeds is exceptionally fine. At ISO400 a little noise is apparent, but we found that shooting RAW and applying a small amount of noise reduction in Adobe Camera RAW removed the grain. Response times are very fast. The Leica branded lens, with its modest zoom range, is superbly sharp with insignificant distortion at 24mm.”

The Leica D-LUX 4 offers a wide range of optional accessories that extend the camera’s application potential: An additional filter adapter, for instance, allows the use of an E46 UVa filter to adapt to special conditions. A black brilliant viewfinder with 24 mm brightline frame can be attached to the flash shoe of the Leica D-Lux 4, enabling the photographer to view his subject without using battery power. A slot-on compact flash unit Leica CF 22 is also available for the Leica D LUX4. Another option is an additional handgrip that makes the camera easier to hold. The camera is also prepared for photos in HDTV format: By connecting the camera’s HD port to a HD television set with optional component cable, slides can be shown in high definition. The range of accessories is rounded off by high-quality leather cases in black and brown.

The high-speed zoom lens Leica DC VARIO-SUMMICRON 5.1-12.8 mm f/2.0-2.8 ASPH consists of eight elements (four of them aspherical) in six groups. The optics are individually matched to the camera sensor, working in harmony with the electronics and software to produce stunningly brilliant pictures in true-to-life colors. As regards color matching, contrast and picture definition, Leica Camera AG has developed its own profile. This is oriented to the picture characteristics that are well known to Leica System Camera customers from their use in combination with professional film materials and specialist development laboratories.

The Leica D-LUX 4 has a strikingly clear and concentrated design. This and the reduction to the essentials show the camera’s typical Leica lineage. The ergonomic layout of controls and intuitive operating concept make it a pleasure to handle. Focus, shutter speed, stops and exposure override can all be set manually with the joystick. For those who like photography to be even less complicated, the camera integrates many improved automatic functions. When they are switched on, the user just has to press the shutter release button to obtain a perfectly exposed and focused picture. In automatic mode, the camera automatically combines the many individual functions to suit the subject and the photographic conditions, controlling the O.I.S. image stabilizer, the automatic ISO control, face recognition, automatic contrast compensation and automatic choice of scene mode.

Specifications:

Lens:
LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMICRON5.1-12.8 mm f/2.0-2.8 ASPH.
8 elements in 6 groups
4 aspherical elements / 4 aspherical surfaces
2.5x optical zoom
digital zoom max.
Integrated optical image stabilizer

Focal length:
5.1 – 12.8 mm (= 24-60 mm in 35 mm photography)
Aperture: Wide-angle: f2/f8.0 (1/3 EV steps)
Telephoto: f2.8/f8.0 (1/3 EV steps)

Focusing:
AF: Face recognition, AF tracking, 11-field, 1-field-high-speed, 1-field, 1-spot

Image sensor:
1:1.63” CCD sensor with 11.3 million total pixels

Effective pixels:
10.1 million

Sensitivity setting:
Auto/80/100/200/400/800/1600/3200

White balance:
Auto, sun, overcast sky, shade, flash lighting, halogen lighting, White Set 1, White Set 2

Exposure:
Automatic program, shutter speed priority, aperture priority, manual;
manual override ±2 EV in 1/3 steps, automatic bracketing (3 exposures with ± 1/3 to 1 EV steps) m

Exposure metering:
Choice of multi-field metering, center-weighted averaging, spot metering

Programs:
P/A/S/M/Custom 1/Custom2/iA/Scene/Video

Scene modes:
Portrait, soft skin, self-portrait, landscape, sport, night portrait, night landscape, food, party, candlelight, baby1, baby 2, sunset, high-sensitivity, starry sky, fireworks, beach, snow, aerial photo, high-speed series, flash series, film grain, pinhole camera

Shutter speed range:
60 – 1/2000 s

Self-timer:
2 s or 10 s countdown

Film modes:
Standard, dynamic, natural, soft, decorative, nostalgic, b/w standard, b/w dynamic, b/w soft, My film 1, My film 2, Multi

Image sizes:
4:3 format (max. 10MP): 3648x 2736 , 3072 x 2304, 2560 x 1920, 2048 x 1536 , 1600 x 1200 , 640 x 480
3:2 format (max. 9.5MP): 3776 x 2520 , 3168 x 2112, 2656 x 1768 , 2112 x 1048, 2048 x 1360
16:9 format (max. 9MP): 3968 x 2232 , 3328 x 1872, 2784 x 1568 , 2208 x 1248 , 1920 x 1080

Video recording:
16:9 format: HD 1280×720 (24 fps), 848×480 (30 fps)
4:3 format: 640×480 (30 fps), 320×240 (30 fps, 10 fps)

Data recording:
Fine / Standard
RAW / RAW + standard / RAW + fine

Series exposures:
2.5 fps
Max. 8 images (standard), 4 images (fine), 3 images (RAW)

High-speed series mode:
Approx. High-speed series mode: Approx. 6 photos (3 MP with 4:3), (2.5 MP with 3:2), (2 MP with 16:9) 6 photos (3 MP with 4:3), (2.5 MP with 3:2), (2 MP with 16:9)

Flash:
Auto / Auto+Anti-red-eye / Long-time Synchro+Anti-red-eye / Flash always /Flash off, 1st /2nd shutter curtain

Monitor:
3“ TFT-LCD (3:2), 460,000 pixel, wide-angle field of view approx.

Monitor playback:
Overview (12/30 images, calendar), zoom, favorites, categories, slide show, picture rotation, alteration of resolution and cropping, deletion protection, photo from video, double image, larger focus field, horizon correction

Storage media:
Built-in memory (50 MB), SD memory card, SDHC memory card and MultiMedia card

Microphone/Loudspeaker:
Built-in

Ports:
DC input/AV output (NTSC/PAL), USB 2.0 high-speed, mains unit

Printer compatibility:
PictBridge

Power supply:
Lithium-ion battery or optional mains unit/charger

Battery capacity:
380 photos (as per CIPA standard)

Dimensions (wxhxd):
108.7 x 59.5 x 27.1 mm

Weight:
228 g