D-Lux 4 Safari Limited Edition

[Zou]

Not on the Leica UK site yet. I quite liked the M8 Safari kit, and find this to be rather tasteful too. Especially the bag. Shall we guess prices? E-P1 level is my estimate.

[TimF]

Your guess is pretty good!

[Zou]

Wow, I was thinking £699ish. Shame.

Edit - I see the Titanium finish kit is £729, so I suppose it makes my guess a bit feeble.

[Roger_Provins]

I see its very, very, very close relation the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 as low as £314. A red dot, a coat of khaki paint and a camera bag can't cost £451

[photogeek]

Managed to get my LX3 for £284 from Currys in colchester - last one and I haggled them down from £299

Differences I can see are LX3 has kneck strap, not hand strap and also has a built in hand grip. Lieca will sell you one. I believe the RAW formats are different and LX3 comes with Silkypix and D-lux 4 with Capture 1. I use Adobe DNG converter and then CS3. Did think I should go to smiths and buy a red dot to stick on Front

Have to say its a cracking camera and lens.

One thing that is a surprise is Lumic Leather case is £79.00 and Leica one £59.00. I bought a Lowepro

So we now have:-

Leica III
Leica M6 -TTL
Leica C-lux1
PanaLeica - LX3

I think that makes me and Mrs Leica louts

Hope this is helpful.

[TimF]

kneck strap

A teutonic neck strap presumably?

[Zou]

I see its very, very, very close relation the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 as low as £314. A red dot, a coat of khaki paint and a camera bag can't cost £451

That and minor firmware differences DO indeed cost £451. The real question is why!

[parisian]

Well I wouldn't kick one out of bed Zou. In fact I would be very happy indeed to carry one around with me for day to day use. Is the firmware and 'dot' worth the extra? it is all to do with the photographers mind-set and for me - yes they are. Whenever a user of the Panasonic version comes across a Leica User they will not preen and say this cost a lot less than yours, they will wish like hell that they could have the 'dot'. There is a cachet to using Leica that (in the main) transcends common sense.

[Zou]

Well I wouldn't kick one out of bed Zou. In fact I would be very happy indeed to carry one around with me for day to day use.

Indeed. I think it was Tim that first posted this link. Wow! Just goes to show what you can do with creativity and a fair bit of skill.

Btw, there's a 'Titan' kit up for grabs in the Black & White Photography annual competition. Might be worth a try.

[parisian]

Indeed there are some stunning shots on there. Most high level compacts could do that of course, perhaps the 'dot' just brings out the best in the snapper?

[TimF]

I think it was Tim that first posted this link. Wow! Just goes to show what you can do with creativity and a fair bit of skill.

Not one I recall, though you're quite right in the other regard!

I may have linked to a different comparison of the Leica and Panasonic versions of this camera, pictures taken in Malaysia IIRC.

[Zou]

Oh well, I forget who it was who introduced me to that page but I am glad they did.

As for the red dot bringing out the best in photographers, I don't buy it. Probably because there are a number (well, loads really) of really rather average Leica shots floating around on Flickr and elsewhere, which prove that a good camera and lens doesn't guarantee great pictures.

[parisian]

Oh well, I forget who it was who introduced me to that page but I am glad they did.

As for the red dot bringing out the best in photographers, I don't buy it. Probably because there are a number (well, loads really) of really rather average Leica shots floating around on Flickr and elsewhere, which prove that a good camera and lens doesn't guarantee great pictures.

I am well aware of that Zou San but I did have a large crowbar handy to help get my tongue out of my cheek

[parisian]

HERE
Rather impressive pics. I thought.