Introduction
The Leica D-Lux 8 is a premium compact digicam with a 17 megapixel, multi-aspect Micro 4 Thirds sensor. It’s the successor to the D-Lux 7 mannequin that was launched six years in the past in 2018. The Dlux 8 options UHD 4K video recording at 30/24fps, a 24-75mm, f/1.7-2.8, 3.1x zoom lens, a 2.36m-dot OLED digital viewfinder, a 3.0″ 1.84m-dot touchscreen LCD monitor, 11fps burst taking pictures, an ISO vary of 100-25600, built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, a sizzling shoe-mount for an exterior flash, and USB-C in-camera battery charging. The D Lux 8 is obtainable now in black priced at £1450 / €1590 / $1595 within the UK, Europe and USA respectively. A compact, attachable flash unit is included within the field. Learn our in-depth Leica D-Lux 8 digital digicam evaluation to learn the way this premium compact carried out…
Ease of Use
Leica have basically refreshed the D-Lux 7 mannequin with a brand new management structure and menu system impressed by the Q3 mirrorless digicam system, a greater OLED viewfinder, higher-resolution LCD display, USB-C charging, UHS-II SD card assist, and DNG Uncooked output.
In any other case the brand new DLux 8 is actually the identical as its predecessor – which isn’t essentially a nasty factor – utilising the identical sensor, processor, lens and auto-focus system. Because of this whereas the person expertise is markedly totally different, the ensuing photographs from each cameras are very related if not equivalent.
Additionally fairly totally different is the asking worth. Whereas 6 years is a very long time on the planet of digital cameras, the bounce from round £$€1000 to £1450 / €1590 / $1595 is fairly steep, making a second-hand D-Lux 7 or Panasonic Lumix LX100 II look very interesting if you’ll find one in good situation.
It additionally places the D-Lux 8 instantly within the firing line of the all-conquering Fujifilm X100 sequence, now in its sixth iteration. The X100VI has a hard and fast 35mm prime lens, so that you lose the flexibility of a zoom, however it does supply a bigger APS-C sensor with 40 megapixels, 4K/60p video, 20fps taking pictures and in-body picture stabilisation, while not really being that a lot greater than the D-Lux 8.
Leica’s new providing remains to be one of many only a few premium compacts to characteristic a zoom lens, although, the one different contender being the Sony Cyber-shot RX100 VII, which has a smaller 1-inch sensor with 20 megapixels and a 24-200mm lens.
You may additionally contemplate the Ricoh GR III, which has a 24.23 megapixel APS-C sensor paired with a 28mm F2.8 lens, however is 5 years outdated now.
So now we have recognized its fundamental rivals, let’s take an in depth have a look at the brand new D-Lux 8 and the adjustments that Leica have made.
At first look from the entrance, you would be hard-pressed to inform them aside. Not out there in silver, the black model has a leatherette end to assist grip within the absence of a correct handgrip.
The lens is similar, providing an equal attain of a wide-angle 24-75mm in 35mm movie phrases. The utmost lens aperture is an impressively quick/shiny f/1.7, with the power to regulate this manually through a lens ring that provides incremental settings as much as f/16. Or, after all, you may simply go away the choice as much as the digicam and shoot on automated, which has its personal devoted setting too.
The sensor is similar 21.77 megapixel multi-aspect Micro 4 Thirds variant used on the D-Lux 7. The digicam then crops the picture to permit for the multi-aspect taking pictures (3:2, 16:9, 1:1 and 4:3), set by a change on the lens barrel, which ends up in a highest decision of 17 megapixels within the 4:3 mode.
Sandwiched in-between the aperture ring and side ratio change is a slim guide focus ring, with a easy sliding scale proven on the LCD display to indicate the focusing distance and peaking on-board to assist decide essential focus. The MF / AF/Macro / AF change on the underside of the lens barrel means that you can shortly change between these three focus modes.
Switching to the highest of the digicam begins to disclose among the adjustments that Leica have made to the person interface.
The flash hotshoe and shutter pace dial are nonetheless current and proper, however the On/Off change has been eliminated and changed by an On/Off button, the publicity compensation dial is now an unmarked command dial with a customized button at its centre, and the “4K” and “A” buttons have disappeared.
The command dial controls both the Publicity Compensation, ISO, Off or Auto, relying on which taking pictures mode you are utilizing, whereas the customized button could be configured to considered one of 38 totally different settings just by holding it down for a few seconds, as can the 2 unmarked buttons positioned beneath the shutter pace dial and the button in the course of the four-way controller on the rear of the digicam.
Which is the place Leica have clearly taken inspiration from the Q3 mirrorless digicam for the brand new D-Lux 8, which solely has 6 exterior controls in contrast with 10 on its predecessor. What’s extra, nearly all of them are unmarked except for the Play and Menu buttons, indicating that they are often customised to fit your explicit approach of working.
So if you happen to do not like the truth that the highest two buttons toggle between the EVF/LCD and between the picture and video modes respectively, or the center button within the navigation wheel toggles between the data ranges, you are free to vary them as you want.
The discount within the variety of exterior controls undoubtedly makes for a extra refined, less complicated interface, however it does inevitably result in a better reliance on the menu system if you wish to entry something outdoors of the core publicity controls.
Fortunately the D-Lux 8 has a wonderful menu system, with one press of the Menu button opening a transparent settings panel with touchscreen entry to the digicam’s most vital choices for both Photograph or Video modes, and an additional press of the both the Menu button or the three-line icon accessing the complete 5 web page, 29 choice Most important Menu.
Whereas some followers of the D-Lux/LX100 sequence will seemingly lament the decreased variety of exterior controls, for a lot of the extra refined interface will show extra useful, particularly because the digicam supplies fast, totally configurable entry to the entire key photographic settings.
Along with the brand new, svelte management structure, we’re additionally impressed by the OLED viewfinder that Leica have integrated on the D-Lux 8.
Whereas it affords barely much less decision than the D-Lux 8, the transfer from a field-sequential show to an OLED unit supplies a extra nice viewing expertise, particularly because it additionally affords a barely increased magnification of 0.74x and a bigger 4:3 side ratio (0.7x and 16:9 on the D-Lux 7).
The rear LCD display has additionally been considerably improved, providing a 48% enhance in decision because of the transfer from a 1.24M dot panel to a 1.84M dot panel, once more one thing that’s noticeable when evaluating the 2 fashions side-by-side.
The opposite exterior change is the shutter button is now threaded to just accept a mechanical cable launch, once more mimicking the latest Leica Q3.
There are a number of different enhancements which can be pretty minor, however nonetheless nonetheless welcome. That is the primary D-Lux digicam to output extra common DNG information, slightly than the Panasonic RW2 format of its predecessor, and it is also the primary D-Lux digicam to characteristic quicker UHS-II SD card assist.
There’s additionally a brand new USB-C connection, which is preferable in 2024 to the micro-USB port discovered on the Dlux 7, and Bluetooth now helps the newest 5.0 LE customary.
You’ll be able to simply switch your photographs and likewise management the digicam remotely through the free Leica Fotos app, which, amongst different features, permits distant setting of the shutter pace and aperture. The app additionally means that you can ship your nonetheless photographs, RAW and video information to a paired cell gadget.
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Picture High quality
The entire pattern photographs on this evaluation had been taken utilizing the 17 megapixel Nice JPEG setting, which supplies a mean picture dimension of round 6Mb.The Leica D-Lux 8 produced photographs of fantastic high quality through the evaluation interval. It produces noise-free photographs at ISO 100 to 3200, with restricted noise beginning to seem at ISO 6400. ISO 12500 displays fairly seen noise and lack of superb element, and the quickest setting of ISO 25000 is even noisier, however nonetheless usable for small prints and net use.The Leica D-Lux 8 dealt extraordinarily nicely with chromatic aberrations, with restricted purple fringing results showing solely in excessive distinction conditions. The built-in anti-shake system works very nicely when hand-holding the digicam in low-light circumstances or when utilizing the telephoto finish of the zoom vary.Macro efficiency is superb, permitting you to focus as shut as 3cm away from the topic (though it is troublesome to get the lighting appropriate at such a detailed distance). The Movie Types permit you to shortly and simply customise the look of the digicam’s JPEG photographs.
NoiseThere are 9 ISO settings out there on the Leica D-Lux 8 . Listed here are some 100% crops which present the noise ranges for every ISO setting for each JPEG and RAW file codecs.
Focal RangeThe Leica D-Lux 8 ‘s 3.1x zoom lens affords a reasonably versatile focal vary, as illustrated by these examples.24mm75mm
Facet RatiosThe Leica D-Lux 8 affords 4 totally different side ratios.3:216:91:14:3
Clever Dynamic RangeAutoOffLowStandardHigh
Movie StylesThe Leica D-Lux 8 has 5 preset Movie Types, with Commonplace because the default setting. The distinction, sharpness, saturation and noise discount could be individually set for every model.StandardVividNaturalMonochromeMonochrome Excessive Distinction
Pattern Photographs
It is a number of pattern photographs from the Leica D-Lux 8 digicam, which had been all taken utilizing the 17 megapixel JPEG setting. The thumbnails beneath hyperlink to the full-sized variations, which haven’t been altered in any approach.
Pattern RAW Photographs
The Leica D-Lux 8 permits customers to seize RAW and JPEG format information. We have offered some Leica RAW (DNG) samples so that you can obtain (thumbnail photographs proven beneath usually are not 100% consultant).
Pattern Films & Video
It is a pattern film on the high quality setting of 3840×2160 pixels at 30 frames per second.
It is a pattern film on the high quality setting of 3840×2160 pixels at 30 frames per second.
It is a pattern film on the high quality setting of 1920×1080 pixels at 60 frames per second.
It is a pattern film on the high quality setting of 1920×1080 pixels at 60 frames per second.
Product Photographs
Conclusion
Leica have lengthy had a detailed relationship with Panasonic the place they’ve taken the latters’ compact cameras and produced their very own tackle them, however the D-Lux 8 is the primary such mannequin to really feel like a very distinctive Leica thanks largely to the adoption of the pared-back Q3 person interface.Having mentioned that, at its core the Dlux 8 remains to be a slightly modest improve of what’s in any case a 6-year-old digicam design, which was in flip a slightly modest improve of the unique Panasonic LX100 from 2014. So it is truthful to say that in lots of features the D-Lux 8 is trying slightly dated in 2024 regardless of its beauty overhaul.Then again, it is commendable that Leica have invested any time in any respect creating their compact digicam providing, in a market the place you may depend the variety of compact cameras, by no means thoughts premium fashions, actually on one hand.Because the gateway to the Leica system, the £1450 / €1590 / $1595 D-Lux 8 will likely be seen by some patrons as a veritable discount given how a lot the Q3 prices, whereas for extra savvy, non-brand-loyal compact followers the close to £$€500 worth enhance over the earlier mannequin will definitely be laborious to justify.We’re type of on the fence ourselves. Whereas it is undoubtedly nice to see the discharge of a high-end compact digicam with a zoom lens, massive sensor and confirmed Leica ergonomics, the D-Lux 8 nonetheless produces precisely the identical stills and video high quality as its predecessor while costing 30% greater than the D-Lux 7 did at launch. Six years is actually a very long time, which matches some solution to justifying the worth enhance however maybe not the shortage of technological developments…
Scores (out of 5)
Design
4.5
Options
4
Ease-of-use
4
Picture high quality
4.5
Worth for cash
3
Most important Rivals
Listed beneath are among the rivals of the Leica D-Lux 8.
The brand new Canon PowerShot G5 X Mark II is a premium compact digicam that is clearly been re-designed to tackle the all-conquering Sony RX100 sequence of cameras while providing some class-leading options of its personal, together with an extended zoom lens, touchscreen interface and larger grip. Uncover what’s new in our Canon PowerShot G5 X Mark II evaluation, full with full-size pattern photographs and movies…
Canon’s PowerShot G7 X Mark III is a model new compact digicam that provides a number of bang in your buck, for each stills photographers and vloggers alike. Discover out simply what the newest era of this digicam is able to by studying our in-depth Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III evaluation, full with full-size pattern JPEG and Uncooked photographs…
The X100VI is the sixth era of Fujfilm’s traditional 35mm fastened lens premium compact digicam sequence. It now has a 40 megapixel sensor, 6K video recording, in-body picture stabilisation (IBIS) and model new Reala Ace movie simulation. Learn our in-depth Fujifilm X100VI evaluation now, full with full-size pattern photographs and movies…
The D-Lux 7 is Leica’s tackle considered one of our favorite ever compact cameras, the Panasonic LX100 II, sporting a big Micro 4 Thirds sensor and a flexible 3x zoom lens. Learn our in-depth Leica D-Lux 7 evaluation with pattern pictures and movies to search out out if we fee it simply as extremely because the Lumix equal…
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100 is a premium compact digicam like no different. The LX100 options a big Micro 4 Thirds sensor, 4K video recording, quick 24-75mm lens, class-leading digital viewfinder, all in a digicam that you would be able to slot in a jacket pocket. Learn our in-depth Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100 evaluation with pattern JPEG, RAW and video information to search out out simply what this thrilling new digicam is able to…
The Panasonic Lumix LX100 II is the successor to considered one of our favorite compact cameras of all time, the ahead-of-the-game LX100, which was launched approach again in 2014. Learn our in-depth Panasonic LX100 II evaluation with pattern JPEG, RAW and video information to search out out if we fee it simply as extremely as the unique…
The brand new GR III is a big replace of Ricoh’s common GR premium compact digicam sequence, providing a 28mm fastened focal size lens, 3-axis picture stabilisation system, massive 24 megapixel APS-C sensor, 1080/60p video recording, 3 inch LCD touchscreen, flash hotshoe, and built-in wifi and bluetooth connectivity. Learn our in-depth Ricoh GR III evaluation full with full-size JPEG and RAW pattern photographs to search out out if this digicam nonetheless has what it takes in 2019…
Sony’s venerable RX100 compact digicam sequence has now reached its seventh iteration with the launch of the RX100 VII. What may Sony have presumably added to make this already wonderful digicam even higher? Discover out now by studying our in-depth Sony RX100 VII evaluation, full with an enormous gallery of full-size pattern photographs and movies.
Evaluation Roundup
Critiques of the Leica D-Lux 8 from across the net.
The brand new Leica D-Lux 8 is a much-anticipated addition to the vary, hailed because the lacking entry mannequin within the true Leica household. Its predecessor, worthy because it was, at all times suffered from options that it was only a rebadged Panasonic. This criticism was unfair, after all, however there is no such thing as a avoiding the truth that the looks, management structure and menu choices had been extra Lumix than Leica.
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So it makes excellent sense for firms comparable to Leica to basically re-release older fashions to fill the demand out there. Thus, the $1,595 D-Lux 8 has hit the cabinets and I acquired to see if it has a spot in 2024. The expertise was enjoyable for all the precise causes however got here with a serious case of deja vu.
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The compact Leica D-Lux 8 pairs a decently massive sensor with a flexible zoom lens, however the digicam’s focus and video tech really feel dated.
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Specs
Digicam typeDigital compact cameraDimensions (WxHxD)130 x 69 x 62 mm WeightApprox. 397 g/357 g (with/with out battery)Sensor size4/3“ CMOS sensor, 21,77 MP/17 MP (whole/efficient)BufferDNG™: 14 or increased*, JPG: 100 or increased**Primarily based on CIPA requirements and a reminiscence card with excessive learn/write pace. Capability, relying on body fee and film format, estimated amount (variety of doable photographs within the buffer reminiscence)Storage mediumUHS-II (advisable), UHS-I, SD/SDHC/SDXC reminiscence cardMaterialFull metallic housing: magnesium die-cast, leatherette coveringLensLeica DC Vario-Summilux 10.9–34 f/1.7–2.8 ASPH. (35 mm equal: 24–75 mm)aperture vary: 1.7–16/2.8–16 (at 10.9/34 mm)Lens filter threadE43Aperture rangeDepending on zoom stage, F1.7 to F16 in 1⁄3 EV increments (broad angle) F1.7 to F16; (tele zoom) F2.8 to F16 in 1/3 EV incrementsOperating conditions0°C to +40°CInterfacesISO accent shoe with extra management contacts for Leica flash items, HDMI jack Kind D, USB 3.1 Gen 1 Kind CTripod threadA 1⁄4 DIN 4503 (1⁄4”) with chrome steel within the baseImage stabilizationVisual compensation system for pictures and video recordingsFilterRGB coloration filter, UV/IR filterFile formatsPhoto: DNG™ (uncooked knowledge), DNG + JPG, JPG (DCF 2.0, Exif 2.31)Video: MP4, H.264, AAC stereoPhoto decision DNG™16:9 – 5152 x 2904 (15 MP)3:2 – 4928 x 3288 (16.2 MP)4:3 – 4736 x 3552 (16.8 MP)1:1 – 3552 x 3552 (12.6 MP)L-JPG16:9 – 5152 x 2904 (15 MP)3:2 – 4928 x 3288 (16.2 MP)4:3 – 4736 x 3552 (16.8 MP)1:1 – 3552 x 3552 (12.6 MP)M-JPG16:9 – 3840 x 2160 (8.3 MP)3:2 – 3504 x 2336 (8.2 MP)4:3 – 3360 x 2520 (8.5 MP)1:1 – 2528 x 2528 (6.4 MP)S-JPG16:9 – 1920 x 1080 (2.1 MP)3:2 – 2496 x 1664 (4.2 MP)4:3 – 2368 x 1776 (4.2 MP)1:1 – 1776 x 1776 (3.2 MP)File dimension DNG™approx. 31 MB, relying on decision and picture contentJPGdepending on decision and picture contentVideomax. size: 29 minColor depth DNG™12 bitJPG8 bitColor spacePhoto: sRGBVideo Decision 4K3840 x 2160Full HD1920 x 1080HD1280 x 720Video body fee/bit fee 4K 30 p29.97 fps – 4K 4:2:0 / 8 bit – h.264 L-GOP 100 Mbps4K 24 p23.98 fps – 4K 4:2:0 / 8 bit – h.264 L-GOP 100 MbpsFHD 60 p59.94 fps – FHD 4:2:0 / 8 bit – h.264 L-GOP 28 MbpsFHD 30 p29.97 fps – FHD 4:2:0 / 8 bit – h.264 L-GOP 20 MbpsHD 30 p29.97 fps – HD 4:2:0 / 8 bit – h.264 L-GOP 10 MbpsViewfinder/LCD panel Viewfinder (EVF)OLED, Decision: 2,360,000 dots, 60 fps, magnification: 0.74x, at side ratio: 4:3, exit pupil place: 20 mm, setting vary -4/+4 dpt, with eye sensor for automated switchover between viewfinder and LCD panel, time delay 0.005 sLCD panel3” TFT LCD, approx. 1,843,200 dots, 384 ppi, side ratio 3:2, contact panelShutter Shutter typeMechanical central shutter or elective digital shutterShutter speedsMechanical shutter: 60 s to 1⁄4000 sElectronic shutter perform: 1 s to 1⁄16000 sShutter buttonTwo-stage (1st stage: Activation of the digicam electronics together with autofocus and publicity metering, 2nd stage: Taking the image)Self-timerDelay time: 2 s or 12 sDrive Mode Single , Interval Capturing , Publicity Bracketing Steady taking pictures: Steady Capturing – 2 fps, 12 bit, AF , Steady Capturing – 7 fps, 10 bit Steady Capturing – 11 fps, 10 bit Focusing Focus range50 cm to ∞With macro setting: from 3 cm (broad angle), from 30 cm (tele zoom)Focus modeAutomatic, Automated (macro), or ManualAutofocus systemContrast detectionAutofocus modes Clever AF (autonomously selects AFs and AFc ), AFs , AFc Autofocus metering strategies Spot (could be shifted), Area (could be shifted and scaled), Multi-Area , Zone (could be shifted), Eye / Face , Monitoring Autofocus metering fields49Exposure Publicity meteringTTL (publicity metering by way of the lens), with working apertureMetering principleExposure metering is finished by the picture sensor for all publicity metering methodsExposure metering strategies Spot , Heart-Weighted , Multi-Area Publicity modesProgram AE mode (P)Aperture-priority mode (A): guide aperture settingShutter-priority mode (S): guide shutter-speed settingManual (M): guide setting for shutter pace and apertureVarious totally automated variants ( Scene Mode ): Auto , Portrait , Panorama , Evening Surroundings , Miniature Impact , One Level Colour , HDR Publicity compensation±3 EV in 1⁄3 EV incrementsAutomatic bracketing3, 5 or 7 frames, graduations between shoots as much as 1 EV, in 1⁄3 EV incrementsadditional elective publicity compensation: as much as ±3 EVISO sensitivity vary Auto ISO Photograph ISO 100–ISO 25 000 | Video ISO 100–ISO 6 400ManualPhoto ISO 100–ISO 25 000 | Video ISO 100–ISO 6 400White balanceAutomatic ( Auto ), default ( Daylight , Cloudy , Shadow , Tungsten , Flash ), guide metering ( Grey Card ), guide coloration temperature settings ( Colour Temperature , 2500 Okay to 10000 Okay)Flash Flash unitIncluded within the supply: Leica CF DFlash angleAligned with the shortest focal size of the lens of 10.9 mmGuide number10/7 (at ISO 200/100)Flash rangeApprox. 0.6–14.1 m/0.3–8.5 m (at shortest/longest focal size)Flash unit connectorVia the accent shoeFlash sync time: 1⁄4000 s, slower shutter speeds availableFlash publicity compensation±3 EV in 1⁄3 EV incrementsEquipment MicrophoneStereoSpeakerMonoWLANWLAN perform for connecting to the Leica FOTOS app. The Leica app is obtainable from the Apple App Retailer™ or the Google Play Retailer™.IEEE802.11b/g/n Channel 1–11 (2412–2462 MHz), most output (e.i.r.p.): 5.9 dBm, encryption technique: WLAN-compatible WPA™/WPA2™BluetoothBluetooth 5.0 LE: Channel 0–39 (2402–2480 MHz), most output (e.i.r.p.): 1.2 dBmGPSNot out there all over the place as a result of country-specific laws; could be added through the Leica FOTOS app. Knowledge is written to Exif header of the image information.Menu languagesEnglish, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Japanese, Conventional Chinese language, Simplified Chinese language, KoreanPower provide Rechargeable battery (Leica BP-DC15)Lithium-ion rechargeable battery, rated voltage: 7.2 V (DC), capability: 1025 mAh (min.), producer: Panasonic Vitality (Wuxi) Co. Ltd., Made in ChinaCharging through USBWith digicam switched off: 5 V/1500 mA (2.5 W or better)Rated values for enter voltage/power7.2 V 0.9 A (battery), 5 V 1.0 A (USB)
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