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| B Line D-Lux 7 |
Leica and Panasonic have had a collaborative relationship for several years. Some lenses for Panasonic Lumix cameras bear the Leica label and some Lumix fixed lens camera models have been released with the Leica brand and sold through the Leica international network.
The latest of these to hit the retail shelves is the Leica D-Lux 7 which is made by Panasonic and is essentially a rebranded Lumix LX100M2.
There has been some speculation on user forums about differences between the Leica and Lumix versions of this camera.
I have both cameras and have identified several points of difference.
The most obvious is the price. Today the LX100M2 is listed by one well known Sydney camera outlet at $1300. The same outlet has the D-Lux 7 at $1850. The accessory handgrip which I regard as essential for comfortable and secure operation is $120.
This pitches the Leica at a 50% premium over the Lumix, with no deals or discounts as the Leica became available in Australia only three days ago.
What do you get for the extra outlay ?
Mostly cosmetic changes which I will detail below.
In addition Leica Australia offers a 3 year warranty and Leica Elements membership which the Leica sales person assured me would entitle me to a sensor clean once a year, even on the D-Lux which has a fixed lens.
After several hundred exposures and side by side testing of the two cameras I have been unable to find any significant difference in specifications, features, capabilities, image quality, lens quality or performance.
In particular I found JPGs of matched subjects to be identical in appearance at ISO 200 and ISO 3200 on my comparisons using the same subject, same exposure and controlled conditions.
I used Custom Photo Style: Contrast 0, Sharpness +3, Noise reduction -5, Saturation 0, for both cameras.
I used Custom Photo Style: Contrast 0, Sharpness +3, Noise reduction -5, Saturation 0, for both cameras.
Adobe Camera Raw does not yet support the D-Lux 7 .RWL files so I have no comment about the RAWs at this stage.
The EVF and monitor appear to be identical. I did find the Leica EVF required slightly different adjustments to suit my preferences but that may have been sample variation. Or maybe the Leica EVF setup is slightly different from the Lumix.
The Leica goes for a red border on the AF area, the Lumix has the usual yellow. In use I find the yellow slightly easier to see, but there is not much in it.
The menus have the same content but arranged by slightly different subheadings.
There are minor differences in the colors and style of the graphical user interface with the Leica going for red accents presumably to match the red dot and Lumix favouring yellows and other colors like purple. I prefer the Lumix style but there is no functional difference between them.
The D-Lux 7 without handle weighs 415 grams, with handle 485 grams.
The Lumix LX100M2 with attached handle, presumably stuck on with adhesive, weighs 420 grams.
Both cameras were weighed with filter, lens cap, battery and memory card in place.
The reason I bought the Leica is that it is sold without a handle. This enables the Leica accessory handle to be fitted. This is taller (63mm vs 47mm) and deeper (10mm vs 4mm) than the fixed handle on the LX100M2 and also adds 8mm to the height of the unit.
These figures might not sound like much to read about but the benefit of the larger handle is considerable.
It provides a much more secure hold on the camera. I can carry the camera by the handle which my desired practice. It gives a shutter button height of 75mm which is actually more than the Lumix G85 shutter which is 72mm above the base.
This allows my average adult male hand to get all four gripper fingers on the handle should I wish. In fact I usually tuck my little finger underneath but the height is there to use if I want it.
With the handle fitted the D-Lux 7 feels like a proper camera not a toy. It is a pleasure to use.
The only downside of the handle apart from having to buy the D-Lux on which to fit it is that it must be removed to change battery or memory card. It does have a tripod socket.
Now for the cosmetic stuff.
You can have the D-Lux 7 in boring black, but why would you when the more visually appealing black/silver version is available.
There is the red dot of course.
The D-Lux 7 has a different top plate with sharper edges. The EVF eyepiece housing is slightly different to match the top plate. The hotshoe cover is neater, hiding the rear end of the metal parts.
The shutter speed and exposure compensation dials are about 0.5mm taller and have vertical grooves, not the cross-hatch style on the Lumix.
The shutter button assembly is about 1mm taller and the zoom lever has more prominent vertical groves.
The markings on the dials are finer and black-on-silver. The exposure compensation dial on my copy of the Leica is a bit easier to turn which may or may not be an advantage. I have bumped it once while carrying the camera.
The left side of the Leica is different. It is rounded with no chamfer in front of the viewfinder. This adds 3 mm to the width.
The thumb support on the Leica is a slightly different shape and has a different surface texture.
The buttons on the rear of the Lumix are round, those on the Leica are rectangular. There are subtle differences in their height above the body.
The lens assembly, viewfinder and optics and baseplate appear to be identical.
The battery is labelled Leica but is likely a rebranded Panasonic item.
So that’s it. If there are other differences I have yet to find them.
Is the Leica version worth the considerably greater price ?
Of course not, the two cameras make identical pictures and are the same inside.
But buying a Leica is never logical.
I got mine for the handle. Well, that’s my excuse and it is nicer to hold and operate than the Lumix.
Anyway Christmas is coming.