LEICA C-LUX 1
A review and Photo example of the LEICA C-LUX1.
Table of contents
Gallery
Review
1．Overview
The C-LUX 1 is a Panasonic OEM compact digital camera released by Leica in 2006.
The original camera was the LUMIX DMC-FX01.
The main specifications are as follows, and detailed camera specifications are listed in the table.
- The image sensor has 6.37 million pixels.
- The lens is a Leica DC VARIO-ELMARIT lens.
- 6 groups, 7 elements (4 aspherical lenses).
- Built-in optical image stabilization mechanism (Mega-OIS).
- Focal length f=4.6-16.8mm / F2.8 (wide end) – F5.6 (telephoto end).
- 35mm equivalent: 28mm-102mm.
- Supports SD cards up to 2GB.
- Battery is BP-DC4.
- Body colors are black and silver.
2．Usability
The C-LUX 1 has an image sensor with 6 million pixels, and its performance is sufficient for an old compact digital camera, known as an old compact digital camera.
The display on the rear LCD is slightly overexposed, so the highlights appear to be washed out. However, when viewed on a PC, the image is displayed in the correct condition, so the display performance of the rear LCD is not so good. In addition, the rear LCD has poor visibility from an angle, so it is very difficult to see the LCD at an angle from a low or high angle.
ISO100 is difficult in dark places, and the effect of the image stabilization function MEGA OIS is rarely clearly felt, perhaps because it was around the time when cameras first started to be equipped with it.
The lens is a Leica DC VARIO-ELMARIT lens, 6 groups, 7 elements (4 aspherical lenses), with built-in optical image stabilization (Mega-OIS), f=4.6-16.8mm / F2.8 (wide end) to F5.6 (telephoto end).
In 35mm equivalent, it is a 3x zoom lens with a focal length of 28mm to 102mm, and 28mm at the wide-angle end was the standard focal length in 2006.
Compact digital cameras from a little earlier had a wide-angle end of 35mm, so compact digital cameras from around 2006 were easier to use for outdoor snapshots. The telephoto end of 102mm and later generations competed for telephoto zoom magnification with 10x, 20x, and 30x zoom. For normal snapshots, a zoom range of about 3x is sufficient.
At the wide-angle end (4.6mm / equivalent 28mm), depending on the distance from the subject, shooting an object that includes a straight line will result in barrel distortion.
Memory cards support up to 2GB SD cards, and do not support larger capacity SDHC or SDXC cards.
The camera is originally a little thick, and it has been successfully converted from the overly decorated appearance of Panasonic compact digital cameras to a calm Leica-style appearance.
This camera was purchased second-hand and was delivered in a rather worn Leica original box.
However, the camera appears to have been handled with care and is in excellent condition with no noticeable scratches.
The battery is BP-DC4, which is the same model number as the D-LUX 1, D-LUX 2, D-LUX 3, and D-LUX 4, but different from the C-LUX2 and C-LUX3.
Compatible batteries are compatible in shape and voltage with Panasonic’s DMW-BCC12, Ricoh’s DB-60, DB-65, Fujifilm’s NP-70, etc. Also, we do not recommend the use of compatible batteries. If you use them, please do so at your own risk.
3．Summary
In conclusion, to sum up the C-LUX1, in terms of image quality, it is a compact digital camera for its time.
If you don’t have high expectations, you can get good enough images for everyday snapshots with this.
In terms of exterior design, the body is thicker than the C-LUX2 and C-LUX3, so it lacks stylishness and does not fit well in your pocket.
As with the other C-LUX series, this is a redesigned Panasonic camera, so your evaluation of this camera will vary depending on how much value you place on the camera body design and the Leica red badge.
Specification and Series CAMERA
The C-LUX1 is released in black and silver, the black is a glossy black, and the silver is a matte silver, which is a calm color tone. The matte silver is used on the C-LUX1 and C-LUX2, and the glossy black is used on the C-LUX3.
| Items | C-LUX1 | C-LUX2 | C-LUX3 |
| Effective pixels(Megapixels) | 637 | 720 | 1010 |
| Sensor size | 1/2.5 | 1/2.5 | 1/2.33 |
| 35mm equivalent focal length | 28-102 | 28-102 | 25-125 |
| Real focal length | 4.6~16.8 | 4.6~16.4 | 4.4~22 |
| Maximum aperture | 2.8~5.6 | 2.8~5.6 | 2.8~5.9 |
| Lens name | LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT | LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT | LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT |
| Lens construction | 7 elements in 6 groups (4 aspherical lenses) | 7 elements in 6 groups (4 aspherical lenses) | 7 elements in 6 groups (4 aspherical lenses) |
| Zoom ratio | 3.6x optical zoom | 3.6x optical zoom | 5x optical zoom |
| View finder | なし | なし | なし |
| Rear LCD | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| Battery | BP-DC4 | BP-DC6 | BP-DC6 |
| Recorded Media | SD | SDHC | SDHC |
| Size(mm) W x H x D | 95 × 52 × 26 | 95 × 52 × 22 | 96 x 52 x 22 |
| Weight (g) (body only) | 132 | 132 | 126 |
| Release date | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
| Body color | Silver Black | Silver Black | White Black |
| Original camera | DMC-FX01 | DMC-FX30 | DMC-FX37 |
Option
- leather case
Reference links
Update history
- 2024.7.25
- 2024.04.03
- 2023.05.17
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