The 2nd gen stylish Black com-digi C-LUX2

Last updated on 2026-04-15

This article is a review and photo examples of the LEICA C-LUX 2 compact digital camera, which was released in 2007 with 7.2 megapixels, a 28-102mm zoom, and a 2.5-inch LCD screen.

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Review
Specification and more
Reference links

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1．Overview

The C-LUX 2 is a compact digital camera released by Leica in 2007.

The second-generation C-LUX is 4mm thinner than the first-generation model, and is compact enough to fit easily in a breast pocket. Its color is “Stylish Black.”

The main specifications are summarized below, and the detailed specifications of the camera are listed in the table.

The image sensor has 7.2 million pixels
The installed lens is the Leica DC VARIO-ELMARIT lens carried over from the C-LUX1
7 elements in 6 groups (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 up to 32GB SDHC card
27MB built-in memory for shooting
Battery is BP-DC6
Body colors are black and silver

2．Usability

Released in 2007, the LEICA C-LUX 2 is already considered a vintage compact digital camera.

Compared to its predecessor, the C-LUX 1, the C-LUX 2 boasts four improvements:

First, the C-LUX 2 has a thinner body, resulting in a more stylish appearance. However, the texture and color options of the body remain unchanged and are still available in silver and black.

Second, the C-LUX 2’s image sensor has 7.2 megapixels, which is about a 20% increase from the C-LUX 1’s 6 megapixels. However, judging from the resulting images, the difference is barely noticeable.

It now supports SDHC cards up to 32 GB. The file size of each C-LUX 2 image is approximately 1.5–4 MB. With a 32 GB SDHC card, you can take more than 1,000 photos, allowing for virtually unlimited shooting.

Although its internal memory is small, it has 27 MB for shooting. When shooting in “Fine” mode, you can take about ten photos, so you can take at least some photos without a memory card.

The following four points are similar to the C-LUX 1:

Since the installed lens has not changed, barrel distortion is noticeable when shooting a grid-like subject at the wide-angle end of 28mm depending on the shooting distance to the subject.

The O.I.S. (optical image stabilizer) image stabilization function is still included, but the image stabilization performance does not seem to have improved.

Image recording is only supported in JPEG format, and RAW shooting is not possible.

Also, as with the C-LUX 1, noise is unavoidable when shooting in low light due to the small 1/2.5-inch sensor size.

Furthermore, after taking about three shots, the shutter response enters a write-waiting state before the next shot. While continuous shooting isn’t possible, keep in mind that this camera isn’t designed for burst shooting.

The C-LUX 2 and C-LUX 3 use the same BP-DC6 battery. However, the previous model, the C-LUX 1, uses a different battery: the BP-DC4.

There are several compatible batteries for the BP-DC6, including Panasonic’s DMW-BCE10E and Ricoh’s DB-70. These batteries have compatible shapes and voltages. However, the use of compatible batteries is not recommended and is at your own risk.

One problem with this camera is that the write-protection tab on an inserted SD card can sometimes get stuck. When this happens, the SD card becomes stuck and cannot be removed by force. Therefore, we recommend the following method:

First, prepare a thin, sturdy piece of paper and fold it into an L- or U-shape that matches the thickness of the SD card. Then, insert the paper into the gap between the card slot and the side of the SD card with the write-protection tab. The paper will physically separate the SD card and the SD card slot, allowing the SD card to be safely removed.

This issue has also been confirmed in the Leica C-LUX 3 compact digital camera and in the card slots of other Panasonic digital cameras from that era.

Before devising the paper insertion method, I disassembled the camera to remove the card but found that the card slot was a single unit integrating the insertion and reading sections, making it impossible to remove the card by disassembling the camera alone.

As a countermeasure, the SD cards used in the C-LUX 2 and C-LUX 3 have their write-protection tabs covered with thin, strong mending tape to prevent snagging.

3．Summary

The LEICA C-LUX 2 offers a focal length range of 28mm to 102mm, which is more than sufficient for everyday use. At just 22mm thick, it fits easily into a clothing pocket, making it very portable.

This is an OEM camera with a redesigned Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FX30. If you value the Leica red badge and design, it might be a good option. However, if you only need camera functionality, a cheaper Panasonic camera would suffice.

I own the black model, and the matte black finish is very satisfying. It’s sad when the camera surface gets scratched during use, but I accept that it’s inevitable with cameras.

Specifications, considerations, etc.

Model name	C-LUX 1	C-LUX 2	C-LUX 3
focal length	28-102	28-102	25-125
Pixels	6.37	7.2	10.1
Sensor	1/2.5	1/2.5	1/2.33
Finder	none	none	none
Back LCD	2.5	2.5	2.5
Battery	BP-DC4	BP-DC6	BP-DC6
Memory-card	SD	SDHC	SDHC
Release year	2006	2007	2008
Colorカラー	Silver Black	White Black	White Black
OEM Model	DMC-FX01	DMC-FX30	DMC-FX37

Option

leather case

Reference links

C-LUX2 introduction from Impress PC-watch
DCM-FX30 official page
LEICA C-LUX1・Shige’s hobby
LEICA C-LUX2・Shige’s hobby
LEICA C-LUX3・Shige’s hobby
LEICA C typ112・Shige’s hobby
C-LUX typ1546・Shige’s hobby

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