D-LUX (2003)
The first D-LUX
A review and Photo example of the Leica D-LUX(2003) digital camera.
Table of contents
Gallery
Review
1．Overview
The D-LUX (2003 version) is a compact digital camera released in 2003.
It has a shooting distance of 30cm to infinity, and a macro mode that allows you to get as close as 10cm in front of the lens.
The recording resolution is 2,048 x 1,536/1,600 x 1,200/1,280 x 960/640 x 480 pixels, the recording format is JPEG, and Raw shooting is not possible. It can shoot 320 x 240 pixel movies with sound, and the recording format is QuickTime.
SD cards up to 2GB can be used as recording media.
The battery is a BP-DC2-J, and the compatible battery is the Panasonic DMW-BCA7. Due to the unique shape and the lack of other compatible batteries, battery availability will be extremely poor in the future.
2．Usage
The exterior was designed by Leica, and the smooth design when viewed from the front still looks great. The one I have is a cheap second-hand, so there are gaps in the body, screws are missing, and various other problems due to aging, but the electronics are Panasonic, so it still works fine even after 19 years.
There is almost no wait time from turning the power on to starting shooting, which is comparable to modern compact digital cameras.
The image is taken with a small 3.2 megapixel image sensor, so highlights will be blown out if the exposure is not correct, noise will appear in dark places, and it is easy to shake in dark places, which makes me feel like it is a small sensor digital camera from almost 20 years ago.
With a compact body that fits in one hand, quick start-up, and the ability to take images that sometimes remind me of negative film, this is a camera that is good to use as you please without any stress, like a disposable camera.
The battery is an old model, so there are few compatible products available at present. In 2022, I was able to purchase a compatible DMW-BCA7, but it was out of stock in 2024. The battery that came with the used body had its exterior collapsed due to hydrolysis caused by aging of the plastic, and it was slightly swollen, so I was unable to use it and purchased two compatible batteries. The compatible battery at the link can be charged properly with the original adapter and is usable.
3．Add Info.
Starting with this camera, Leica changed its OEM supplier for compact digital cameras from Fujifilm to Panasonic.
The original supplier is Panasonic’s DMC-F1.
As an aside, the original supplier DMC-F1 had Japanese singer Ayumi Hamasaki as its commercial character.
Given the recent popularity of Fujifilm digital cameras, I would like to see a world where the original supplier remains Fujifilm. If there were Leica-exterior versions of the XQ and XF, they would surely be quite popular.
Specification
| Item | Value | Note |
| Number of pixels (Megapixcel) | 3.2-Megapixels | |
| Lens | Leica DC VARIO-ELMARIT 1:2.8-4.9 /5.8-17.4 ASPH. | 7 elements in 6 groups (3 aspherical lenses) 35-105mm equivalent |
| Image Sensor | 1/2.5″ CCD sensor | 3.34 million total pixels, primary color filter |
| Viewfinder | Real Image Optical Viewfinder | Viewfinder only checks the frame, not the focus. |
| Back LCD Panel | 1.5″ TFT LCD | |
| Memory card | SD card | Supports up to 2GB |
| Battery-type | BP-DC2-J | DMW-BCA7 *1 |
| Camera size | W x H x D 121×34×52mm | |
| Weight(g) | 200 (Include battery) |
Model History
| Model name | D-LUX | D-LUX2 | D-LUX3 | D-LUX4 | D-LUX5 | D-LUX6 | D-LUX Typ109 | D-LUX7 |
| 35mm equivalent focal length | 35-105 | 28-112 | 28-112 | 24-60 | 24-90 | 24-90 | 24-57 | 24-75 |
| Number of pixels (Megapixcel) | 3.2 | 8.6 | 10.2 | 10.1 | 10.1 | 10.1 | 12.8 | 17 |
| Image Sensor Size | 1/2.5 | 1/1.65 | 1/1.65 | 1/1.63 | 1/1.63 | 1/1.63 | 4/3 | 4/3 |
| Viewfinder | OVF | none | none | none | EVF1 | EvF3 | Inner- EVF | Inner- EVF |
| Back LCD Panel | 1.5 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| Battery-type | BP-DC6 | BP-DC4 | BP-DC4 | BP-DC4 | BP-DC10 | BP-DC10 | BP-DC15 | BP-DC15 |
| Memory card | SD | SDHC | SDHC | SDHC | SDXC | SDXC | SDXC | SDXC |
| Release date | 2003 | 2005 | 2006 | 2008 | 2010 | 2012 | 2014 | 2018 |
| Body color | Silver | Silver | Black Silver | Black Safari Titan | Black Titan | Black Y100 G-star RAW | Black Gray | Black Silver |
Option
- Leather Case
- Strap
Reference links
- D-LUX Product Introduction by Impress PC-watch (Japanese)
- DCM-F1 product introduction by Impress PC-Watch (in Japanese)
Update history
- 2025.1.3
- 2024.03.06
- 2022.08.13
Affiliate links
