LEICA D-LUX4(2009・Safari)
A review and Photo example of the Leica D-LUX4 (Safari-2009ver) digital camera.
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Review
1．Overview
The D-LUX4 is a compact digital camera released by Leica in 2008.
The main features are as follows, and details are listed in the specifications.
The shooting distance is 30cm to infinity, and it has a macro mode that allows you to get as close as 1cm in front of the lens.
- The recording format is JPEG and RAW (RAW format is Panasonic’s RWL format).
- It comes in three colors: black, safari, and titanium.
- This camera is an OEM for Panasonic, and the original OEM is the DMC-LX3.
The lens of this model is a specially designed Vario-Summicron 5.1mm F2-12.8mm F2.8 2.5x zoom lens, which has a focal length equivalent to 24mm-60mm in 35mm format.
The Panasonic DMC-LX3, the sister model of the D-LUX4, has a bulge in the body grip to improve grip.In contrast, the D-LUX4 has a flat shape overall except for the lens barrel, and the appearance is simple.
The D-LUX4 comes with a grip (sold separately) to improve the camera’s grip. Alternatively, you can improve the grip by attaching a leather case (sold separately).
One problem with older compact digital cameras is the battery, and the model number of the D-LUX4’s battery is “BP-DC4-J/E.”
This battery has many compatible products, including the FUJIFILM NP-70, Panasonic DMW-BCC12, PICOH DB-60/65, SIGMA BP-41, and PENTAX D-LI106/D-BC106, so it can be purchased from Rakuten or Amazon.
2．Usability
The D-LUX4 supports recording in Panasonic’s RAW format, RWL. Even though it is a very small sensor, shooting in RAW gives you more flexibility in post-processing than JPEG.
When using RAW development software that does not support lens correction, barrel distortion is noticeable, so when recording in JPEG, distortion is corrected for the captured image.
Although it has sufficient resolution for both distant and close-up shots, increasing the ISO sensitivity makes the image noisy, which is the limit of compact digital cameras with very small sensors.
The successor D-LUX5 and D-LUX6 have the same wide-angle focal length of 24mm, and the telephoto end is extended to 90mm. However, for street snapshots, 60mm is sufficient for the telephoto end.
Of the traditional Leica Safari color that has been continued since the LEICA R3, there is a LEICA Q camera with a built-in lens that has changed the upholstery to Safari color. However, the D-LUX4 Safari is the only built-in lens camera with a Safari color body. Leica M-type bodies are available in Safari colors for the Leica M8.2, Leica M-P, and Leica M10-P.
Compared to the black color that was first released, the Safari color has a subdued matte green texture and goes well with the red badge. The titanium color released at the same time also has a titanium-colored Leica badge, making for a sophisticated camera. Among Leica’s integrated lens digital cameras, the color lineup for the D-LUX4 is excellent.
3．Summary
In conclusion, to sum up the D-LUX4 is a camera with an impressive matte, calm olive green color.
With 10 megapixels, it has enough performance to reduce the image and use it on the web or social media, but for printing A4 or larger, you can’t expect too much from a compact digital camera of the time it was released.
This is a camera to buy if you fall in love with the appearance, and performance is secondary.
Specification
| Item | Value | Note |
| Number of pixels (Megapixcel) | 10.1 Megapixels | |
| Lens | LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMICRON 1:2-2.8 /5.1-12.8 ASPH. | 8 elements in 6 groups (4 aspherical lenses) 24-60mm equivalent |
| Image Sensor | 1/1.63 inc CCD sensor | |
| Viewfinder | none | |
| Back LCD Panel | 3 inch TFT LCD | |
| Memory card | SD / SDHC card | Supports up to 32GB |
| Battery-type | BP-DC4-J/E | DMW-BCC12 |
| Camera size | W x H x D 108.7×59.5×27.1mm | |
| Weight(g) | 228 |
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 |
Options
- Leather Case
- Strap
- Dedicated back
- Dedicated grip (#18697)
Reference links
- D-LUX4 Safari product introduction by Impress digital camera-watch
- DCM-LX3 product introduction by Panasonic official
Update history
- 2024.06.25
- 2024.03.06
- 2022.08.24
Affiliate links
- Leica lens・Ads by Amazon
- Leica digital・Ads by Amazon
- Leica camera body・Ads by Amazon
- Leica accessory・Ads by Amazon
- Leica book・Ads by Amazon
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