brandonlee
brandonlee
Leica D-Lux 7 “Review” sangsara.net
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blair
blair

@brandonlee Thanks for the review! I've been looking at the D-Lux 7. My main camera is a Nikon D-750, but never end up carrying the 750 on trips; too bulky, so been thinking about a compact. Want something simple, small(ish), but don't want to give up "too much quality". A fast lens is a must (I leave a 50 f/1.8 on the D750). Like the DLux styling over the LX-100II ...

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blair
blair

@brandonlee One other question, if it's ok, since you have one. Does the D-Lux have clean HDMI out (i.e., live preview with no info displayed)? If so, does it time out? Or can it run continuously? Have also been looking for a camera that I run into my computer for recording/streaming/etc, the Nikon "times out after a few minutes" is problematic.

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brandonlee
brandonlee

@blair Hey there, I’m afraid I don’t have the answer to that question because I’ve never hooked it up to an external display. It doesn’t come with the necessary accessories for it either. Have you checked the downloadable manual? There’s a slim chance it would tell you.

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blair
blair

@brandonlee haha, thanks. No it doesn’t say one way or the other ... :)

Fortunately Amazon takes returns!

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brandonlee
brandonlee

@blair Do keep in mind the lens is only fast on the wide end. If you’re using it at a 50mm equivalent, the D-Lux 7 will max out at f/2.7. You might also consider a Fuji XE3 or XT30 since you do video work? Sure they’re larger but you’ll get more lens flexibility.

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blair
blair

@brandonlee Ya, I know. But even 2.8 is way better than most of the compacts (which tend to be 2.x - 5.x) …

Thanks for the ideas for others to look at. There are just soooo many options, it feels impossible to sort through.

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brandonlee
brandonlee

@blair If you don’t mind the lack of manual controls, smaller viewfinder, and Sony software UI, one of the earlier RX100 models (mark 4 or 5) may be enough. They’re really compact, probably feels like half the volume of the D-Lux 7.

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blair
blair

@brandonlee I've looked at the Sony's before, but they lenses are a bit slow, sensor a bit small (want at least 4/3rds, aps-c is nice).

I hadn't looked at Fujifilm before; not sure why. Both the XE3 and X100F look really interesting. There is some appeal to the X100F; I only use primes (typically 50mm) on my D750, the X100F is a bit wide. But it's so lovely and flat, and looks nice; if it had 4k video it’d be a winner. Perhaps I need to not worry about that.

The XE3 would be more appealing if there was a really flat pancake 35 or 50 (35mm equiv) lens. With the big lenses, it seems like it would become almost as awkward to carry as my D750! :)

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brandonlee
brandonlee

@blair Yeah I don’t think there are any fast 50mm lenses that are also compact when it comes to APS-C. The X100 series (I have the older T) is really good with sensor and lens tightly integrated and very low profile, if a bit soft when wide open. Overall size is comparable to the D-Lux.

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blair
blair

@brandonlee I wish I knew if Fuji was going to release a new X100 in the next little while. I admit I'm really tempted by it because I don't know if I care (that much) about the video on it, and I love using primes. There's something psychological about not have a zoom that makes me pay more attention to what I'm shooting (of course, perhaps it's just that all my Nikon zooms are inferior to the primes in terms of speed and sharpness). But even with my old pocket camera, having the option of zooming made me “waste time" using it ... if that makes sense.

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blair
blair

@brandonlee Just read this www.matteopezzi.com/shitty-li...

That guys loves his x100 ... lol

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blair
blair

@brandonlee thanks again for all your insight, it's great to hear first hand thoughts. As I look at these and ponder, I'm considering a used X100F. The “less deep because of the shallow lens” is a factor over these other ones (including the D-Lux), as is the speed @ 35mm ... I think the D-Lux is already at 2.8 @ 35mm?

I prefer the lack of zoom; the one with the brown exterior looks better to me than even the D-Lux.

I’m not going to worry about 4k video; I've been thinking about a new underwater camera, like the TG-5, and that would probably cover the bulk of my video needs (beach, etc)

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brandonlee
brandonlee

@blair Glad I could help. The D-Lux is probably 2.5 or so at 35mm (since it’s 2.7 at 50mm). Your idea of a used X100F sounds good, and you won’t be paying the Leica badge premium either.

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blair
blair

@brandonlee I will definitely report back! :)

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blair
blair

@brandonlee @jack and I took the plunge, ordered the used X100F last night, it's shipped and should be here Wednesday! Excited!

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jack
jack

@blair I hope you love it! There's nothing not to love so I think you will.

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twelvety
twelvety

@blair Congratulations! I look forward to seeing your photos!

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blair
blair

@twelvety oh lordy, now the pressure is on!

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blair
blair

@brandonlee Finally took some comparison pics and wrote a little post about how happy I am with the X100F! blairmacintyre.me/2019/05/1...

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brandonlee
brandonlee

@blair Thanks for letting me know! Glad you’re happy with it, and the comparison to the Nikon really shows how they’re in the same ballpark. One thing the iPhone does well is grab a whole lot of dynamic range out of the JPEG box with Smart HDR.

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brandonlee
brandonlee

@blair You could try setting Shadows to +2 and Dynamic Range to DR400 (I think) on the Fuji if you’d like to get closer to that. Also found it strange there were problems with the flower... was the focus switch on AF+Macro? Keep shooting! 👍

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blair
blair

@brandonlee focus wasn’t on AF+MF, but I did have it on single point and may have just done it poorly. Part of what I did was just frame+shoot without fiddling, since that’s the iphones strength.

I’ll try those settings: I am bad about fiddling witg settings!

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blair
blair

@brandonlee true. I admit I’m really unhappy with the image quality of my XS, the aggressive smoothing on skin in particular is infuriating. I’d rather have noise than plastic smoothness

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blair
blair

@brandonlee I have another camera question that I though I'd toss your way. I'm really liking the X100F, and pondering replacing my D750 (plus lenses). I can probably get ~$1500 for what I have, and would love to get a interchangable mirrorless. Size less of an issue, probably want a few good primes, would prefer to stay around or under $2000 ... Nikon Z's are out, Sony's high end are out.

Essentially, I want the best of my D750 (image quality for portraits and around-home pics), but in a smaller, more managable package.

Is this even possible?

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JohnPhilpin
JohnPhilpin

@brandonlee @blair and any other camera connoisseurs

CAMERAS >>>>

been thinking about posting this question for a while - but here are two camera enthusiasts demonstrating their enthusiasm - so straight to the horses mouth!

I only use a phone - and have been thinking about an DSLR- for taking on some up coming trips - because though I am not a photographer - I know the shots I want that I don’t even try with a phone.

There is as much point in me buying a high end camera as there is me buying a telecaster ... so anything $1000 plus is out.

That said there do seem to be possibilities even around 500 - any recommendations?

I do want wide and telephoto lens - i do want better night exposure than an iphone can do …

Canon EOS series seems to be in the range .. Costco and Walmart even offer camera and lenses for 5 to 7 hundred …

Am I making a mistake? Any pitfalls an noob amateur is missing?

My thanks in Anticipation.

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blair
blair

@JohnPhilpin I started at that point, many years ago (D70 + a few lenses). Slowly kept upgrading (thus, D750 right now, plus a bunch of primes and a telephoto I quite literally never use).

For me, I find I never carry it because it's too bulky. So, after lots of chat here, I got the X100F (see story here blairmacintyre.me/2019/05/1...).

But the tradeoffs for me don't fit your requirements. I wanted a single fixed lens so I wouldn't have the templation of multiple lenses (which would make it too bulky) and I didn't want a zoom because I wanted fast (for low light) and (again) didn't want the distraction.

I never use telephoto lenses because I'm usually shooting in low light and so I want speed.

The cameras kept getting more $$ because I craved better image quality. But I suspect I could do more with less money right now.

Part of the reason I posted this questions to @brandonlee was because I am totally out of touch with the latest cameras. I know I want a good sensor (priority #1) and a couple of good prime lenses (priority #2). But are there things out there that approach the image quality of my D750 without a lot of it's features-I-dont-use, for less money?

FWIW, I have a Canon SL3 that I use as a webcam, with a cheap 35mm f2 lens, and it seems to take nice pics. And it's small and light. But I have no idea what the competators are like, and what I'd think if I was using it as a camera. It's certainly WAY better than my iPhoneXS!

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kaa
kaa

@JohnPhilpin I would get a micro 2/3. And pick up a 50mm lens (I think it’s 30mm on the micro 2/3 scale). Pictures will be a huge step up.

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brandonlee
brandonlee

@blair Hey again! I haven’t kept up enough to make a good recommendation, and I’ve personally never even owned a DSLR, only various compacts. Right now my mirrorless system camera is a Leica CL which certainly isn’t the best you could do, but it’s beautiful and quite small.

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brandonlee
brandonlee

@blair The CL was a gift or else I’d never have gone for it myself. I probably would have chosen a Fujifilm XT3 or XT30, which are also APS-C and maybe not in the league of what you’re trying to get. As for the full-frame mirrorless cameras out there, I really haven’t kept up.

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blair
blair

@brandonlee thanks Brandon. It seems the reviews push to Nikon Z6 or Sony A7 III cameras ... both might be a tiny bit more than I want when considering lenses. I'm somewhat shocked how much the glass for these costs, though. That said, Nikon has a “trade up to Z6" promo right now, where I could trade in my D750, get a Z6 and ZTX lens adaptor (so keep my old glass), for about $1000. Might be the right time to jump …

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blair
blair

@brandonlee Poking around, I think I'm going to consider the idea of abandoning full-frame. I think if I was going full-frame mirrorless, it would be a Z6, which would be about $1000 to start (Nikon has a trade-in, I could keep my lenses and trade in my D750 to get a Z6 + lens adaptor).

Looking at the Fuji X-H1, and seeing the rumors that the H2 might come out soon (the H1 came out before the T3, so it's missing some key things), I am going to wait and see. If I can get an H2 and the $500 35mm Fuji prime lens for ~ what I can trade in my D750 for, I'd be tempted. The IBIS alone might be worth it.

On the other hand, I'd want to touch it first; the H1 seems similar in size to the D750. So who knows.

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In reply to
JohnPhilpin
JohnPhilpin

@kaa thankyou - looking around more … do you mean 4/3 ?

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JohnPhilpin
JohnPhilpin

@blair thankyou for all of this info and a superb camera - for a webcam - seriously ?

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blair
blair

@JohnPhilpin people are blown away by my webcam. It’s so worth it. It’s lovely.

You only live once! Life’s to short for crappy webcams! 🤣

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blair
blair

@JohnPhilpin not sure the question ... the Fuji’s are aps-c

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JohnPhilpin
JohnPhilpin

@blair

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JohnPhilpin
JohnPhilpin

@blair well - when you put it that way ….

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