1. Leica V-LUX 20 14.5 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Zoom and 3.0-Inch LCD
2. 8 Gigabyte SD Secure Digital Memory Card - USB Memory Card Reader
3. Memory Card Wallet
4. Package of LCD Screen Protectors - Flexible Mini Tripod
5. Cleaning and Care Kit - BONUS!! 25 Free Quality Prints (promo code# on invoice)

Editorial Review :

The Leica V-Lux 20 is the perfect tool with which to capture those wonderful moments in life as high quality pictures. Direct, spontaneous, and intuitive. This is made possible by numerous automatic functions and a versatile 12× zoom lens with an enormous focal range from 25 to 300 mm. The optional manual setting of apertures and shutter speeds offers even the most demanding photographers complete creative control. With the latest advanced features such as HD movie and optional GPS image tagging1, the V-Lux 20 offers the greatest possible flexibility and ease of use - for still photography or movies when you are out and about, and even for archiving pictures already taken.

KIT INCLUDES:
* 16GB SD MEMORY CARD.
* MEMORY CARD READER.
* MEMORY CARD WALLET.
* LCD SCREEN PROTECTORS.
* MINI TRIPOD.
* 25 FREE QUALITY PRINTS!!!

Customer Review :

No review yet

1. Package contents - Camera with lens cap, carrying strap, lens hood, 512 MB SD card, charger, lithium-ion rechargeable battery, A/V cable, USB cable
2. Lens - LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT 7.4-88.8 mm f/2.8-3.7 ASPH.; 12x optical zoom (equivalent to 35-420 millimeters for 35 mm format) / 4x Digital-zoom
3. Optical Image Stabilizer - 2 Modes
4. 4 - 3 Normal and 16 - 9 Widescreen modes
5. Still pictures resolution up to 3648 x 2736 pixels; Movie mode 848 x 480 pixels at up to 30 fps

Editorial Review :

The compact V-Lux 1 is a match for entry-line digital SLR systems any time. The V-Lux 1 combines top-class optics, magnificent image quality, 12x zoom and 10 megapixel image resolution in an ultra compact, convenient design. The V-Lux line makes photography in the compact class more professional than ever before. The all-purpose digital camera for universal use combines the best Leica image quality with the convenience of an intelligent all-in-one solution. Equipped with the 12x optical zoom and the optical image stabilization, there is hardly any photographic situation you won't be able to master with your V-Lux 1. It takes delicate macro shots, space-grabbing wide-angle views and super telephoto nature images without having to change the lens. Everything works in perfect harmony: the LEICA VARIO-ELMARIT lens, the optical stabilizer, the fast and precise auto focus, and the ultra fast image signal processor. USB and AV Out mode LCD Monitor - Swiveling 2.0? TFT color display with 207,000 pixels, electronic viewfinder with 235,000 pixels Exposure modes - Choice between program automatic, aperture automatic, automatic mode and manual setting / Exposure compensation +-2 EV in stages, settings from 1/3 EV Flash modes Choice between automatic ON with or without preflash (red-eye reduction), manual ON (fill-in flash) with or without preflash, SLOW sync for longer shutter speeds, flash OFF Sensitivity Setting - Choice between automatic or manual ISO 100, ISO 200, ISO 400, ISO 800, ISO 1600, ISO 3200 (in high-sensitivity mode) File formats Still - RAW, JPEG (Fine/Standard), Movie - QuickTime Motion JPEG PictBridge and DPOF compatible for easy printing Unit Dimensions (W x H x D) - 5.5 x 3.3 x 5.6 inches (141 mm x 85 mm x 142 mm); 25.9 ounces

Customer Review :

Just as good, if not better, than an entry level SLR

This is the best sub-SLR (bridge) camera there is out there.
Enough has been written about this camera by others elsewhere so I am not going to go over the same things again.
Here are just a few points that I think are important, or have not been covered before.
1. I saw that some people wrote that if you want to spend this money, you might as well buy a SLR camera kit. That is a misleading idea.
Leica V-Lux 1 comes with a 35 to 430 mm original, best quality lens. There is no SLR kit on the market that does that under $[...], let alone the fact that you don't have to carry two lenses to cover the same zoom range (focal distance).
2. This is the only bridge camera that offers exactly the same controls like true SLR cameras, including dial controls for aperture and speed, placed just like the controls in the Nikon SLR series. Without taking the camera from your eyes you can adjust with your index and thumb, the aperture and the exposure speed (or the Program Shift as the case may be). In the same time, with your left hand you can adjust the zoom and the manual focus rings.
3. Leica V-Lux 1, has some features encountered only in SLR-s much more expensive. In example, on the left side of the lens there is a "forced" Focus button. Even with the focus set to MANUAL mode, one can still touch with the left thumb this button and the lens focuses automatic. Then it remains further in manual mode, so you can continue to adjust it further by turning the focus ring.
3. Here is one example of how great the image stabilization works. Last week I was at my son's convocation ceremony that took place indoors in a sports arena, but it was not lit enough. My son was sitting in the middle of the stadium. I was standing all the way up. With the camera held in my hand and with the maximum zoom, I took about three pictures. One out of three came out perfectly clear. Now consider this: the exposure was 1/16sec which would absolutely require a tripod.
Further I just leaned my right elbow on a railing and then took some more pictures, and they all came out very clear at 1/8 and 1/16 sec!
4. One word of caution: If you are used to other cameras that in Auto mode allow choices on metering, focus area, etc, this camera in Auto mode offers very little options. If you want access to all the settings, you have to set it to "P" (Program Mode) which is also an "automatic" mode that allows all the settings to be changed.
5. If money is tight, but you would really like to get the Leica as opposed to the equivalent Panasonic, if you shop around you find this camera at around $[...]. Also, look on the Leica web site as they are offering a $150 mail in rebate (March-Apr 2008, and again July-Aug 2008, and I am sure they will offer it again), so you end up paying $[...], which all of a sudden looks a lot more as a very good value.
A great, high quality camera.

Rating :

Just as good, if not better, than an entry level SLR

This is the best sub-SLR (bridge) camera there is out there.
Enough has been written about this camera by others so I am not going to go over the same things again.
Here are just a few points that I think are important, or have not been covered before.
1. I saw that some people wrote that if you want to spend this money, you might as well buy a SLR camera kit. That is a misleading idea.
Leica V-Lux 1 comes with a 35 to 430 mm original, best quality lens. There is no SLR kit on the market that covers that range at the same lens quality under $1000.00, let alone the fact that you don't have to carry two lenses to cover the same zoom range (focal distance).
2. This is the only bridge camera that offers exactly the same controls like true SLR cameras, including dial controls for aperture and speed, placed just like the controls in the Nikon SLR series. Without taking the camera from your eyes you can adjust with your index and thumb, the aperture and the exposure speed (or the Program Shift as the case may be). In the same time, with your left hand you can adjust the zoom and the manual focus rings.
3. Leica V-Lux 1, has some features encountered only in SLR-s much more expensive. In example, on the left side of the lens there is a "forced" Focus button. Even with the focus set to MANUAL mode, one can still touch with the left thumb this button and the lens focuses automatic. Then it remains further in manual mode, so you can continue to adjust it further by turning the focus ring.
3. Here is one example of how great the image stabilization works. Last week I was at my son's convocation ceremony that took place indoors in a sports arena, but it was not lit enough. My son was sitting in the middle of the stadium. I was standing all the way up. With the camera held in my hand and with the maximum zoom, I took about three pictures. One out of three came out perfectly clear. Now consider this: the exposure was 1/16sec which would absolutely require a tripod.
Further I just leaned my right elbow on a railing and then took some more pictures, and they all came out very clear at 1/8 and 1/16 sec!
4. One word of caution: If you are used to other cameras that in Auto mode allow choices on metering, focus area, etc, this camera in Auto mode offers very little options. If you want access to all the settings, you have to set it to "P" (Program Mode) which is also an "automatic" mode that allows all the settings to be changed.
5. If money is tight, but you would really like to get the Leica as opposed to the equivalent Panasonic, if you shop around you find this camera at around $750 - $800. Also, look on the Leica web site as they are offering a $150 mail in rebate (March-Apr 2008, and again July-Aug 2008, and I am sure they will offer it again), so you end up paying $600 - $650, which all of a sudden looks a lot more as a very good value.
A great, high quality camera.

Rating :

great photos

I just got this camera V lux-1 few days ago. As soon I received the package, I was very excited and used the camera right away. As of now, I am testing Auto mode with different type of scenes. I have tested indoor scenes using no flash and was very amazed with the quality of the natural colors and contrast of light. The light temperature was very good, just like real natural scenes. I found the focusing speed was fast enough to capture my young restless kids. Lag time was not noticeable.

Having this great quality photo camera, I am very much enjoying taking photos more now. I will update more later after I use this camera more. Overall, I am very satisfied with this great camera.



Rating :

great camera

This is one of the most amazing cameras I've owned, it's easy to use and has a great macro. Well worth the price!

Rating :

The proof is (not) in the pictures! Disappointing!

To anyone thinking of buying this camera in 2009 -- there must be better options available than this now 2 1/2 year old model. I tried it because I wanted the 12x zoom, Leica optics, feature set, build quality, etc. but after trying it out over the weekend at the Yankee game and for nature photography (which is what I mostly purchased it for) I was extremely disappointed when I loaded the photos into the computer. Noise levels for images shot at ISO 200 are totally unacceptable. I could not work with ISO 100 because the weather was overcast. But hey -- I need to be able to use the camera in all conditions, not just when the sun is shining. All images are smudgy and soft and start breaking up when viewed at 1/2 size let alone at actual pixel size. As for cropping -- forget it! Also the auto-focus does not work well in a variety of situations. At the upper end of the telephoto range, the camera cannot be hand-held at slow shutter speeds even with the level 2 shake reduction on. Plus for my 52 year old eyes the small viewing screen and the coarse optical viewfinder are definitely no longer state of the art (if they ever were).

For the past few years I have owned the Lumix TZ1 and LX2 and have been happy with them. I have gotten used to their smudgy noise reduction but the Leica V-Lux 1, instead of being better in this regard, seems worse. I was hoping for an improvement in zoom range over the TZ1 (which is a compact automatic which goes to 350 optical zoom but only 5 MP) but from what I have seen so far, this camera is not only not an improvement, I don't even think it is as good. Your money (and mine, once I return this) will be better spent on a newer model camera that has hopefully dealt with some of these problems. I will try the Lumix G1.

Rating :

More reviews...

1. 10-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 18 x 24-inch prints
2. Unique manual setting options give you the freedom to create images that express your own style
3. High-quality Leica lens takes in stunning shots from the wide-angle to the telephoto range
4. O.I.S. optical stabilization technology and ultra fast processing
5. Pure, discreet, timeless design in a housing of high-quality aluminum

Editorial Review :

The Leica D-LUX 3 is a compact digital camera with 10 megapixels, & has a LEICADC VARIO-ELMARIT 1:2.8-4.9/6.3-25.2 ASPH lens with a focal range from 28 to 112mm. The optical image stabilizer (O.I.S.) ensures that sharp pictures are obtained without a flash or tripod in critical light situations. The 2.8" display gives the photographer a reliable, precise evaluation while recording & playingThe CCD 16:9 sensor shows the image in the format filling 16:9 ratio. The built-in flash unit is activated manually for fill-in lighting & is neatly concealed within the camera body when not used. There are a number of programmed motive modes as well as the manual setting options for fast as well as creative/individual photography. There is no viewfinder because of the large displaySimply Beautiful:The Leica D-LUX 3 is a compact but powerful companion. Available in black or silver finish, the 10 megapixels D-LUX 3 is an attractive companion with its clean-cut lines. Once again, Leica has combined quality optics and high-grade materials. It will appeal to existing customers & new groupsLeica Lens:From wide-angle to telephoto The D-LUX 3 offers superior image quality not only based on a high resolution. A decisive factor is the LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT 6.3-25.2 mm f/2.8-4.9 ASPH. With a fast maximum aperture of f/2.8 & an interesting focal length range of 28-112 mm (35 mm format equivalent), there are hardly any limits to photographic creativity. The lens compris

Customer Review :

Everything it's cracked up to be!

After taking a few trips overseas with my wonderfull Nikon D200 10.2 MP digital SLR, I beagan to feel the weight (and bulk), to say the least. Still, the capabilities I could enjoy with this cam and its 18-200mm zoon lens were just too good to give up in favor of a pocket-size. Nonetheless, I started researching like crazy and finally wound up somewhere between the Panasonic and this Leica, which is modelled on the Panasonic (yes, not the other way around). In the end, I couldn't resist the idea of owning a genuine German Leica for just under $600! After having it for a few weeks, I have some simply spectacular pics in the 16:9 format at the full 10 MP. It really helps to take some just awsome images (and I am not in the obnoxious habit of overusing the word "awsome", BTW). The camera's heft and feel is one of sheer quality, as is the look, and use of it is simple, fun, and gives an amateur like me both a killer backup cam to the D200 AND a stand-alone that I can take pretty much around the word knowing I will miss very little and carry even less. It has literally contributed to making me happy in a way that few possesions ever have. But then, that's because I love to take pictures so much. This baby is everything it's cracked up to be, and more!

Rating :

Best in-pocket-always-with-me-camera-yet

The D-lux 3 is a major step for compact cameras. the wide angle alone is worth the price of admission, and the 16:9 format (selectable) is outstanding. It is small enough to keep with me at all times and quick and easy enough to use.

I always shoot RAW which allows amazing flexibility after the shoot. Like all compact cameras I've owned before, getting a stable shot is tricky - my digital SLR I can pull out and snap and generally get a sharp shot. Rarely so with a compact. I have to take more care to steady the camera to make sure, and take a few shots to make sure I get what I want. Small price to pay, a little caution and extra shooting and I always get what I want.

Video is better than most cameras, if you want true HD or zooming while shooting, by a camcorder. If you get hung up by the lack of live shooting zoom, well, zooms are annoying in home and professional videos anyway, teach yourself to avoid it, it helps!

This is the best compact camera I've ever owned. I shot 4000 pictures on it for a timelapse sequence just before christmas - in one day - and loved the results. I have shot another 4000 in full size raw mode and have a number of professionally used images that paid for the camera.

It is a seriously excellent compact camera.

Rating :

Highest Rating In Market Niche

...the leica d-lux 3 is probably the best current camera for its intended market niche...as an extremely portable/travel/back-up digital camera for your primary digital and/or film camera...

...high points: the lens is typical leica (camera purist will understand what this means)...16:9 aspect pictures...wide viewing screen...full manual controls...anti-shake stablizer...28mm - 105mm vario elmarit (2.8 - 4.9)...low-light photography potential...

...no, the d-lux 3 will not out-perform a canon d5 or nikon d200, or for that matter, a leica digi2 or digi3...but then again, it was never intended to as a $600 pocket digital...

...but then again, the d-lux 3 has created a photographic genra in its own right...the use of grain as an artistic counter-part to the use of shallow depths of field...

...an outstanding little digital camera that now travels with me everywhere...

Rating :

Get the Panasonic equivalent instead

The only thing that satisfies me on this purchase is the Leica dot... that I can say that Ive owned a Leica for once in my life.

Otherwise, the picture quality is not worth the price (I bought mine Hong Kong two months ago for, equivalent to 780 USD). Try to tinker with white balance, try shade for example, and even with ample light, shots will exhibit noise and aberration. A simple sun reflecting on a calm beach, this camera will meter wrongly.

Buy the Panasonic equivalent instead. It still has a 'Leica' label around the lens!

Then spend the differemce on say the Olympus shockproof/waterproof for your snorkeling/scuba trips. I discovered just two weeks ago that Olympus has this model. I could have gone with this combination if I knew that Olympus has this early on.

Ah that red dot is expensive.


Rating :

Not a good cam at all.

Not as I expected for a name like Leica's. the cam is expensive for nothing important. When you use the video recording, you can not change the zoom at all. The only advantage I noticed in this cam is the ability to take wide pictures. But still, this is not worth 600$. Besides, the cam is big. Compared to Canon cams, half the price for almost all the capabilities.


My advice: Do not buy, get a Canon for 200$. In that case if you want to get another cam after 2 years, you wont feel bad for the money you paid.


Rating :

More reviews...

1. 10.1 megapixels CCD sensor
2. 5x Optical Zoom (25-125mm in 35mm formats)
3. 2.5-inch LCD monitor with wide-angle field of view * Face Recognition
4. O.I.S. Image Stabilizer * ISO Sensitivity from 100-1600
5. This Kit includes Case

Editorial Review :

The LEICA C-LUX 3 is fine example of where fine taste in fashion collides with carefree high quality photography. Oozing with style on a slim-line body, the LEICA C-LUX 3 delivers 10 megapixels of detail grabbing power and offers an excellent lens which begins from the space-grabbing focal length of 25mm to 125mm (in 35mm format). Stunning photos are achieved in true-to-life colours from wide-angle to telephoto in virtually any photography you wish to shoot from landscapes to architecture or portraits to group photos. For full stress-free photography, the C-LUX provides the Automatic Mode which combines a bevy of individual functions to suit the subject and photographic conditions, like the O.I.S. image stabiliser, automatic ISO control, face recognition, automatic contrast compensation and automatic choice of scene modes.

Customer Review :

No review yet

1. 7.2-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 15 x 20-inch prints
2. 3.6x optical zoom; 2.5-inch LCD display
3. High-speed wide-angle lens allows for creative framing
4. Classic, ultra-compact metal body measures 3.5 x 2 x .9 inches
5. Powered by lithium-ion battery (battery and charger included); stores images on SD memory cards (64MB memory card included)

Editorial Review :

If you want a stylish, slim compact camera but don't want to sacrifice picture quality then you'll love the ultra compact Leica C-LUX 2! Sporting a classic black metal body, it's a design classic - which can fit into even the smallest pocket. In fact it's the slimmest Leica digital camera ever made! That elegant exterior design - unmistakably Leica - is matched by an impressive array of precision optics and digital technology inside. If you want to take the style even further, then you can also compliment your LEICA C-LUX 2 with its own exclusive tan leather case and carry strap.The high-speed wide-angle 28 mm zoom lens enables you to take stunning, space-grabbing shots. The optical image stabilizer and intelligent exposure control prevent camera shake and the 7.2 megapixel CCD sensor enables you to take superlative prints you can enlarge - even up to poster size.The extra large 2.5" display, the image stabilization and short shutter delay of the Leica C-LUX 2 all combine to guarantee carefree photography with high-quality results. Fast, discreet snapshots captured on the fly, or picture perfect compositions at twilight or in other tricky conditions - all are possible with this elegant compact. Where the Vario-Elmarit zoom lens also retracts entirely into the camera body at the flick of the ?off? switch.So whether you're a partygoer, city stroller or nature lover, the Leica C-LUX 2 is always your dependable companion - any time, any place, you need never miss another photo opportunity.

Customer Review :

Extremely impressive pocket camera

I am *extremely* impressed by this little Leica.

This will be a rather short review since this camera model is already, like, 300 years old in dog years.

I was able to pick a new one up for less than [...] on the internets from someone who clearly didn't know what they were parting with. When I inquired into why the party was selling she only told me that her husband needed something newer.

I have owned and used dozens of cameras (Leica, Nikon, Canon, Rollie, Mamiya) in my career.

The C-LUX 2 is an amazing unit in terms of color authenticity, image quality, zoom quality, sensitivity, precision, workmanship, and most of all: usability and convenience.

I cannot stress how perfect the menu system is on this camera. It's perfect and the controls are precise, accurate, and delightful to use.

Convenience means that having this camera in your pocket you will never miss a great shot no matter where you are. Yes it really is that good. With controls from scene mode to nearly manual you have precise control of your pictures. There is no reason you cannot achieve a National Geo picture with this camera.

When the C-LUX 2 debuted at [.........] it was really a Euro-jet-setting no-show. Now that you can find this gem below [....] it is a must have.

5 stars based on current market conditions and availability in late 2008. Good luck finding a mint unit. If you are indefatigable you will find no better camera in the same class at any price.

Rating :

wish I had not bought it

I bought this camera with full faith in Leica products despite the high price tag
Five months after light use (about 300 photos in all), the camera was not working.
Leica repaired but refused to replace bad product with same or equivalent model.
Customer service was completely insensitive to my troubles with their product and my
request for replacing it. If I have problems with it again, I will have to pay for repairs since
the warranty expires soon. For professional photography Leica may be worth the investment.
For non-professional, social use, Leica is a waste of money. My friends are happy with their
$100 equipment while I am stuck with a lemon.

Rating :

Not really worth the money

I found this gorgeous little camera at a thrift shop completely broken and priced by someone who obviously had no clue what it was. I sent it to the Leica shop to get it fixed which cost several hundred dollars. For $260 (which is what I ended up paying for it total), it was completely worth it. It's stylish, it takes great photos, it's tiny; basically it's perfect. But honestly, there's no way it's worth the full price new. The photos are really nice, but maybe I'm spoiled by my DSLR, which takes photos whose quality easily rivals film. I mean, they're just not that nice, if you get what I'm saying. If you can find one of these cameras used, I say snap it up. But really, it's not worth it's price tag.

Rating :

Amazing Colors

I purchased this camera because it is very small and easy to carry on. As all Leica products, this camera produces very great images, the color contrast is amazing, and every color appears to be real when you get the image printed.



Rating :

Excitment turns to "meh".

I was hoping to find something different. Something better than the rest. Sometimes you just don't feel like the usual selection is good enough. I already had a Canon, everyone and their brother had a Nikon.
I was thinking about the slim line Casio, but who wants to buy a Casio?
So one late night / early morning I found this Leica. It looked different than the Canon/Nikon/Casio/Olympus and plus it had that little red badge on the front. I had to have it.
I found a local dealer on the Leica website and the next day I bought it for the same price as Amazon.
BTW, I knew there was a Panasonic version for half the price. I bought into the cosmetic of the Leica, the story, and that little red badge.
Supposedly this model has different firmware than the Panasonic which gives your JPEG files a color palette similar to classic Leica cameras.
It does not shoot in RAW.

Design

The look of this camera is gorgeous. It is very understated but an instant classic design. The build quality is also very good. It doesn't attract unwanted attention but once you put your hands on it you know it is a well built product.

Ease Of Use

The button layout is nice. It is simple and clean with access to shortcuts for flash, exposure, self timer, and review.
Choosing auto settings or manual mode is easy and the icons make sense.
I wish there were shortcuts for shutter speed and ISO settings. To access those you have to get into the menu which is time consuming and cumbersome. PS most cameras are like that though.

Ergonomics

It is so small and thin that it is kind of hard to hold steadily. Definitely use the wrist strap because it has slipped out of my hands a few times.

Picture Quality

This is very subjective. With good lighting I love the way my pictures turn out. Colors are very natural and not over saturated at all. It is very hard to get "tac sharp" shots with it but I don't think that is the point of a point and shoot.
With average or difficult lighting this point and shoot really struggles. I hate using high ISO settings because anything over 400 has a lot of noise of this camera. The flash blows out the picture if you are less then 6 feet away. It isn't powerful enough in a dim room if you are more then 8 feet away. There are no controls to dial down the flash. To get a good picture with or without flash you spend a lot of time changing exposure, ISO, and shutter speed. There is a +/- 2 exposure control but the shutter speed can only be set to a maximum of 1 second in manual mode. ISO can be set from 100-1250 but again anything over 400 has a lot of noise. Using "simple mode" usually jacks up the ISO settings in dark rooms or uses the flash which is useless most of the time. You can get a good shot in a dark room or outdoors but it will take some time to set it up.

Extra

Includes a copy of Photoshop Elements which is a fun program to add effects to your photos.

Overall

If you are thinking about this for outdoor day trips to the beach or mountains then this might be a good choice for you. If you want something to take to parties and nights out with your friends then you need to find something with better low light performance and a smarter auto mode. I don't regret buying it but it is not all that I hoped for considering Leica's reputation and premium price.


Rating :

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