Leica V-Lux 1

Review Date
October 5, 2009

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Reviewed by
alistair252 , Intermediate

Price Paid
$0.00

Photography Experience
11-20 years , Outdoor

Summary
Just got one of these recently, used but in near mint condition. Thought I'd give it a try just for fun as an all-purpose carry-around camera. I'm loving it so far - feels great to handle, easy menus, very nice jpegs from camera. It's worth fine-tuning the settings a bit - turn down the noise reduction, for example.
I guess it's a high-quality compact that feels a bit like a dslr to handle - which suits me fine.
I can't help imagining what a v-lux 2 might have been like - exactly the same but with a large sensor! That would be perfect.
When shopping for a camera, don't overlook these 'old' classics - we all get a bit over-hyped with the constant barrage of new gadgets ;-) This camera is a real pleasure to use.

Strengths
Beautiful lens.
Manual control rings on lens [zoom and focus]
Nice jpegs from camera
raw
OIS
55mm filter thread
Program auto doesn't push higher than iso200

Weaknesses
um - can't think of any so far.
Like any small-sensor camera it has limitations, but that's all part of the fun. So long as you don't try anything silly [like try to use it at high ISO], you'll get lovely results.

Similar Products Used
Canon G-series

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Review Date
April 4, 2009

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 2 votes

Reviewed by
leicabuff , Expert

Price Paid
$600.00 at Privately

Photography Experience
21+ years , Fine Art

Summary
A camera that delivers extremely sharp images and is easy to handle. Menus are well planned. Panasonic make this camera as FZ-50. Panasonic version is NOT as good as the Leica V Lux 1.

One of the few cameras that has WARM & B&W modes. Camera produces sharp images in any mode. 10 MP - Plenty of resolution.

It is at its best on a tripod and with bounce flash indoors.

Use tripod at Tele settings and the photographer is guaranteed to receive lively images, unmatched by any other camera.

A sealed lens, which is unlikely to gather any dust on the sensor.

Strengths
1. For product photography, this is the very best one can buy. There is a warm mode and it works at P setting. This warm mode delivers the best pictures for products or for that matter of any other subject.

2. Zoom range is the best I have seen in any compact camera. From 35mm to 420, one can cover just about anything.

3. Images are ULTRA SHARP, especially when a tripod is used.

4. Battery life is good for about 200 pictures, which is excellent.

5. Macro - THE BEST that I have come across. Add E55 Leica Elpro lenses and one can get much closer. All zooming happens internally on this camera.

Weaknesses
Plastic is not my favourite material, but we are now in the age of plastic. This camera is all plastic.

Similar Products Used
Leica Digilux 3 - Images are cool - Lens extends for zooming.
Panasonic L1 - Same view as for Digilux 3.

Digilux 2 - Best Camera in the business - Macro NOT as good as V Lux 1.
Panasonic LC1 - Same viewpopint as per Digilux 2.

Customer Service
Non Required on the VLux 1.

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Review Date
April 26, 2007

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
4.15 of 5, 13 votes

Reviewed by
jordegcam , Intermediate

Price Paid
$849.00 at Internet

Photography Experience
21+ years , Sports

Summary
Great overall camera. The 25 to 400 mm SLR equivalent on a small light camera, with Leica optics is simply wonderful. It is a great camera to take along on a trip when you don't want to carry around a lot of lenses. Has features comparable to an SLR Digital Camera, in fact, I compared it head to head with my Nikon D 100, and an impressive collection of lenses, and the Leica holds its own favorably. It is easy to use, and one can easily learn it's functions. I am very happy with this purchase, but would not recomment buying it from the Internet store I purchased it from, for other reasons.

Strengths
Light weight, great range of zoom, from 25 to 400 mm, great quality of pictures even in low light. Leica quality. An impressive camera in a small package.

Weaknesses
Wouldn't count this as a true weakness, but would have liked the angle to go down to 12 to 18 mm. But one can purchase a screw on wide angle for this purpose.

Similar Products Used
Sony DSC N 100
Nikon D 100

Customer Service
Have not had to avail of this. But I would not purchase it from the Internet store I bought it from.

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