In what seems like a growing trend, more camera manufacturers are now starting to release entry level mirrorless hybrids. Leica has joined this party with the announcement of the D-Lux 8. As the name would suggest, this is theeighth generation of this camera and Leica states that it offers premium image quality, a distinct Leica user experience, and an updated interface inspired by the Q series.
Key features
- 17MP Four Thirds CMOS Sensor
- 24-75mm Equivalent f/1.7-2.8 Lens
- Distinct Design Inspired by Q Series
- Connectivity via Leica FOTOS App
- First D-Lux with DNG RAW Format
- On-Camera Flash Included
The D-Lux 8 features a 17MP Four Thirds sensor and a 24-75mm equivalent f/1.7-2.8 lens. At least on paper, there doesn’t seem to be much in the way of big improvements over its predecessor.
The now discontinued D-Lux 7 which was announced way back in 2018, featured a 17MP Four Thirds MOS Sensor and a 24-75mm (35mm Equivalent) DC Vario-Summilux 3.1x Zoom Lens.
The D-Lux 8 is the first D-Lux camera that is capable of capturing DNG RAW files.
The 17MP Four Thirds MOS sensor offers a sensitivity range up to ISO 25600 along with an 11-fps continuous shooting rate and UHD 4K30p video recording to suit multimedia shooting applications in a variety of conditions. The DC Vario-Summilux lens offers a 24-75mm equivalent focal length range along with a f/1.7-2.8 aperture. This lens also utilizes optical image stabilization to minimize the appearance of camera shake in order to realize sharper handheld imagery.
Complementing the sensor and lens attributes is a travel-friendly physical design, which incorporates both a 2.76m-dot electronic viewfinder and a 3.0″ 1.24m-dot rear touchscreen LCD. These assets are backed up by built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, which work in conjunction with the Leica FOTOS app for seamless wireless sharing as well as remote camera control from a linked iOS or Android device.
A 17MP Four Thirds MOS sensor affords notable resolution, and the larger physical size offers a high sensitivity range up to ISO 25600 along with low noise levels and vivid color and tonal rendering. The sensor’s design, with 21.77MP total resolution, also supports working in multiple aspect ratios—4:3, 3:2, 16:9, and 1:1—while maintaining the same field of view. The sensor and image processor also enable continuous shooting at up to 11 fps and UHD 4K movie recording.
The built-in DC Vario-Summilux 3.1x zoom lens offers a 24-75mm equivalent focal length range, covering wide-angle to portrait-length focal lengths to suit working in a variety of shooting situations.
The D-Lux 8 also supports recording UHD 4K video with either 30p or 24p frames rates at 100 Mb/s in the MP4 format. Full HD 1080p60 is also supported, in both MP4 and AVCHD formats.4K PHOTO ModesUtilizing the D-Lux 8’s video recording capabilities, a trio of still shooting modes are available for recording continuous 8MP stills at a 30-fps shooting rate:
- Burst: this mode will allow you to continuously record, making it ideal for instances where you need a fast frame rate in order to capture the best moment.
- Pre-Burst: this mode is ideal for times when you’re unsure of the critical moment to press the shutter button and will record images one second prior to and one second after pressing the shutter button in order to give you 60 frames to choose from.
- Burst (S/S): this mode most closely follows the video recording process, and allows you to playback your video, pause at the chosen moment, and use the shutter button to mark a chosen frame from the video and save it as a single 8MP frame.
Body Design
- Bright electronic viewfinder has a 2.76m-dot resolution for clear eye-level viewing, even in bright sunlight.
- Rear 3.0″ 1.24m-dot LCD features a touchscreen design for intuitive menu navigation, image playback, and for selecting AF points while shooting.
- Included hot shoe-mounted external flash can be used to provide additional illumination when working in low-light conditions.
- In-camera charging of the BP-DC15 lithium-ion battery is supported via an optional USB-connected power bank or when connected to a computer or AC adapter.
Wireless Connectivity and Other Camera Features
- Built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, when used in conjunction with the Leica FOTOS app for iOS and Android, permits sharing imagery directly to a linked mobile device and also enables remote control over the D-Lux 7 and remote shooting via a live view image.
- Post Focus allows users to select the point of focus after an image has been taken. An electronic shutter function avails a top shutter speed of 1/16,000 sec. to better enable working in bright conditions and with wider aperture settings.
Leica obviously feels like there is still a market for smaller sized sensor compact cameras, even with the enhanced abilities of modern smartphones.
You can utilize the Leica FOTOS app
Price & Availability
The Leica D-Lux 8 is now available to pre-order for $1,595 USD. The Leica D-Lux 8 will be available worldwide from July 02, 2024
