Leica D-Lux 8 | First Look with Nick Rains

Nick Rains has been in Greenland with the D-Lux 8 - he was a big fan of the D-Lux 7 and so here are his thoughts on the latest version.
There is a deeper dive into the menu settings here:
• Leica D-Lux 8 Menus

[@undrwings]

give me an lx100 iii with some actual new features

[@spope6852]

Yet another stellar review Nick. Another plus for the D-Lux-8 is its size and weight. As much as I'd like to just shove my M11 into a coat pocket 'just in case', with the D-Lux-8 I could do so easily. Which also means that, as a handicapped person, whether in a wheelchair, walker or other mobility assistance device, I can still take superb photographs. I may not be able to shoot where we once did in Australia, but at least I can still go out and find other places accessible and take photographs to my heart's content and I thank Leica for considering us handicapped photographers.

[@johnkasianowicz6536]

Hi Nick. I was at Leitz Park last week and noticed a lovely large color print of yours in the Museum.

[@MARKLINMAN1]

Love it, just wish it were made in GERMANY and NOT China, also 20 Mega Pixels would have had me been buying one right now! I love LEICA stuff, I own an M6 and a Q3.

[@LeicaCameraAustralia]

To be fair, I think iPhones are also made in China and they are beautifully made too.

[@kaczynski2333]

​@@LeicaCameraAustraliaiPhones are also overpriced.

[@ochk846]

Welcome for the renew lx100ii😅

[@Retina43]

Thanks Nick for this review with a stellar backdrop to boot. Great way to show off the D-Lux 8’s capabilities. The adoption of the Leica menus is the real plus and a game changer. 👍🏻

[@LeicaCameraAustralia]

Absolutely!

[@alma175w]

Great anecdotes on this new camera. Seems incredibly versatile, and the images that you shared were quite impressive. Thank you for sharing.

[@tonylevoyageur]

Why such a small sensor in 2024. From Leica

[@jackwong8285]

It’s made by Panasonic in China

[@glennsak]

Of course it needs to be put in a dry bag - it has no weather sealing.

[@vermontmike9800]

If anyone wants to know what the camera is capable of, simply look up reviews of the Panasonic LX100ii. Same guts, years old.

[@adventure_photo]

That was a very enjoyable presentation! As a Sony shooter I would really like to try out a Leica someday. This camera could be my gateway drug!

[@jonwalker3299]

Very nice introduction to this new camera. I have one. on order to be a carry around camera to go with my SL3. Thank you for the intro

[@rosvw3517]

You’re an excellent presenter but the DL8 is a huge disappointment. I have the DL7 that I love, but I couldn’t find one reason to upgrade since the 8 is still using older technology used in the 7. Leica could have really produced a competitor in this price range, but comparatively speaking, it just fizzles. I bought the new Fuji X-T50 and will keep my trusty DL7.

[@bsmayerr]

I know right, I don’t know how people are falling for this. I mean, I love Leica, but the DL8 is a joke.

[@riccardovisca5751]

Lx100 guys

[@AlexZafer]

For the first time a cheap mans Leica is actually a Leica. Compacts are coming back, and this looks like a nice contender.

[@salvadormorenorivas8229]

Is possible to set a default focal lenght to start always?

[@LeicaCameraAustralia]

Sorry, no. It starts at the 24mm end. Good idea though...

[@NakuIsHere]

I can only hope the next revision will have atleast a 20mp usable and ibis, Oh and better weather resistance because those extending lenses of the D-Lux always get dust problems. It is the PERFECT form factor and MFT is more than enough for daylight.

[@ThoughtFission]

the cololr science and micro contrast seems quite different from it's big brothers.

[@nik0wat]

I thought it was a 17 megapixel.

[@LeicaCameraAustralia]

17MP in 4:3 and 16MP in the more common 3:2 format. See my other videos on the main Leica YT Channel.

[@charlesflynn4850]

One rarely sees an introduction to a new camera that looks like a National Geographic article. Congratulations, and I hope you will do a setup video like the one you did for the D-Lux 7.

[@LeicaCameraAustralia]

Yes indeed. In the pipeline for July.

[@charlesflynn4850]

@@LeicaCameraAustralia Thank you, and I will look forward to it.

[@brentkingston4389]

The D-Lux 8 has only a 12 Bit sensor - does that not limit the results that you can get out of the camera?

[@LeicaCameraAustralia]

Not really. In theory, maybe. But in practice the difference between 12 and, say, 14 bit is negligible. I’m sure it can be measured in test images but in the real world, not so much!

[@SMORV500]

What an amazing video and photographs, would love to see more from Nick.

[@LeicaCameraAustralia]

More to come!

[@Mojave511]

I was lucky to just get mine this week! Nice change up from my old D-Lux 6. Really enjoyed the video. What a great experience!

[@LeicaCameraAustralia]

Great to hear!

[@merlincom1]

Have fun: question: is the Dl8 much superior in sharpness or colour compared to the Dl6 ? (Autofocus is much better i think). Could you share your experience?

[@LeicaCameraAustralia]

Hmm, I had various D-Luxs over the years, back to the Type 109, but I can't say for sure if I had a DL6. DL8 AF will be better for sure and the 8 is 16MP vs 10MP for the DL6 (from memory).

[@merlincom1]

Question: are the pics raws which you mastered with light room or out of box jpegs???

[@LeicaCameraAustralia]

They are DNG images lightly edited in Lightroom on my iPad. I used the FOTOS app to download from the camera.

[@ac5aa]

If only we could get our hands on one.

[@NetvoTV]

Hey Leica, makes silver body and a black body with yellow color wrap then it will looks good! (Using Jedi Force) You will send me one for me to take it for street photography in Malaysia :-)

[@billhollinger3389]

This an excellent review. I love my Q3, but I can see times where I'd rather have this camera thanks to your review.

[@jeremyludlow4439]

I've had a D-Lux 6 for more than a decade. It takes great pictures. In fact, I often choose it in preference to my pro-am Nikon D750, especially when I'm going sightseeing while travelling. It's lower resolution than the D750, but the Leica colours are so much nicer. My one gripe with it is that it has no viewfinder, and I don't really like having to rely upon the LCD back, especially in bright sunshine. When the Typ 109 and later the 7 were released, I had a close look at their specs. Even though each had a viewfinder, I decided, in the end, that their better features did not (quite) justify an upgrade from the D-Lux 6. Now that the D-Lux 8 is available with an improved Leica-style interface, I'm very tempted. But ever since I attended a tryout of the Leica SL you conducted in Sydney in November 2017, I've had a hankering to upgrade to one from my Nikon DSLRs (including the D750, which I acquired in 2018). Now that second hand SLs are (just about) affordable for me (if I save up for a while), I think I might just keep using the D-Lux 6 for the time being, and get an SL to expand my Leica repertoire (initially with a compromise lens, maybe a Sigma). Anyway, thanks for the video, which taught me a few things about the D-Lux 8 I didn't already know from other videos I've recently seen.

[@kaczynski2333]

Panasonic make great cameras

[@一生歩き続ける人生なのかっ]

作例が多くて、助かります！ ありがとうございます😊

[@VinceWatches]

Classy Point and shoot are back in the game…smart move Leica and Panasonic. Canon and Nikon are always late to catch the train.

[@ianforber]

Any camera eco-system has overlaps between camera models but there seems to be quite a significant overlap between this and the Q-series cameras which are often marketed as EDC/travel cameras. How do you see this comparing with the Q? I currently have the M11 and Q2 and I’m debating whether to replace the Q2 with this to use as a companion to the M11.

[@LeicaCameraAustralia]

The Q2 is a much higher quality camera. 47MP, weather sealed, Summilux f1.7 lens etc. Hard to compare with the D-Lux 8 unless the lighter weight is a big consideration. The D-Lux 8 will also fit in a pocket - the Q2 won't.

[@gewglesux]

Now that's what i call a proper cruise! Great video Nick!!!

[@LeicaCameraAustralia]

Thanks!

[@mohdfarizolabdulghani7208]

And no Leica look. Definitely this camera not for upload to media socials.

[@Ed-lz4jv]

Another Leica commercial, real reviews show all the old tech still inside.

[@SuperSteveJO]

Buying the the name a lot better priced & higher spec cameras out there

[@steve834]

Very much enjoy your videos. I had one of the previous D-Lux versions. But am struggling to see how this offers any more advantages than the CL. Higher mp, interchangeable lenses and about the same size.The CL is still a fantastic camera that is very underrated.

[@LeicaCameraAustralia]

I still use my CL too, still a terrific little camera.

[@portalphenom4558]

Will keep my DL7 and added the Zfc.

[@simon359]

For me, the key factors are, can it start up quickly, can it take sharp images with its AF on subjects that are moving? I’d basically be using it for street photography only. Is zooming in and out of focal length fast or slow compared to other camera makers? 🖖

[@LeicaCameraAustralia]

I have no experience of other compacts sorry. The AF is snappy but I have not used it for tracking a subject. I’ll have a look at that when I get the chance.

[@corner559]

$1500 US for 17mp is an insult.

[@gerikmd]

Used in Greenland but the camera is not weather-sealed?

[@williamdelvoye4172]

Great and clear presentation, thanks a lot !

[@harrisjon1]

Is this better than the V-Lux 5? I was thinking about selling my V-Lux 5 for this one. Thank you.

[@LeicaCameraAustralia]

It's quite different. The D-Lux 8 feels better in the hand and is much smaller, but it does not have the powerful telephoto lens of the V-Lux 5. Image quality would be very similar.

[@barneynap1]

Hello, Great info. will the handgrip for the leica d lux 7 fit the leica d lux 8.Thanks

[@LeicaCameraAustralia]

I don't know, sorry. I don't have access to a DL7 to try it.

[@HatefYaminiOnline]

It’s too bad it’s not weather sealed.

[@vickey59]

Yeah, my experience with the typ 109 is that the sensor and internal lens elements fog easily going from air conditioned to humid environments. And somehow my sensor has dust on it. Because the lens and sensor are all enclosed, you can’t easily clean them yourself.

[@MKWHD]

Great video Nick. Does the flash work on M11 and SL3?

[@LeicaCameraAustralia]

No, it’s powered by the camera.

[@TheDvoros]

What size print can be made from a 17mp sensor?

[@LeicaCameraAustralia]

I have done some nice A2 prints from this camera.

[@floydsummerhayes5831]

Very much enjoyed the first look, can this D-Lux take filters like some of the earlier models did

[@LeicaCameraAustralia]

Yes it can but you need to be careful you don’t block the lens retraction mechanism.

[@floydsummerhayes5831]

@@LeicaCameraAustralia thank you

[@tomoktom3758]

what gear do You use to film these

[@LeicaCameraAustralia]

SL3, and one clip from the Insta360 with the Leica lens.

[@VincentChia_online]

Will that flash work with the Q3?

[@LeicaCameraAustralia]

It’s powered from the camera so, unfortunately, no.

[@franciscojaviergarciapadro4615]

Gracias

[@john3Lee]

I wonder if i can use that tiny flash on my new Q3 ?

[@LeicaCameraAustralia]

It’s powered by the camera so I suspect not. The Q3 has a leaf shutter too and syncs at high shutter speeds.

[@john3Lee]

@@LeicaCameraAustralia Thanks for the quick reply - best wishes from the UK

[@cameraz99]

@@LeicaCameraAustralia -- Doesn't the D-Lux 8 have a leaf shutter, too? I was told the flash can sync at up to 1/2000.

[@LeicaCameraAustralia]

That's correct. Sync at any shutter speed.

[@carlosmcse]

Only Leica can get away with selling an old discontinued camera for $1,600. 😅

[@sauzefilms]

dont forget their fanbois lol.

[@michaeld5888]

And generate the usual massive excitement amongst the youtube pundits who act as though it is a revolutionary state of the art step forward never seen before.

[@grantrobertdavies]

It’s selling for close to 3k here in Australia 😂