Leica D-lux 3 review

A rangefinder to help you look at your photography in a whole new way

Pure, discreet, timeless. This is how Leica describes its tradition of build design in its cameras, and looking at the M8, the V-Lux 1 and now the D-Lux 3, it’s easy to see that this philosophy runs through its whole portfolio. But what else would you expect from the original creators of the first 35mm camera?

With its design tipping cap to the cameras of the analogue era, this snapper might not be for everyone. The square shape comes across a little boxy, although the rounded edges and not-too-slim casing means it’s comfortable enough to hold in the hand. This retro style of build is shared by Panasonic; the Lumix LX2 is near identical to this model thanks to a unique deal struck between the two companies. The D-Lux 3 is available in a sleek, black finish and has some great functions that might just sway even those consumers put off by its love-it-or-hate-it look.

Featuring a high-quality Leica lens, the

D-Lux 3 offers three settings so you can switch between wide-angle and telephoto range depending on your photographic needs – not a bad feature for a compact.

Other features that are, as yet, rarely offered in its class include being able to shoot three file formats (including RAW). What’s more, the ten-megapixel piece of kit can either be fully automatic or controlled manually, allowing both the amateur and the enthusiast to get the most from their new compact purchase. This, at least, goes some way to explaining the high price tag, but a compact at nearly £500 needs to have something pretty special about it.

For the more advanced user, the manual exposure setting means you can get more control over your images, while the beginner will find reassurance in the Auto and 18 preset scene modes, including Starry Night, Sports and Aerial.

Taking the D-Lux 3 on a night out is a breeze. Its lightweight build means it slips into a jean pocket easily, and the large 2.8-inch LCD display, with wide-screen format and high resolution (207,000 pixels), allows easy image viewing. In lower light it can even be switched between normal, Bright mode and Low-energy mode to take pressure off the rechargeable battery, giving you extra shots per charge. Another feature that aids its nighttime performance is an optical image stabiliser (OIS), which helps protect against camera shake for clean, sharp shots. The D-Lux offers two different levels of OIS: Mode 1 continuously operates the stabiliser to facilitate easier composition, while Mode 2 only compensates for jitter when the shutter button is pressed. This offers the greater stabilising effect.

During the day, the D-Lux 3 performs well too. Left on Automatic, the camera takes some good images and the manual settings fare slightly better. The option to switch between three aspects means you can always choose the right ratio for your shot. While the 16:9 setting is ideal for landscape shooters, the 3:2 will give the same ratio as 35mm. If you’re showcasing your images on your PC or TV then 4:3 will suit you best.

Although there’s no dedicated Macro mode preset, the D-Lux 3 gets up close and personal without it, focusing in crisply and relatively quickly without any problems.

The on-screen histogram is a great way of keeping an eye on exposure, as it constantly adjusts to give you the correct information. Another great function while you’re shooting is the Backlight Compensation. By simply pressing the up arrow on the d-pad, the Backlight Compensation kicks in and brightens the whole image so that the light coming from behind the subject doesn’t cast them into shadow.

Noise levels at ISO 100 to 400 were barely visible although, as expected, 800 and 1600 had some creeping in. The ISO Intelligent function is a great bonus feature. The camera detects movements of the subject near the centre of the frame and sets the optimum ISO sensitivity and shutter speed according to movement and brightness. This feature can be found in the Record menu when shooting on manual.

As a camera trying to bridge the gap between compact and prosumer models by upping the features, the D-Lux 3 does well. It offers a comprehensive range of manual functions, as well as all the automatic settings compact users have come to know. There might be some quibbles over price. When you can buy a user-friendly DSLR, like the new Nikon D40, for a similar price, why opt for a compact camera?