Subj : The Leica D-Lux 8 premium compact has officially launched and it To : All From : TechnologyDaily Date : Tue Jul 02 2024 14:15:04 The Leica D-Lux 8 premium compact has officially launched and it's your cheapest way to grab a new Leica Date: Tue, 02 Jul 2024 13:00:36 +0000 Description: Leica's newly designed D-Lux 8 is like a baby Leica Q3, but disappointingly it's core specs are largely the same as the six year old D-Lux 7. FULL STORY ====================================================================== Leica's latest digital compact camera is official: the D-Lux 8. It comes six years after the D-Lux 7 , with a fresh look for 2024 inspired by the Leica Q3 , which is Leica's pricier full-frame compact and one of our favorite cameras from 2023 . I've been pouring over the D-Lux 8 specs and press release and, besides the new design, am struggling to find meaningful updates in the latest version of Leica's cheapest premium compact camera, which is disappointing. That's not to say the Lux-8 is behind the times in 2024 because the Lux 7 was a highly capable camera back in 2018. We still have the Micro Four Thirds (MFT) 21MP sensor with a maximum photo size of 17MP and 4K video up to 30fps. The built-in lens is unchanged too, being a handy 24-75mm f/1.7-2.8 zoom for every day photography. (Image credit: Leica) Something that's new is that the D-Lux 8 can now shoot in the raw DNG format as well as JPEG a first for the D-Lux line and what felt like a big omission from the Lux-7. DNG files are compatible with all of the best photo editors and give much more editing flexibility than JPEG. And since the D-Lux was launched, Leica has developed the Leica Fotos app. Based off my experience using the app with the Q3, it is one of the better photo apps available. Paired with the Lux-8, it should make editing and sharing images on the go all the better, and easier. The LCD touchscreen has a bump in resolution too, now being a crisp 1.84m-dot unit, although it's still a fixed type rather than the tilt or flip-out screens that are incredibly useful for shooting from awkward angles. A Leica that you can actually buy? What's arguably key with the D-Lux 8 is availability. The D-Lux 7 is no longer available, while the Q3 costs $5,995 / 5,300 / AU$9,790 and is almost always on back order. The new D-Lux 8, aka the baby Q3, could therefore be your best bet for picking up a premium red-dot compact, and it costs $1,595 / 1,450. That might still sound like a lot of money and it is a chunky mark up from the D-Lux 7 launch price, but the best compact cameras in 2024 are all around and above the $1,100 / 1,000 mark, and the Lux-8 costs less than the Fujifilm X100VI . (Image credit: Leica) I loved shooting with the Leica Q3 and incorporating its design elements into the smaller and lower-cost D-Lux 8 is a sensible move from Leica. I just wish there was some more meaningful improvements the Lux 8 really could have been the go-to premium compact. Still, we haven't had our hands on the Lux-8 yet and it could prove to be a hit once we've reviewed it. Look out for our in-depth review in the coming weeks. You might also like Are Leica cameras worth their price tags? My favorite camera of 2023 wasn't a Sony or Canon, it was this pricey compact The best compact camera for 2024: top pocket choices to take anywhere ====================================================================== Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/cameras/compact-cameras/the-leica-d-lux-8-premium-co mpact-has-officially-launched-and-its-your-cheapest-way-to-grab-a-new-leica --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 (Linux/64) * Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100) .