[LRflex] Re: Leica V-lux 1

Hi Ed-

The Leica V-lux 1 is a re-badged Panasonic FZ50.  The warranty on the  
Vlux is better, and the claim is that Leica has tweaked the  
firmware.  I  have not seen any solid evidence that this represents a  
significant improvement in images, but I may have missed something.   
At any rate, to get the most out of these cameras it is probably best  
to shoot RAW and depend on post-processing to handle noise issues,  
the one area that these cameras are consistently dinged on,  
especially at high ISO equivalents.

I have had a two-generation ancestor of the Pana, the Pana FZ20 for  
two years.  the one thing that I don't have is RAW and that means  
that I have to shoot at lower ISO than I'd like on occasion.  but  
overall the camera is an excellent choice as a super-zoom "bridge"  
camera.  Manual focus, full manual control of shutter and aperture  
etc. make it a flexible tool.  Noise is over-rated IMO, and I find  
that  indoors in a low light situation shooting in black and white  
(or converting later) makes the noise tolerable.  The taking lens is  
the class leader;  the EVF on all these cameras takes getting used  
to, since it does have a substantial lag.  shutter lag is noticeable,  
like all cameras of this type.  manual focus and shutter/aperture  
control can speed things up.

while it is not a DSLR, and its Leica-nature can be debated [are  
advising and coating and QC enough to make a lens a Leica?] for what  
it does and for its price point the Pana FZ50 is a hard camera to  
beat.  Whether the V-lux-1 has any feature that makes it worth the  
premium price is debatable- one can purchase an extended warranty  
from Panasonic for less than the price difference, I suspect.  in the  
end Panasonic will be doing the servicing etc- Leica doesn't make the  
camera, so will not be in a position to repair it.

I suggest you get hold of one and do some of the kind of shooting  
that makes you happy and see what you think.  best of luck.

cheers
John Scocca

On Feb 19, 2007, at 11:58 AM, Ed Bougas wrote:

>
> I'd appreciate comments if anyone has purchased a Leica V-1Lux  
> camera.  I
> seemany comments on the DMR but may have missed the comments on the  
> V-1LUX.
> Is it a disposable (after a few years) point &shoot camera, how are  
> the
> optics, and shutter lag?  Thanks, Ed
>

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