Contents[Hide]

Leica Digital Cameras

Known for their retro 35 mm cameras,  Leica doesn't exactly trigger thoughts of digital anything. A German company, Leica produced their first prototypes in 1913. Standing out in the professional photography world, especially with their technology for producing excellent natural-light photography, Leica evolved and is now a technological front runner. But even with an historical line of products, Leica managed evolved to the digital age. And the company launched four new digital cameras  in the Fall of 2006. (Keep in mind that some of the new products might not search well until they are officially introduced.

New Products

Digilux 3 

An ultra-compact camera, based on the Panasonic DMC-L1 (Leica and Panasonic have partnered over the last few years), is a 7.5 megapixel Live View D-SLR for a real-time live photo function. It's Leica's first digital-only D-SLR (it's not a hybrid film-and-digital SLR), and the first introduction in its new D system. It's fitted with an ultrasonic protective filter in front of the sensor to protect from dirt and dust. It has a 2.5" LCD and a 1 GB SD card.

V-Lux 1 

Tagging it their "Compact All-Arounder", the V-Lux has a 12X lens and 10 megapixel sensor -- putting it in with the masses of higher-end SLRs. It features a 2" screen that swivels. It's also seemingly identical to Panasonic's DMC-FZ50 with an electronic viewfinder, flash hot-shoe and full manual controls. It carries a 512 MB SD card. Leica's selling point is the combination of a compact digital camera with high-performance optics and picture quality.

M8 

Fifty-two years since their first M series, this is the first digital offering in the series. It boasts a compact design, great picture quality, Leica M lenses and a Leica viewfinder. All have been carried over into this digital make from the original M series version. But make no mistake. It is not an updated M7. It has a new body, viewfinder, and sensor complete with 10.3-megapixel resolution, a 10-megapixel CCD sensor, and a 2.5" LCD.

D-Lux 3 

This 10-megapixel camera has 4X optical zoom and a 12-112mm lens. It has an integrated picture stabilizer to keep the frame still when you're zoomed to the max. Despite it's compact camera status, it does have pro-level controls allowing users to opt for manual or automatic depending on their preference. Available in either silver or black, the D-Lux 3 is complete with  a 2.8" LCD.

Existing Leica Digital Cameras

Digital Modul R 

This body-only model is compatible with all R system reflex lenses issued since 1965 to make for a seamless transition to digital. It has a 10-megapixel sensor and 1.8" LCD screen.

C-Lux 1 

Launched as a complement to the D-Lux line, this camera boasts a 28 mm wide angle Leica DC zoom lens, high sensitivity setting of up to ISO 1600, a 2.5" LCD screen. Available in silver and black.

D-Lux 2 

This features a 4X zoom, 28-112 mm equivalent lens with built-in image stabilization which will allow you to cover everything from the wide angle to the telephoto range. Some other specs:  8.4-megapixel resolution, 2.5" color LCD, and 64 MB SD card.

Digilux 1 

Features a 3X F2.0-F2.5 optical zoom lens, 4-megapixel CCD sensor, die-cast magnesium body, 3.8 frames per second continuous shooting and 2.5" 205,000 pixel LCD

Digilux 2 

A 5-megapixel compact camera with a 3.2X optical zoom lens promoted as the "analog" digital camera. Its design is almost identical to a standard manual film camera yet it is fully digital with a 2.5" LCD monitor, electronic viewfinder, an SD card and battery.

Related Buying Guides

Learn About Other Digital Camera Lines

International Resources

For this resource in your home country, please see:
DE: Leica Digitalkameras