Best Compact Point and Shoot Digital Camera Overall Under $700: Leica D-LUX 4, by picturemaker

Expert Recommendation

Best Compact Point and Shoot Digital Camera Overall Under $700

By picturemaker

Expert (47 Recommendations and 29 Compliments)

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January 6, 2010 Updated: January 7, 2010

Overview

In a world of choices, a camera has to stand out to get noticed these days. And that is why I am making the Leica D-Lux 4 my Best in Class pick for Low Light photos under $700. Built with a light absorbing f/2.0 lens and a variety of settings, including aperture priority and manual, this stylish camera is a must-have when spontaneous shots are the order of the day. Slim, trim and desired by photographers the world over, the Leica D-Lux 4 makes a great personal camera all by itself or as a companion to your DSLR.

My Best In Class Pick

Leica D-Lux 4

Very few photographers have been able to swap their bulky DSLR’s for a more versatile point and shoot camera without losing valuable features. Until now.

Creating high quality photos in low light situations or wide angle shots when shooting interiors has always been the realm of the DSLR. That’s because the shutters are faster and lens options are almost infinite. With the Leica D-Lux 4, those kind of shots are possible, and you can enjoy the freedom of mobility because of it’s smaller, stylish size.

Starting with a Leica DC Vario-Summicron lens 1:2.0-2.8/5.1-12.8 ASPH, both low light and wide angle shooting are effortless, the D-Lux 4 has a level of quality that is second to none thanks to Leica’s long history as a leader in all-around camera production (The Leica M8 is a film camera desired by professional photographers for many years).

Add a 10.1mp imaging sensor, a 3.0-inch TFT LCD screen, HD still and video recording and an ergonomically designed body that makes creativity a priority, and you’ve got the complete package to satisfy your imaging needs for a long time to come.

The D-Lux 4 does not have an optical viewfinder, but there is an optional one that fits on the cameras hot shoe. The only problem with the optional viewfinder is that it stays at the 24mm setting which doesn’t give you a true look when zooming out.

Comparison with Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3

These two cameras have a lot of similarities, but the Leica D-Lux 4 comes with a valuable software package that you won’t find with the LX3. And thanks to firmware/software, the D-Lux 4 also does a slightly better job of creating warmer images.

Pros

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Slim and stylish
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Lightweight
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Excellent low light capabilities
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HD video

Cons

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No optical viewfinder

Where to buy

Leica D-LUX 4

Recommended with

Leica D-LUX 4 Brilliant Viewfinder

$257.22 @ Amazon.com

Specifications

Zoom: 2.5x
Wide-Angle Lens: 24mm (46% wider)
Resolution: 10.1MP
Easy to Use: Yes

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Customer Reviews

Comparing My Best In Class Pick with Other Good Choices

Product	Leica D-LUX 4	2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3	3 Samsung TL320
Customer Rating
Price	$1754.95	$402.09	$124.95
Camera Format	Compact	Compact	Ultra Compact
Easy to Use	Yes	Yes	Yes
Body Material	Metal	Metal	Stainless Steel
? Close Effective Sensor Resolution The Effective Sensor Resolution tells you the total number of pixels that are recorded when you take a picture. The units are MP, which stands for megapixels or millions of pixels. For outstanding fine compression prints, 3MP is required for 5x7's, 7.1MP for 8x10's, and 10.9MP for 11x14's. The effective sensor resolution is only one of many important factors that will determine the quality of the photograph when displayed or printed at different sizes. Effective Sensor Resolution	10.1 megapixels	10.1 megapixels	12.2 megapixels
HD Video Available	Yes	Yes	Yes
Optical Zoom	2.5x	2.5x	5.0x
? Close Image Stabilization Available Image stabilization features are designed to reduce the blur that results from normal, minute shaking of a lens due to hand-held shooting. However, image stabilization does not prevent motion blur caused by the movement of the subject or by extreme movements of the camera. Image Stabilization Available	Yes	Yes	Yes
? Close Max Aperture (wide-angle) The aperture refers to the size of the opening in the lens that determines the amount of light falling onto the sensor. The maximum aperture (wide-angle) is the largest possible size at the wide-angle limit of the zoom lens. The lens aperture is usually specified as an f-number, the ratio of focal length to effective aperture diameter. A lower f-number denotes a greater aperture opening, which allows more light to reach the image sensor. Max Aperture (wide-angle)	f/2.0	f/2.0	f/2.8
Max ISO Setting	3200	6400	3200
Aperture Priority Mode Available	Yes	Yes	Yes
Shutter Priority Mode Available	Yes	Yes	Yes
Full Manual Exposure Mode Available	Yes	Yes	Yes
? Close Viewfinder Available A viewfinder is a window that you look through to compose the picture. Some cameras do not have a viewfinder and instead use the LCD display. The LCD display may be difficult to see in bright light and may make it more difficult to capture fast-moving subjects because of the time required to update the display. Viewfinder Available	No	Yes	No
? Close LCD Screen Size The LCD Screen Size is the length of the miniature LCD monitor measured diagonally. LCD Screen Size	3.0 in.	3.0 in.	3.0 in.
Battery Type	Proprietary Lithium Ion Rechargeable	Proprietary Lithium Ion Rechargeable	Proprietary Lithium Ion Rechargeable
? Close Min Focal Length (35 mm equivalent) The 35 mm equivalent focal length is a measure that indicates the angle of view of a particular combination of a camera lens and the sensor size. The term originates from the time when the vast majority of photography was done with 35 mm film. On any 35 mm film camera, a 30 mm or less lens is considered a wide-angle lens. Min Focal Length (35 mm equivalent)	24 mm	24 mm	24 mm

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3

Already making a name for themselves in the compact camera world, Panasonic has raised the bar even more with the Lumix DMC-LX3.

With the newly designed Leica DC Vario-Summicron lens 1:2.0-2.8/5.1-12.8 ASPH you can take in a huge area in less than perfect lighting conditions and still expect to get a gorgeous image. You don’t usually see that kind of creative control in a compact point and shoot camera.

Spur of the moment shots are easy too! Whether you like to set the camera on auto or fiddle with the controls to get just the right amount of depth of field or shutter speed, take advantage of the robust power of the LX3 thanks to a 10.1mp imaging sensor and the Venus Engine IV image processor.

Built smart and looking stylish, the LX3 fits nicely in your hand with the push button controls and dials conveniently located right where your thumb and forefinger are likely to be resting.

Composing and viewing are also a joy thanks to the bright 3.0” LCD screen with 460,000-dot resolution. And like other intelligent aspects of the LX3, the LCD adjusts automatically to ambient light. If you’re a big fan of optical viewfinders (the LX3 hasn’t got one built in), try the optional external viewfinder that attaches easily to the hot shoe located on top of the camera.

Pros

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Great in low light
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Stylish design
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Ultra wide angle
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HD video

Cons

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No optical viewfinder