Leica Digilux 3

I must confess to having been drawn in by the looks of this camera...stupid stuff really......wanted something exclusive..and strong...strong's important to me because I take thousands of images of my work...for clients.and my own records..in a workshop environment..any camera I buy has to earn it's keep..and how!..When I first opened the box I thought.."WOW"..it is beautifully made and gushes quality...sure..it's weighty,and chunky but somehow it's a beautiful instrument to hold and use..not tiring but you have to keep a good grip on it..read my comments on customer service re knocks! Another delight was the ease with which you can cruise through menus and functions and it only seems minutes before it's really becoming familiar.I don't use cases because they're a pain but a friend bought me the Leica neoprene one and it is excellent.The Digilux 3 is a luxurious,very capable camera..if you know what to tell it to do it never wavers.

Overall build is superb..convincingly robust and typically Leica..the lens is breathtaking..a lovely handful with all traditional lens adjustments comfortingly under the fingers..a boon for an ex-analogue user.Although it is not the quietest of cameras.there is something reassuring about the clunks and clicks..it feels very very reliable and well engineered..which it is.. One comment I've read is the of the small histogram display...who on earth cares?...I ignore the thing anyway..I can see with my own eyes whether an exposure is correct without it as I am certain can the majority of photographers who are thinking of paying this much.Live view is superb..especially for macro work..and tripod based outdoor sessions..and is bright enough to be seen even in strong sunlight.I'll make you a bet...own one for a month and use it...you'll not want to give it back...no you won't!

It is very poorly equipped with ability to shrug off dust and water..very poorly indeed....so..if you buy one..don't mess about and risk it..buy a clear bag to put it in..or make one..but don't get it wet...you'll not get away with it believe me.I'm astonished that I can't think of any other minuses..but I can't...that's it on the negatives folks!

In my analogue days I used exclusively Nikon..all SLR's..several models...and they never let me down...my first digital was a Pentax Optio S5N which I adored..and it was a stunning little piece of kit..I also have a Samsung VR10 compact which is excellent.

Six months into my ownership I dropped the Digilux 3 very heavily..on rock from about 6 feet....something was very wrong with the autofocus although everything was working...I sent it back to Leica UK...then it went to Germany...then it came back to Leica UK..then back to me..this took 10 weeks..I had been promised 4-5 having mentioned to Leica UK that this was a tool used daily which I could ill afford to be without...anyway...they didn't skimp on the repairs and gave me a new lens...an expensive part!!...there was no charge..and everybody I spoke to was courteous...but it did take 10 weeks...so don't drop it!!

It's a vey nice camera with superb quality. Besides functions, its outside appearance shows a professional look but with a bit classical smell. It's very outstanding from other brand names DSLR which a quite similar in shapes.

Sharp image and easy to use features.

No enough choice of lenses. Built-in flash must be turned on manually.