Five Years Ago Today: The Leica Digilux 3 DSLR

Leica Diglux 3: Looks like a rangefinder, shoots like a DSLR

It was five years ago today that Leica introduced The Digilux 3…

No, this is not a rangefinder, although it looks like one. Fitting for Leica, really. It’s actually Leica’s first and only Four Thirds format Digital SLR. And it just happens to be identical to the Lumix DMC-L1.

Equipped with an interchangeable 28-100mm f/2.8 auto focus zoom lens (that’s 14-50mm in FT speak) This camera takes its place in history as the first Leica DSLR. Not to be confused with the Digilux 2, this camera has a true optical viewfinder with a reflex mirror assembly. The Digilux 2 has a 28-90mm fixed zoom lens with an electronic viewfinder and uses a 1/2.3" sensor.

Lumix by Panasonic DMC-L1 DSLR

Both cameras feature 7.4MP resolution with a maximum ISO of 1600. These are not bad specifications even by today’s standards. At the time of their release, their biggest feature was their user interface; they possessed the familiar look and feel of a real camera. Their rear panel layout is very similar to the DSLRs of today.

Rear panel layout of the DMC-L1, identical to the Digilux 3.

One of the great things about Lumix is their relationship with Leica. Until you get up to the X1 and M9, You can buy a Leica, or you can buy the Lumix equivalent which is nearly identical.The DMC-L1 is essentially an all-black version of the Digilux 3. The Leicas are rebranded Lumix’ with Leica optics; Not a bad combination at all. Except that they cost about twice as much as the Lumix.

Now, before I step on any toes here, let’s remember that you purchase a Leica for the name Leica, not necessarily for how it’s made, or how it performs. There’s no denying that Leica has made some great cameras over the years. The M9 is a great camera. But, it’s not the perfect camera. Many will tell you that in its day, the Contax rangefinder was far superior to the Leica. But, the Leica brand survives today, so a strong brand it is.

Speaking of Contax, the G2, which was manufactured by Kyocera was the last its breed. It must have made an impact, because there’s a new digital camera coming in September that has its familiar look. Can you tell which one it is?

Contax G2 35mm Rangefinder.

But, I digress.

This five year old Leica bears a similar appearance to another new camera. However, the size difference is enormous. One thing that could definitely be said of the earlier digital cameras was that they were very chunky. Even the M9 is substantially thicker than the M8, even though their appearance is nearly identical otherwise.

Leica Digilux 3, top view.

Sony Alpha NEX-7, top view.

Wow, what a difference! Granted, the NEX series are particularly thin; a little too thin for some people’s tastes. But, this is a good indicator of just how far we’ve come. If you ever had dreams of owning a Leica DSLR, the Digilux 3 would be the camera for you, because the R10, which many speculated would be the first Leica DSLR based on the design of the R9, never happened…

The Leica R9 was not so much a camera as an art form.

The design of the Leica R9 was pure art. Sadly, Leica had never planned on releasing a small-format DSLR, so they went the route of having Panasonic make it for them. Just imagine if this camera had made it to market as a DSLR…

But we did get the S2, a medium-format DSLR in the familiar small-format form factor…

The Behemoth Leica S2; larger-than-full-frame 37.5MP, 30mm x 45mm sensor.

Not quite as elegant in my opinion, and certain not as accessible at $27,000.00 for the body alone.

Well, we can dream. But if you’d like to own the one and only small-format Leica DSLR, you can still get the Digilux 3 new, from Amazon, if you have about $4,000 to spare.