Alan Humphries' New Camera (Well It Was At Christmas)
01st August 2025
In: News, Members' Articles
KEEPING THE FAITH?
by
Alan DW Humphriess,
On the 2nd September 2024, for reasons I have still be unable to identify, I ordered a D-lux 8. After alI I do have several cameras/lenses with similar focal lengths, including one of my favourite cameras, a Lumix LX7 which has a Leica lens. Members will also recall my article entitled “My Love Hate Relationship with the Leica Q”.
The D-Lux 8 was, eventually, delivered a few days before Christmas. Nicely boxed, inside the camera, flash unit, quick start guide, battery and wrist strap. There was also a gaping hole which I thought should have contained the battery charger. On reading the guide I discovered that charging is via USB cable which was NOT supplied! The explanation offered by Leica Mayfair was that most purchasers would already have a suitable cable and not supplying one reduced Leica’s environmental impact.
The top plate states, in large print to the left of the viewfinder, “Leica Camera Wetzlar Germany” while the bottom plate says “Made in China”. As far as I am concerned,, as long as it is made to Leica’s exacting standards it doesn’t present any problems - others might think differently.
I will not go into the technical details on the camera as these are on-line together with several assessments posted on You Tube. One that is particularly useful is “Your Leica D-Lux8 Tutorial” by Nic Rains of Leica Australia. For those who prefer a book you can obtain one via Amazon.
In the field the camera performs well, it comes to hand nicely. To give it little more stability I bought a non-Leica hand grip which has turned out to be a good investment. I have also replaced the wrist strap that came with the camera with a rather nice rope one, to finish things off a soft touch shutter release button.
One of best things about the camera is the viewfinder that provides good clear information, this is backed up by more or less instantaneous focusing. Initially I found one or two of the menu functions irritating, these were soon put aside. The framing options 3;2,16:9,1:1, and 4:3 are very useful, in addition the camera may be set to Auto focus, Autofocus Macro and Manual focusing.
I tend to shoot Jpeg/Raw in either auto or aperture priority, the results to date have been rather pleasing, especially in respect of colour rendition. If you wish to shoot in DNG or JPEG only, this has to be reset each the camera is shut down and is switched on again, the default seems to be DNG /JPEG
At a Fellowship meeting or two ago Keith Mason said the D-lux7 was possibly the only camera you need, maybe, one thing is for sure the D-Lux handles well, has a useful zoom range and it will fit unobtrusively into your anorak pocket. It is a smashing little camera that carries the Leica badge with pride.
Have I worked out why I bought it… well we all get that itch from time to time!
© Alan DW Humphries 2025
A Very Rare Beast
Across The River Exe from Lympstone Harbour
Departing Alresford
Dredging at Exmouth Marina
Motorcyclists at Westbay Dorset
Oh Bouy!
The Goat Walk - Topsham
by
Alan DW Humphriess,
On the 2nd September 2024, for reasons I have still be unable to identify, I ordered a D-lux 8. After alI I do have several cameras/lenses with similar focal lengths, including one of my favourite cameras, a Lumix LX7 which has a Leica lens. Members will also recall my article entitled “My Love Hate Relationship with the Leica Q”.
The D-Lux 8 was, eventually, delivered a few days before Christmas. Nicely boxed, inside the camera, flash unit, quick start guide, battery and wrist strap. There was also a gaping hole which I thought should have contained the battery charger. On reading the guide I discovered that charging is via USB cable which was NOT supplied! The explanation offered by Leica Mayfair was that most purchasers would already have a suitable cable and not supplying one reduced Leica’s environmental impact.
The top plate states, in large print to the left of the viewfinder, “Leica Camera Wetzlar Germany” while the bottom plate says “Made in China”. As far as I am concerned,, as long as it is made to Leica’s exacting standards it doesn’t present any problems - others might think differently.
I will not go into the technical details on the camera as these are on-line together with several assessments posted on You Tube. One that is particularly useful is “Your Leica D-Lux8 Tutorial” by Nic Rains of Leica Australia. For those who prefer a book you can obtain one via Amazon.
In the field the camera performs well, it comes to hand nicely. To give it little more stability I bought a non-Leica hand grip which has turned out to be a good investment. I have also replaced the wrist strap that came with the camera with a rather nice rope one, to finish things off a soft touch shutter release button.
One of best things about the camera is the viewfinder that provides good clear information, this is backed up by more or less instantaneous focusing. Initially I found one or two of the menu functions irritating, these were soon put aside. The framing options 3;2,16:9,1:1, and 4:3 are very useful, in addition the camera may be set to Auto focus, Autofocus Macro and Manual focusing.
I tend to shoot Jpeg/Raw in either auto or aperture priority, the results to date have been rather pleasing, especially in respect of colour rendition. If you wish to shoot in DNG or JPEG only, this has to be reset each the camera is shut down and is switched on again, the default seems to be DNG /JPEG
At a Fellowship meeting or two ago Keith Mason said the D-lux7 was possibly the only camera you need, maybe, one thing is for sure the D-Lux handles well, has a useful zoom range and it will fit unobtrusively into your anorak pocket. It is a smashing little camera that carries the Leica badge with pride.
Have I worked out why I bought it… well we all get that itch from time to time!
© Alan DW Humphries 2025
A Very Rare Beast
Across The River Exe from Lympstone Harbour
Departing Alresford
Dredging at Exmouth Marina
Motorcyclists at Westbay Dorset
Oh Bouy!
The Goat Walk - Topsham
Comments
By David Askham: Well done, Alan. Your article brought a smile to my face! By Andrew Cunningham: Ah yes Alan... sometimes we all have to just respond to the call to try out a new camera... Great shots and colours as you say! I particularly like the railway station. I can sense the atmosphere. By Alan Humphries: Since submitting this piece there has been a firm-ware update which corrects the need to reset the file format each time you switch the camera on if you wish to use DNG or JPEG rather then DNG+JPEG. By Alan Humphries: Thank you David and Andrew for your kind comments on my article, they are much appreciated. By Keith Walker: I think Leica have a winner here. The addition of the ability to shoot in RAW has elevated the camera, and I find myself fighting GAS! Nice pics!