In 2003, Leica introduced the Leica D-Lux camera series, a new segment of digital compact cameras with zoom lenses. Until today, eight generations and numerous special editions have been released.
Similar to the Leica M or Leica Q series, there is a 'Safari Edition' of the D-Lux 4, a 'Panda Version' (a two-colour version with a silver lens and a black, high-gloss housing, released to celebrate the Leica 100-year anniversary) of the D-Lux 6 and a 'James Bond '007 Edition' of the D-Lux 7.
There are also special editions available only when purchasing a D-Lux camera, I would like to mention the cool 'Leica Vans x Ray Barbee' or the 'A BATHING APE x STASH' version of the Leica D-Lux 7.
As far as I know, most Leica D-Lux cameras have a largely identical Panasonic twin, such as the D-Lux (Panasonic DMC-F1), D-Lux 4 (Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3), D-Lux 5 (Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5) or D-Lux 7 (Panasonic Lumix LX100 II). It’s no secret that Leica and Panasonic collaborate and also many Lumix cameras are equipped with a Leica lens. In fact, my very first camera was a Lumix DMC-FZ18 and it had a Leica lens – no wonder I was quite satisfied with the camera back then.
Leica likes to emphasise its German craftsmanship, but most D-Lux cameras are manufactured in Japan; I couldn’t find a statement, but I think it’s true that the D-Lux 8 is made in China.
The Leica D-Lux camera series
Let's go back to the beginning: The first Leica D-Lux was released in 2003 as a digital compact camera with a Leica DC Vario-Elmarit f/2.8–4.9/5.8–17.44 ASPH zoom lens, which is equivalent to a 35–105 mm lens. It had a robust aluminium body and came with a – back then claimed - “generous 64 MB SD card” and it was promoted as being “timelessly elegant” and able to survive short-lived fashion trends.
From today’s technological and design perspective, the camera looks old-fashioned with its small lens, display and directional button, but I suppose any device from 2003 would do.
The Leica D-Lux models have undergone various improvements over the generations with a particular focus on image quality, interface and design. The lens has evolved from the Vario-Elmarit to the Vario-Summicron and – most recently – Vario-Summilux lens. The 'Vario' indicates a zoom lens, while 'Elmarit' indicates a maximum aperture of f/2.8, 'Summilux' a maximum aperture of f/2.0 and 'Summicron' a maximum aperture of f/1.4 to f/1.7.
At first glance, you can also see a change in the display which has evolved from a 4:3 to a full 16:9 aspect ratio.
Two camera models that are worth mentioning are the Leica D-Lux 2 from 2005, which already had the option of taking pictures in different formats (16:9, 3:2 and 4:3) and a macro mode which can still be found in the latest Leica D-Lux 8 model (which has an additional 1:1 format). The second is the Leica D-Lux 6, which had an extremely fast f/1.4–2.3 lens.
If you want to find out more about the specifications and features of the D-Lux cameras, I highly recommend checking out this site:
Leica D-Lux 8
The Leica D-Lux 8 was released on 2 July 2024. It is a compact camera with a zoom lens featuring the iconic Leica design. It has a fast Leica DC Vario-Summilux f/1.7–2.8 4/10.9–34 ASPH zoom lens (35 mm equivalent: 24–75 mm) and all the essential photography and video functions, including 4K video capability. It features a high-resolution touchscreen and a 2.4-megapixel OLED viewfinder with a live view function and is equipped with a 4/3" CMOS sensor with 21 MP (17 MP effective resolution).
Due to its compact and lightweight size, the camera has been promoted as a “true allrounder and all-purpose camera”, making it ideal for taking anywhere. You can take DNG RAW files as well as JPEGs.
The camera also comes with an attachable flash and can be connected to the Leica Fotos app. In 2024, the retail price was £1,450 or €1,590 including VAT. Currently (June 2025), you can purchase it in Europe for the same price; however, in America, due to the assembly of the camera in China and the high taxes imposed on imported Chinese goods under American politics, the price currently ranges from 2,200 to 2,700 USD.
Why to choose a Leica D-Lux 8
To be honest, I hadn’t heard much about the Leica D-Lux series before I came across some reviews on YouTube. As some of you may know, I already own a Leica Q2, which I really like. Nevertheless, I wouldn't mind having a more lightweight version, especially for travelling. Secondly, I would love to own a camera that is better suited to portraits, as the Q2's 28 mm prime lens might not be the best choice for this purpose.
In terms of technical specifications, the Leica D-Lux 8 would be a downgrade, as the Leica Q2 has a full-frame CMOS sensor with 50.4 MP (47.3 MP total/effective) as well as a weather-sealed body.
Of course, you cannot compare a €5,650 full-frame camera with a €1,590 micro four thirds camera; there are obvious differences.
What makes the Leica D-Lux 8 interesting is that it looks like a smaller version of the Leica Q2 or Q3, unlike other digital compact cameras which often have a Y2K aesthetic.
Although you can find many positive reviews of the camera on YouTube and several websites, some photographers said they didn’t use it as much after nearly a year of owning it and rather liked using their phone which made me quite sceptical. I also couldn’t find any reviews that explicitly featured portraits – the sample pictures I came across in the videos weren't particularly impressive. You can also easily find negative reviews claiming that the whole D-Lux series is a “waste of money” with people recommending a Ricoh, Fujifilm or Panasonic Lumix camera instead.
The Panasonic Lumix LX100 II seems to be a tough competitor, as the D-Lux 7 and 8 are based on this model. They have the same Leica DC Vario-Summilux f/1.7–2.8 4/10.9–34 ASPH zoom lens, although the D-Lux 8 has a revised user interface for example. The Lumix LX100 II was released in 2018 and you can currently get it second hand for around €700. In an online review, I came across the fitting description that the D-Lux 8 is Panasonic inside, but also has the Leica soul and look.
Leica D-Lux 8 | My first impressions
I was delighted to discover that the Digital Camera Store Graz, which is also a Leica Boutique, was offering a photo walk as part of their photo and video experience days, where you could try out various Leica models.
Although it was a very hot day in June, nothing could stop me from testing the camera. One thing I immediately noticed was how lightweight the camera was. At 357 g with the battery, it weighs less than half of a Leica Q2 (734 g with batteries). This makes a huge difference, especially if you're carrying the camera around your neck all day or when you are travelling with just hand luggage.
As the camera looks similar to the Leica Q(2), I found it very intuitive to use. Of course, the Q2 doesn’t have a zoom lens or an 'on/off' button and the macro option is also placed differently, but besides these features the cameras look very similar when switched off.
When you switch the D-Lux 8 on, the zoom lens extends automatically which confused me a little because –even when taking a picture at 24 mm – the lens enlarges and reveals itself to be a digital zoom camera. Especially for street photography, when you most of the time want to take photos without attracting attention, the camera is not that suitable - the zoom lens is very conspicuous.
In the press release, the D-Lux 8 was advertised as a camera offering exceptional user comfort and ease of operation. Unfortunately, I could not fully confirm this. What bothered me most was how slow the zoom motor is. Given today's technical capabilities, it felt as though I was probably using the original D-Lux; I had expected a much faster zoom lens. While I love the ability to zoom and capture different perspectives, the user experience was subpar.
I also had problems adjusting/positioning the AF frame. I didn't try the touch AF; I used the directional pad, which usually works better if you don't use live view. It slowly changed the AF field, I assume that it was not an user error as it works perfectly with my Leica Q2. Both issues made it nearly impossible to capture unexpected moments; there's no chance of getting the shot quickly when you need to zoom or change the AF field.
Using the D-Lux 8 was definitely not as satisfying as using the Leica Q2 and I wouldn't recommend this camera to someone who is new to the brand as it doesn't really highlight the otherwise great Leica experience.
While using live mode, I initially thought the picture quality wasn't that great, but looking at the photos now, I'm quite satisfied with how they turned out. The expected issue of the file sizes being too small didn't prove to be true – they are big enough for online use, also for printing (in smaller or medium size) and resizing them is much faster than with the Leica Q2 photos.
On the subject of social media, there is one feature that I personally won't need: the ability to change the aspect ratio directly on the camera. One thing I do appreciate is that it comes with a small flash, so you don’t need to buy one separately. I haven't had the chance to try it out yet, so I can't comment on its performance.
The small BP-DC15 lithium-ion battery didn’t last very long. I would suggest buying at least one extra battery to be on the safe side when exploring a city.
Leica D-Lux 8 | Sample photos
All photographs were taken during the photo walk in June in Graz/ Austria. They are slightly colour-adjusted in Adobe Lightroom.
Leica D-Lux 8 vs. Leica Q2
Here, you can see a side-by-side photo comparison of the Leica D-Lux 8 and the Leica Q2.
The pictures are slightly colour-adjusted in Adobe Lightroom.
Leica D-Lux 8
Leica D-Lux 8
Leica Q2
Leica Q2
Leica D-Lux 8
Leica Q2
Leica D-Lux 8
Leica Q2
Leica D-Lux 8
Leica Q2
Leica D-Lux 8
Leica Q2
Conclusion
Even if you read all the specifications and check the reviews, I would recommend trying out a camera before buying. Everyone has different needs for a camera, so it’s always best to make up your own mind. Being able to download the pictures and see if they resonate is invaluable. In fact, the 1.5-hour photo walk even felt like too little time to make a decision. Therefore Leica also gives you the opportunity to borrow a camera for free for 22 hours:
During the walk, the Leica ambassador assumed that I might not become happy with the D-Lux after seeing that I already owned a Leica Q2. Without the issues with slow operation, it would be an awesome camera.
I'm not 100% convinced by the camera, but I like how the pictures turnd out that I'm still thinking about whether it might be a good idea to get it as a second camera or not. Right now, spending around €2,000 (as I would need a hand grip, additional batteries and a filter to protect the lens) feels a bit too much.
However, when they would fix these issues and enhance the appeal of the zoom lens, the Leica D-Lux 9 would be a great match for me. Until then, I hope I can try out the D-Lux 8 once again or maybe find a good second-hand deal.
Check out my Leica Q3 43 review: