Spread the love
I just went back to my Leica D-LUX 8 review (also called the Leica DLUX 8 and the Leica D LUX 8 from what we’ve seen), and I counted at least 20 images I shot for the site that I really love. As a reviewer, I’m sometimes so busy making images that I don’t get time to sit back and enjoy my own work. And if I were to get the Leica DLUX 8 for the new price of $1,915.00, I’d hope that I, or the photographer who buys it, will shoot images that continue to bring them tons of joy. Originally, this article was going to question whether or not I think that it’s worth the price tag. But after looking back at the images I shot with the D LUX 8 and the Fujifilm X100VI, I still like what I shot with the Leica so much more.
With the Leica DLUX 8, I’m kind of experiencing double nostalgia that you’ll be able to see if you click into the site’s review and check out the photos. It has a vibe and feel that reminds me of the early 2010s and the late 2000s when shooting at higher ISO settings. At the same time, I reviewed the camera last summer during both Photoville and Queens Pride. Both festivals yielded me wonderful photos and lots of great images even in my downtime and while out and about. Oddly for me, it happened during the summer. I hate the summer, but the photos I made with the camera continue to bring me joy even today.
Is that joy worth $2,000? If I weren’t a photographer who works with tons of cameras all the time, I’d say resoundingly yes! That hypothetical variant of me would probably sling it around on a nice strap with a beautiful half-case and go about shooting photos of the world.
Most importantly, I wouldn’t take this camera too seriously — though I proved in my review that it’s possible to do so and that the sensor is quite capable in the hands of a skilled photographer. Last year, I interviewed photographer Anna Neubauer about the work she does with the camera. Her work looks far different from mine, but you can tell that the aesthetic works really splendidly for the photos she produces.
But here’s the thing: I work with a ton of cameras and already own a bunch. For $2,000, I was also able to get the Nikon Zf and a 40mm f2 lens because I bought them refurbished. That’s a full-frame camera with beautiful image quality and weather resistance. Plus, it’s got the retro vibe that I love and it feels great in my hands. But even I’ll admit, it can intimidate people. For the same money, the Leica D-LUX 8 isn’t going to intimidate people because it’s so small and gorgeous. Mix that in with the fact that I’ve done the work to have an open personality that can open other people up to being photographed, and we’re in a good spot.
As I typed that paragraph, I imagined myself talking to my buddy, Alex.
The Leica has a fixed zoom lens with no weather resistance, but neither do a ton of the other point-and-shoot cameras on the market right now. This camera, like the Fujifilm GFX 100RF, isn’t for a creator. It’s a photographer’s camera first and foremost. So too is the Nikon Zf. But if I were to look at images that I’ve shot with both cameras, I’d still say that the Leica is the one that gave me the most joy.
I’ve said it before: the camera industry needs to take lessons from the watch industry. It isn’t all about tech specs. There are some things that the tech bros just can’t put into data.
