After twenty five years, I can finally say I am the proud owner of a Leica Camera.
To be clear, I did not drop the retail price of $2000 on a newer version of my current model. I don’t have that kind of scratch.
For the past few weeks, I’ve been looking for a dedicated compact camera. I considered the usual suspects: an old Sony Cyber-shot, a Canon PowerShot, maybe something small enough to slip into a pocket without thinking twice. I wasn’t chasing the latest technology and I wanted something that made photography feel fun again. Then I stumbled across this online.
Released in 2006, the D-Lux 3 is ancient by digital camera standards. It has a 10-megapixel CCD sensor, a simple interface, and just enough manual control 1to stay out of my way. It shoots both JPG and RAW. Most digicams never offered that. That’s exactly why I bought it. Well, to be fair, the manufacturers’s pedigree was a big influence. There is no viewfinder, just a screen to shoot from. The menu settings offer a lot of options but has a simple user interface.
My iPhone can produce technically better photos in almost every situation. That isn’t the point. I wanted a camera with a different personality, one that was intentional, deliberate, instead of convenience.
The D-Lux, now re-named to Liesel,2 is small enough to carry everywhere, and enough to produce images with a look that modern sensors will computationally smooth over. The older CCD sensor has a color signature that many photographers still appreciate, and I’m looking forward to seeing how it renders on the street.
For a ridiculously low price, I found something special. It came with the camera, charger, three batteries, all leather Leica carry case, original boxes and paperwork. It isn’t a collector’s item and not a relic because this camera is meant to be used.
Sometimes the best camera isn’t the newest one. It’s the one that makes you want to head out the door and start making photographs again.
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