Leica Digilux 2 for professional photojournalistic use - page 4
By: Thorsten Overgaard

Here are my first impressions of Digilux 2 of February, 2004 as I wrote them then:

This camera makes my beloved D1 feel like a toy camera. I hate to admit it, but it is the truth (and it all happened in less than 10 minutes)

• The zoom lens (using the outer ring on the lens) you have to get used to when you have been using the motor-focus on the D1. But after few minutes ... aah it feels nice!
• Adjusting the f/ setting on the inner ring is the right way to do it. Fast and easy to understand.
• Manual focus (using the middle ring on the lens) I simply haven't tried. Sorry!
• The display is crisp and clear. I tried the small display inside the camera for a second. That is not me; when I can get WYSIWYG on a screen, I don't feel compelled to look through holes.

Everything here was shot using 100 ISO. I never use anything else on my D1 either. Compression was highest of medium (check the original files of info).

Studio experience
In a dark studio with flashes on stand-by the screen is clear and bright (whereas the D1 is almost black). It helps both me composing as it helps the auto focus.
The Auto White balance that works perfect with D1 using studio flashes seems to go up and down on the D2. I haven't had time to investigate that yet, but it looks as Auto White balance is not to be trusted (in a studio at least).
The delays I experience with the D1 using flash system is almost non-existent with the D2. And I figured out why; the camera is waiting for the AF, and as it is "dark" for the D1 and "light" for the D2, the D2 handles AF in a split-second. Aha!

Here's the photos I did the first evening of testing the Digilux 2 back in 2004:

Kira, February 2004.
Leica Digilux 2, M mode, 1/60, f/8.0. Auto White balance. The file from the camera here.

Gaz Station Romance, February 2004.
Leica Digilux 2, Manual mode, 1/2 second, f/2.4, Auto White balance, ISO 100. The file from the camera here.

Århus by Night - "Møllestien", February 2004.
Leica Digilux 2, Auto mode, Auto White balance, ISO 100. The file from the camera here.

Århus by Night - "Volden", February 2004.
Leica Digilux 2, Auto mode, Auto White balance, ISO 100. The file from the camera here.

Århus by Day - "Volden" AUTO, February 2004.
Leica Digilux 2, Auto mode, Auto White balance, ISO 100. The file from the camera here.
Also the RAW file here.

Århus by Day - "Volden" MANUAL, February 2004.
Leica Digilux 2, Manual mode, Auto White balance, ISO 100. The file from the camera here.
Also the RAW file here.

Århus by Night - "Åboulevarden", February 2004.
Leica Digilux 2, Auto mode, Auto White balance, ISO 100. White balance adjusted a bit in PS. The file from the camera here. Note that the 'moon' is a snow fnug that landed on the lens.

Århus Old City interior, February 2004.
Leica Digilux 2, Auto mode, Auto White balance, ISO 100. The file from the camera here.

The Doors , February 2004.
Leica Digilux 2, Manual mode, 1/125 f/5.6, Auto White balance, ISO 100. The file from the camera here.