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Product DetailTech Specs
The Leica D-Lux range of cameras represents maximum Leica quality in a minimalist camera form factor. And the D-Lux 5 sets new benchmarks in this class. It is a true Leica, not only in terms of its elegant design but also in its superior optical performance. The super-fast, f/2 Leica DC Vario-Summicron lens is ideal for available-light photography. Manual controls and a wide range of accessories ensure that demanding photographers can enjoy enormous creative freedom. The result: images of excellent quality that capture life in rich and natural detail. With such versatile performance in such a compact package, the D-Lux 5 is the perfect companion whenever you seek inspiration.
Like its predecessor, the new D-Lux 5 is characterized by its particularly simple and intuitive handling. You are free to choose between manual settings or the smart automatic mode. This makes the D-Lux 5 the ideal camera for both extremely personal picture compositions and completely spontaneous shots. Now with an even greater equivalent focal-length range of 24–90 mm, it opens up an entirely new spectrum of photographic possibilities. From macro shots and wide-angle architectural and landscape photography to reportage or portrait images,
the versatility of the compact D-Lux 5 makes it an all-round performer. And for even more photographic flexibility, you can enhance the D-Lux 5 with a wide range of accessories, including a bright accessory viewfinder, an electronic flash unit, and more – just like a system camera.
Super Fast Lens
The quality of photographs taken with Leica lenses has been legendary for many years. With the newly developed, fast quality Leica DC Vario-Summicron 1:2–3.3/5.1–19.2 mm ASPH. lens and its practical, universal 24–90 mm equivalent zoom range, Leica sets another new benchmark in the history of compact camera lenses. Thanks to its extremely fast maximum aperture, the Leica DC Vario-Summicron makes brilliant photography possible with the lens wide open. This means that it can be used to optimum effect in low light, such as at dawn or twilight. It’s a lens virtually predestined for use in difficult available-light situations.
With a zoom range extended to 24–90 mm (35 mm equivalent), the new lens offers even more creative freedom than its predecessor. Its minimum focal length of 24 mm and a maximum aperture of 1:2.0 provide access to all facets of wide-angle reportage, the classical domain of Leica photography. This naturally also includes complete control over the effects of selective depth of field. Thanks to a maximum focal length of 90 mm, it is also ideal for frame-filling portrait photography. When used for architectural photography, the lens reveals its ability to reproduce the finest details. In extreme macro mode, it’s even possible to shoot images at a lens-to-subject distance of only 1 cm. The Leica DC Vario-Summicron 1:2–3.3/5.1–19.2 mm ASPH. therefore offers a high degree of creative freedom for capturing images of superior quality.
Brilliant Image Quality
The D-Lux 5 features a newly designed 1/1.63" CCD image sensor that is particularly large for this compact camera class. Even at the standard resolution of 10.1 megapixels, this contributes to a significant increase in image quality. However, the pixel size plays a much more decisive role in picture quality than the actual number of image dots (pixels). The pixels of the D-Lux 5 are considerably larger than those of other compact cameras. The results speak for themselves: low image noise, more precise details, and natural color rendition ensure absolutely brilliant images – just the way you expect them to be from a Leica camera! In low light, the new image processor now makes it possible to work with ISO settings of up to 6400. The new D-Lux 5 delivers images in all four formats (4:3, 3:2, 16:9, 1:1) in both capture and review mode. These can be viewed and assessed in exquisite detail before and after capture on the generously dimensioned 3" LCD-monitor with a resolution of 460,000 pixels.
Creative Freedom
Photography with a Leica camera must be one thing above all – a sheer pleasure. And that is precisely what the Leica D-Lux 5 offers with its amazingly simple and intuitive handling concept and clearly laid-out functions. For instance, you can easily set manual exposure parameters with the innovative new Clickwheel on the back of the camera. Thanks to its manual setting option for subject distance, aperture, and shutter speed, the D-Lux 5 opens up a whole vista of creative opportunities for discerning photographers to take complete control of image characteristics. Its smart auto mode is ideal for fast and spontaneous snapshots, and offers optimum assistance for less experienced photographers. Depending on the subject and the lighting situation, the camera automatically selects the ISO setting, face recognition, contrast compensation, and the appropriate scene mode. Auto mode also controls the OIS image-stabilizing system that effectively prevents the effects of camera shake when shooting under challenging lighting conditions.
Classical Design
Classical elegance meets premium-quality materials: this characterizes the design philosophy of Leica D-Lux cameras. A design concept that the D-Lux 5 carries forth brilliantly and effortlessly. Black throughout, with sparse accents in chrome and distinctive lines, it possesses a compellingly purist and simultaneously timeless modern design. A single glance says it all: it is a true Leica. Its silky-smooth, black anodized exterior encases a rugged and compact metal body. This makes the camera not only particularly robust, but also ensures that the D-Lux 5 can be held safely and steadily in the photographer’s hand. Anyone wishing for more grip can find an ideal accessory in the form of the optional handgrip.
Professional Image Processing
The Leica D-Lux 5 is supplied complete with a free copy of the professional image processing software Adobe® Photoshop® Lightroom®. This software package allows photographers to “develop” the RAW image files delivered by the CCD sensor of the D-Lux 5 to obtain the best possible image quality. At the same time, photographers maintain complete control over the development process applied to their images. White balance, exposure, sharpness, tonal balance, color saturation, and many other parameters can be modified during post-processing until the result the photographer envisages is achieved. RAW image data are considered to be the best choice for digital image processing. The advantages of RAW image files as opposed to JPEG or TIFF data are so numerous that many ambitious amateurs and most professional photographers now work almost exclusively with RAW image files.
Video in HD Quality
Thanks to its compact size, the Leica D-Lux 5 is the ideal camera for people who are constantly out and about. Its additional 720p HD video function in memory-saving AVCHD Lite format leaves absolutely nothing to be desired in terms of the photographik options it offers. This also applies, as one would naturally expect from a true Leica, to the superior quality of the videos captured. To start shooting a video, simply press the dedicated button on the top deck of the camera. Autofocus and the entire 3.8x zoom range remain available during recording. Particularly practical: you can freely segment recordings and delete any unwanted scenes. A further option lets you save individual frames from recorded videos as still pictures. Best of all, thanks to the innovative AVCHD Lite format, HD video recordings only need about half the memory required by videos in the widespread M-JPEG HD format. This means the D-Lux 5 lets you shoot videos with double the recording time.
Lens |
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Leica DC Vario-Summicron 5.1–19.2 mm f/2–3.3 ASPH. (wide-angle f2–f8/telephoto f3.3–f8)/corresponds to 24–90 mm, 35 mm equivalent focal lenght. |
Zoom (Optical/digital) |
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3,8 x/4 x |
Focusing Modes |
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Normal/Macro, Continuous focusing (on/off) |
Metering modes |
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Face detection, AF tracking, 23 field, 1 field (flexible/scalable) |
Focusing range |
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P/A/S/M |
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50 cm |
Macro/intelligent/auto/movie |
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1 cm (wide-angle/30 cm (tele) |
Sensor |
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1/1.63"-CCD with 11.3 MP (effective 10.1 MP) |
Resolution |
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Still pictures |
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4:3 format: |
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3648 x 2736 pixels (10 MP), 3072 x 2304 pixels (7 MP), 2560 x 1920 pixels (5 MP), 2048 x 1536 pixels
(3 MP), 1600 x 1200 pixels (2 MP), 640 x 480 pixels (0.3 MP) |
3:2 format: |
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3776 x 2520 pixels (9.5 MP), 3168 x 2112 pixels (6.5 MP), 2656 x 1768 pixels (4.5 MP), 2112 x 1408 pixels
(3 MP), 2048 x 1360 pixels (2.5 MP), 640 x 424 pixels (0.3 MP) |
16:9 format: |
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3968 x 2232 pixels (9 MP), 3328 x 1872 pixels (6 MP), 2784 x 1568 pixels (4.5 MP), 2208 x 1248 pixels
(2.5 MP), 1920 x 1080 pixels (2 MP), 640 x 360 pixels (0.2MP) |
1:1 format: |
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2736 x 2736 pixels (7.5 MP), 2304 x 2304 pixels (5.5 MP), 1920 x 1920 pixels (3.5 MP), 1536 x 1536 pixels (2.5 MP), 480 x 480 pixels (0.2MP) |
Movies |
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4:3 format: |
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VGA: 640 x 480 pixels, 30 fps (Motion JPEG), QVGA: 320 x 240 pixels, 30 fps (Motion JPEG) |
16:9 format: |
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WVGA: 848 x 480 pixels, 30 fps (Motion JPEG) |
HD video |
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1280 x 720 pixels, 60i (AVCHD Lite, CCD output is 30p), 1280 x 720 pixels, 30 fps (Motion JPEG) |
Recording file format |
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Still pictures |
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RAW/JPEG (based on Exif 2.3 standard)/DPOF-compatible |
Still pictures with sound |
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RAW/JPEG (based on Exif 2.3 standard) + QuickTime |
Video |
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AVCHD Lite/Motion JPEG |
Video recording time |
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Max. 29 min. (only E version) |
Exposure control |
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Exposure modes |
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Program mode (P), Aperture priority (A), Speed priority (S), Manual setting (M), Snapshot |
Exposure compensation |
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Increments: 1/3 EV steps, setting range: ±3 EV |
Scene modes |
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Portrait, Soft Skin, Self-portrait, Scenery, Panorama Assist, Sports, Night Portrait, Night Scenery, Food, Party, Candlelight, Baby 1, Baby 2, Pet, Sunset, High Sens., High-Speed Burst, Flash Burst, Starry Sky, Fireworks, Beach, Snow, Aerial Photo, Color modes |
Metering modes |
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Multi-field, Center-weighted, Spot |
White balance |
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Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Shadow, Tungsten, Manual setting, Manual measurement |
Sensitivity |
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Auto/i.ISO, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400*/12800* (* by pixel mixed readout) |
Shutter speeds |
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60 s–1/4000 s (Starry Sky mode: 15 s, 30 s, 60 s) |
Continuous shooting mode |
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2.5 fps |
Mechanical shutter |
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2.5 fps: 5 (Standard mode)/3 (Fine Mode)/High-Speed Burst mode: approx. 6 frames/(image priority), approx. 10 frames/(speed priority), (recorded in 3 MP for 4:3, 2.5 MP for 3:2, 2 MP for 16:9) |
Flash |
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Modes |
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Auto, Auto with pre-flash (to reduce red-eye effect), Auto with slower shutter speeds and pre-flash, On, On with
pre-flash, Off |
Range (with ISO AUTO and maximum wide-angle setting) |
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Approx. 80 cm–7.2 m |
Selftimer |
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2/10 s delay |
Monitor |
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3.0" TFT LCD, approx. 460,000 pixels, field of view: approx. 100%, automatic brightness adjustment |
Microphone/speaker |
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Mono |
Recording media |
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Internal memory |
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Approx. 40 MB |
Memory cards |
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SD, SDHC, SDXC |
Interface |
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Digital: USB 2.0 (high speed). Data cannot be transferred from PC to the camera (only E version). Mini HDMI cable (type C). Analog video/audio: NTSC/PAL CVBS (switchable in menu), audio line-out (mono). Dedicated jack (8-pin). |
Printer compatibility |
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PictBridge |
Operating temperature/humidity |
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0–40°C/10–80% |
Battery |
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Voltage/capacity |
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3.6 V/1250 mAh (400 pictures according to CIPA standards) |
Dimensions (W x H x D) |
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110 x 66 x 43 mm (4 1/3 x 2 2/3 x 1 5/7 in.) |
Weight |
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270 g (9.5 oz) with memory card and battery |
Scope of delivery |
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Camera with lens cap, battery charger (Leica BC-DC 10), battery (Leica BP-DC 10), carrying strap, AV cable, USB cable, CD with long instructions (PDF) |
Software |
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Adobe® Photoshop® Lightroom® 3 |
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