The Panasonic LX3 and Leica D-LUX 4 automatically correct in-camera JPEGs for barrel distortion and color fringing. The two cameras also ship with RAW converters, Silkypix and Capture One respectively, which apply the same automatic corrections. However, using a third party RAW converter, one can see marked barrel distortion and significant color fringing.

Below, you will find some files for download. I chose a high contrast scene to challenge the camera's dynamic range.



The "Converted RAW" file is a JPEG processed from RAW using Raw Developer (Mac). It shows the uncorrected barrel distortion and purple fringing at ~28mm equivalent and 3:2 aspect. Note that the barrel distortion is even more severe at 24mm equivalent and/or 16:9 aspect. The "In-camera JPEG" file demonstrates the file as corrected in camera. The third file is RAW. To convert the RAW file using Raw Developer, you must first change the extension from .RWL (D-LUX 4 extension) to .RW2 (LX3 extension). There is a fourth file to download, "SDIM0492", which is a Sigma DP1 ISO 100 image of the same scene. You can process this Sigma RAW using Lightroom/ACR or Sigma Photo Pro if you want to see how it compares to the D-LUX file.

Below, you can download the ISO 400 files for the same scene. Once again, a Sigma DP1 RAW file is included for comparison. At both base ISO and ISO 400, the converted RAWs contrast the in-camera JPEGs not only from a standpoint of color fringing and distortion, but also noise, color, and highlight retention.

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David Farkas Photography Blog has some of the best Photokina coverage around. His latest post has excellent photos of and commentary regarding the Leica D-LUX 4 system. I found the following statement regarding the D-LUX 4 to be of particular interest:

The camera ships with Capture One v4 software which allows RAW file processing. Interestingly, the Panasonic LX3’s RAW files are actually different and are not supported in C1. So, the differences go beyond skin deep between these compact camera cousins.

If true, this would be the first time that a Panasonic product were to differ at the RAW level from the Leica version of the same product. It's remains to be seen whether there are such substantive differences. Perhaps a simple camera name change in the EXIF will be all that it takes to get LX3 support in C1.

At any rate, when choosing between a D-LUX 4 and LX3, don't forget to factor in the longer warranty, included RAW software, and higher resale value of the Leica product.

Source: David Farkas Photography Blog - Photokina 2008 - Day 5 - Gitzo, Manfrotto, Lastolite, and Leica compacts revisted

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From the GetDPI forums:

Good to see Leica taking a system approach to the D-LUX 4, but I'm wondering how many small sensor compact camera users will be willing to pay that much for a 24mm opsteekzoeker.

In case anyone has forgotten, a "street ready" LX3 is also quite attractive:

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With Photokina coming in September, there are many questions about what we might see from Leica this year. Will there be a Digital CL? D-LUX 4? R10? Autofocus R system? Leica version of the Olympus E-3? M9? More lenses?

A regular in the Leica Camera Forum has some of the answers, apparently straight from Stefan Daniel (product manager for the M System since 1998). Learn more here.

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