Rating: 
Summary: YOU MAY HAVE BETTER OPTIONS FOR LESSER..
Review: ..if you aren't obstinately attached to the brand. Aesthetics apart ('big', 'boxy' come to mind) this is NOT the camera you should go for if you want anything beyond an ISO of about a 100 -- and this is not coming from a point-and-click amateur. Yes, the manual controls are charming but if alternative brands offer me a better device (primarily, better pics, i.e.) with a lighter price tag, I begin to question. WHAT'S GOOD ABOUT THE DIGILUX: (1) Very, very fast response times in its class. This alone could be a dream criterion for some of you.
(2) A spacious monitor on the cam, bigger than matching Olympus, Canon or Nikon offerings.
(3) The much vaunted manual controls, no need for reflex cams.
(4) The Summicron lens, which leads to good pictures if the only alternative you have owned is a Sony entry-level point and shoot. If you have ever worked with a Nikon D100 or a Canon G3 (or above) then the quality difference is minimally incremental. WHAT'S NOT: (1) The price tag. For me, just the name doesn't cut it.
(2) Sub-par battery life.
(3) .mov format for the movies? Why?
(4) Think about where you'll be getting your tech support. It's not very easy.
(5) The reference guide is a pain to comprehend.
(6) A lean 2x optiocal zoom, which is also a bit deceiving - the imaging chip is so small, you can almost NEVER achieve background blur for portraits, or any other form of professional photography.
(7) Where's the noise reduction that is so COMMON with other competitors?
(8) A hood for the lens would've been nice.
(9) WB when using a flash is too bluish green.
(10) Ugly body (ok, this is subjective) -- almost seems tailor made for big German hands.
(11) Where's RAW? SUMMARY: I know a Leica when I see one. If you're looking for a digi version of the M6, this isn't it. I wonder why other reviewers would rate a product based on the halo of its overall brand. I'd wait for a revised version of this offering from Leica, their lens is worth the wait. Meanwhile, consider Nikon D100s (or even 5700) or Canon's EOS (or G5 etc) if you are in the market for a digital.
Rating: 
Summary: Insane quality in a timeless package
Review: First point worth mentioning: If you're looking for a pocket camera, look elsewhere. Check the dimensions on this, and then check your pockets. On the other hand, if you don't mind carrying the camera around with you, it will reward you IMMENSELY for the effort. Designed as a reportage camera, the response is incredibly fast. It reminds me of the time I traded in my 133MHz computer for a 2.4GHz. I can't stress enough how fast this thing is. And not only that, but it's PRECISE. The optics are about as crisp as they get, and the CCD captures the image very well. For me, the camera is completely automatic. For later, it has a manual override on everything. For the transition (while I learn more), it has shutter or aperture priority. This includes the best manual focus on any non-SLR digital camera on the market, by the way. It also has a macro focus that allows you to take wide-angle shots within 6cm of the subject. Also, the LCD is a massive 2.5in. With automatic everything, manual overrides on everything, unlimited video (it'll fill your memory card if you let it), crisp and detailed images with no artifacts, a superior LCD viewfinder/replayer, classically gorgeous styling, absolute blazing adjust/focus/write/refresh/everything speed, and all of the other features I haven't time to mention, this is THE camera to have. I shopped for several months, and after learning about this one, my interest in ALL other cameras just disappeared. The ONLY thing I could possibly agree is worth considering is Sony's latest top-end camera. It has excellent Carl Zeiss optics and both 5MP and 5X zoom (which outmatch the Leica by a small margin). It also has infrared night shots, which could be a fun feature to play with. It just lacks the speed of the Leica and costs noticably more (shop around and see). Not to mention it requires memory sticks, where the Leica has SecureDigital memory, which is smaller in size but still as large in capacity and is becoming more prevalent in a number of manufacturers. You don't have to take my word for it, though. Read the rest of the reviews and check Leica's website for really detailed specs. Then shop around for the best price and GET the camera. Enjoy. Addendum: The more I use the camera, the more I love it. A few features I've uncovered: Adjustable flash brightness (I illuminated an entire auditorium with it. Amazing), camera saves preview image with every video for easy reference, manual is VERY comprehensive, Leica partnered with Panasonic (to provide the digital aspects) which in turn means Leica provides optics on Panasonic's cameras - if you don't want to pay this much, check out Panasonic's cams.
Finally, I found a great program for organizing and editing pics as well as creating several types of albums. PhotoMeister. Check it out.
Rating:
Summary: Oh, they shouldn't let novices like myself have such joy.
Review: I am very new to digital cameras (and photography) so my review will focus on ease-of-learning the camera and the way it handles. I've now had the camera for about a month and have used it almost daily and am extremely pleased overall. I had a minor moment of disappointment when I first got the camera and found it to be larger than I had expected (I hadn't seen one in person and was secretly hoping it would be Canon Elph sized). I'm over the size thing now, especially since I love how ... the camera looks. Yes, it's oh-so-retro in style, but when it comes down to it, the Digilux-1 could almost be out of the backdoor of the LOMO factory or something. But I love it for that. As a person who has no patience to read directions, I found it very easy to figure out what to do in terms of setting up the camera and taking my first pictures. I was snapping away within 15 minutes. Because the camera has so many nice adjustments in terms of how yr picture turns out, I find it easier and funner (yes, more fun) to play around with the settings on the camera rather than go for "perfect" pictures on the first attempt. Hm, what else. Oh, transferring pics to the computer (I have Windows XP) was a breeze, no software needed, and god bless USB. Really now the issue is organizing all the photos I've taken! Lastly-- this camera begs for a case, and not the ugly boring black leather one that Leica has decreed is appropriate for the Digilux-1 (Leica Digilux-1 case has a MSRP of $..., ugh). I think they could have put a little more thought into the styling and features of a case for this gem of a camera. So I did a little hunting and I'm going to try one of the Crumpler cases... we shall see...
Rating:
Summary: Oh, they shouldn't let novices like myself have such joy.
Review: I am very new to digital cameras (and photography) so my review will focus on ease-of-learning the camera and the way it handles. I've now had the camera for about a month and have used it almost daily and am extremely pleased overall. I had a minor moment of disappointment when I first got the camera and found it to be larger than I had expected (I hadn't seen one in person and was secretly hoping it would be Canon Elph sized). I'm over the size thing now, especially since I love how ... the camera looks. Yes, it's oh-so-retro in style, but when it comes down to it, the Digilux-1 could almost be out of the backdoor of the LOMO factory or something. But I love it for that. As a person who has no patience to read directions, I found it very easy to figure out what to do in terms of setting up the camera and taking my first pictures. I was snapping away within 15 minutes. Because the camera has so many nice adjustments in terms of how yr picture turns out, I find it easier and funner (yes, more fun) to play around with the settings on the camera rather than go for "perfect" pictures on the first attempt. Hm, what else. Oh, transferring pics to the computer (I have Windows XP) was a breeze, no software needed, and god bless USB. Really now the issue is organizing all the photos I've taken! Lastly-- this camera begs for a case, and not the ugly boring black leather one that Leica has decreed is appropriate for the Digilux-1 (Leica Digilux-1 case has a MSRP of $..., ugh). I think they could have put a little more thought into the styling and features of a case for this gem of a camera. So I did a little hunting and I'm going to try one of the Crumpler cases... we shall see...
Rating: 
Summary: Love isn't all
Review: I love my Leica. It is rock solid and it takes nice pictures. It is true that there are some noise problems in iso 200 and 400, but hey then I just use iso 100 for indoor shots. That requires longer opening times and can give blurry pictures, but usually I just set it to take 4 or 8 pictures at a time and then at least one of them is usually ok. Should I buy again I would probably go for Canon Digital Rebel which is almost in the same pricerange.
Rating:
Summary: Safe with Leica
Review: Leica has spent nearly a century earning its reputation for quality. They have missed their mark only a couple of times when they lent their name to inferior products. The Digilux1 is the redeemer. Alittle more bulky and a little more costly than competing products, but certainly, ounce for ounce, the best point and shoot digital out there. On high resolution a blow up of 11 x 14 competes with most quality film cameras.
The design is somewhat retro, but so is everything else these days. The processor is fast, the screen is big. You will love it!
Rating:
Summary: After a year of use ...
Review: OK, I admit that I am a sucker for the Leica name, but hey, it has meant quality and incredible optics for a very long time, so I had little difficulty choosing this camera last year when I decided to finally go digital. After one year of use, I have nothing but praise for this camera. Although I pine a bit for the Digilux 2, I am not ready to trade my Digilux 1 in and pay the premium. As a digital rangefinder, with excellent automatic and manual aspects, I have been able to satisfy both sides of my hobby: the snapshot photographer and the advanced hobbiest artist. The pictures I produce using this camera are stunning; the colors dense and true, and their ability to be manipulated in Photoshop a breeze. I highly recommend this camera to anyone considering it ... at this price, you're getting a bargain!
Rating:
Summary: The Absolute Best Digital Camera
Review: Simple, direct, point and shoot. When I first handled this camera, I was struck by the boxy Retro shape. How unlike the rest of the digital camera field. The technical instrumentation is straight forward, the view area of 2.5 inches, the largest available was a selling point for this myoptic photographer. Having read some very positive professional photographic reviews and being an owner of a Leica film camera, I made the purchase solely based on Leica's reputation. I was not disappointed. Everyone who saw the first batch of photographs I took were astounded by the image quality and detail. The high quality Leica Vario-Summicron lens justifies the higher price. Having previously owned and used Nikon and Canon digital cameras which seem to get more complicated with every new model, this is the one I prefer over all others. There is no comparison when it comes to the final result.
Rating:
Summary: Top of the Heap
Review: The Digilux is a real value and wonderful camera for both the digital novice to the seasoned camera buff. In my opinion the most important thing in any camera is the lens, and in the Digilux has the legendary Summicron. I've had other several other cameras both digital and 35mm and this lens is a must buy. When matched with Panasonic electronics, we end up with the best of both worlds - the clear eye and great electronic brains. From an over all value perspective, the Digilux while not inexpensive, is in my opinion a real "value buy". I do reccomend that anyone buying this camera be prepared to invest several hours reading the manual. In order to unlock the massive potential of the camera, one must plow through the manual initially and over time. The investment is worth it to unlock the amazing things this camera can do (too numerous to list). Lastly I'd invest in a USB card reader, buy an extra flash card and keep this beautiful camera (it feels great in your hands) protected with a good case, otherwise enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Top of the Heap
Review: The Digilux is a real value and wonderful camera for both the digital novice to the seasoned camera buff. In my opinion the most important thing in any camera is the lens, and in the Digilux has the legendary Summicron. I've had other several other cameras both digital and 35mm and this lens is a must buy. When matched with Panasonic electronics, we end up with the best of both worlds - the clear eye and great electronic brains. From an over all value perspective, the Digilux while not inexpensive, is in my opinion a real "value buy". I do reccomend that anyone buying this camera be prepared to invest several hours reading the manual. In order to unlock the massive potential of the camera, one must plow through the manual initially and over time. The investment is worth it to unlock the amazing things this camera can do (too numerous to list). Lastly I'd invest in a USB card reader, buy an extra flash card and keep this beautiful camera (it feels great in your hands) protected with a good case, otherwise enjoy!
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