I think many people are taking the same view. Anyone already owning the D-Lux 7 would be ill-advised to upgrade I am hoping that Leica will see sense and seek ways of reinstating the zoom controls. They could have removed video and there would have been less criticism, I believe.

I’ve been a fan of the Panasonic LX series since the first one and also owned several iterations of D-Lux. My 109 was given to my sister years ago and my D-Lux 7 was sold to fund the Q2. So I was really excited to see Leica reviving the line with D-Lux 8.

I tried the D-Lux 8 at my local Leica store last week and noticed the absent of the zoom functions right away. I loved using the ring for zooming and step zoom was my main method of composing the shot. I also miss the power switch near shutter speed dial.

Despite the much nicer build and controls, I will not rush to buy the D-Lux 8 until Leica fixes the zoom function and sort out the firmware.

I suspect four factors for short supply:

1) Lack of production build up pre-launch. You typically look at a 12 month to 36 month cycle and predict the likely volume “under the curve”. Typically the volume sales flatten out after 6 months. It maybe Leica had underestimated the demand for what essentially is a reskinned camera.

2) The Panasonic LX100 had stopped production a while back. That meant when Leica gave the DL-8 the green light the component suppliers would have to start up their production again which has created a lag in the system.

3) That connects to the fact that Leica apparently batch produce products: there is no continuous production line. So if you don’t have sufficient components you can’t produce. As we know from Covid and Ukraine supply chain issues it can really slow production to a halt

4) It may well be that as Leica realized their market entry point now starts above $6000 that they were in danger of having fewer customers come into the brand and that means fewer customers potentially trading up. The solution may be a market test with the DL-8. If it works and sells well then you have the confidence to invest in developing a new DL-9 from the ground up. Likely we wouldn’t see that until late 2028.

Leica manufactures cameras in order to make money, and the way to make more money is to produce and sell more of something, not less, especially when viable alternative products are readily available.

Dann,

Thanks for your thoughts on the D-Lux 8 It’s a bit of a mystery to me why it is in short supply. Perhaps many people have been persuaded that it is a good alternative to the Fujifilm X100VI, although the although it is a vastly different camera not even crossed my mind that the Leica shortage could be engineered in order to create unrequited demand. I think there is an Renner of this also in Fuji’s strategy.

Oops… having written and posted my comment (entirely my opinion may I add) I went into several web sites including that of the Leica Shop in Melbourne – and discovered the D-Lux 8 has a waiting time for delivery of AT LEAST ten weeks.

My camera dealer (in Melbourne) is now also awaiting stock. I’ve heard from someone (not from a shop BTW) that one or two cameras have been “doing the rounds” of the better photo retailers, to give the customers an opportunity to see it and handle it for a limited time. Which again says it all, methinks.

Good one, Leica…

Obviously the market has spoken, loudly and clearly.

May I say that, for my own (and very personal) criticisms of the ‘8’, I’m happy that it has generated such a good response, and taken off so popularly. So Leica may yet be on to a winner. I truly hope so!!

Best from DANN

First off, I’m a potential Leica buyer. In the market for, initially, a used CL, but I’ve not yet found one I was happy with or could afford, here in Australia. I did look at the Panasonic offerings, but decided I’m not in the market for one, so enough said. Good cameras – but not for me.

I did get to handle and play with a D-Lux 8, a demo in one of the better Melbourne stores (the one in Spotswood, if anyone knows the local geography). And decided, nope. To me it’s a turkey. Too much deja vu. Not enough bang for the buck. I reckon that Leica decided to play safe, and put out a small-sensor camera with not much in it that’s new (other than the styling, which I like, being a great fan of the Q series). I agree with TOP’s Mike Johnson that the name ‘D-Lux’ has all the nostalgic value of a 1930s American sedan, but 17 MP of resolution is, at least for me, too outdated to make me invest the almost AUD $3000 sale price for this newest baby.

Sad, really. Leica could have done much better, but they decided to go with the tried and true. Oh, well. I now have to wait until they come out with their next round of new cameras, which at my age is somewhat of a risk. Otherwise, on I’ll go with my search for a good CL.

As I’ve already written, many thanks for an excellent article with so much useful information. Also the comments which are informative and (mostly) to the point. Good one!!

Best from DANN

Dear Paul, we have been on that for years if course. Read our review by Jorge-Peter Rau which is one of the most-read articles on the Pixii…