Leica’s latest digital compact camera is official: the D-Lux 8. It comes six years after the D-Lux 7, with a fresh look for 2024 inspired by the Leica Q3, which is Leica’s pricier full-frame compact and one of our favorite cameras from 2023.
I’ve been pouring over the D-Lux 8 specs and press release and, besides the new design, am struggling to find meaningful updates in the latest version of Leica’s cheapest premium compact camera, which is disappointing.
That’s not to say the Lux-8 is behind the times in 2024 because the Lux 7 was a highly capable camera back in 2018. We still have the Micro Four Thirds (MFT) 21MP sensor with a maximum photo size of (17MP) and 4K video up to 30fps.
The built-in lens is unchanged too, being a handy 24-75mm f/1.7-2.8 zoom for every day photography.
Something that’s new is that the D-Lux 8 can now shoot in the raw DNG format as well as JPEG – a first for the D-Lux line and what felt like a big omission from the Lux-7. DNG files are compatible with all of the best photo editors and give more editing flexibility than JPEG.
And since the D-Lux was launched, Leica has developed the Leica Fotos app. Based off my experience using the app with the Q3, it is one of the better photo apps available. Paired with the Lux-8, it should make editing and sharing on the go all the better, and easier.
A Leica that you can actually buy?
What’s arguably key with the D-Lux 8 is availability. The D-Lux 7 is no longer available, while the Q3 costs $5,995 / £5,300 / AU$9,790 and is almost always on back order.
The new D-Lux 8, aka the baby Q3, could therefore be your best bet for picking up a premium red-dot compact, and it costs $1,595 / £1,450.
That might still sound like a lot of money and it is a chunky mark up from the D-Lux 7 at launch, but compact cameras in 2024 are all around and above the $1,100 / £1,000 mark, and the Lux-8 costs less than the Fujifilm X100VI.
I loved shooting with the Leica Q3 and incorporating its design elements into the smaller and lower-cost D-Lux 8 is a sensible move from Leica. I just wish there was some more meaningful improvements.
