Leica D-Lux 8
Announced July 2, 2024
PixelMeter The PixelMeter is our 1–100 aggregate of reviewer scores from trusted publications and creators. Weighted by source tier — not a raw average, and not PetaPixel’s own review.
Reviewer Consensus
Good
The Leica D-Lux 8 is a compact, enthusiast-focused camera that prioritizes a simplified, intuitive user experience and iconic design. While it offers excellent image quality and a versatile zoom lens, it is largely a minor refresh of older technology that carries a premium price tag.
Weighted from 26 reviewer scores
Pros
- Intuitive, simplified user interface and controls
- Excellent image quality and color rendering
- Compact and premium build quality
- Support for DNG RAW files
- Versatile zoom lens with fast aperture
Cons
- Fixed rear screen lacks articulation
- Slow zoom operation and autofocus performance
- Dated internal hardware and sensor
- Premium price for limited upgrades
- Lack of professional video features like mic or headphone jacks
- Launch price $1,595 (USD)
- Sensor 17MP Micro Four Thirds CMOS
- Video 4K 29.97p
- Stabilization In-body IS
- Burst 11 fps electronic 2 fps mechanical
What the Reviewers Say
All 26 expert reviews, weighted into the PixelMeter score.
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- PetaPixel 7/10
I would really treat it as an oddly entertaining device that bridges the gap between serious and silly.
- DPReview 83/100
We love the idea of someone making a new enthusiast compact camera with a good degree of direct control.
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It’s great to see Leica trying to revive the enthusiast zoom compact camera with the D-Lux 8.
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At its current price, I think you need to not only need such a camera but also be comfortable with the Leica UX in order to opt for it. Moreover, you also need to be comfortable with paying a premium price for that.
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[I]t’s a great travel camera that can be a constant companion, tucked into a jacket pocket, and ready to shoot a huge range of subjects.
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Leica have long had a close relationship with Panasonic where they've taken the latters' compact cameras and produced their own take on them, but the D-Lux 8 is the first such model to feel like a truly unique Leica thanks largely to the adoption of the pared-back Q3 user [...]
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Despite its flaws, the D-Lux 8 stands out in the sparse premium compact camera market as a fun, straightforward camera that is surprisingly affordable for a Leica.
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The Leica D-Lux 8 combines a beautifully understated design and simple operation with image quality that surpasses expectations for a compact camera. However, it's only a minor refresh of the D-Lux 7, which is several years old now.
- Photo Review 8.8/10
The Leica D-Lux 8 has been designed for serious photo enthusiasts who want a genuinely pocketable camera they can take everywhere and use for shooting stills.
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The Leica D-Lux 8 is unquestionably the best value-for-money camera in the Leica family.
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The D-Lux 8 is the cheapest entry point to the Leica digital camera range, so if you’ve always promised yourself that you’ll own one, this is the model to make your dreams a reality.
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The Leica D-Lux 8 feels a little outdated in some ways, but still does the compact zoom camera thing very well indeed.
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The Leica D-Lux 8 is a welcome addition to the D-Lux line of cameras, retaining some of our favorite features from the previous models like crisp image quality, flexibility, and the iconic Leica design, all while fine-tuning what already made the D-Lux line so accessible.
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The D-Lux 8 is a big improvement over the D-Lux 7 in terms of appearance, menu layout and the adoption of simplified Leica-style controls. It is now a true member of the Leica family and no longer to be written off as a rebadged Panasonic adaptation.
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Usually it's rigging out a camera to suit my needs, and when WX said I might be interested in this because I said I wanted a compact camera I'm glad they called me because I'm really enjoying the incognito, if that's a word, of how this handles.
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I think it's great for certain applications.
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If you're looking for a 24 to 75 zoom in a compact package that's really nice to hold, this is it.
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This is the first Leica camera that I've not really liked. And it's because there's no special wow moment about this camera.
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I think it is brilliant.
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When it comes to everyday snapshots, it’s easy to reach for your smartphone today, especially with its AI smarts and improved optics. That said, compact cameras such as the Leica D-Lux 8 still have their place, especially if you value image quality.
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The new Leica D-Lux 8 is one of the most—if not the most—adaptable point-and-shoot cameras you can purchase. It’s pocket-sized and powerful.
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Compact cameras are enjoying a renaissance, and the latest generation delivers by capturing that elusive Leica look, which differentiates images you can capture from the average.
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It's chunky, but it's small, and the pictures are gorgeous.
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This camera does everything that you need it to incredibly well. In many ways, this is actually one of the easiest reviews I've ever had to do for a camera because the simplicity of the camera is the whole point of it.
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I've already talked about the high points of the camera throughout this video, but in the end for me it fills a hole in my camera collection, an ultra compact solution for Stills and video that I enjoy using.
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[T]he D-Lux 8 is a camera that impressed me a lot more than I thought it was going to.
