Leica D-Lux 3 opinions?

[SuperChief]

Was wondering if anyone has any experience with this camera? Basicly I am looking for a compact point and shoot that still retains the manual controls of a digital SLR. It also has to be small enough to want to take it anywhere.

Leica D-Lux 3 (http://www.leica-camera.us/photography/compact_cameras/d-lux_3/)

http://edc-group.biz/Picture/Leica%20D-Lux%203%20(Black)/PICT1795.jpg

[Summit]

Sweeeeet camera if you don't mind the lack of an optical viewfinder.

You can buy it without the Leica badge and save a lot of money (it's a Panasonic LX2)

[brice618]

Sweet raw on a P&S, that would be nice!

[gomez]

i have the panasonic dmc-lx2 which is the exact same thing for 200 bucks cheaper. here are some pics taken with it

FLICKR (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zachgomez)

I love the camera. compact, easy to use, great pics.

[Tippster]

Sweeeeet camera if you don't mind the lack of an optical viewfinder.

You can buy it without the Leica badge and save a lot of money (it's a Panasonic LX2)

2nded. If you look at my posts in this forum I'm a pretty big fan of the Panny P&S cameras. This is why.

[4-TEEF]

I had one for a little while but I returned it. It's a nice camera and it can take a really nice photo but there were a number of things I didn't like.

The lens is really not that wide and that was the deal killer for me. I have to have a 28mm equivalent on the wide end or I don't want the camera. This camera advertises a 28mm wide but that is only when using the wide crop and since that isn't a "standardized" crop it makes it harder to get prints made.

Overall image quality and usability are great and the little thing is very well built. It's all metal and smooth and it can be pretty slippery to hold onto... I liked the Panasonic better than the Leica because it has a little finger knub to help hold on.

I bought a Canon S80 instead and that is an AWESOME point and shoot but they are discontinued now...:nonono2: