A tidy mini

“The D-Lux 8 was developed with one purpose in mind: to ensure the pleasure of uncomplicated photography,” Leica explain on their website. Compared to its predecessor, the D-Lux 7, which came onto the market in September 2019, the new model is defined by a minimalist design. Fewer buttons on the back of the camera and tidy menu settings aim to simplify use, and focus the attention entirely on the photographic experience. The conveniently pocket-sized camera is the ideal companion for everyday use, and offers the unbeatable advantage of always being ready to hand in your bag.
 
Compact through and through. The D-Lux 8 fulfils everything it promises. It is a delight to have the camera on hand and to be able to shoot pictures spontaneously. It is quick and intuitive like a smartphone, but the difference in image quality is seriously significant. The picture sensor in four-thirds-format, is unusually large for a compact camera, which means it ensures high picture quality, even when the size is not applied to its full extent. Just as in the case of its predecessor model, Leica relies on the very fast DC Vario-Summilux 10.9-34 f/1.7-2.8 Asph lens, which corresponds to a 24 to 75mm zoom in 35mm terms. The photographs show great bokeh, with the foreground or background disappearing skilfully into a blur. The aspect ratio of the pictures can be selected individually by means of a slide switch on the lens: whether 16:9, 3:2 or 4:3, the image diagonal of the aspect ratio remains the same by utilising only 17 of the 22 possible megapixels of the image sensor.

Always on hand. The small camera is a real all-rounder as far as mobile usage is concerned. The uncomplicated link to the Leica FOTOS App allows you to transfer pictures to your smartphone while on the move, and to edit or share them there directly. With the video function, recordings can be made in 4K.

The essential. Leica has once again managed to remain true to the company's maxim of concentrating on the essential. Compared to the D-Lux 7, the D-Lux 8 loses a little in the handling of the zoom. Whilst the previous version was able to perfectly imitate characteristic, fixed focal lengths thanks to the adjustable zoom, street photographers, in particular, will miss this function on the D-Lux 8. Overall, however, the D-Lux 8's tidy operation and very intuitive handling is impressive. The picture quality is as good and as differentiated as usual; the new little one captures details and tonal gradations extremely well. Higher sensitivity in overcast weather also presents no problem.