Leica Digilux 1 (2002)

Name: Leica Digilux 1
Brand: Leica

A digital point-and-shoot camera released in 2002, developed in partnership with Panasonic.

Overview

The Leica Digilux 1 is a digital point-and-shoot camera made by Leica and released in 2002. It was Leica's second digital camera and the start of the company's digital conversion. Panasonic was the development partner. The sensor is a 4-megapixel CCD with a CMYG filter array, and the maximum resolution is 2240 × 1680 pixels. There is an optical viewfinder. The lens is a Vario-Summicron 3x zoom with a 35mm equivalent range of 33-100mm and . ISO settings are 100, 200, and 400, plus an auto mode. Storage is Secure Digital cards, and a 64 MB card came in the box.

Specifications

Manufacturer	Leica
Product type	digital camera
Sensor	4 megapixel 1/1.76″ (7.32 x 5.49 mm) CCD
Sensor filter array	CMYG
Max resolution	2240 × 1680
ISO sensitivity	Auto, 100, 200, 400
Lens	Vario-Summicron 3x zoom
Lens equivalent	33-100mm
Focus	Auto focus (contrast detect)
Focus distance	Normal: 30 cm; Macro: 6 cm
Storage media	Secure Digital Card, up to 1 GB
Viewfinder	Optical
Original price	$899

Design

The Digilux 1 shares core technology and engineering with contemporary Panasonic models. Its CCD sensor uses a CMYG color filter array instead of the more common Bayer pattern. The aim was film-like image quality, as opposed to the flat, video-like output of many digital cameras at the time.

Context

The Digilux 1 arrived in 2002, around the same time as the Canon PowerShot G2, which put Leica in the early wave of premium compact digital cameras. It was the start of Leica's digital conversion and followed an earlier collaboration with Fuji on the original Digilux. The price was high and the camera carried Leica branding, but contemporary assessments were mixed. One review was titled "Leica Digilux 1 Review: Red Dot Digital Disaster", which tells you how strong the criticism got.

Market

As of 2020, the Digilux 1 was rarely listed on eBay, with only one or two units appearing - down from "loads" five years prior. A boxed unit was advertised in Spring 2025 for £119, and tested working units have sold for $299. One collector reported finding a mint-condition example with case and charger for $129.