Leica Digilux 2 (2003)

Name: Leica Digilux 2
Brand: Leica

A 5-megapixel digital camera with a and magnesium body, introduced in December 2003.

Overview

The Leica Digilux 2 is a digital camera introduced in December 2003. It has a 5-megapixel CCD sensor, 2/3-inch size (8.8 x 6.6 mm), and records images at 2560 x 1920. It shares its platform with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LC1, which was sold at the same time under the Panasonic name. The Digilux 2 gets Leica's refined controls and finish. The lens is a fixed LEICA DC-VARIO-SUMMICRON 7-22.5 mm f/2-2.4 ASPH., equivalent to 28-90mm in 35mm format, a versatile range for everyday and street photography. The body is high-quality magnesium, made in Japan by Matsushita. It is compact, but it still has mechanical dials for focus, zoom, aperture, and shutter speed. That gives it a tactile, rangefinder-like handling unusual for digital cameras of its era. The shutter is in the lens, so the design is mirrorless and runs quietly.

Specifications

Manufacturer	Leica Camera
Product type	digital camera model
Effective pixels	5 megapixels
Sensor size	2/3" (8.8 x 6.6 mm)
Sensor type	CCD
Image resolution	2560 x 1920
Storage media	Secure Digital and Multi Media Card
Lens	LEICA DC-VARIO-SUMMICRON 7–22.5 mm f/2–2.4 ASPH.
35mm equivalent focal length	28mm - 90mm
Maximum aperture	f/2–2.4
Minimum shutter speed	8 sec
Maximum shutter speed	1/4000 sec
Aperture priority	Yes
Shutter priority	Yes
Body material	magnesium body
Production years	introduced in December 2003
Original price	Not found

Design

The Digilux 2 has a magnesium body and mechanical controls for focus, zoom, aperture, and shutter speed. The shutter is built into the lens, so there is no mirror mechanism and operation is quiet. Matsushita built the body in Japan. The electronic viewfinder is functional. Its dioptre adjustment wheel needs fine tuning, users note, but becomes useful once it is set.

Context

The Digilux 2 is part of Leica's early digital effort, following the brand's entry into digital photography in the late 1990s. It was developed alongside the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LC1, which shares the same core hardware. Leica positioned it as a premium fixed-lens digital camera for enthusiasts who wanted Leica optics and build quality in a portable form.

Market

Some Digilux 2 units suffered from "sensor blindness," a known issue. Leica offered free sensor replacements to fix it. The camera has gained a reputation over time, and one source notes it "went on to become a classic." Opinions vary, though. At least one describes it as "underwhelming and I'd skip it too."