Leica D-Lux 7

Features

Overview: The Leica D-Lux 7 is a high-quality point-and-shoot camera with a super fast zoom lens and large sensor. The D-Lux 7 has a high-resolution 3" LCD touchscreen monitor and an electronic viewfinder for precisely framing your shots. It comes with an external flash unit, a neck strap, rechargeable battery, and battery charger.

Lens: Leica lenses have been known for their high quality and clarity for 150 years. The Leica D-Lux 7 is equipped with a Leica Vario-Summilux 10.9-34mm f/1.7-2.8 ASPH. 3.1x zoom lens, that is perfectly matched to its image sensor. The 35mm equivalent focal length of the lens is 24-75mm, perfect for available-light photography, including portraits, landscapes, architecture, macro, and reportage photography.

Zoom Types: The camera has a 3.1x optical zoom. Some resolutions let you extend the focal length to a maximum of 6.2x (Extra Optical Zoom). The camera's Intelligent Zoom technology can also extend the focal length to twice the original magnification while minimizing the deterioration of the image quality (i.Zoom). In addition, a 4x Digital Zoom can be used in conjunction with the Optical or Extended Optical Zoom, but the image quality deteriorates as you extend the focal length.

Image Sensor: The Leica D-Lux 7 is equipped with a 4/3" MOS image sensor with 21.77-million total pixels and 17-million effective pixels. This gives the camera the ability to take 17MP JPEG and RAW still images and 4K (3840 x 2160) and Full HD movies (1920 x 1080).

Monitor/Electronic Viewfinder: The Leica D-Lux 7 has a 3.0" LCD color monitor with 1,240,000 dots, and an aspect ratio of 3:2. The monitor provides a 100% (approx.) field of view. In addition to the LCD monitor, the Leica D-Lux 7 has an LCD Viewfinder with a resolution of approximately 2,760,000 dots, with a 16:9 aspect ratio and a 100% field of view. Beside the viewfinder is a diopter to focus the viewfinder to your eyesight (-4 to +3 diopters). An eye sensor in the viewfinder automatically switches between the viewfinder and the monitor as you raise/lower the camera to/from your eye.

Memory Cards: You can record still images and movies onto SD, SDHC, and SDXC memory cards up to 128 GB. The camera is also compatible with memory cards with the UHS-I standard. Leica recommends memory cards with Speed Class 4 or higher for shooting Full HD or HD video, and UHS Speed Class 3 (U3) for 4K video and 4K photos.

Still Images: The Leica D-Lux 7 can record JPEG images with Standard and Fine compression rates. In addition, RAW format images can be captured, and can be processed in the camera or on your computer with appropriate software to edit and convert raw data to JPEG images. You can also combine RAW images with JPEG images in Standard or Fine, saving images in both file formats simultaneously. Still images can be recorded in the following sizes and aspect ratios:

Video Recording: You can record movies in MP4 format in 4K (3840 x 2160/30p or 24p), Full HD (1920 x 1080/60p or 30p), and HD (1280 x 720/30p). AAC Audio is recorded in stereo through the built-in microphone.

Recording Modes: The Leica D-Lux 7 has five recording modes: Snapshot, Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and Manual. P, A, S, and M modes are determined by the combination of the Aperture Ring and Shutter Speed dial settings. A dedicated button (A) is provided for switching to Snapshot Mode, and the mode is automatically determined by the camera according to the shooting conditions.

• Program (P): A fully automatic mode--exposure controlled by an automatic shutter speed and aperture setting. You can shift the preset values using the Shift function to get faster shutter speeds for sports photography, or larger depth of field for landscape shots. (Aperture Setting: A, Shutter Speed: A)
• Aperture Priority (A): Aperture Priority allows you to manually set the aperture value to expand or reduce the depth of field (f/1.7 to f/16) while the camera automatically sets the appropriate shutter speed based on the exposure. (Aperture Setting: set by user, Shutter Speed: A)
• Shutter Priority (S): Shutter Priority allows you to manually set the shutter speed to freeze action or create a sense of motion, while the camera automatically sets the appropriate aperture value. The shutter speed ranges from 60 sec to 1/4000 sec. with mechanical shutter, and 1-1/16000 sec with electronic shutter. (Aperture Setting: A, Shutter Speed: set by user)
• Manual (M): You can manually choose the exposure you want by manually setting both the aperture and shutter speed. (Aperture Setting: set by user, Shutter Speed: set by user)
• Snapshot Modes: There are eleven Snapshot Modes which are designed for specific subject types: i-Portrait, i-Scenery, i-Macro, i-Night Portrait, i-Night Scenery, i-Handheld Night Shot, i-Food, i-Baby, i-Sunset, i-Low Light, and Auto (when the subject doesn't correspond to any of the other scene modes). Snapshot Plus mode lets you make more adjustments than regular Snapshot mode, including brightness, color tone, defocus control, and other menu items.

Shutter Types: The Leica D-Lux 7 has two shutter types from which to choose: a mechanical shutter and an electronic shutter. The mechanical shutter starts the exposure electronically and ends it using the mechanical shutter. Shutter speeds from 60 seconds to 1/4000 second are available. The mechanical shutter sound cannot be silenced. The electronic shutter starts and ends the exposure electronically, and can provide shutter speeds of 1 second to 1/16000 seconds. In the menu, you can choose between the mechanical shutter and the electronic shutter, or let the camera select it automatically.

White Balance: You can set the White Balance automatically, manually (using measured results), or use one of the WB presets, based on the type of lighting on the subject. White Balance settings include: Automatic, Clear Sky, Cloudy, Shade, Incandescent, Flash, Manually set (4 values saved), and Color Temperature.

ISO: The ISO sensitivity setting specifies the possible shutter speeds and aperture settings based on a particular brightness. High sensitivities allow faster shutter speeds and/or smaller apertures. You can choose from Auto ISO (up to ISO 3200), Intelligent ISO (up to ISO 3200), or set it manually between ISO 200 to ISO 25000 in 1/3 EV steps. When Extended ISO is on, an ISO setting of 100 is possible.

Shutter Release Modes: Several Shutter Release Modes are available on the D-Lux 7:

• Single: One picture is taken when the shutter button is pressed.
• Burst: Pictures are taken as long as the shutter button is pressed. Available frame rates include: High Speed (11 fps), Middle Speed (7 fps), Low Speed (2 fps).
• 4K Photo: In this mode, a 4K photo (3840 x 2160) is taken when the shutter button is pressed.
• Post Focus: This mode allows you to shift the focus setting while taking a series of 4K pictures. While taking the series of photos, you can shift the focus setting. After the photos are taken, you can touch the subject to be focused on (on the touchscreen monitor). The photo with the desired focus setting is recorded. You can also stack (merge) multiple pictures to expand the area that is in focus.
• Self Timer: Photos are taken after a preset delay after pressing the shutter button. You can choose between 10 seconds (for self-portraits), 2 seconds (to prevent camera shake), or 10 seconds with 3 photos taken at intervals of 2 seconds.
• Panorama Shot: You can take photos continuously while panning or tilting the camera to create a panoramic photo. You can choose the direction of the camera movement: left-to-right, right-to-left, up-to-down, or down-to-up. A guide line appears on the monitor/viewfinder to help you keep the photos straight. You can choose standard or wide panoramas in the following resolutions:
  • Standard Horizontal: 8176 x 1920
  • Standard Vertical: 7680 x 2560
  • Wide Horizontal: 8176 x 960
  • Wide Vertical: 1280 x 7680

Time Lapse Shot: The camera can automatically create a series of photographs that can be combined into a time lapse motion picture or group pictures to be viewed consecutively. You can select a start time of "now" or delay the start up to 23 hours 59 minutes ahead. The number of pictures recorded can be set from 1 to 9999 at an interval of between 1 second and 99 minutes 59 seconds.

Focus Modes: You can set the focus automatically or manually. There are three Auto Focus modes: Autofocus Single (AFS) for still subjects, Autofocus Flexible (AFF) for subjects whose movements can't be predicted, and Autofocus Continuous (AFC) for moving subjects. Other special focusing modes include: Macro Focus, Face/Eye Detection, AF Tracking, 49-area Focus, Custom Multi Focus, 1-area Focusing, and Pinpoint Focusing. The focusing range is as follows:

Metering: To set the camera to the lighting conditions, the Leica D-Lux 7 offers three Exposure Metering Modes: Multi-zone, Center-weighted, and Spot Metering.

Optical Image Stabilization: The Leica D-Lux 7 offers Optical Image Stabilization to detect and compensate for camera shake. Normal Mode compensates for vertical and horizontal camera shake. Panning Mode compensates for vertical camera shake, ideal for use while panning the camera. You can turn off Image Stabilization when not needed.

Wi-Fi: You can wirelessly connect with the Leica D-Lux 7 by Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n) or Bluetooth (4.2-BLE) using the free Leica FOTOS App, available for Apple iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch (with iOS 12.0 or later) and Android devices (running version 6.0 and up). The Leica FOTOS App allows you to remotely control the camera from a smartphone or tablet, and take still images and movies remotely. You can also playback and save images stored on the camera, or upload them to social media sites. The Shutter Remote Control feature on the app lets you take long exposures up to 29 minutes.

Flash: The Leica D-Lux 7 does not have a built-in flash, but includes the CF-D external flash unit that attaches to the camera's hot shoe. The flash range is 2'-46' at maximum wide angle, and 1'-27' at maximum telephoto. There are 5 basic flash modes that can be set in the camera: Forced Flash, Forced Flash with Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync with Red-Eye reduction, and Forced Flash Off. During Slow Sync flash, you can select 1st or 2nd curtain sync. If the flash exposure is too dark or bright, you can adjust it with Flash Exposure Compensation between -3EV and +3EV in 1/3-EV steps.

Battery Information: The Leica D-Lux 7 is powered by the BP-DC15-U Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery (7.2V, 1025mAh, 7.4Wh). The battery charges in approximately 190 minutes, using the supplied BC-DC15-U battery charger. The estimated battery life is as follows:

Playback Zoom: You can view one image at a time on the LCD monitor. Playback zoom allows you to enlarge a single image to see details in the photo. You can increase the magnification by 2x, 4x, 8x, or 16x. Other ways to view images include: 12-image index (4x3), 30-image index view (6x5), and Calendar View.

Slide Show: You can show your pictures and movies automatically in a Slide Show. You can choose the duration (1 sec, 2 sec, 3 sec, or 5 sec), Repeat function (On, Off), Effects (Auto, Natural, Slow, Swing, Urban, Off), and Sound (Off, Auto, Music, Audio).

RAW Processing: RAW images taken with the camera can be processed in the camera and saved in the JPEG format. The following edits can be made to the images before they are "developed": White Balance, Brightness correction, Photo Style, i.Dynamic, Contrast, Highlight, Shadow, Saturation/Color Tone, Filter Effect, Grain Effect, Noise Reduction, i.Resolution, Sharpness, and more.

HDMI: The Leica D-Lux 7 has a Micro HDMI (Type D) output for connecting the camera to a High-Definition TV or 4K-capable TV. You can let the camera select the playback resolution (based on the TV's capability), or select from the following resolutions: 4K/30p, 1080p, 1080i, 720p, or 480p.

USB Connection: The Leica D-Lux 7 has a Micro-USB connection for connecting the camera to a computer for uploading pictures, and firmware updates. You can also connect the camera to a PictBridge-compatible printer to print your still images. A 2' USB cable is included.