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Leica Digilux 3 vs Panasonic S1

The Leica Digilux 3 and the Panasonic Lumix DC-S1 are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in September 2006 and February 2019. The Digilux 3 is a DSLR, while the S1 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. The cameras are based on a Four Thirds (Digilux 3) and a full frame (S1) sensor. The Leica has a resolution of 7.4 megapixels, whereas the Panasonic provides 24 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Leica Digilux 3
versus
Panasonic S1
Leica Digilux 3   Panasonic S1
Digital single lens reflex Mirrorless system camera
Four Thirds lenses Leica L mount lenses
7.4 MP – Four Thirds sensor 24 MP – Full Frame sensor
no Video 4K/60p Video
ISO 100-1,600 ISO 100-51,200 (50 - 204,800)
Optical viewfinder Electronic viewfinder (5760k dots)
2.5" LCD – 207k dots 3.2" LCD – 2100k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive) Fully flexible touchscreen
3 shutter flaps per second 9 shutter flaps per second
Lens stabilization onlyIn-body stabilization
not weather sealedWeathersealed body
750 shots per battery charge400 shots per battery charge
146 x 87 x 77 mm, 606 g 149 x 110 x 97 mm, 1017 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Leica Digilux 3 and the Panasonic Lumix DC-S1? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

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Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Leica Digilux 3 and the Panasonic S1 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Size Leica Digilux 3 vs Panasonic S1
Compare Digilux 3 versus S1 top
Comparison Digilux 3 or S1 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Panasonic S1 is notably larger (29 percent) than the Leica Digilux 3. Moreover, the S1 is substantially heavier (68 percent) than the Digilux 3. It is noteworthy in this context that the S1 is splash and dust-proof, while the Digilux 3 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. Hence, you might want to study and compare the specifications of available lenses in order to get the full picture of the size and weight of the two camera systems.

The power pack in the S1 can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

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Body Specifications
  empty Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Leica Digilux 3 146 mm 87 mm 77 mm 606 g 750 n Sep 2006 1,499ebay.com
2.
 
Panasonic S1 149 mm 110 mm 97 mm 1017 g 400 Y Feb 2019 2,499 amazon.com
3.
 
Canon 30D 144 mm 106 mm 74 mm 785 g 750 n Feb 2006 1,399ebay.com
4.
 
Canon R6 138 mm 98 mm 88 mm 680 g 360 Y Jul 2020 2,499 amazon.com
5.
 
Canon XT 127 mm 94 mm 64 mm 540 g 400 n Feb 2005 899ebay.com
6.
 
Leica M8 139 mm 80 mm 37 mm 591 g 550 n Sep 2006 5,499ebay.com
7.
 
Leica V-LUX 1 141 mm 86 mm 142 mm 734 g 360 n Sep 2006 849ebay.com
8.
 
Olympus E-30 142 mm 108 mm 75 mm 701 g 750 n Nov 2008 1,299ebay.com
9.
 
Olympus E-300 147 mm 85 mm 64 mm 624 g 750 n Sep 2004 799ebay.com
10.
 
Olympus E-330 140 mm 87 mm 72 mm 637 g 750 n Jan 2006 999ebay.com
11.
 
Olympus E-500 130 mm 95 mm 66 mm 479 g 750 n Sep 2005 599ebay.com
12.
 
Panasonic L1 146 mm 87 mm 64 mm 606 g 750 n Feb 2006 999ebay.com
13.
 
Panasonic L10 135 mm 96 mm 78 mm 556 g 450 n Aug 2007 599ebay.com
14.
 
Panasonic S1H 151 mm 114 mm 110 mm 1052 g 400 Y May 2019 3,999 amazon.com
15.
 
Panasonic S1R 149 mm 110 mm 97 mm 1016 g 380 Y Feb 2019 3,699 amazon.com
16.
 
Panasonic S5 133 mm 98 mm 82 mm 714 g 440 Y Sep 2020 1,999 amazon.com
17.
 
Sony A900 156 mm 117 mm 82 mm 895 g 880 Y Sep 2008 2,999ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The Digilux 3 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 40 percent) than the S1, which puts it into a different market segment. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Leica Digilux 3 features a Four Thirds sensor and the Panasonic S1 a full frame sensor. The sensor area in the S1 is 276 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 2.0 and 1.0. The sensor in the Digilux 3 has a native 4:3 aspect ratio, while the one in the S1 offers a 3:2 aspect.

Leica Digilux 3 and Panasonic S1 sensor measures

With 24MP, the S1 offers a higher resolution than the Digilux 3 (7.4MP), but the S1 nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 5.94μm versus 5.51μm for the Digilux 3) due to its larger sensor. Moreover, the S1 is a much more recent model (by 12 years and 4 months) than the Digilux 3, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the S1 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Panasonic S1 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the S1 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 30 x 20 inches or 76.2 x 50.8 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 24 x 16 inches or 61 x 40.6 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 20 x 13.3 inches or 50.8 x 33.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Leica Digilux 3 are 15.7 x 11.8 inches or 39.8 x 29.9 cm for good quality, 12.5 x 9.4 inches or 31.9 x 23.9 cm for very good quality, and 10.5 x 7.8 inches or 26.6 x 19.9 cm for excellent quality prints.

Unlike the Digilux 3, the S1 has the capacity to capture high quality composite images (96MP) by combining multiple shots after shifting its sensor by miniscule distances. This multi-shot, pixel-shift mode is most suitable for photography of stationary objects (landscapes, studio scenes).

The Leica Digilux 3 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 1600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Panasonic Lumix DC-S1 are ISO 100 to ISO 51200, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 50-204800.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

Digilux 3 versus S1 MP

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

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Sensor Characteristics
  empty Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Leica Digilux 3 Four Thirds 7.4 3136 2352none21.010.612753
2.
 
Panasonic S1 Full Frame 24.0 6000 40004K/60p25.214.5333395
3.
 
Canon 30D APS-C 8.2 3504 2336none21.510.873659
4.
 
Canon R6 Full Frame 20.0 5472 36484k/60p24.214.3339490
5.
 
Canon XT APS-C 8.0 3456 2304none21.810.863760
6.
 
Leica M8 APS-H 10.4 3936 2630none21.111.366359
7.
 
Leica V-LUX 1 1/1.8 10.0 3648 2736480/30p18.49.5-72729
8.
 
Olympus E-30 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 3024none21.310.453055
9.
 
Olympus E-300 Four Thirds 8.0 3264 2448none20.410.1-4048
10.
 
Olympus E-330 Four Thirds 7.4 3136 2352none20.810.47352
11.
 
Olympus E-500 Four Thirds 8.0 3264 2448none20.710.34551
12.
 
Panasonic L1 Four Thirds 7.4 3136 2352none20.810.48052
13.
 
Panasonic L10 Four Thirds 10.0 3648 2736none21.310.842955
14.
 
Panasonic S1H Full Frame 24.0 6000 40006K/30p25.214.2280594
15.
 
Panasonic S1R Full Frame 46.7 8368 55844K/60p26.414.13525100
16.
 
Panasonic S5 Full Frame 24.0 6000 40004K/60p25.114.5269794
17.
 
Sony A900 Full Frame 24.4 6048 4032none23.712.3143179
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. The S1 indeed provides for movie recording, while the Digilux 3 does not. The highest resolution format that the S1 can use is 4K/60p.

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Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the S1 has an electronic viewfinder (5760k dots), while the Digilux 3 has an optical one. Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The viewfinder in the S1 offers a wider field of view (100%) than the one in the Digilux 3 (95%), so that a larger proportion of the captured image is visible in the finder. In addition, the viewfinder of the S1 has a higher magnification (0.78x vs 0.47x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Leica Digilux 3 and Panasonic S1 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

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Core Features
  empty Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Leica Digilux 3optical n2.5 / 207 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
2.
 
Panasonic S15760 Y3.2 / 2100 full-flex Y 1/8000s 9.0/s n Y
3.
 
Canon 30Doptical Y2.5 / 230 fixed n 1/8000s 5.0/s Y n
4.
 
Canon R63690 n3.0 / 1620 swivel Y 1/8000s 12.0/s n Y
5.
 
Canon XToptical n1.8 / 115 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
6.
 
Leica M8optical n2.5 / 230 fixed n 1/8000s 2.0/s n n
7.
 
Leica V-LUX 1235 n2.0 / 207 tilting n 1/2000s 2.0/s Y Y
8.
 
Olympus E-30optical Y2.7 / 230 swivel n 1/8000s 5.0/s Y Y
9.
 
Olympus E-300optical n1.8 / 134 fixed n 1/4000s 2.5/s Y n
10.
 
Olympus E-330optical n2.5 / 215 tilting n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
11.
 
Olympus E-500optical n2.5 / 215 fixed n 1/4000s 2.5/s Y n
12.
 
Panasonic L1optical n2.5 / 207 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
13.
 
Panasonic L10optical n2.5 / 207 swivel n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
14.
 
Panasonic S1H5760 Y3.2 / 2330 swivel Y 1/8000s 9.0/s n Y
15.
 
Panasonic S1R5760 Y3.2 / 2100 full-flex Y 1/8000s 9.0/s n Y
16.
 
Panasonic S52360 n3.0 / 1840 swivel Y 1/8000s 7.0/s n Y
17.
 
Sony A900optical Y3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/8000s 5.0/s n Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The Digilux 3 has one, while the S1 does not. While the built-in flash of the Digilux 3 is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the S1 is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Panasonic S1 has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

The Digilux 3 writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the S1 uses SDXC or XQD cards. The S1 features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the Digilux 3 only has one slot. The S1 supports UHS-II cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 312 MB/s), while the Digilux 3 cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.

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Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Leica Digilux 3 and Panasonic Lumix DC-S1 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
  empty Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Leica Digilux 3Ystereo / mono---2.0---
2.
 
Panasonic S1Ystereo / monoYYfull3.1Y-Y
3.
 
Canon 30DY- / ----2.0---
4.
 
Canon R6Ymono / monoYYmicro3.2Y-Y
5.
 
Canon XTY- / ----2.0---
6.
 
Leica M8Y- / ----2.0---
7.
 
Leica V-LUX 1Ymono / mono---2.0---
8.
 
Olympus E-30Y- / ----2.0---
9.
 
Olympus E-300Y- / ----2.0---
10.
 
Olympus E-330Y- / ----2.0---
11.
 
Olympus E-500Y- / ----2.0---
12.
 
Panasonic L1Y- / ----2.0---
13.
 
Panasonic L10Y- / ----2.0---
14.
 
Panasonic S1HYstereo / monoYYfull3.1Y-Y
15.
 
Panasonic S1RYstereo / monoYYfull3.1Y-Y
16.
 
Panasonic S5Ystereo / monoYYmicro3.2Y-Y
17.
 
Sony A900Y- / ---mini2.0---

It is notable that the S1 offers wifi support, which can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location. In contrast, the Digilux 3 does not provide wifi capability.

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Panasonic S1 (unlike the Digilux 3) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

The S1 is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Panasonic. In contrast, the Digilux 3 has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on ebay). There has not been a direct replacement model for the Digilux 3 from Leica. Further information on the features and operation of the Digilux 3 and S1 can be found, respectively, in the Leica Digilux 3 Manual (free pdf) or the online Panasonic S1 Manual.

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Review summary

So how do things add up? Is the Leica Digilux 3 better than the Panasonic S1 or vice versa? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

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Advantages of the Leica Digilux 3:

  • Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
  • Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
  • More compact: Is smaller (146x87mm vs 149x110mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
  • Less heavy: Is lighter (by 411g or 40 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
  • Longer lasting: Can take more shots (750 versus 400) on a single battery charge.
  • Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
  • More prestigious: Has the Leica luxury appeal, which ensures a high resale price.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (40 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in September 2006).

ilogo

Reasons to prefer the Panasonic Lumix DC-S1:

  • More detail: Has more megapixels (24 vs 7.4MP), which boosts linear resolution by 84%.
  • Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
  • High quality composites: Can combine several shots after pixel-shifting its sensor.
  • Better image quality: Is equipped with a larger and more technologically advanced sensor.
  • Richer colors: The sensor size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
  • More dynamic range: Larger sensor captures a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
  • Better low-light sensitivity: Larger sensor produces good images even in poorly lit environments.
  • Broader imaging potential: Can capture not only stills but also 4K/60p video.
  • More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
  • More complete view: Has a viewfinder with a larger field of view (100% vs 95%).
  • Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.78x vs 0.47x).
  • Easier setting verification: Features a control panel on top to check shooting parameters.
  • Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.2" vs 2.5") for image review and settings control.
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (2100k vs 207k dots).
  • More flexible LCD: Has a full-flex screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
  • Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
  • Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (9 vs 3 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
  • Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
  • Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
  • Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.
  • Sharper images: Has stabilization technology built-in to reduce the impact of hand-shake.
  • More legacy lens friendly: Can use many non-native lenses via adapters.
  • Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.1 vs 2.0).
  • Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
  • Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
  • Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
  • Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
  • Faster buffer clearing: Has an SD card interface that supports the UHS-II standard.
  • More modern: Reflects 12 years and 4 months of technical progress since the Digilux 3 launch.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the S1 is the clear winner of the contest (31 : 9 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

Digilux 3 09:31 S1

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Leica Digilux 3 and the Panasonic S1 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera and Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the Digilux 3 and the S1 in practical situations. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

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Expert Camera Reviews
  empty  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Leica Digilux 3............ Sep 2006 1,499ebay.com
2.
 
Panasonic S14.5/5+ +4.5/588/1004.5/54/5 Feb 2019 2,499 amazon.com
3.
 
Canon 30D..+ +..+ +o.. Feb 2006 1,399ebay.com
4.
 
Canon R65/5+ +4/590/1004.5/55/5 Jul 2020 2,499 amazon.com
5.
 
Canon XT..80/100..+ +o.. Feb 2005 899ebay.com
6.
 
Leica M8......+ +.... Sep 2006 5,499ebay.com
7.
 
Leica V-LUX 1............ Sep 2006 849ebay.com
8.
 
Olympus E-30......71/1004.5/54/5 Nov 2008 1,299ebay.com
9.
 
Olympus E-300......+o4.5/5 Sep 2004 799ebay.com
10.
 
Olympus E-330......+o.. Jan 2006 999ebay.com
11.
 
Olympus E-500..76/100..+ +.... Sep 2005 599ebay.com
12.
 
Panasonic L1..85/100..+..3.5/5 Feb 2006 999ebay.com
13.
 
Panasonic L10..85/100..+3.5/54/5 Aug 2007 599ebay.com
14.
 
Panasonic S1H....4/590/100.... May 2019 3,999 amazon.com
15.
 
Panasonic S1R4.5/5..4.6/589/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2019 3,699 amazon.com
16.
 
Panasonic S54.5/5+ +4.5/588/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2020 1,999 amazon.com
17.
 
Sony A900..+ +..+ +4.5/55/5 Sep 2008 2,999ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make your choice using the following search menu. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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    Specifications: Leica Digilux 3 vs Panasonic S1

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Leica Digilux 3 Panasonic S1
    Camera Type Digital single lens reflex Mirrorless system camera
    Camera Lens Four Thirds lenses Leica L mount lenses
    Launch Date September 2006 February 2019
    Launch Price USD 1,499 USD 2,499
    Sensor Specs Leica Digilux 3 Panasonic S1
    Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format Four Thirds Sensor Full Frame Sensor
    Sensor Size 17.3 x 13.0 mm 35.6 x 23.8 mm
    Sensor Area 224.9 mm2 847.28 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 21.6 mm 42.8 mm
    Crop Factor 2.0x 1.0x
    Sensor Resolution 7.4 Megapixels 24 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 3136 x 2352 pixels 6000 x 4000 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 5.51 μm 5.94 μm
    Pixel Density 3.28 MP/cm2 2.83 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter no AA filter
    Movie Capability no Video 4K/60p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 1,600 ISO 100 - 51,200 ISO
    ISO Boost no Enhancement 50 - 204,800 ISO
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) .. 95
    DXO Color Depth (bits) .. 25.2
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) .. 14.5
    DXO Low Light (ISO) .. 3333
    Screen Specs Leica Digilux 3 Panasonic S1
    Viewfinder Type Optical viewfinder Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 95% 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.47x 0.78x
    Viewfinder Resolution 5760k dots
    Top-Level Screen no Top Display Control Panel
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 2.5inch 3.2inch
    LCD Resolution 207k dots 2100k dots
    LCD Attachment Fixed screen Fully flexible screen
    Touch Input no Touchscreen Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs Leica Digilux 3 Panasonic S1
    Focus System Phase-detect AF Contrast-detect AF
    Manual Focusing Aidno Peaking FeatureFocus Peaking
    Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/4000s 1/8000s
    Continuous Shooting 3 shutter flaps/s 9 shutter flaps/s
    Electronic Shutterno E-Shutterup to 1/8000s
    Time-Lapse Photographyno IntervalometerIntervalometer built-in
    Image StabilizationLens stabilization onlyIn-body stabilization
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash no On-Board Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards SDXC or XQD cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Dual card slots
    UHS card support no UHS-II
    Connectivity Specs Leica Digilux 3 Panasonic S1
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    Studio Flash no PC Sync PC Sync socket
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 3.1
    HDMI Port no HDMI full HDMI
    Microphone Port no MIC socket External MIC port
    Headphone Socket no Headphone port Headphone port
    Wifi Support no Wifi Wifi built-in
    Bluetooth Support no Bluetooth Bluetooth built-in
    Body Specs Leica Digilux 3 Panasonic S1
    Environmental Sealingnot weather sealedWeathersealed body
    Battery Type Leica BP-DC3 Panasonic DMW-BLJ31
    Battery Life (CIPA)750 shots per charge400 shots per charge
    In-Camera Charging no USB charging USB charging
    Body Dimensions 146 x 87 x 77 mm
    (5.7 x 3.4 x 3.0 in)
    149 x 110 x 97 mm
    (5.9 x 4.3 x 3.8 in)
    Camera Weight 606 g (21.4 oz) 1017 g (35.9 oz)
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