Leica outs two rebadged Panasonic digital cameras
updated 05:00 pm EDT, Tue September 21, 2010
Leica dresses up Panasonic cameras for Europe
At Photokina on Tuesday, Leica added two new compact cameras in the V-Lux 2 and D-Lux 5. The two are luxury versions of existing cameras from Panasonic, namely the Lumix FZ100 and LX5, respectively. The former has a 14-megapixel CMOS sensor and 24x optical zoom and can record 1080i video at 60fps, while still photos can be taken at up to 11fps in rapid capture mode, just like the FZ100.
Unlike the FZ100, however, the V-Lux 2 will be priced significantly higher, however, at the equivalent of $1,053 when it reaches Europe in October. On the web, the FZ100 can be had for anywhere from $409 to $479.
The same holds true for the V-Lux 5.While it shares the LX5's 1/16.3-inch, 10.1-megapixel sensor, 720p video recording and a 3.75X DC Vario-Summicron lens, the $983 price tag is about $430 dearer than the LX5. It is also coming to European markets in October.
V-Lux 2
D-Lux 5




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1080i at 11fps is like...
Driving a Ferrari with a bad clutch—I'd rather drive an OK Toyota or GM instead.