A successor to the tangible D-LUX 2 model, the Leica D-LUX 3 is based on Panasonic's Lumix DMC-LX2 digital camera. The D-LUX 3 couples a a-1 megapixel imager with the consistent Leica-branded 4x optical rip lens with MEGA O.I.S. approach stabilization used domination the inspired camera. The lens yields red-blooded focal lengths from 28 - 112mm - a apt clear angle to a moderate telephoto. There are differences between the Panasonic and Leica versions beyond the nametag, however. Images can be previewed or reviewed on a 2.8" wide LCD display with a better than average resolution of 207,000 pixels, but there's unfortunately no optical viewfinder - something which is sadly becoming rather rare on a lot of digicams these days.

Focusing is catered whereas with a 1, 3, or 9-point autofocus biz with AF reinforcement lamp. Exposure modes sit on seventeen animation modes, including two gripping "Baby" modes that allow you to wrinkle a reunion of top in each, and then have your images tagged with your children's current ages at the time a photo is taken. Exposure variables are determined using an intelligent multiple, center-weighted or spot metering system, and users can tweak the exposure with +/-2.0EV of exposure compensation, in 1/3EV steps. Shutter speeds range from 1/2000 to 60 seconds - quite a bit longer than is common on many digicams - and the Leica D-LUX 3 offers automatic or manual white balance control with five presets - two more than in the D-LUX 2 - plus two custom white balance modes that let you save white balance measurements for common situations for later recall. The Leica D-LUX3 also includes a built-in five mode flash, with a range of up to 4.1 meters at wide angle or 2.3 meters at telephoto.

The Leica DLUX 3 offers a incalculably spare than workaday movie preference of 1280 x 720 pixels, seeing quite owing to lower-resolution 848 x 480, 640 x 480 and 320 x 240 pixel options - undocked of which perk the QuickTime Motion PEG format common on most digicams. The D-LUX 3 draws power from a proprietary Lithium Ion rechargeable battery pack, and records images on Secure Digital or Multimedia cards, with a 64MB SD card in the product bundle - a meager amount for a ten megapixel camera, but still far in excess of what most manufacturers provide.

In addition, the D-LUX 3 supports the new SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity) standard, which extends the maximum capacity to a theoretical 32GB (4GB cards being the largest available at the time of this writing, although 8GB cards should be available in the last quarter of 2006), with sustained transfer rates of up to six megabytes per second. There's also both USB computer connectivity, and an NTSC / PAL switch able video output to show your images on a TV, with the necessary cables included. Adobe Photoshop Elements rounds out the product bundle.