Leica D-Lux type 109 – First Impression

It’s Here: My New (Second-Hand) Camera!

Yesterday – Thursday, it finally arrived. The first thing I always do with a second-hand device is give it a thorough inspection to know exactly what I’m dealing with from the start. This time, I was amazed: the camera was in like-new condition. The LCD even had a screen protector, and there wasn’t a single scratch, dent, or noticeable speck of dust. It felt as if it had just come off the shelf!

According to the original Leica invoice from February 2018 (included in the box), this is a relatively young model. It was likely sold as a showroom or final-stock item since the original buyer received a 5% discount.

Initial Setup

Powering it on for the first time went smoothly. I spent some time exploring the menus and tweaking basic settings: JPEG Fine + RAW, Auto ISO, and a few others. I’m not one to read manuals; instead, I prefer learning a camera by using it. As I shoot, I adjust settings when specific situations or problems arise. For now, everything seems ready to go.

To keep it protected, I’ve stored the camera in a JJC neoprene pouch (OC-R1YGR model). I also attached a stylish red wrist strap and installed two Peak Design anchor links. These will let me attach a universal neck strap if needed.

First Observations and Quirks

• RAW Format: The camera produces .RWL files (Leica RAW). My usual photo downloader didn’t recognize the format, so I had to transfer files manually. However, good news: RawTherapee supports them without issue!
• Aspect Ratios: Changing the ratio (3:2, 1:1, 16:9, or 4:3) not only applies to JPEGs but also affects RAW files. That was unexpected! On my Olympus cameras, adjusting the ratio only changes the JPEG output, while the RAW remains in 4:3—something I find more versatile.
• Grip: As many reviews mention, the camera is a bit slippery to hold. I’ve ordered a leather ever-ready case, which should help.

The design reminds me a lot of my old Fujifilm X100—though this one is slightly smaller. It’s great to have physical controls like an aperture ring on the lens and a dedicated shutter speed dial again.

When it comes to size, the Panasonic GX80/85 is one of the smallest rangefinder-style cameras with a viewfinder, apart from the older GM series. Pair it with the compact Panasonic 12-32mm zoom lens, and you have one of the smallest setups possible for this camera. However, the Leica D-Lux Type 109 still manages to be slightly smaller and lighter—not by much, but enough to notice.

Interestingly, when comparing the Leica 109 to an Olympus E-M10 II, the sizes are surprisingly close, apart from the latter’s signature prism bump. Even the Olympus E-PL6 comes close in size, though it lacks a built-in viewfinder.

Of course, the Leica 109 isn’t as compact as an Olympus TG-series camera, but that’s the trade-off for having a larger Micro Four Thirds sensor—sometimes, sacrifices have to be made.

First Test Impressions

I took it out for a quick test shoot under low-light conditions, just before sunset. Using the standard film simulation, I kept it on Auto ISO, Auto Aperture, and a minimum shutter speed of 1/60.

Well, I’ve only had the chance to use it once since I got it yesterday, and the evening was already settling in. But so far, I’m absolutely loving the feel and performance of this little gem!

Here’s a comparison between the original JPEG (using Leica standard settings) and a processed .RWL RAW file from RawTherapee (using Adobe D-Lux standard). The images have been adjusted to similar exposure levels, with a sharpening setting of 1.0/250 applied. Both are zoomed in on the beer advertisement sign for closer inspection.

The original JPEG appears slightly softer. I’m not sure if sharpening can be adjusted directly in the camera—I’ll need to investigate that. You might notice a difference in color between the original Leica tones and those produced using Adobe’s camera profiles. Personally, I find the original Leica colors slightly more appealing. However, considering the relatively extreme crop from the original (and the fact that I didn’t specifically focus on the sign during the shot), I find the results from both formats quite impressive. For a 12-megapixel sensor, this performance is definitely promising.

Left: Leica JPEG – Right: RAW processed in RawTherapee