If owning a Leica camera is a pipe dream for you, you wouldn’t be alone. It’ll cost you an arm and a leg to get a camera with the famous red dot, so it’s no surprise that social media shows us another way (besides selling a kidney): pretend.
L-mount Rumors has reported a craze in China, which is one of the fastest growing markets for genuine Leica cameras, to customize Lumix cameras with Leica branding.
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Would you fake it?
Lumix and Leica cameras, especially the mirrorless and compact types, already have more in common than you think.
Both mirrorless cameras are part of the L-mount alliance. The Lumix S9, which is the affordable model of choice for many camera enthusiasts, features the same 24MP sensor as the Leica SL3-S and both are paired with L-mount lenses.
Meanwhile, the compact Leica D-Lux 8 is based on the Lumix LX100 II, with its 17MP Micro Four Thirds sensor and built-in 24-75mm f/1.7-2.8 zoom lens.
For these models, the basic technology and image quality can be practically the same. However, there are many differences in design and user interface between similar Lumix and Leica bodies, so a custom Lumix won’t feel completely like the real thing.
Aside from lacking authenticity, some of the modified Lumix S9s I’ve seen, including the old one with the wooden grip and the Leica brand, look pretty good to me! Would you choose a low-cost Lumix alternative and simulate it like a Leica? Let me know in the comments below.
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