Leica camera - opinions

[yashin]

I am interested in buying a digital camera.  To be honest i am a real novice with this type of thing.  I bought a digital camera a few years ago and i went for the 'cheap' option.  It is large and clumsy, has a tiny tiny screen on the back (my mobile phone screen is better) and it guzzles battery power so that you can never rely on it working.

So- i want to buy a new one.  Just for personal use.  I read about the Leica D-lux 2 and D-lux 3.  I have been impressed with what i read. However, they are expensive but on the other hand they are built to last. 

I have also been looking at the sister companies Panasonic Lumix range with Leica lens.  Now these are cheaper and supposed to be very good also.  I had a look at them today and the comparison of build quality compared to the Leica put me off.  The Lumix looks and feels cheap.  It looks like it would not survive much of a bang.

So,  anyone got a Leica or a Lumix (maybe the FX 100 or similar).  Opinions please.

[Montpellier]

My opinion of Leica hasn't changed over the time I've done recreational photography.  They're fabulous cameras but suited to the rich amateur.   

I went Nikon because I had a few Nikon accessories that were, as usual, compatible with the digital SLRs.

[head-case]

I am interested in buying a digital camera.  To be honest i am a real novice with this type of thing.  I bought a digital camera a few years ago and i went for the 'cheap' option.  It is large and clumsy, has a tiny tiny screen on the back (my mobile phone screen is better) and it guzzles battery power so that you can never rely on it working.

So- i want to buy a new one.  Just for personal use.  I read about the Leica D-lux 2 and D-lux 3.  I have been impressed with what i read. However, they are expensive but on the other hand they are built to last. 

I have also been looking at the sister companies Panasonic Lumix range with Leica lens.  Now these are cheaper and supposed to be very good also.  I had a look at them today and the comparison of build quality compared to the Leica put me off.  The Lumix looks and feels cheap.  It looks like it would not survive much of a bang.

So,  anyone got a Leica or a Lumix (maybe the FX 100 or similar).  Opinions please.

Nothing is more pointless than a digital camera "built to last."  For a non-SLR the Canon digital ELPH cameras are superb (I much prefer to get a digital camera from a camera company rather than an electronics company and the "leica" is essentially a panasonic camera).  But if you are at all serious about photography an SLR is a huge advantage.  The Canon Rebel series is very good, Nikon also has some very good digital SLRs, although SLR's are more expensive than point-and-shoot cameras.