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# Leica D-Lux 8 as a Travel Camera
- URL: https://chrisis.now/leica-d-lux-8-as-a-travel-camera/
- Published: 2024-09-29T05:07:43.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-17T10:25:09.000Z
- Author: Chris Sobolewski

*I sold my* [*Ricoh GR IIIx*](https://chrisis.now/ricoh-gr-iiix-experience/) *for this…*

I’ve just edited and printed the photos from my 🇯🇵 Hokkaido trip. Happy to report that **Leica D-Lux 8** was competent as a travel camera. 

I was surprised how I used pretty much the entire zoom range. Got a bunch of wide-angle photos (24-28 mm equivalent), some in the mid-range (35-50 mm equiv.), and a number of shots on the telephoto end (75 mm equiv.). That versatility was very welcome during the trip.

The size and portability were also a god-send during travel. D-Lux 8 is fast and convenient. And incredibly light. When doing 20k-ish steps a day, every gram you carry in your bag counts. And that’s the primary reason I usually left my M11 behind. I packed both for the trip but in comparison M11 was just too heavy, too slow, and too cumbersome. The only occasion I took it out was at Slow Boat in Sapporo.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/7d/49/7d49590f-5a77-48fd-9786-5678de74bbb9/content/images/2024/09/slow-boat-m11.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/7d/49/7d49590f-5a77-48fd-9786-5678de74bbb9/content/images/2024/09/slow-boat-dlux.jpg)

Live music night at Slow Boat jazz kissa in Sapporo. M11 (+50mm Summilux) on the left, D-Lux 8 on the right.

The downside, of course, is image quality. Comparing the M11 and D-Lux 8 side by side shows the difference clearly. Plus, the smaller sensor renders less bokeh. It’s still a good few levels above my 📱 iPhone 13 Pro and infinitely less annoying (hate, hate, hate what Apple does to image processing these days; going [Process Zero](https://www.lux.camera/introducing-process-zero-for-iphone/?ref=chrisis.now) all the way). 

All in all, I am willing to compromise on image quality for the sake of convenience and speed.

But then… I wonder if I’m just getting lazy? Preferring a smaller camera with autofocus(!), zoom(!!), and sometimes even in program mode(!!!) — instead of using a rangefinder and a more manual approach. Sacrilege! Why would one do it?

Is it old age — and less tolerance for fuss that comes with it? Or was it the fast-paced, packed itinerary of travel that made me opt for more ease-of-use and speed? 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/7d/49/7d49590f-5a77-48fd-9786-5678de74bbb9/content/images/2024/09/sapporo-dlux.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/7d/49/7d49590f-5a77-48fd-9786-5678de74bbb9/content/images/2024/09/sapporo-street-dlux.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/7d/49/7d49590f-5a77-48fd-9786-5678de74bbb9/content/images/2024/09/mare-dlux.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/7d/49/7d49590f-5a77-48fd-9786-5678de74bbb9/content/images/2024/09/toya-dlux.jpg)

Assorted Hokkaido trip shots from Leica D-Lux 8

It makes me think about my photography journey. It started with an analog camera and developing black-and-white films in my bathroom. Then came digital — and I still was all about image quality, using primes, going full-frame. And now, often I’m happy with just my small, capable, zoom point-and-shoot. Sometimes, a 60 MP, full-frame sensor and a Leica prime is an overkill. D-Lux is my *everyday* camera. M11 — I find I need to be in a specific mood for it. 

Nothing wrong with that.

The last major thing I’m missing with the D-Lux 8 is Leica Looks. Give me that and I can even skip — or greatly minimize — the editing process. Hope it’s coming in a firmware update sometime soon. That way I can be even lazier…