2024 is the year that camera manufacturers seem to finally be listening to photographers who love rangefinder-style camera bodies. The latest compact camera to embrace this philosophy is the brand-new Leica DLUX 8. Announced not too long ago, it’s easy to dismiss it as a rebadged Panasonic LX100 series camera. But after using this camera in mental vacation mode and while photographing a few major events in NYC, I can say with certainty that it seems like far more than the expensive firmware update that the OM System OM1 Mk II seems like. This indeed feels like a Frankenstein Leica camera. Don’t get me wrong, it feels like a Leica. But if you’re picking this up with the idea that it’s going to replace the romantic idea of the Fujifilm X100Vi, it probably won’t if you’re looking for weather resistance and film simulations. But if you just want a solid compact camera, this is probably the toughest one to beat on the market.