[Leica] D-Lux 3 problem

[rclompus at mac.com (Richard Clompus)]

I got my wife a D-Lux 3 last week in NY.  It took great pictures for  
almost a week.  Today the LCD stopped showing the image through the  
lens.  The LCD shows the camera settings along the top and bottom  
with an otherwise black LCD screen.  It will playback images in the  
SD card but will not allow any new pictures to be taken.  I've tried  
taking out the battery, recycling the power and trying every picture  
taking mode.  Still no image of what's getting through the lens on  
the LCD.  Changing camera menu options doesn't work.  And yes - I  
have removed the lens cap :-)

Is this a defective camera?  Needless to say, I told my wife if she  
got a Leica, it would be better than her Canon digital P&S cameras  
that seem to break down on her after about a year.  At least, this  
one came with a two year warranty.

Any thoughts?

Richard Clompus
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL