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Review Summary
2011-03-05T19:00:00
Beautiful lens makes it easy to work in low light and produces images that I have printed up to 16"x20"
SHANE A.
2010-11-06T21:00:00
I bought this as a small camera for travel, hiking, and mountain biking--places I can't take a DSLR. This camera is a little gem with everything you expect on a DSLR from aperture and shutter settings, to spot metering (even on faces when face recognition is turned on), RAW (Panasonics RW2 format), and image stabilization. Flash and exposure compensation are there, as is an HDR friendly 3-exposure bracketing, if you're into that sort of stuff. Wide open at 24 mm it has a respectable and sharp f/2.0 and at the other end f/2.8 at 60mm--perfect for indoor portraiture without the flash. The lens is tack sharp with no soft corners at all focal lengths and apertures. DOF is amazing alongside a crop body DSLR. 24-60 mm is workable like many good walkaround DSLR lenses, but seems like less of a compromise given how consistently good photographs are across that entire range compared to the "superzoom" lenses on similarly priced cameras. This is a tiny sensor, so there will be a lot of noise at ISO 800 and above, and more than any DSLR at 200 and 400. The camera offers up to 3200, but only 800 is usable after some serious noise reduction. For "DSLR-quality" photographs there's ISO 80, but 100-200 is acceptable. The camera's small size and image stabilization makes working in low light a breeze, allowing for effortless photography at shutter speeds of 1/20 that would be much more challenging freehand with a DSLR. Longer exposure times do a bit to offset the ISO noise. The flash is average, and the weakest link. It works hard at ISO 200 and doesn't cover much real estate. An external flashgun twice the size of the camera is the only viable option as the Lumix flashes aren't all that much of an upgrade. Another gripe is the lack of a viewfinder, as the LCD washes out in bright sunlight. The LX-5 viewfinder is not compatible with this camera, sadly. There's also a noticeable shutter lag, much more so than with a DSLR, which takes some getting used to. Finally, there's portability. This is somewhere between a true compact and a micro 4/3rds like the GF1. In a soft case it WILL fit into a pocket, but is very bulky with the lens jutting out of the body. Adding to this bulk is a 5mm thick lens cap. Clipped to a belt, or stuffed in a backpack it doesn't make its presence known, though. I would recommend this to any photographer who can't be caught without a camera within reach. Stuff it into your bag for those spur of the moment photo shoots that put a camera phone to shame. Just don't expect a DSLR replacement, you can't break the laws of physics--yet.
the a.
2010-09-16T21:00:00
Absolutely great scenics and closeups.
Brad
2010-04-24T21:00:00
Just bought this camera last week and very impressed with the images. Rivals my 35mm. Nice image stabilization. My main issue is the removable lens cap with a easily "scratchable" lens. Waiting to see if the wide angle and limited digital zoom will be a problem. So far though a really like it.
STEVEN R.
2010-01-09T19:00:00
Great carry around compact. Amazing raw image quality and the Leica lens lives up to its reputation and is tack sharp. Only negative is that the lag-time can be a little slow in low light however I use this camera mainly for landscapes and portraits so not really an issue for me. I also used the external viewfinder. Impressive and accurate unless youre zooming then you need to use the lcd screen. Overall a fantastic camera for the price.
GREGORY N.
2010-01-09T19:00:00
An excellent value overall!
Hal
2009-02-18T19:00:00
The Lx3 is an easy to use Point and Shoot camera which I carry with me all the time. I slip it into my camera bag on assignment shoots or my jacket pocket for everyday use. It is amazingly simple to use and well built. But the LX3 may seem to be costly for a P&S yet when you consider the 24-60mm f/2-f/2.8 Summicron on the body, the lens alone is worth the price alone. At ISO 100 this lens produces images that are sharper then those from my Nikon. I'd particularly recommend it to anyone who wants to make 8 1/2 x 11 inch or bigger prints. Admittedly for small 4x6 prints or images on the web it is a bit of overkill.
Hawkeye
10.1 Megapixels
MEGA O.I.S. (Auto/Mode1/ Mode2)
2.5x
1/1.63" 11.3 Total Mega Pixels CCD
Primary Color Filter
4:3 Aspect Ratio: 3.8x for 5 Mega, 4.8x for 3 Mega, 2 Mega, 0.3 Mega
3:2 Aspect Ratio: 3.8x for 4.5 Mega, 4.8x for 2.5 Mega
16:9 Aspect Ratio: 3.8x for 3.5 Mega, 4.8x for 2 Mega
4x (Max. 14.3x combined with Optical Zoom without Extended Optical Zoom); (Max. 21.4x combined with Extended Optical Zoom)
f=5.1-12.8mm (35mm Equiv.: 24-60mm)
LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMICRON, 8 elements in 6 groups (4 Aspherical Lenses / 4 Aspherical surfaces)
Wide: F2.0 - F8.0
Tele: F2.8 - F8.0
Yes
Normal: Wide 50cm/ Tele 50cm - infinity
Intelligent AUTO / Macro: Wide 1cm / Tele 30cm - infinity
Face / AF tracking / multi-area / 1-area high speed / 1-area / spot
Normal / Macro, Quick AF On/Off (On in Intelligent Auto), Continuous AF On/Off, AF/MF Switchable, Manual Focus(Joystick), One Shot AF, AF Area Select, AF Tracking
Yes
Auto / 80 / 100 / 200 / 400 / 800 / 1600 / 3200 (High Sensitivity Mode : Auto(1600 - 6400) )
Auto / Daylight / Cloudy / Shade / Halogen / White Set (Selectable at Portrait, Soft Skin, Transform, Self-Portrait, Sports, Baby, Pet, High Sensitivity, Hi-Speed Burst, Pinhole modes)
White Balance Adjustment (+/-10steps, except for auto set)
Program AE, Aperture Priority AE, Shutter Priority AE, Manual, Program Shift(Program AE mode)
1/3 EV Step, +/- 2 EV
Yes (auto in Intelligent AUTO mode)
+/- 1/3 EV ~ 1EV step, 3 frames
Intelligent Multiple / Center-weighted / Spot
Portrait, Soft Skin, Scenery, Sports, Night Portrait, Night Scenery, Self-Portrait, Food, Party, Candle Light, Fireworks, Starry Sky, Beach, Aerial Photo, Snow, High Sensitivity, Baby1&2, Underwater, Sunset, Pet, Hi-Speed Burst, Multi Aspect
No
P:1-1/2000sec (Selectable minimum shutter speed)
A/S:8-1/2000sec, M:60-1/2000sec
Starry Sky Mode : 15, 30, 60sec.
2sec, 10sec
1sec, 2sec, Zoom, Hold
1x/4x/8x
Contrast +2steps
Sharpness +2steps
Saturation +2steps
Noise Reduction +2steps (can be adjusted in Film Mode)
Still Image: JPEG(Design rule for Camera File system, based on Exif 2.21 standard), RAW, DPOF corresponding image with audio: JPEG (Design rule for Camera File system, based on Exif 2.21 standard)+ QuickTime
Motion picture: QuickTime Motion JPEG
Fine / Standard / RAW / RAW+Standard JPEG / RAW+Fine JPEG
3648 x 2736
3072 x 2304
2560 x 1920
2048 x 1536
1600 x 1200
640 x 480
3776 x 2520
3168 x 2112
2656 x 1768
2112 x 1408
2048 x 1360
3968 x 2232
3328 x 1872
2784 x 1568
2208 x 1248
1920 x 1080
Full-Resolution Image, 2.5 frames/sec Max. 8 images (Standard mode), Max 4 images (Fine), Max 3 images (RAW)
Yes
Off / Low / Standard / High
Yes
No/No/No
5 seconds
Maximum of 10 Seconds
Yes (2 patterns)
approx. 50MB
Yes
Yes
No
Yes/Yes
Yes
Yes
Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Flash Synchro ; 1st / 2nd Flash output Adjustment (1/3EV step, -2 - +2 EV) 0.8 - 8.3m (Wide/Macro/ISO Auto), 0.3 - 5.9m (Tele/ISO Auto)
Yes
External OVF (Optional)
3.0", 3:2 Polycrystalline TFT LCD Display (460K dots)
Field of View : approx. 100%
AUTO Power LCD mode, Power LCD mode
REC/Play Selector Switch, 30 & 12-thumbnail Display, Calendar Display, Zoomed Playback (16x max), Playback of Fav Pics, Image Rotation, Resize, Trim, Protection, Aspect Conv. DPOF Print Setting Creating Still Pics from Motion Picture, Dual Image Playback
English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Russian, Chinese(Traditional), Chinese(Simplified), Netherlandic, Thai, Korean, Turkish, Portuguese, Arabic, Persian, Japanese, Swedish, Danish, Portuguese, Finnish
Built-in Memory
SD Memory Card
SDHC Memory Card
MultiMediaCard (Still image only)
Yes
Yes
DC Input, AV Output (NTSC/PAL), HD AV Output (Component), USB 2.0 High Speed
PictBridge
Li-ion Battery Pack (3.7V, 1150mAh) (Included)
AC Adaptor (Input: 110-240V AC) (Optional)
380 pictures (CIPA standard)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Intelligent AUTO, P(Program) mode, A(Aperture Priority) mode, S(Shutter Priority) mode, M(Manual) mode, Custom1, Custom2, Portrait mode, Scenery mode, Sports mode, Night Portrait mode, Close-up mode, Scene mode, Motion Picture
No
Yes / Yes
4:3 Aspect Ratio: 640 x 480 pixels 30 fps, 320 x 240 pixels 30 fps/10 fps 16:9 Aspect Ratio: 848 x 480 pixels 30 fps
Standard, Dynamic, Natural, Smooth, Vibrant, Nostalgic, WB/Standard, WB/Dynamic, WB/Smooth, My Film1, MyFilm2, Multi Film
2.34" x 4.28" x 1.06"
0.5 lbs
Panasonic warranty
Three just-announced cameras from Panasonic have a wider AEB range than past models. And this is a good thing for HDRI photography.
A Great Camera For Pros & Amateurs Alike
By Hawkeye
The Lx3 is an easy to use Point and Shoot camera which I carry with me all the time. I slip it into my camera bag on assignment shoots or my jacket pocket for everyday use. It is amazingly simple to use and well built. But the LX3 may seem to be costly for a P&S yet when you consider the 24-60mm f/2-f/2.8 Summicron on the body, the lens alone is worth the price alone. At ISO 100 this lens produces images that are sharper then those from my Nikon. I'd particularly recommend it to anyone ...
View full Review
Best point and shoot you can buy!
By SHANE A.
Beautiful lens makes it easy to work in low light and produces images that I have printed up to 16"x20"
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3S Digital Camera is designed for easy, creative shooting and high-performance in low-light conditions, the DMC-LX3 features a F2.0 24mm LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMICRON lens, 10.1 mega pixels and an ultra-sensitive 1/1.63-inch CCD developed specifically for this model.
By combining a high-quality lens and sensor ready for a variety of shooting conditions with a wide-range of accessories and manual controls, the DMC-LX3 is ideal for professional photographers and serious amateurs looking for a compact digital camera that furthers their creative photography. At the heart of the DMC-LX3, is its 1/1.63-inch CCD. Making the intentional choice to limit the number of mega pixels to 10.1 on its CCD, Panasonic was able to give more space for each pixel and also redesigned the peripheral circuits and other components to further minimize noise generation.
As a result, sensitivity is almost 40 percent higher and saturation is increased by 35 percent, when compared to Panasonics 10 MP digital cameras, giving the DMC-LX3 outstanding image quality and a wide dynamic range and meeting the demand for a camera that works optimally in low-light environments. The CCD is also capable of reproducing images in three aspect ratios 4:3, 3:2 or 16:9. The new Multi Aspect mode allows the camera to take an image in all three aspect ratios simultaneously, allowing you to choose the version that best suits their needs.