Panasonic DMC-LX3S 10.1MP Digital Camera with 2.5x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Silver)
by Panasonic
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Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: PanasonicRelease Date: 2009-11-30
Model: DMC-LX3 Silver
Color: Silver
Product features:
- 10.1-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality poster-size prints
- 2.5x wide-angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized zoom lens
- 3.0-inch high-resolution LCD screen; HD video capture
- Classic SLR-like manual operations include selectable AF spot/multi AF area, customization button, aperture, shutter, program and full manual modes
- Capture images to SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)
- Adobe Photoshop CS5 Upgrade [Old Version]
- Serif PhotoPlus X3
- Aperture 3
- Manfrotto 7302YB M-Y Tripod with Ball - Replaces 725B
- Pixelmator [Old Version]
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Panasonic DMC-LX3S 10.1MP Digital Camera with 2.5x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Silver)
Customer Review: Brilliant small sensor compact
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a great little camera that offers all the features you're used to on a DSLR. Spot metering, AF area selection, RAW, apterture and shutter speed control (and dedicated apterture and shutter priority modes) are all there. It even has a hotshoe mount for a flash (although any useful flashes are twice the size of the camera). The lens is a respectable 24-60mm equivalent for anyone with a full frame camera with a removable ring that allows for mounting of a variety of add-on lenses for telephoto and wide angle applications as well as filters. The ver 2.2 firmware autofocuses very fast, too. Image stabilization is a huge plus, which when paired with the small size of the camera allows for excellent low light, low shutter speed shots.
Downsides are few and not real disadvantages if you realize limitations of such technology. The small photosensor creates a substantial amount of noise over a DSLR crop body, which is expected and the only workaround would be a larger sensor. ISO 800 is rather noisy and 1600 is VERY noisy. Thankfully, ISO 400-800 are quite adequate in average lighting. ISO 3200 is essentially unusable, though, even with the best noise-reduction software. On the other end of the spectrum you get ISO 80, which is incredible and ISO 80-100 photos have a DSLR quality to them.
I have no real opinions on the scene modes or jpeg performance since I shoot RAW and use the camera in A or M modes and often set my autofocus points (a very useful feature). What is truly remarkable is the inclusion of spot metering, which really gives you another professional tool. To fully take advantage of this little camera, shooting in RAW with a PP software like Lightroom 3 is a must.
Moving up to the front, the lens is 24-60 mm. While that seems inferior to other cameras in the segment, which offer over "15x optical zoom" and digital zoom far beyond that, those are the equivalent of superzoom DSLR lenses with obvious optics limitations like soft corners, soft focusing, chromatic aberration and the like. On this camera the optics are sharp throughout the focal range and aperture settings. f/2.0 is respectably sharp. Expect distortion at 24mm, not a bad thing for landscapes, but save your portraits for the 50-60mm range, remember that at that range your useful aperture goes to f/2.8. On the subject, DOF is incredible, making this an amazing landscape camera. Manual focus is there, but controlled electronically instead of through a focusing ring. The lens also has a great macro feature available at the flick of a switch. At another flick of a switch are aspect ratios that I assume would be useful for video, but seem useless for still photography. Interestingly the "10 MP" coverage isn't available in the 3:2 (35mm) mode, instead 9.5 MP is what you get.
Outdoor photography is addled by the LCD display which is no match for bright sunlight and makes it useful only for menu settings and basic composition. There's a rangefinder-like viewfinder, but that doesn't help much if you are adjusting the aperture and shutter speed/ISO, and is rudimentary at best. An LCD viewfinder makes its way from the micro 4/3rds segment to the LX5, but isn't compatible with the LX3.
Controls are tiny, but aren't that difficult to use even with very large hands. The biggest downside is a tiny little joystick for aperture and shutter controls (instead of a DSLR rotary dial present on the LX5 and GF1) that doubles as a quick menu switch, but has been set to activate only when held down to prevent accidental input during shutter and aperture adjustments. Construction is solid and elegant. The lens cap is the only real irritation on the build. It's large and bulky, making the camera a tough fit in cases and pockets. In terms of portability, this is probably the largest camera that can fit in a big pocket while inside a case, but most owners would probably opt for a belt clip as it is much thicker than most compacts.
The flash is reasonable for its tiny size, but works extra hard at ISO 200, and has very limited range. Its best use is as a fill flash for bright backlit daylight photography as indoors it casts garish shadows and gives photos a point and shoot look--more reason to take advantage of the 2.0/2.8 aperture and low light performance of the Leica lens over the flash. Any indoor flash photos will require the purchase of a flashgun that will inevitably exceed the size and weight of the camera.
Battery life is adequate, but anyone used to the life in a DSLR should probably throw in a spare battery.
In conclusion, this is NOT a compact DSLR replacement as some have said because of its DSLR features and controls. You need a micro 4/3rds sized sensor and a few hundred dollars more for that, but lose portability unless you can live with a pancake 20mm lens. What this is is a respectable compact camera with an incredible lens that foregoes the superzoom trend of the competition and offers great optics. DOF is incredible, and it's just portable enough that this is the camera that I always have with me everywhere I go (and that's the best selling point I can think of).
And, honestly, it's in a tiny crowd of excellent compacts that really are above and beyond their point and shoot competition.
More Panasonic DMC-LX3S 10.1MP Digital Camera with 2.5x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Silver) reviews:
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Description of Panasonic DMC-LX3S 10.1MP Digital Camera with 2.5x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Silver)
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 megapixels 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.Digital Cameras
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