Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 hands on
The Panasonic DMC-LX3 is the latest high-end compact camera – and bodes some fairly serious specs. With a 24mm wide angle f/2.0 Leica DC Vario-Summicron lens, 10.1megapixel CCD sensor, 3.0” 460,000 dot LCD screen and fully manual mode, the LX3 is the ideal ‘carry anywhere’ portable compliment to any pro’s other lesser portable kit.
The CCD sensor at the core of the Panasonic LX3 is 1/1.63” in size – and whilst that may not sound much, each photodiode is some 45% larger than that in the previous LX2. This essentially means that there’s almost twice as much light, thus reducing image noise and maintaining clearer, brighter images with a greater dynamic range. Panasonic’s Venus Engine IV further backs up the LX3’s internal workings; maintaining lower image noise.
The 24mm-60mm wide angle f/2.0 lens is among the widest of available apertures, and when used in conjunction with manual mode offers the ability for some very creative, high quality picture-making.
As well as simultaneous RAW + JPEG shooting modes, it’s also possible to shoot in multiple aspect modes – 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 – either singularly or, unusually, in all 3 aspects at once.
Control doesn’t go amiss either, with the Panasonic LX3 providing a customised setting function button on the back of the camera that allows for up to 4 different settings to be stored in memory.
A host of shooting and ‘film’ modes and 720p HD video recording add additional edge to an already sleek package.
With the likes of the Sigma DP1 and Ricoh GX200 hitting the shelves in recent months, the Panasonic LX3 has its work cut out, but sights firmly set on being the best of the best high-end compacts available. We were lucky enough to get a hands-on preview with a pre-production model, and from that alone would suggest that it’s a truly decent piece of kit.
If you’re looking to buy a high-end compact and have been tempted by anything else of late, then stop right in your tracks and wait until you can at least try out the LX3 – it’s rather good.
Info: www.panasonic.co.uk
SRP: £399
Accessories: GN22 hotshoe flash and 18mm wide conversion lens available separately
