Panasonic Lx3 Review - by Kian
Hello all ^^
This is Kian’s review on his new toy - Panasonic Lx3. (his = mine)
It’s difficult to know when is the time to get a new camera. Usually the only time we get a new digital camera is when it breaks. But not this time. The back to Malaysia trip called for a new and improved camera even though the Ixus75 and S3is were working well. We wanted an SLR specifically the NikonD90 or Canon50D, but timing was not right as Nikon and Canon were renewing their model lineup with mid level sensors filtering down into the entry level models. Having some experience with SLR’s , they tend to get left at home most of the time and hence it’s always missing in action when you need it. The best camera is the one you can carry comfortably with you all the time. Therefore the choices were narrowed down to 4 premium manual compacts: Canon G10, Ricoh GX200, Sigma DP1 and Panasonic Lumix LX3. Out of them the Panasonic Lumix LX-3 was chosen.
So what’s good and what’s bad.
Pros
● Fully manual controls and RAW mode in a compact body
● Good ISO and low light performance
● Exceptionally bright and ultra wide angle lens
● Retro design, light and very good build quality
● Quick autofocus/autoexposure performance
● Dedicated Autoexposure/Autofocus lock button
● It’s not a Canon
Cons
● LCD is over-assisted in terms of brightness and saturation and does not reflect the picture actually taken as it can look better than it actually is (though good to impress the person you are showing the pics to using the camera screen)
● No wrist strap for a sleeker look. Shoulder strap provided
● Lens cap not built into the body. Fiddly for a digicam
● Slight barrel distortion at the edges of the lens
● Too popular
How Much?
Cost with freebies extras like a 4gb card, tripod, screen protector, soft carry bag and an extra 18months warranty with Panasonic Malaysia for Rm1650 (back in May). You can bargain down to 1500-1600 if u want but at that time the black unit was out of stock everywhere. They did offer the unit with the extras plus the official leather carrying case (which would cost about rm300) instead of the soft case during the KL PC fair but we were too late to the party.
Extras?
We also bought the Ricoh LC-1 self closing ‘flower petal’ lens protector which fits in with a little force and some minor mods as it’s made for the Ricoh cameras. It’s quite handy for those who don’t want to fiddle with the SLR style lens cap. Only problem with it is that it does not close fully and dust can seep through the slits between each flower petal onto the lens. So now the original lens cap stays on as it offers sturdier protection as well as dust protection. Cost for the LC-1 is Rm50.00
Ricoh LC-1
Martin Fields Screen Protector
Although the freebie screen protector would work well, we just wanted to try out what is supposedly to be the world’s best screen protector. They make screen protectors for just about any gadget with a screen. The one for the LX3 fits perfectly and compared to other branded Japan made screen protectors this one is slightly more rigid while remaining thin which is a good thing for a large exposed 3inch screen. Brightness and clarity is tops. Cost…very steep. Rm39.95.
Overall
The LX3 isn’t Ixus75-like-pocketable but it’s small/light enough to carry around in a big pocket and slip past minor security screening. Also helps in restaurants so you don’t appear too enthusiastic about food when you whip out a big ass SLR. As it’s cost suggests, the picture quality is at the top end of digital cameras with tiny sensors. The LX3 has the upper hand compared to the Canon G10 and Ricoh GX200 in that it has a ‘bright’ lens which allows slightly better low light performance though this is no substitute for a big sensor. The LX3 does exhibit slight barrel distortion like most digital cameras but is well worth it for a lens this wide and bright. In-cam Jpeg processing reduces the distortion but it’s best to keep human faces away from the corners/edges of the lens or you’ll end up with a ruined face or two. The limited zoom isn’t an issue as most photos taken by most people are at close range and its much nicer to be able to fit more subjects in with a wide lens especially group photos and landscape pictures. Food bloggers will benefit with the bright lens and good ISO400 performance (low noise) in low lit restaurants.
A new class of premium manual compacts with bigger sensors will emerge this year. This month Olympus will be releasing a camera the size of the Canon G10 but with their micro four thirds sensor format and interchangeable lens. Panasonic who is on the same four thirds bandwagon should also follow up by the start of 2010 with a competitor either in the form of the LX5 or a different naming to suggest a bigger sensor in the camera. Good thing is that they may team up with Leica once again so we can expect great things.
Can’t help but to LOL at the last “Pros” of your new camera… haha.
He is very funny
The last statement of Pros - I know T__T
wah!! I was so tempted to get the lx3 but got d fs25 instead
That’s also a good one anyway. I am still using my Canon most of the time anyway
Cynthia, your Kian has a good sense of humor ler~~~
He does! He may be abit quite in real life - but he is very brainy and funny! *sweetheart*
Pros ~ It’s not a Canon.
Hahahahaha…
And not forgetting..
This is Kian’s review on his new toy - Panasonic Lx3. (his = mine). That’s a good one –> his = mine
the “=” goes to mohney as well, mind you =)))
Eh, apa macam the photos have changed? Where is he?
He wanted me to take it off cos he reckons this post is about camera, not him
He spent almost the entire night ‘messing’ up with my wordpress. I swore I had a mini heart attack ^^
fantastic review, I’ve heard good things about the Panasonic Lx3 as well, friends have been urging me to get a SLR but it’s just too bulky for me, plus, I doubt I will know how to use it!
Yeah, I think SLR is too bulky for girls like us. Compact camera is way easier to use. Unless you are hardcore photographer/blogger. Then, that will be different story.
I’m happy with mine. Kian wants me to practice Lx3 for my next oversea trip. Will see how things go
Great camera… with time you will be able to take great photos with it
so post more pics from the lx3!!!
Yes, I can’t wait already. After 2 weeks or so, when I’m more settled down with my work.
Hey Lee !! wat’s up with the last “PROs” hey !! AHEM !!
hehehe. thats just for me only. bought too many canons. 2 of them the lens died. so not really happy with the consumer level canons.
The consumer level Canons are not very good … even if they are made in Japan.
yea. maybe it was assembled in chinatown in japan. hehe
I have the LX3 - what sold me on the camera was the 10mm focal length for Macro images - that baby can photograph insects like nothing else!
Nice lens set on these.
Also the HD movie making. . .
Awesome! Thanks for the tips and the coffees from the other day! I’ve booked the monkey coffee session in September. Hope to see you there too! cheers!