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.

       

14 comments Cynthia | Kian