The new Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 high end, wide angle compact camera looks promising. It features a 24-60mm f/2.0–2.8 LEICA DC lens, which should improve shooting in low light situations, plus it processes in RAW. Instead of increasing the megapixels (currently 10), they instead increased the sensor size which should help decrease noise and improve dynamic range. The DMC-LX3 comes out in August at a price of $499 and is available for pre-order through Amazon.
The LX3’s F2.0 24mm ultra-wide-angle LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMICRON lens also represents a major step up from the LX2. The F2.0 lens is about twice as bright as the previous F2.8 lens, itself generally considered a bright lens. With the new F2.0 lens, the LX3 can shoot at higher shutter speeds and capture stunningly clear, sharp, blur-free images even in lower lighting conditions. This advanced lens also makes it easy to produce beautiful photos with pleasing soft-focused background. Also, the 24mm ultra-wide-angle lens – rare on a compact camera – gives photographers a wider range of composition possibilities. The super-high-quality LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMICRON lens minimizes distortion even at the wide end, so users can get stunning, true-to-life images with outstanding resolution and detail.
I’ll be curious to see how this stacks up against my trusty Ricoh GR Digital II which is an amazing little camera.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Looks like an interesting camera. One feature I really need from my Canon G9 is the bracketing exposure setting (+2, 0, -2) to get HDRs. Anyone know if it has that feature?
I had a Kodak that did this… V570 and it was cheap too, only $300 AUD. It had a dual lens construction, one fixed lens for wide angle and another zoom lens for regular stuff. The regular lens failed on me and the place I bought it refused to replace it with the same model when I took it in for warranty. So ended up with a different model all together, still wide angle but not nearly as wide as the first model. Annoyed. The kodak was useless on medium to low light though, among other shortcomings.
The tech specs indicate Auto (AE) Bracketing (± 1/3 EV -1 EV step, 3 frames)
The multiple exposure feature is interesting too.
Not to mention even if the G9 wasn't equipped with bracketing it more than likely could be added via CHDK. (A simple firmware hack available for Canons.)
More info on that here = http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/Downloads
On the topic of the Panasonic Lumix LX3 this looks to be an awesome camera, pretty much making a Leica camera more affordable for the masses. I only hope that they provide more control outside of just automatic settings.
I am in san francisco for one day today, any idea where i can pick one up?
Thanks
I really like the 24mm wide lens, what makes this camera special for me.
here is alink to all the panasoniz lx3 reviews on the web and some sample images, you may want to look at..
http://photolectic.com/database/panasonic-revie...
Since I lost my SLR i’ve been considering a more pocketable point and shoot and i’m seriously considering this camera. It came “highly recommended” on DP review which is pretty rare for point and shoots there :)
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