Thoughts on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3

I shoot with the Lumix DMC-LX2 and I love it. Probably the best point-and-shoot you can get. That Leica lens really shines. Focus is accurate, reasonably fast, and metering is excellent. Noise (and noise reduction artifacts) have been the biggest complaint with this camera, but if you use the included Silkpix software to process your images, they're really not a big deal. I suspect Panasonic will have more aggressively dealt with this issue on the DMC-LX3, but that's just speculation.

My local Circuit City has a lonely LX1 that must have been forgotten. It still has the same price it did in 2006 ($450) and I cannot figure out how to get them to sell it for a price that reflects its age. The sales people are completely clueless and unhelpful in that regard.

Salesperson: "Wow, that's expensive! Maybe the price will come down when they discontinue it and put it on closeout."
Me: "It was discontinued in back 2006!"
Salesperson: (Dumb Look)
Me: "Who sets the price?"
Salesperson: "Um... Corporate... I think. Oh well, Keep checking back!"
Me:

The point is I'm looking at an LX1 so I figure the LX3 would also be a nearly perfect P&S for me (it I wanted to pay that much). It seems to be a P&S for photographers!

Yeah, with that larger chip, I think the 10mp might be alright. I wish they would make about that size of chip with a really good 8MP or so; but still, I think the LX3 should blow away any of the compacts so far.

EDIT: I see that the MP/cm2 rate is still way higher than any DSLR - so I don't know...will need to see a sample. I can't stand digitally smeared detail, that's why I still shoot ISO 50 & 100 slide film.

Will wait (impatiently) to see a RAW file sample. For what it's worth, I would probably never shoot above ISO 100 and always in RAW for my type of photography...it's looking about like the perfect film replacement for me...especially moving to the city.

Enjoying the discussion, thanks.
Jed

Edited by Jed Smith - 30 July 2008 at 23:41

That does look good. The perfect camera to have with you at all times when lugging around an SLR isn't an option, and if the low light capabilities are fixed then it could be a great option to take into gigs where "professional" equipment isn't allowed...

It's a bit better than a point and shoot, not much else. Sure it might give extra control, and RAW, but the pics don't look 2-300 dollars better.

http://www.digitalcamerareview.com/default.asp?newsID=3580&review=panasonic+lumix+lx3 some crappy full size samples


Some better FULL size samples http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/compact/2008/07/29/8921.html


Check the stuffed animal pics at ISO 400. Animal looks above average, the background looks like a mess. And they want $500 for this? Another let down like Sigma's DP1, I'll wait for the DP2. I, like so many others want something compact with decent quality pics. Not one digi cam can do anything clean at ISO 400. It's film or the DP1 for now I guess.

In good light, it shines for a P&S but my 2+ year old Fuji V-10 that cost me 150 works just fine in good light. Bump that sensor up just a tad or drop the res to 6-7MP I might be buying this thing.

I continue to wait.

It does look nice.

I'm waiting for the Nikon P6000 leak to become more firm, looks like a potential Canon G9 killer if the leak holds, and might be the winner over the LX3 for me.

Hi Jed!

Was going to message you soon to see how things are going.

But to stick with the topic, can I ask the obvious question...

If you haven't sold off all your Minolta glass, why not just get a Sony DSLR? There are some good sensors they offer at the moment, especially if you are a ISO100 shooter and stop your lens down a lot.

Rich