Manage updates with the Download AppPanasonic Lumix DMC LX1 (Silver)
Manufacturer: Panasonic Part number: DMC-LX1
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Accessories
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX1 has a broad set of manual controls, image stabilization, and a wide lens and sensor crammed into a compact package.
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CNET editors' review
Panasonic Lumix DMC LX1 (Silver) price range: $499.90
- Reviewed by: David D. Busch
- Edited by: Lori Grunin
- Reviewed on: 09/20/2005
The good: 16:9 native aspect-ratio CCD; wide-angle lens; image stabilization; decent photo quality; versatile burst mode; TIFF and raw formats; 2.5-inch LCD.
The bad: No optical viewfinder; LCD difficult to view in dim light; no white-balance presets for fluorescent light; some image artifacts.
The bottom line: The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX1 has a broad set of manual controls, image stabilization, and a wide lens and sensor crammed into a compact package.
User reviews
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An Excellent Camera!
by darkcobra on October 8, 2005
Pros: Georgous Leica Lens
Cons: A bit pricey but worth it overall
Summary: The "full review" by CNET of this camera was very accurate. The short video clip review of the woman supposedly critiquing the camera is a shameful joke (as usual). Those ...
Summary: The "full review" by CNET of this camera was very accurate. The short video clip review of the woman supposedly critiquing the camera is a shameful joke (as usual). Those knowledgeable about photography will appreciate the ergonomic placement and operation of the features just as they are. Leica & Panasonic collaborated on this camera and Leica has a 50 year history in the proper placement of controls. People knowledgeable about photography will appreciate what they did and why.
I obtained the "grey market" version of this camera and it renders outstanding images. The feature set on this camera is excellent. It has a large 2.5" LCD with over 200,000 pixels for very bright clarity in all conditions. Image Stabilization buys you several more critical F-Stops of hand holding ability. Full manual controls as well as automatic. A 60 second long exposure ability for night shots. I really like the 28mm ability and coupling this with the 16:9 (first in the industry) aspect ratio option really allows for encompassing landscape and interior shooting! The movie mode is excellent as well the first to approach 480P film. An incredible 848 X 480 instead of the now much aclaimed 640 X 480.
On a side note (dpreview.com) also had a very comprehensive review but unfortunately their over-emphasis on the fact that noise begins on this camera at the 100 ISO position instead of the ususal 200 ISO mark, only served to turn off some people. However, even that reviewer clearly noted that the clarity/sharpness/resolution of the Leica lens "more" than offsets the issue of noise-creep at the 100 ISO level. He went on to recommend this camera. Sadly, too many novices hear the word noise and panic! At ISO's of 80 and 100 this camera renders incredibly sharp images folks. However, it is not for shooting at ISO's above 200 unless you want the artistic effects (grain structure) that noise introduces. Even at those levels there are many programs that will remove the noise very effectively with just a bit of post processing (very simple to do). Most people knowledgeable about such matters will not be scared off at all. Take at look at the incredibly good sample images found at the (dpreview.com) site.
All this in a very pocketable package. A camera at home in a bulky bag that sits in a closet is a waste of money. Having a one inch thick gem like this in a pocket or small belt clip will bring back the joy of everyday image making! You'll love this camera folks!25 out of 25 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great camera for the enthusiast - amatures cautioned
by EugeneCarroll on December 3, 2005
Pros: Lens, wide-angle, image stabilization, ergonomics
Cons: High ISO speed photos require post-processing, but not much
Summary: In short, this camera takes fantastic high-contrast pictures in a variety of light levels, even mixed light. I almost cried tears of joy at the wide-angle/wide aspect ratio capabilities ...
Summary: In short, this camera takes fantastic high-contrast pictures in a variety of light levels, even mixed light. I almost cried tears of joy at the wide-angle/wide aspect ratio capabilities after being chronically frustrated with a lack of wide anglein most digital cameras. I don't think you can beat this lens/wide-angle combination anywhere else for under $1000.
The reviews which mention noise at high ISO speeds are true, but let me say:
1. The image stabilization is so good you'll rarely need those speeds (I have taken clear handheld shots at 1/6th second shutter speed!) and
2. The noise is so low at low ISO speeds that the issue is clearly that Panasonic did not include much internal noise reduction in the camera. This is actually good because it increases the shooting speed, and the post-production software way is better than anything they can cram into a camera. All you need to do is use something like 'noise ninja' to deal with it and you'll get spectacular results.
In fact, I'm actually getting better post-processed results with this camera at 400 ISO than I am with my Canon Rebel SLR w/ the standard lens. Most of the noise is simple chroma which is easy to correct. Like I said, you won't need those speeds often unless you shoot moving targets.
So, it's a little extra work but worth definitely worth it. If you're a serious enthusiast who wants an extremly versatile point-and-shoot for light duty, this is a best buy.
Hope that helps,
Gene9 out of 9 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great camera, but very high noise
by rasi2290 on November 11, 2005
Pros: small, fast, cute, image stabilized, widescreen, manual features
Cons: On the steep side, extremely high (but fixable) noise levels
Summary: I've owned this camera for about a week now, and I love it to pieces. It was somewhat expensive at $600 for a compact, but you do get what ...
Summary: I've owned this camera for about a week now, and I love it to pieces. It was somewhat expensive at $600 for a compact, but you do get what you pay for: image stabilization and leica lens, 8mp widescreen, lots of manual features. This thing takes fantastic shots especially in good light.
Now, the CNET review hasn't said very much about the noise, so here's the deal: Unless I'm shooting in clear, bright, daylight, this camera produces the worse noise I've ever seen in a digicam. The noise is most noticable in blues, especially dark blues.
But it can be fixed.
Yup, I didn't think noise this bad could be fixed, but there's a program called Neat Image, for $30, which makes a HUGE improvement. It completely removes chromatic noise, and it puts such a big dent in luminance noise that I was absolutely astounded how well my photos looked afterwords. And with NO loss in detail.
But that is an extra expense and post-production hassle, however slight, and on a camera this nice, Panasonic shouldn't make me jump through hoops. I removed the noise successfully resulting in fantastic pix, but that should be THEIR job, not mine, and it should happen in the camera when I take the picture.
That and the price are the only downsides to this camera.5 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Compact & powerful
by jbroady on September 25, 2005
Pros: Great size, fully adjustable controls
Cons: A little slow to start up. LCD is a little sluggish. Only 5 megapixels when you take pictures in the standard aspect ratio
Summary: If you're a believer, like I am, that the aspect ratio of the future is 16:9, then here is the camera that will finally let you take advantage ...
Summary: If you're a believer, like I am, that the aspect ratio of the future is 16:9, then here is the camera that will finally let you take advantage of that. The wide angle lens lets you fill that space, which is great for those indoor shots. Also, totally adjustable flash & exposure controls are available. Picture quality & response time are outstanding.
My gripes? Minor ones include the lens cap that is not attached to the body of the camera; you can only take 5 megapixel shots in the standard 4:3 aspect ratio; you can't turn the red eye flash off in automatic mode; start up time is a little slow.
But those are minor. This is an awesome camera that I'm very happy with.4 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.
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No one has it right. The real story about this camera.
by Andrew81891 on June 28, 2006
Pros: 28mm lens, 16:9 CCD, CCD switch on lens barrel, auto focus on lens barrel, sharp auto focus, many manual settings, leica lens, easy to use, quality build, small body, very versetile camera
Cons: Some image noise when shooting in poor light NOT AS BAD AS ANYONE SAYS, MANY WAYS TO AVOID THIS BEFORE TAKING THE PICTURE
Summary: Ok so here it is. I'm going to state a peice of false information I have seen and correct the statement.
1. Image noise is unforgivably bad. (an issue ...Summary: Ok so here it is. I'm going to state a peice of false information I have seen and correct the statement.
1. Image noise is unforgivably bad. (an issue I was suprised to see cnet's senior editor glaze over)
Image noise can be found in pictures taken by the LX-1 but only in pictures taken in situations where the lighting is not adaquite and the camera is not on a tripod and the flash is not on. There are several ways to avoid this noise all together. You can move to a better light place, use the flash (it works well), or use a tripod. All of these will deliver crisp detail pictures.
2. The joyce stick on the back is only used in manual focus mode.
The joyce stick when held down for one second produces a mini menu that allows you to quickly and convieniently adjust the ISO, the image size, the light setting mode, and the image quality.
3. The build quality of this product is not good.
I have had this product for between 2 and 3 weeks and have seen no build quality issues. The product is very sturdy and well finished.
MY OPPINION
This is a great product for a person looking for a very versetile portable camera that takes great pictures. The lens offers a 28mm base and goes into the telephoto range at max zoom. This camera performs very well and is in my oppinion the best camera currently avalible in its catagory.
WHY I BOUGHT THIS OVER EVERYTHING ELSE AFTER SPENDING 2 MONTHS LOOKING AT EVERYTHING ELSE.
I wasn't really sure about what I wanted to use my camera for. I really just wanted a camera to have a camera and this offers the most versetility in combination with the best picture quality and a wonderfully large feature set.
I am happy to answer any and all questions you may have so if you have one leave it as a coment on this review and i will respond to it by leaving another coment or writing another review.
CONCLUSION
it is a truely fantastic camera
~Andrew2 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Checked it out, didn't buy.
by Andrew Jeske on October 9, 2005
Pros: Looks great, but...
Cons: ...it's MUCH thicker than listed in specs
Summary: While I was drawn to the specs and good early reviews, I was disappointed at how much larger the camera is than the specs provided by Panasonic, and repeated everywhere....
Summary: While I was drawn to the specs and good early reviews, I was disappointed at how much larger the camera is than the specs provided by Panasonic, and repeated everywhere.
The 1" only describes the body; with the lens cowl (which is permanently attached) and the lens cap, the actual thickness of the camera is closer to 2" than 1".
So this is NOT a camera you would slip in your pocket, and should be considered a compact rather than a subcompact.8 out of 19 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Think Twice before buying
by bizuserSD on March 3, 2010
Pros: Here are my pros
1. Great quality photos
2. Good flash for the size
3. Wide Angle lens is helpful for my work (real estate)Cons: 1. Loose poorly placed controls
2. Blurry photos. (if camera is not completely still.)
3. The stupidest design feature is the panasonic specific cord that is necessary to connect the camera to the computer.
4. Can't fit in pocket. 40% to bigSummary: If you are a camera snob, and you like fooling with the controls and settings then this camera is great for you. If you are like me and you want ...
Summary: If you are a camera snob, and you like fooling with the controls and settings then this camera is great for you. If you are like me and you want a great quality camera that takes point and shoot great photos in normal conditions than you will feel like I do, this camera is a pain in the ass.
I am used to the cannon powershot digital elph series. There is no doubt that the Lumix takes slightly better photos but the ease of use and the ease of picture transfer is way better in the cannon.
Here are my pros
1. Great quality photos
2. Good flash for the size
3. Wide Angle lens is helpful for my work (real estate)
Here are my cons
1. Funky controls that are loose and can be accidentally pressed or moved by normal handling
2. If the camera is not completely still when taking a photo at normal setting the picture is blurry. Even with the "optical image stabilization" on.
3. They have a special cord to transfer photos to your computer. The stupidest design feature is the panasonic specific cord that is necessary to connect the camera to the computer. The cannon uses a standard USB so, even though i mis-placed the cord that came with the cannon I have about 20 other standard USB cords so I am never slowed down. I mis placed the Lumix cord so now I have to either take out the little SD card and transfer it to the cannon to upload or use my home computer that has a reader for that chip size. Basically their design is costing me time and eventually money cause I will need to buy another cord.
4. Not really that small. Yes it is compact for the features but it is heavy and about 40% larger than my cannon so I can't just put it in my pocket like I did the cannon, i have to specifically carry this camera. -
Not sure what else I could ask for, except greater zoom.
by mdowning62 on June 26, 2008
Pros: Clear, beautiful shots; true 16:9 format; a ton of manual options; quick shutter; great video (with great audio)
Cons: The optical zoom could be a lot greater, but if I wanted that, I should have bought a different model.
Summary: I've had this for a year and a half, and every time I go out with it I'm impressed by its performance and amazed by the results. It ...
Summary: I've had this for a year and a half, and every time I go out with it I'm impressed by its performance and amazed by the results. It has fantastic flexibility, with every combination of manual and auto settings possible. There's a little noise with the digital zoom, but all things considered, it still takes great shots when fully zoomed in. Easy to operate, possibly not the perfect beginner's camera, unless one is learning how to use manual settings, but great options all around. I really could not be more pleased with it, as I feel any greater expectations of it would be wholly unreasonable. Thank God for the Leica lens...
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Don't count on Panasonic to fix it if it is broken
by cvosge on April 16, 2008
Pros: Nice camera as long as it works
Cons: Pansonic has never heard the word "customer service"
Summary: I had a Panasonic Lumix camera for about 2 years. Then the zoom lever started to get stuck in the "W" position (doesn't return to the "neutral" position), which ...
Summary: I had a Panasonic Lumix camera for about 2 years. Then the zoom lever started to get stuck in the "W" position (doesn't return to the "neutral" position), which makes it now impossible to accurately zoom. Just for the record, the camera was not "mistreated" in any way. Send the camera to the Panasonic service center for repair. After 1 month (!), I get letter from the service center asking about my credit card information - ignoring the fact that I included letter with the camera describing the failure and including my credit card info for charging the repair. So it took them 1 month to ask me for information they already have. Fast forward another month, for those of you that paid attention - 2 months! have now passed since they got the camera. They send the camera back with a packing sheet, listing my exact failure description and the remark: tested all functions, no failure found! In other words they did NOTHING, charge US$112.00 to my credit card for this and the zoom lever is still stuck. Every idiot can notice this if trying to operate the zoom. So great
camera as long as it works. If it breaks after 2 years because of a lousy zoom lever design, you've got a ~$500 paper weight. Don't waste another $112 like I did trying to get Panasonic to fix it. -
Great little snapshot camera to take around
by margaret69 on March 28, 2008
Pros: Easy to use, many options including night mode, awsome zoom
Cons: Not so good picture quality
Summary: It's good for casual photography, but don't expect to get sharp photos (during day or night), with or without using the zoom.
Summary: It's good for casual photography, but don't expect to get sharp photos (during day or night), with or without using the zoom.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Panasonic
- Part number: DMC-LX1
- Description: The DMC-LX1 features a 4x optical zoom with a 28 to 112mm wide-angle capability (35mm equivalent). This and a 1/1.65" diagonal CCD with 8.4 million effective pixels give you superb image quality over a wide shooting range. The Extended Optical Zoom, which minimizes the image degradation that normally occurs with digital zooming, gives you up to 5x zooming power. Plus, the 4x optical zoom and 4x digital zoom can be used together to produce a maximum of 16x zooming power. The DMC-LX1 features a 2.5" diagonal high-resolution LCD monitor - surprisingly large for such a compact camera. This high-quality, 207, 000-pixel display makes it easy to see your subject. For easier viewing when shooting outdoors on a sunny day, press the Power LCD button to boost the backlighting by about 40%. Jitter from shaky hands is one of the main reasons why cameras produce blurry images. We don't expect everyone to have hands of stone when taking pictures - that's why Lumix cameras help solve the problem of unsteady hands with advanced MEGA Optical Image Stabilizer technology. The DMC-LX1 has a built-in gyrosensor that detects any hand movement and relays a signal to a tiny microcomputer inside the camera, which instantly calculates the compensation needed. A linear motor then shifts the Optical Image Stabilizer lens as necessary to guide incoming light from the image straight to the CCD. You won't even notice it working - all you'll see are the outstanding results! In addition to displaying the settings in large, easy-to-understand text, the large, 2.5" diagonal screen with 230, 000-pixel resolution lets you show up to 25 thumbnail images at once. This makes it easier to search for, and organize, the photos you take. A switch at the top of the lens barrel lets you choose an aspect ratio of normal 4:3, wide 16:9, or the 3:2 used in film cameras. A 16:9 image is obtained using the wide-angle lens and large CCD, instead of the conventional method of cropping the top and bottom of a 4:3 image. A switch on the side of the lens lets you match the focusing operation to your shot. Choose from 1-point AF (normal or high-speed), 3-point high-speed AF, 9-point AF, Spot AF, AF macro to focus from as close as 0.16feet (5cm) from the subject, or manual focus using the joystick. Focusing is also made easier by the Manual Focus Assist function, which lets you enlarge the center of the LCD image to check the focus, and the AF Assist Lamp for focusing in dimly lit places. Thanks to the Venus Engine II's release time lag of around 0.008 second and shutter interval of around 0.4 second, the DMC-LX1 is super-fast. You can snap off consecutive shots at 3 frames per second with full resolution. And with Unlimited Consecutive Shooting, you can keep shooting until the memory card is full.
General
- Packaged Quantity 1
- Product Type Digital camera - Compact
- Point-and-shoot highlights Video capture ability makes this camera ideal for social functions or vacation shots.
- Available Body Colors black, silver
- Resolution 8.4 megapixels
- Optical Sensor Type CCD
- Total Pixels 8,610,000 pixels
- Effective Sensor Resolution 8,400,000 pixels
- Optical Sensor Size 1/1.65"
- Optical Zoom 4 x
- Digital Zoom 4 x
- Image Stabilizer Optical
- Auto Focus TTL contrast detection
- Auto Focus Points (Zones) Qty 9
- Digital Video Format QuickTime
- Image Recording Format JPEG,
TIFF,
RAW - AV Interfaces Composite video
Exposure & White Balance
- Light Sensitivity ISO 100,
ISO 200,
ISO 80,
ISO 400,
ISO auto - Exposure Metering Multi-segment,
Center-weighted,
Spot - Exposure Modes Program,
Automatic,
Shutter-priority,
Manual,
Aperture-priority - Shooting Programs Candle,
Snow,
Sports mode,
Night portrait,
Party/indoor,
Night scene,
Soft skin,
Starry sky,
Baby,
Panning,
Fireworks,
Scenery,
Portrait mode - Special Effects Saturation,
Noise,
Cool,
Warm,
Contrast compensation,
Black & White,
Sepia - White Balance Automatic,
Presets,
Custom - White Balance Presets Daylight,
Cloudy,
Halogen - Max Shutter Speed 1/2000 sec
- Min Shutter Speed 60 sec
- Exposure Compensation ±2 EV range, in 1/3 EV steps
- Auto Exposure Bracketing 3 steps in 1/3 EV step
Lens System
- Type Leica 4 x x Zoom lens - 6.3 mm - 25.2 mm - F/2.8-4.9
- Focal Length Equivalent to 35mm Camera 28 - 112 mm
- Focus Adjustment Manual,
Automatic - Min Focus Range 19.7 in
- Macro Focus Range 2 in - 19.7 in
- Zoom Adjustment Motorized drive
- Lens Construction 8 groups / 9 elements
- Features Aspherical lens,
Built-in lens shield Camera Flash
- Camera Flash Pop-up flash
- Flash Modes Fill-in mode,
Slow synchro,
Auto mode,
Flash OFF mode,
Red-eye reduction - Features AF illuminator
- Effective Flash Range 1 ft - 13.4 ft
Additional Features
- Continuous Shooting Speed 2 frames per second,
3 frames per second - Self Timer Delay 2 sec,
10 sec - Additional Features Digital image rotation,
Audio recording,
Resizing an image,
DPOF support,
RGB primary color filter,
Built-in speaker,
Auto power save,
Digital noise reduction,
Histogram display,
Camera orientation detection,
PictBridge support,
Direct print Viewfinder
- Viewfinder Type None
Display
- Type 2.5 in LCD display
- Resolution 207,000 pixels
- Display Features Built-in
Connections
- Connector Type 1 x USB,
1 x Composite video/audio output,
1 x DC power input
Software
- Software ArcSoft PhotoBase,
Photo Fun Studio,
LUMIX Simple Viewer,
ArcSoft Panorama Maker,
Drivers & Utilities,
ArcSoft PhotoImpression System Requirements for PC Connection
- Operating System Support MS Windows 98 SE,
MS Windows 98,
MS Windows XP,
MS Windows 2000,
MS Windows ME,
Apple Mac OS X - Peripheral Devices USB port,
CD-ROM drive Miscellaneous
- Included Accessories USB cable,
Power adapter,
Battery case,
Lens cap,
Hand strap,
Audio / video cable Battery
- Supported Battery 1 x Li-ion rechargeable battery - 1150 mAh ( Included )
Memory / Storage
- Memory Card Slot SD card
- Supported Memory Cards MultiMediaCard,
SD Memory Card - Included Memory Card 32 MB SD Memory Card
- Image Storage 2880 x 2160,
2304 x 1728,
2048 x 1536,
1600 x 1200,
1280 x 960,
3248 x 2160,
2560 x 1712,
2048 x 1360,
3840 x 2160,
3072 x 1728,
1920 x 1080 - Video Capture QuickTime - 640 x 480,
QuickTime - 320 x 240,
QuickTime - 848 x 480,
QuickTime - 640 x 480,
QuickTime - 320 x 240,
QuickTime - 848 x 480 Dimensions & Weight
- Width 4.2 in
- Depth 1.1 in
- Height 2.2 in
- Weight 0.4 lbs
Main Features
- Image stabilizer feature Optical stabilization helps prevent blurry pictures, especially for handheld cameras at slow shutter speeds or when using high optical zoom.
Product series
-
Panasonic Lumix DMC LX1 (Silver)
Manufacturer: Panasonic
Specs: 8.4 megapixels,
4 x,
1/1.65",
CCD,
Optical -
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX1 (black)
Manufacturer: Panasonic
Specs: 8.4 megapixels,
4 x,
1/1.65",
CCD,
Optical
Accessories
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Panasonic products on Shopper.com
-
- Manufacturer:Panasonic
- Address:
One Panasonic Way, Secaucus, NJ 07094 - Phone: 800/662-3537
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