Manage updates with the Download AppPanasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 (Black)
Manufacturer: Panasonic Part number: DMCLX3BLK
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Accessories
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Although the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 has its share of passionate fans, we think the JPEG quality should be more consistent for the price.
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CNET editors' review
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 (Black) price range: $350.00 - $515.82
- Reviewed by: Lori Grunin
- Reviewed on: 02/09/2009
- Released on: 09/17/2008
The good: Sharp, bright lens; compact but comfortable design; broad manual shooting feature set.
The bad: Relatively nonresponsive Quick Menu button; proprietary connectors; artifacts under certain conditions; optical viewfinder is optional.
The bottom line: Although the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 has its share of passionate fans, we think the JPEG quality should be more consistent for the price.
User reviews
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A True Successor to a Heritage
by stevefotos on January 20, 2009
Pros: Ultrawide angle zoom. Gorgeous lens. Responsive camera
Cons: High ISO speed problematic for some
Not a great movie taking cameraSummary: As a photojournalist Leica cameras were the workhorses of my profession and my favorite camera Leica was the compact CL that was produced for only a few years in the ...
Summary: As a photojournalist Leica cameras were the workhorses of my profession and my favorite camera Leica was the compact CL that was produced for only a few years in the 1970s. It was my standard carry-around camera. With its 40mm Summicron and a 28mm Elmarit it fit into a small camera case and was easy and unobtrusive to use.
For me the LX3 is the descendant of the Leica CL. Yes the zoom range is limited, only 24-60mm (35mm equivalent), but that's more then I had with the CL and two lenses.
And the Vario-Summicron is worth the price of the camera alone. In fact you can't buy a used summicron for the cost of this camera.
And the lens makes the difference. Thruly the tonality, sharpness and color fidelity of this lens (this tiny, tiny lens) puts the lenses on many dSLRs to shame. When I first got the LX3 I took some test shots and made large prints. Hanging them next to similar sized photos from my dSLR I was surprised at how muc smoother and sharper the LX3 prints were.
But this is not a camera for everyone. If you want a long telephoto range, to shoot party snaps in low light and if you are not making big prints you'd probably do better with another point and shoot something like the Panasonic TZ5.
This is a great camera for street photography, interior work and oddly enough for landscapes. The supersharp 24mm lens takes in great expanses and makes great, big prints.
I'd recommend it to anyone who has begun to take photography seriously and wants a camera to match their vision.10 out of 10 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Third time is a charm...
by raoul_lipschitz on November 26, 2008
Pros: 24-mm wide angle, FAST Leica lens, raw mode, great OIS, great manual controls for serious photographers w/o sacrificing "point and shoot" simplicity, VASTLY improved high ISO response compared to predecessors, versatile movie modes, 16:9 capable.
Cons: Slight aberrations off-axis at widest FOV (but very good for cameras in this price range), rumors of underpowered flash are true, rumors of poor white balance are true but (I believe) overstated.
Summary: I've owned the LX-1, LX-2 and now the LX-3, and it's been interesting to see how Panasonic updates a compact camera series targeted toward serious photographers. The LX-1 ...
Summary: I've owned the LX-1, LX-2 and now the LX-3, and it's been interesting to see how Panasonic updates a compact camera series targeted toward serious photographers. The LX-1 was great out of the the starting gate, but a bit noisy (within reasonable limits for the imaging sensor used). The LX-2 added a lot of irrelevant features, and INCREASED the pixel count (8 to 10 Mp) and ISO specification, further degrading the noise problem. The LX-2, in my opinion, was a step backward from the LX-1
I'm happy to see that Panasonic has listened to it's users. While holding the pixel count constant at 10 Mp, increasing the lens speed and improving an already impressive optical image stabilization system, the LX-3 overcomes the flaws of the LX-2. All the other great features of the LX series: great lens, manual controls, raw shooing, flexible movie modes, and fast shutter speeds, remain. Unless someone prefers longer telephoto capabilities, serious photographers will find this the compact camera of choice.
Personally I would like to see an intervalometer capability, like some Nikon & Canon compacts, but this is niggling over what is, in balance, a fantastic camera.9 out of 9 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Amazing so far... (1 week of use)
by at2099 on October 24, 2008
Pros: wide angle lens, low light shooting, burst shooting, lcd screen, functions/features, durability
Cons: lack of telephoto (but i understand why), some graininess in low light situations
Summary: after shooting with this camera for about a week while on vacation in l.a., i feel like this is one of the better investments i've made this year....
Summary: after shooting with this camera for about a week while on vacation in l.a., i feel like this is one of the better investments i've made this year.
sorry for the typo, my friend had the d-lux3, not the same camera as the one reviewed.
the picture quality is tip top for most situations, especially for gorgeous wide angle landscapes.
i also got some decent shots in very low light situations at the kings of leon concert out in l.a., but they were a stretch. graininess did appear in about 75% of those shots, but i managed to get a few really crisp shots as well (the unlimited burst most worked wonders.)
and just to address the difference between the leica d-lux and the panasonic lx3 series, i found that the leica d-lux3 was slightly over exposed in most outdoor situations when compared to the lx3 (my friend had the lx3, and I shot with it as well.) however, i don't know if they've tweaked anything in the d-lux4...
anyhow, i'll have to tinker around with this new toy over this coming weekend to better understand what the camera does. there is an ample amount of manual and semi-manual adjustments to make this lx3 far better than any point and shoot.
in the mean time please refer to this blog, which i found incredibly helpful when deciding to purchase the lx3: http://www.lawrenceripsher.com/blog/2008/08/panasonic-lx3-review.html
Updated on Oct 24, 20083 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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In love with my camera
by daneusse on November 8, 2009
Pros: fast, wideangle, obtically superb lens. good noise performance up to ISO400 (800 is ok but pushing it), beautiful style and construction, manual controls
Cons: wish the noise performance was better, short zoom
Summary: I've used this camera for 6 months now and I absolutely love it! i find the balance of size and image quality a good compromise, specially because i'm ...
Summary: I've used this camera for 6 months now and I absolutely love it! i find the balance of size and image quality a good compromise, specially because i'm a street photographer at heart and my style is annonimity. of course you need to know your way around cameras if you're willing to buy a larger-than-your-average-compact, short zoomed, and without the highest pixel count (it matters to most more than it should) but if you do you'll be very pleased with the results. or if you're a newbie and one happens to be in your hands, put it on auto mode and be amazed. I dont think cnet's review on this camera does it justice.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great small camera
by Dr__Nick on May 19, 2009
Pros: Fast lens
Effective image stabilization
Smaller sized than competition
Good low light performance
Good macro performance
RAW capable
Good image quality
Manual capabilities
HD Video
Great street and landscape camera
Wide lensCons: Silkypix RAW software
Battery life could be better
No optical viewfinder
Camera resets manual focus when it falls asleep
Blooming with spectral highlights in HD video
If telephoto matters to you, not the camera for you.Summary: Excellent small, serious photo tool. 24mm f2.0 is fantastic. It has good image quality. I would recommend ditching the RAW software and using Adobe's conversion tool.
And BTW, ...Summary: Excellent small, serious photo tool. 24mm f2.0 is fantastic. It has good image quality. I would recommend ditching the RAW software and using Adobe's conversion tool.
And BTW, for the editor who wrote the review, the different format modes are not crops- you'll note on the LCDwhen you flick between the modes that the coverage in the frame actually changes (ie 4:3 mode actually ADDS some height while taking away width from 3:2 mode, and 16:9 mode is wider than any of the others). It's different than an in-camera crop- if you shoot in 4:3 mode (which has the most megapixels) you will never be able to crop that picture to look like what the 16:9 would have looked like.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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The best compact ever available
by einnorx on December 11, 2008
Pros: Good image quality, good low light performance, low noise at high ISO, Classic Design, fantastic iA mode. good F2.0 wide angle lens
Cons: Zoom Range, Camera Cap, Protruding Lens barrel even when switched off.
Summary: Have been using this camera for a month now and even took it to India, found it's performance to be the best so far and I have used so ...
Summary: Have been using this camera for a month now and even took it to India, found it's performance to be the best so far and I have used so many compact cameras over the years from all major brands like, Canon, Nikon, Fujifilm, Leica, Casio, Olympus. I think this is the best so far as far as compacts are concern and is a good second camera to the regular DSLR when you do not want the bulk, Excellent low light performance aided by the f 2.0 and also the excellent sensor, mega OIS and software, good that Panasonic did not join the rest of the other manufacturers in increasing pixel count, manufacturers should understand that consumers are smarter now and it is not only pixel count that counts in a good photo. After all most people print the usual 4R hence there is no need for lots of pixel.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Not to bad of a camera , actually good.
by Xshoot on October 29, 2010
Pros: Compact with lots of nice standard features
Cons: The flas was a little bit awkward placed.
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Absolutely superb camera
by luffedup on June 5, 2010
Pros: Image quality
Size
Level of control
LensCons: No viewfinder
Summary: I bought this camera a week ago as a replacement for my canon 500d with 18-55 lens. This is because I wanted a more compact and lightweight camera to take ...
Summary: I bought this camera a week ago as a replacement for my canon 500d with 18-55 lens. This is because I wanted a more compact and lightweight camera to take walking/sailing/cycling. I also wanted a camera that had a wide angle lens as I like scenic shots. I was prepared to 'trade' these features against a drop in image quality compared to the DSLR. The benefits of this camera to me have been fully realised - the portability is fantastic and the range of options and film modes and control over the image recording is better than the Canon.
What really surprised me though is that there has been no (to me) discernable reduction in image quality - infact I prefer the images from the LX3 which are punchier and deal better with high contrast scenes. This is after comparing the results of images of the same scene from both cameras. I am really delighted with this and its got me thinking.............
I am sure that there are many people who would disagree after anally scrutinising the images to a level 99.9% of us would find irrelevant for our day to day needs. I feel a little annoyed with myself for having gone to the time and expense of DSLR ownership - I was suckered into the 'must-have-a-dslr' state of mind, where we obsess over the latest lens/body combination and specification hike. Lets face it - like most things in our world, its all about money and how much the Corporations can get out of you. You won't find a magazine that dares to suggest what I am saying as it would challenge the status-quo and we'd stop buying them and the over-priced equipment they hype.
Anyway, thats my rant for the day so back to the camera - if you are thinking of getting an LX3 then get on and get one.......... from my experience it's better than I imagined and more than enough for what I need -
best point and shoot camera
by HowJ on November 20, 2009
Pros: designed by photographers, not some tech guys.
Cons: availability - it's November 2009 and I'm shopping for one for upcoming holiday season. Everywhere I look either they're selling over MSRP price or they're out of stock. This item is HOT!
Summary: great quality picture lots of functions on this little baby loving it. I am hoping Panasonic continues to produce quality camera like this.
Summary: great quality picture lots of functions on this little baby loving it. I am hoping Panasonic continues to produce quality camera like this.
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The digicam for when you want to leave the DSLR at home
by mishmosh on November 18, 2009
Pros: Great color and sharp pics. Gotta love the 24mm on the wide end. The zoom is modest but for my needs, more than enough. Love the 1280x720x24fps HD video. You can't zoom while recording but it is still respectable.
Cons: Detached lens cap. It is a little pricey but I consider the LX3 to be the best point and shoot (nondetachable lens) camera there is.
Summary: This camera takes excellent pics, has a fast/wide angle lens and takes 720p video.
Summary: This camera takes excellent pics, has a fast/wide angle lens and takes 720p video.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Panasonic
- Part number: DMCLX3BLK
- Description: The DMC-LX3 puts the joy of creating beautiful, richly expressive images into every photographer's hands. Leading the list of features is a large, developed, ultra-sensitive CCD. And rather than simply maximizing the pixel count as other cameras do, the DMC-LX3 makes generous use of its 10.1 megapixels in this 1/1.63-inch CCD. Each pixel is around 45% larger than those in ordinary 10-megapixel cameras. This boosts both sensitivity and saturation by around 40% each compared to standard models. Its predecessor, the DMC-LX2, also featured a large, 1/1.65-inch CCD, but in comparison, the DMC-LX3 offers around 20% greater sensitivity and around 15% higher saturation performance than even the DMC-LX2 by maximizing the size of the photodiode in each photo cell. These CCD improvements also minimize noise generation in the DMC-LX3, resulting in a 1.5 dB increase in the S/N ratio compared with the DMC-LX2. The DMC-LX3 is equipped with a 24-60mm f/2.0–2.8 Leica DC VArio-Summicron lens. In order to meet stringent Leica performance standards while offering a 24mm ultra-wide-angle setting and a large F2.0 aperture that nearly doubles the brightness of even a "bright" F2.8 lens, the lens system employs 8 lens elements in 6 groups, including 4 aspherical lenses. This provides superb resolution while minimizing distortion and artifacts such as chromatic aberration, ghosting and flaring.
General
- Packaged Quantity 1
- Product Type Digital camera - Compact
- Enclosure Color Black
- Resolution 10.1 megapixels
- Optical Sensor Type CCD
- Total Pixels 11,300,000 pixels
- Effective Sensor Resolution 10,100,000 pixels
- Optical Sensor Size 1/1.63"
- Optical Zoom 2.5 x
- Digital Zoom 4 x
- Image Stabilizer Optical (MEGA O.I.S.)
- Auto Focus TTL contrast detection
- Digital Video Format QuickTime
- Image Recording Format JPEG,
RAW,
RAW + JPEG - AV Interfaces Composite video/audio
Exposure & White Balance
- Light Sensitivity ISO auto (1600-6400),
ISO 3200,
ISO 400,
ISO 1600,
ISO 800,
ISO 100,
ISO 200,
ISO auto,
ISO 80 - Exposure Metering Multi-segment,
Center-weighted,
Spot - Exposure Modes Program,
Automatic,
Shutter-priority,
Manual,
Aperture-priority - Shooting Programs Portrait,
Soft skin,
Self-portrait,
Scenery,
Sports,
Night portrait,
Night scenery,
Food,
Party,
Candle light,
Baby 1,
Baby 2,
Pet,
Daylight,
High sensitivity,
Starry sky,
Fireworks,
Beach,
Snow,
Aerial photo,
Hi-speed burst,
Flash-burst,
Film grain,
Pin hole - White Balance Automatic,
Presets,
Custom - White Balance Presets Cloudy,
Daylight,
Shade,
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 2.5 x x Zoom lens - 5.1 mm - 12.8 mm - F/2.0-2.8
- Focal Length Equivalent to 35mm Camera 24 - 60 mm
- Focus Adjustment Manual,
Automatic - Min Focus Range 19.7 in
- Macro Focus Range 0.4 in
- Zoom Adjustment Motorized drive
- Lens Construction 6 groups / 8 elements
- Features Aspherical lens
Camera Flash
- Camera Flash Pop-up flash
- Flash Modes Slow synchro,
Fill-in mode,
Auto mode,
Flash OFF mode,
Red-eye reduction - Features AF illuminator,
Flash +/- compensation - Effective Flash Range 1 ft - 27 ft
Additional Features
- Continuous Shooting Speed 2.5 frames per second
- Self Timer Delay 2 sec,
10 sec - Flash Terminal Hot shoe
- Additional Features Digital image rotation,
AF lock,
DPOF support,
Audio recording,
RGB primary color filter,
Built-in speaker,
AE lock,
Resizing an image,
Auto power save,
Digital noise reduction,
Saturation control,
Histogram display,
Highlight point display,
PictBridge support,
Built-in help guide,
Sharpness control,
Contrast control,
Date/time stamp Viewfinder
- Viewfinder Type None
- Viewfinder Color Support Color
Display
- Type 3 in LCD display
- Resolution 460,000 pixels
- Display Features Built-in
Microphone
- Microphone Operation Mode Mono
Connections
- Connector Type 1 x USB,
1 x Composite video/audio output,
1 x DC power input,
1 x Component video output Software
- Software ArcSoft Panorama Maker,
Drivers & Utilities,
SILKYPIX Developer Studio,
ArcSoft MediaImpression,
Panasonic PHOTOfunSTUDIO 2.1E System Requirements for PC Connection
- Peripheral Devices USB port,
CD-ROM drive Miscellaneous
- Microsoft Certifications Certified for Windows Vista
- Included Accessories Battery case,
Lens cap,
Shoulder strap,
Battery charger,
USB cable,
Audio / video cable Battery
- Supported Battery 1 x Li-ion rechargeable battery - 1150 mAh ( Included )
Memory / Storage
- RAM Installed 50 MB
- Memory Card Slot SD card
- Supported Memory Cards SDHC Memory Card,
MultiMediaCard,
SD Memory Card - Included Memory Card 50 MB Integrated
- Image Storage Fine JPEG,
Standard RAW 3648 x 2736,
RAW EXIF 2.21 3072 x 2304,
2560 x 1920,
2048 x 1536,
1600 x 1200,
640 x 480,
3776 x 2520,
3168 x 2112,
2656 x 1768,
2112 x 1408,
2048 x 1360,
3968 x 2232,
3328 x 1872,
2784 x 1568,
2208 x 1248,
1920 x 1080 - Video Capture QuickTime - 848 x 480,
QuickTime - 640 x 480,
QuickTime - 320 x 240,
QuickTime - 320 x 240 Dimensions & Weight
- Width 4.3 in
- Depth 1.1 in
- Height 2.4 in
- Weight 8.1 oz
Environmental Parameters
- Min Operating Temperature 32 °F
- Max Operating Temperature 104 °F
Product series
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Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 (Black)
Manufacturer: Panasonic
Specs: 10.1 megapixels,
2.5 x,
24 - 60mm F/2.0,
1/1.63",
CCD,
Optical (MEGA O.I.S.) -
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 (Silver)
Manufacturer: Panasonic
Specs: 10.1 megapixels,
2.5 x,
24 - 60mm F/2.0,
1/1.63",
CCD,
Optical (MEGA O.I.S.)
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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