New Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3
Today, July 21, Panasonic made a press release of the highly anticipated Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3. The LX3 now gets a 1/1.63-inch CCD sensor sporting 10.1 million effective pixels (no increase in the amount of pixels). They completely redesigned the lens into a fast F2.0-F2.8 24-60mm (35mm equivalent)! Just like the Ricoh GX and GRD cameras, and Canon G-series they added a hotshoe to the camera. That way the camera can be equipped with an optical view finder.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3
I will not border you with a full list of specifications. You can check dpreview.com for that. I think it is more interesting to say they changed the camera into a full system that can be fully expanded. Panasonic will offer a wide conversion lens and adaptor, a neutral density and polariser filter, a compact flash, an external optical view finder (24mm), leather casing, and a camera bag. On Lets Go Digital there is an extensive report on the LX3.
The game is on! Panasonic launches a serious competition for the Ricoh cameras priced at $499.95. No news yet on a Leica Digilux D-Lux 4. And lets wait how Nikon (P6000?) and Canon (G10?) will respond.
On Photoscala a first impression of the camera is posted. It is in German, but they are impressed by the camera (especially at the wide angle). There examples also look so much better (example 1 and example 2). And another first “thoughts” of the LX3 is published on DigitalCameraReview.com with some impressive full size examples as well.
Filed under: 2008, Photography | 36 Comments
Tags: Lumix, lumix dmc-lx3, lumix lx3, LX3, new, Panasonic, Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3, panasonic lumix lx3, Panasonic LX3, press release
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Isn´t that sweet!!
Erik.
It certainly is. It looks great. This is a strong contender for domination in the serious compacts competition.
It has set my heart in fire..and promises to make a hole in my wallet..
I need to save money know. I like it in combination with the leather casing
Beautiful camera. Beautiful case. I intend to use it with a 35 or 50mm OVF. 24 is too wide for everyday shooting.
This looks like a game-changing camera, at least based on the specs! Especially considering the reasonable price. Now if the sensor and “Venus” have made a leap like the specs did, they could have a hot camera among RAW fans.
I agree, I think this has Leica-version-coming written all over it, although it’s been a while since Leica announced a “Leicasonic”. Perhaps they are saving them all for Photokina.
Maybe Leica will finally introduce a digital CM with a 40mm lens at Photokina. It could be based upon the same camera as the Panasonic LX3. So, to speculate even further. Leica could pack the D-Lux 4 in a more CM body like camera and name it the CM Zoom!
I guess you would really like a CM with a 40mm lens Chris!
Cheers,
Wouter
And the name alone would allow Leica to charge an additional 1-2 price-stops!
It’s quite interesting, of the eight non-DSLR cameras announced in 2008 that support RAW, three were announced today! Almost half of them by Panasonic (3 out of 8).
Promising to say the least. One of the few things I miss is an 1:1 aspect ratio and a case which can house the camera with attached OVF. But it sure looks great!
Looks very good and it shows that Panasonic is determined to make it in the serious compacts class. It is a serious contender and will give the GX200 serious competition. The case is great and I like the round OVF. The specs and build of the camera shows that Panasonic has listened and that they had a very close look at the GX100 (hotshoe, User settings 1+2, handgrip, adapter lenses, 24mm wideangle now).
With these specs Canon need to improve the G10 considerably and finally start to put a wideangle lens on it.
Nice and sweet little camera, especially the remarkable fast and wide lens with Leica mark. Some might be complaining about the telephoto capabilities, while I realize that this camera is not for such that purpose. For those who want a ultra wide landscape, low-light shooting without flash (thanks to f/2.0 aperture), and snappy AF performance (thanks to AF tracking feature), and doesn’t care about the price tag, this camera is for you, for sure.
The fast lens is a superb feature. I rather have a more wide angle lens with less zoom range, and the full stop extra. It is even a full stop faster than the Ricoh GX100/GX200. In many ways Panasonic took a carefull look at the GX100 to improve it.
Lets see what Canon will do (or Sony, Fuji, and Olympus).
Cheers,
Wouter
Wow. I was hoping someone would come out with a bright wide angle with manual capabilities. (Leica lens to boot!) As soon as it’s out it will be my “always stashed” camera.
Charlie
It sure looks a very promising camera Charlie.
Wouter
What about the noise? I would have bought an LX-1 if hadn’t been for the noise. I thought with the LX-2 they’d fix it and it was only marginally better so I bought a Canon G7. I’d love to just go out and buy the LX-3 the second it’s available but I’m skeptical of Panasonic’s ability to make a sensor and software behind it that doesn’t turn your photos to mud if it’s past 3 oclock in the afternoon. Maybe the sensor still sucks and they’re trying to compensate for it by throwing a fast lens at it. A full stop would allow you to shoot at ISO 200 longer where the LX-2 took decent photos. I hope that’s not the reason. I’d love to have an LX-3 but I won’t give up image quality at ISO 400 for it.
Grant
The photographs you can see all over the web right now were made with preproduction models as far as I understood. When the lens doesn’t suffer from chromatic aberration, it could be pretty good for a small sensor camera. I think it could be better than a Canon G7, Not necesaraly in jpeg, but it will be in RAW I think.
Tomorrow I will get an impression of the G7 and will see how the images compare to my Ricoh GX100.
Cheers,
Wouter
I have seen pics of this camera in both silver and black finishes. The black looks stunning with the half-case.
The latest sample pics look better.
If IQ matches the look and the specs, Panny will have a winner.
The zoom range is perfect imho, esp given the fast aperture!
Don’t get too excited every one, its the image quality that counts for me more than what the camera looks like. It maybe a 1/1.63″ (ie approx 8mm x 6mm) sensor but it’s still a small sensor compared to DSLR so I suspect low light indoor shooting and noise will still be an issue. Its good to see compacts getting decent lenses again though, they just now need to do better with the sensors. I can’t understand why they cant make a compact with a DSLR sized sensor because they used to be able to make fairly small 35mm film cameras that had a negative 36mm x 24mm!
A compact camera with an APS sized sensor be very expensive. At least twice the price of the LX3. You can’t compare a film camera with a digital camera. And what is the price of a DSLR with a fast F2.0-F2.8 24-60mm lens? Yeah, right 4 figures and we want to get a decent camera as cheaply as possible.
The first serious camera. The fist fast lens.
I would like to see a camera with fixed lens like 35mm or 40mm with f/2.0 from Leica.
Maybe we will love the photo again.
Maybe Leica will introduce a digital version of the CM with a 40mm lens. Their Minilux and CM were outstanding cameras with superb lenses.
Wouter
Pocket cameras are for general purpose carry, and 24-60 mm is not general purpose. I (and probably we) will have to carry another camera at the same time.
Jim might want to check out the Sigma DP1 for a compact with a (near) DSLR-size sensor. It is expensive though and isn’t without its own problems, primarily speed.
That is a presumption I don’t share. Point & shoot cameras are for general purpose I think. Serious compacts are not for general purpose. They are special cameras either developed for people who want a high quality camera in a smaller package, or for serious photographers with larger cameras and want a smaller alternative. And the Panasonic LX3 is a serious compact.
I use a Ricoh GX100 with a 24-72mm lens as my “only” camera. No general usage, no food snaps, no point & shoot.
“Jim might want to check out the Sigma DP1 for a compact with a (near) DSLR-size sensor. It is expensive though and isn’t without its own problems, primarily speed.”
Hi Greg, I don’t necessarily think speed it the main problem of the DP1. Our dependency on modern day technology is. Basically I think the DP1 is a simple camera with fantastic image quality. The photographer needs do all the thinking, instead of the camera taking care of it. But maybe you are right and should Jim consider it. And Sigma announced that they are working on a DP2 and DP3 too.
Cheers,
Wouter
Wouter said, “I use a Ricoh GX100 with a 24-72mm lens as my “only” camera.”
Interesting. I’m in the process of selling my Nikon D70s and the point-and-shoot I replace it with will become my “only” camera – hence my interest in the LX3.
Greg
I have done that in the nineties. I sold my Nikon SLR with 3 lenses and bought the Ricoh GR1 with a fixed 28mm lens. Photography became so much more fun again. You have to work harder for good compositions (not just zooming). The great thing is that you can really learn a camera. The smaller sensor of the LX3 in comparison to the D70s might/will have its limitations in the higher ISO’s. So you shouldn’t compare both cameras. It is more like using completely different film with different ISO values. But the new limitations can be very challenging.
Good luck with your search. Maybe some of my photographs on my blog and Flickr stream might convince you to go for a serious compact camera. And also take a good look at the Ricoh GX200.
Cheers,
Wouter
So we all know this camera packs a hell of a punch as far as a lens and feature set are concerned. And with the ability to attach some neat lens adapters and an optical viewfinder AND external flash it’s almost a system camera in itself.
And with the addition of a hotshoe, one would have the ability of using a small external flash in a pinch to keep the ISO down for better noise control.
Noise Ninja works pretty well also. So maybe a combination of computer technology and the ability for a small flash will help put this camera on the map as far as super-powered digital point and shoots are concerned.
I’ll be interested to see how people react when it hits the market.
Good site on the Panasonic LX3 here. Looks like a great compact for those who want a bit more than a point and shoot.
Hi.
Just wondering where that case came from.
I asked Panasonic about it today and they couldn’t tell me where it came from.
Did you have it custom made?
Hi Matthew, The shown camera above isn’t mine. And I am sorry to hear that Panasonic didn’t give you a straight answer. Because it is one of the LX3 accessories. You can check this link.