K100D snaps LX3...

[joe_jackson4]

<p>I noticed Josh Root has a put together a nice little article on the Panasonic LX3 here:</p>

<p><a href="../equipment/panasonic/lx3/first-look-review">http://www.photo.net/equipment/panasonic/lx3/first-look-review</a></p>

<p>It includes an ISO comparison with the Pentax W60, with the latter not holding up too well, TBH... Anyway, a friend of mine of mine has just bought an LX3, so yesterday I had a chance to have a quick play with it. I know there's recently been some interest in this camera on this forum, so I thought some of you may want to see a couple of snaps of it, if only to get a better feel for the size of the thing:</p>

<p>These were taken with the K100D+Sigma 30/1.4 combo, in too-beery/lazy-to-care exposure mode:</p>

<p><img src="http://koti.welho.com/pwilkins/lx3pic1.jpg" alt="" width="699" height="438" /></p>

<p><img src="http://koti.welho.com/pwilkins/lx3pic2.jpg" alt="" width="699" height="467" /></p>

<p>As you can see, it's pretty small, at least compared to a DSLR. Seems like a very nice product to me, and I reckon it could be a good little investment for those times when a K100D is too much of a hassle to lug around...</p>

<p>Sorry about the weird yellow colour cast there, BTW. These were taken in film director Aki Kaurismäki's bar in Helsinki, and there are bright yellow fluorescent tubes on the wall near that table... Not good for us snappers...</p>

[renatoa]

<p>LX3 was just declared best of breed "Enthusiast digital compacts" camera:<br /><a href="http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/Q408enthusiastgroup/">http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/Q408enthusiastgroup/</a><br>

I would like to see LX3 pictures too in same environment at, say ISO800</p>

 

[michael_elenko]

<p>Paul,<br>

There is a bucketful of controversy about the LX3 out there. Fascinating story, especially if one hasn't purchased one. Essentially the camera's lens produces barrel distortion and chromatic aberration. Instead of mechanically correcting the problem by fixing the optics, Panasonic decided to implement a software-based fix.<br>

This works as long as one uses the Panasonic-provided software, but, alas, if one uses a third party product such as one made by Adobe, then rendering problems begin.<br>

We know that other manufacturer's issue software patches to fix bugs in a camera's firmware, but this is more.<br>

http://theonlinephotographer.typepad.com/the_online_photographer/2008/12/panasonic-lx3-b.html</p>

<p>ME</p>

[joe_jackson4]

<p>Renato, yeah I was almost tempted to do some direct comparison tests there, but it wasn't really the right time to get too geeky, if you know what I mean... :) These were taken at ISO 800, BTW.</p>

<p>I can't really say much about the LX3's high ISO noise, because I was just looking at the pics on the camera's display there. But if/when I pick one up I'll do a little K100D vs LX3 shootout and post the results... Sure, the K100D should win that one pretty comfortably, but if the LX3 is decent enough at ISO 400 and reasonably useable(ish) at ISO 800 I'll be happy enough with that.</p>

<p>Michael, yeah, I heard about that... Not sure how much of an issue that really is, in practice...</p>

[mountainvisions]

<p>Yeah, I was the one that originally posted a thread.</p>

<p>It turns out the LX3 is better than the G10 in lens and sensor quality, but the G10 has significantly better ergonomics.</p>

<p>My wife has a Panasonic FX01 and while the LX3 has more manual control the general controls are similar which is to say much like a point and shoot and not like an SLR.</p>

<p>All in all the LX3 and the G10 are both lacking. I wouldn't buy either at this time. I'd rather buy a Panasonic G1, or a Pentax K-m, or a Olympus E-420 (and mount my Pentax glass to it).</p>

[joe_jackson4]

<p>Justin, those alternatives you mention are all a bit too bulky for my personal "pocket camera" needs, unfortunately. I mean, it seems the K-m isn't really that much smaller than the K100D, and that's HUGE... :)</p>

<p>I'm really just looking to upgrade my Ixus with something with an extra stop or so of low(ish)-light capability, and this seems like it could be a decent solution. Well, f/2 and some reasonably useable ISO 400/800 quality would be OK for a lot of stuff, especially with IS. And I'm quite used to P&S "ergonomics" - I use my Ixus a lot - so I can live with that.</p>

<p>The only real issue I have with the LX3 is the price... Some places here are currently charging more for this little thing than I paid for the K100D kit, but OK, the K100D doesn't fit in my pocket...</p>

[mountainvisions]

<p>Paul,<br>

I have NOT held a K-m but the stuff I've seen from K100 users and K-m users is the K-m is significantly smaller!</p>

<p>Actually, the K-m is on par with the E-420 (again from reports I have read) and PopPhoto said the K-m and E-420 were about the same size as the Panasonic G1 micro 4/3s. Other than the thickness. Which of course is probably the difference you are talking about. Definitely not pocketable, but I'll be honest, I never carried a camera in my pocket!! I'm just hoping for something with a small enough form factor to be unobtrusive!</p>

<p>Actually, the K-m suprisingly intrigues me. If it was sealed, I'd buy one pretty quickly. But since it's not I'm holding out. <br /> <br /> I truly hope Pentax makes a body worthy, and equivalent of the limiteds, with a professional control layout, and a metal body...aka. Pentax MX-D</p>

 

[bobcossar]

<p>I have an LX3 and, once I got used to it, enjoy it more that I had thought.......I agree about the barrel dist. but not about the noise and ca. Great camera...not perfect, but nothing is....Cheers to all....Bob</p>

[squareframe]

<p>just a few words from the peanut-gallery. I recently bought the Canon G-10. it is the first camera I have owned that makes me want to go take pictures. it is fun!<br>

I am at my mother-in-laws and just picked up her new Lumix. it might have lower noise, it is smaller, but it does NOT make me want to take pictures. the ergonomics and size just don't meld with my sensibilities.<br>

I'll take the Canon .. it's fun to use. it's just the right size, perfect architecture and ergo-features, and ... did I mention it is fun?<br>

something to consider .. that the ultimate-review should dig deeper than the noise.<br>

daniel taylor</p>

[r.t. dowling]

<p>Justin, did you read my impromptu review of the K2000 (K-m)? I had it and my K100 side by side and they're very, very similar in size and weight. The K2000 may in fact be smaller, but "significantly" smaller? I'd have to disagree, having used both side by side.</p>

<p>As far as the LX3 is concerned, I don't understand what's so controversial about in-camera corrections for distortion and CA. Lots of cameras do this, including almost all of Nikon's current lineup of DSLRs (and probably the majority of their compact cams).</p>

[guy_gervais]

<p>You all seem to forget the W60's shockproof/waterproof/coldproof qualities.<br>

Try holding a LX-3 underwater for a couple of minutes & see what happens.<br>

It's an orange/apple thing.They are not in the same league.</p>

<p>Cheers!</p>

<p>G</p>

[mountainvisions]

<p>RT,<br>

Like I said, I haven't held the K-m, so my info is just on what I read. In PopPhoto's G1 review they do say the K-m is quite small and I have held an E-420 which everyone says isn't much smaller than the K-m.<br>

<br /> <br /> I also have to note, that I only played with a K100 series 1X. I never had an interest in the camera, so I didn't spend much time on it.</p>

<p>I do know that the despite what some people say, the ist D was actually smaller (overall form factor) than the DS/DL. This was because the dished grip and other obtrusions on the ist D were not as pronounced. True if you look at the specs the ist D is in some ways larger than the DS/DL/K100 but some of it is about the protrusions which the D lacked.</p>

<p>I definitely want to compare a K-m to the ist D. I miss SR when I have the D, everything else is absolutely fine about the camera (other than dry paint drying write times, but it does still have a bigger RAW buffer, which is important to me). Plus, i find that the Pentax version of the 10MP sensor is actually pretty good, and adding another camera with the same sensor to the K10D seems to make sense, unless I go to the K20D sooner than expected!</p>