Viewfinder (0.0)
There is no optical viewfinder on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX1. This is just as well because most optical viewfinders on point-and-shoot cameras are extremely inaccurate and therefore pretty useless. Viewing and framing is done on the 2.5-inch LCD monitor instead, which has a nice bright screen and 100 percent coverage of the field of view.
LCD Screen (7.75)
The back of the Lumix LX1 showcases a large 2.5-inch LCD screen that has 207,000 pixels. The low temperature polycrystalline TFT LCD has a 100 percent view of what is actually captured, so the way you frame your subjects will always be how they’re framed in the final image. At the bottom right of the screen is an oval-shaped button that activates a backlight, brightening the screen by 40 percent when pushed for about a second. The imposed display can also be altered using this control; if the button is tapped the display on the screen changes. The display has grid lines, shooting information, and live histograms. If shooters simply want to see what they’re framing and nothing else, an unblocked view is also available. The included LCD screen is a high quality display and does not solarize easily from side to side, but does display a loss of visibility when viewed from above or below.
Flash (6.5)
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX1 has a pop-up flash with a range from 1.97 to 13.5 feet. This is a slightly larger illumination range than most point-and-shoot offerings, but not quite as capable as many high-end compact cameras or low-end DSLRs. However, the LX1 does offer a flash compensation adjustment, enabling users to alter the flash output from +2 to -2 in 1/3 steps to put out a little more or a little less power. This feature is nice for when subjects’ faces are getting blown out; just turn down the flash power.
The following flash modes are available by pushing the right button on the multi-selector: Auto, Auto with Red-Eye Reduction, Forced On with Red-Eye Reduction, Slow Sync with Red-Eye Reduction, and Forced Off. The actual flash mechanism pops up very quickly, but requires some delicate handling when pushing it back down into the camera. It feels like a dresser drawer that is slightly off its tracks; it’s a bit wobbly. Also, the flash pops-up to the right of the lens (when looking at the barrel) and thus will cast a sharp shadow to the right of subjects unless the photographer is shooting down on the subject. This may not be a flattering aesthetic for the majority of snapshots, although with the flash compensation control and some creative positioning by the photographer, accompanying shadows can be minimized.
The lighting portion of the flash is also quite small, which usually translates to a host of red eyes. To my surprise, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX1 didn’t produce any pictures with red eyes in them. This isn’t to say that the camera will never produce pictures with red eyes, but I didn’t get any in my testing.
Zoom Lens (8.0)
This Panasonic digital camera has a nice Leica-branded DC Vario-Elmarit 4x optical zoom lens. The lens has a wider angle than most compact cameras with a 6.3-25.2mm length; that is equivalent to a 28-112mm lens in 35mm format. This will give user a bit more of a wide angle perspective than most point-and-shoot offerings currently on the market. Constructed from 9 elements in 8 groups, the Leica lens has 3 aspheric lenses and 3 aspheric surfaces within it.
Also incorporated in the lens structure is a gyrosensor that detects movement of the camera and automatically compensates for it. This is the heart of the optical image stabilization system, which certainly enhances the quality of the LX1’s lens. There are two OIS modes: Mode 1 is on all the time and Mode 2 only activates when the shutter release button is pressed (this conserves battery power).
The Leica lens’ aperture opens to a wide f/2.8 at its 6.3mm focal length and a smaller f/4.9 at the 25.2mm length. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX1 offers “extended” optical zoom when the full 8 megapixel resolution isn’t in use. There are three aspect ratios that the LX1 can shoot in while using the extended zoom; these include 4:3, 3:2, and 16:9. In the standard 4:3 format, 5.6x is available. In the 3:2 format, optimized for 4 x 6-inch prints, 5.1x zoom is available. The widescreen 16:9 mode offers 5x zoom. The extended zoom is the farthest the camera can go without degrading picture quality. After the optical zoom is utilized, there is a 4x digital zoom available but it deteriorates the quality of the image. The Leica lens on the LX1 is solid, but unfortunately, it is not compatible with conversion lenses. The lens comes with a plastic lens cap that attaches to the wrist strap, so expect a dangling cap when shooting.
