Picture Quality / Size Options (7.5)
With a 1/1.65-inch 8.4-megapixel CCD and three aspect ratios, the LX1 presents an unprecedented number of image sizes. Fourteen image sizes (including movie sizes) are available in the standard 4:3 format, the 6 x 4-inch print optimized format of 3:2, and the widescreen television-friendly 16:9. The following are the 4:3 formatted still image sizes: 2880 x 2160, 2304 x 1728, 2048 x 1536, 1600 x 1200, and 1280 x 960. In the 3:2 format, these are the options: 3248 x 2160, 2560 x 1712, and 2048 x 1360. The widescreen 16:9 format can be shot at 3840 x 2160, 3072 x 1728, and 1920 x 1080. All of the still image sizes can be shot in Fine or Standard compression. There are TIFF and RAW file options as well as the standard JPEG. Movies can be shot at 848 x 480 in 16:9 or 640 x 480 and 320 x 240 in 4:3. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX1 doesn’t have the typical low-end 640 x 480 resolution for still images, but with the scores of other sizes I really can’t complain. The smallest size offered is still easy to email.
Picture Effects Mode (8.0)
The LX1 has a variety of picture effects for users who shy away from editing software programs. The camera offers a live view when users scroll between the Off, Cool, Warm, Black & White, and Sepia modes. The luxury of a live view is not available when scrolling through the other picture effects: Contrast, Sharpness, Saturation, and Noise Reduction. High, Normal, and Low options are available on all of these picture adjustments. It is tough to determine how intense the High setting is on these options, so a live view with these last four picture effects certainly would have been helpful.
