Coming on the heels of its release of the LX1, the first digital camera to shoot 16:9 wide-angle aspect ratio natively in addition to 4:3 and 3:2, Panasonic brought the DMC-LX2 into the market earlier this year with a few notable improvements over its predecessor. Panasonic put an improved Venus Engine III processor in this camera in an attempt to battle noise concerns that arose with the LX1. This processor is also being credited with cutting down on battery consumption, with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2 purportedly capable of attaining 300 shots on a single battery charge. Readers will also note an increase in resolution, with the new LX2 having a total 10.2 effective megapixels, though the 1/1.65-inch 16:9 CCD remains the same size. Other improvements include a slightly larger LCD, increased resolution with motion capture, and a larger ISO range that goes up to ISO 3200. Like the LX1, the DMC-LX2 comes with Panasonic’s Mega O.I.S. optical image stabilization system, a 4x optical zoom lens and a design aesthetic that heralds 35mm cameras from the mid-sixties. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2 is selling with a MSRP of $499 which is significantly less expensive than the original $599 MSRP found with the LX1, though still one of the most expensive point-and-shoots on the market.
