Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 Digital Camera Review

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3

Digital Camera Review

2.3 The Lumix DMC-LX3 is Panasonic's newest high-end point-and-shoot camera. Marked by an eye-catching retro aesthetic, the LX3 is designed with photo enthusiasts and professionals firmly in mind. Priced at $500, the camera is armed with the new 1/1.63” CCD sensor, and is meant to deliver lower noise and better low light results. Did it manage to live up to this goal? How did it perform on the rest of our rigorous testing? Read on and find out...  
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Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 Review

Specs Table
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 Specs
Type Compact  
Price 499.99  
Length 4.28  
Width 1.06  
Height 2.34  
Weight 0.50  
Pixels 11.30 Megapixels 
Effective Pixels 10.10  
Sensor Type 1/1.63\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  
Image Size 3648 x 2736, 3072 x 2304, 2560 x 1920, 2048 x 1536, 1600 x 1200, 640 x 480, 3776 x 2520, 3168 x 2112, 2656 x 1768, 2112 x 1408, 2048 x 1360, 3968 x 2232, 3328 x 1872, 2784 x 1568, 2208 x 1248, 1920 x 1080,  
Aspect Ratio 4:3, 3:2, 16:9  
Color Filter System Primary Color Filter  
IR Cut Low Pass Filter Unknown  
Media SD Memory Card, SDHC Memory Card, Multimedia Card  
Image Format JPEG, RAW, JPEG+Quicktime, Motion JPEG  
Compression JPEG  
Lens LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMICRON 8 elements in 6 groups (4 Aspherical Lenses / 4 Aspherical surfaces)  
Lens Mount no  
Compatible Lenses n/a  
Viewfinder External OVF (Optional)  
Diopter Adjustment n/a  
LCD 3.0\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  
Auto Focus Type AF / Macro / MF switchable  
Focusing Modes AF / Macro / MF switchable  
Focusing Points Face / AF tracking / multi-area / 1-area high speed / 1-area / spot  
Detecting Range Normal: Wide 50cm/ Tele 50cm - infinity Intelligent AUTO / Macro: Wide 1cm / Tele 30cm - infinity  
AF Assist Illuminator Yes  
Metering Modes Intelligent Multiple / Center-weighted / Spot  
Shutter Speed 1/2000 to 60 seconds  
Self Timer 2 or 10  
Modes Intelligent AUTO, P(Program) mode, A(Aperture Priority) mode, S(Shutter Priority) mode, M(Manual) mode, Custom1, Custom2, Portrait mode, Scenery mode, Sports mode, Night Portrait mode, Close-up mode, Scene mode, Motion Picture  
Speed Yes  
Burst Yes  
Automatic Modes Portrait, Soft Skin, Scenery, Sports, Night Portrait, Night Scenery, Self-Portrait, Food, Party, Candle Light, Fireworks, Starry Sky, Beach, Aerial Photo, Snow, High Sensitivity, Baby1&2, Underwater, Sunset, Pet, Hi-Speed Burst, Multi Aspect  
Exposure Compensation 1/3 EV Step, ± 2 EV  
Bracketing +/- 1/3 EV ~ 1EV step, 3 frames  
Built in Flash Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Flash Synchro  
Flash Range 0.8 - 8.3m (Wide/Macro/ISO Auto), 0.3 - 5.9m (Tele/ISO Auto)  
Sync Contact Yes  
Flash Exposure Compensation (1/3EV step, -2 - +2 EV)  
Resolution 10.1  
ISO Sensitivity Auto / 80 / 100 / 200 / 400 / 800 / 1600 / 3200 (High Sensitivity Mode : Auto(1600 - 6400) )  
White Balance Auto / Daylight / Cloudy / Shade / Halogen / White Set (Selectable at Portrait, Soft Skin, Transform, Self-Portrait, Sports, Baby, Pet, High Sensitivity, Hi-Speed Burst, Pinhole modes) White Balance Adjustment (±10steps, except for auto set)  
Playback Options REC/Play Selector Switch, 30 & 12-thumbnail Display, Calendar Display, Zoomed Playback (16x max), Playback of Fav Pics, Image Rotation, Resize, Trim, Protection, Aspect Conv. DPOF Print Setting Creating Still Pics from Motion Picture, Dual Image Playback  
Direct Printing Yes  
Video Output Yes  
Software PHOTOfunSTUDIO -viewer- 2.1E ArcSoft (MediaImpression / Panorama Maker) SilkyPix Developer Studio 3.0SE, QuickTime, USB Driver  
Battery Power Source Li-ion Battery Pack (3.7V, 1150mAh)  
Zoom Wide 0  
Zoom Tele 0  
fstop Max 2.00  
fstop Min 8.00  
Zoom Digi 4.00  
Movie Mode 640 x 480 pixels 30 fps, 320 x 240 pixels 30 fps/10 fps 16:9 Aspect Ratio: 848 x 480 pixels 30 fps  
Storage Type SD Memory Card, SDHC Memory Card, Multimedia Card  
LCD Pixels 460000  
Resolution Maximum 3648 x 2736  
Resolution Minimum 640 x 480  
External Flash 1  
Ratings Raw Weight 
Color 12.74   2.75 
Resolution 6.17   2.5 
Noise Auto ISO 2.77  
Noise Manual ISO 6.53  
Model Design Appearance 8.00   1.25 
Low Light 6.88   2.25 
Size Portability 6.00   1.1 
Handling 8.00   1.5 
Control Button Positioning Size 8.25   0.85 
Front 8.75   0.6 
Back 5.50   0.6 
Left 4.00   0.5 
Right 5.00   0.5 
Top 8.50   0.6 
Menu 8.50   0.95 
Bottom 7.00   0.5 
Auto Mode 6.50   1.5 
Auto Focus 9.75   1.5 
Focus 5.50   1.25 
ISO 9.25   1.25 
White Balance 8.00   1.25 
Exposure 7.50   0.5 
Metering 6.00   1.1 
Shutter Speed 8.00   0.9 
Aperture 7.50   0.9 
Custom Image Presets 9.00   0.75 
Drive Mode 9.00  
Picture Qualit Options 8.33   0.5 
Picture Effects Mode 4.25   0.5 
Playback Mode 6.75   0.9 
Movie Mode 9.75  
Viewfinder 0.00   0.8 
LCD Screen 7.50   1.25 
Flash 7.50   1.25 
Zoom Lens 6.25   1.5 
Memory 4.00   0.5 
Startup 1st Shot 7.16   1.75 
Shot Shot 9.47   1.75 
Shutter Shot 10.00   1.75 
Software 7.00   0.5 
Jacks / Ports / Plugs 4.00   0.4 
Direct Print 4.00   0.65 
Ease of Use 7.00   0.95 
Battery 5.00   0.75 
Other Features 6.50   0.55 
Value 4.00   1.85 
Dynamic Range 5.93   2.5 
Video Performance 8.01   1.75 
Processing Speed 7.72   1.75 
White Balance Performance 7.10   1.8 
Total (weighted)   432.32

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