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Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Digital Camera Review

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Sample Photos

In the following sample images, clicking on the larger image will download the full resolution original. Each photo is accompanied by four actual-size crops.

Landscape Sample

Focal length: 5.1mm
Aperture: f/4.0
Shutter: 1/800
ISO: 80

This photo was taken on a sunny morning in Davis Square. As you can see, the LX5 has an excellent dynamic range, handling shadows and highlights well without losing any crucial details.

Sharpness is good, but you do lose resolution at the outside of the edges of the photos, such as in the wreath on the far right side. There’s less blurriness and artifacting at the center of the frame.

Macro Sample

Focal length: 5.1mm
Aperture: f/2.8
Shutter: 1/250
ISO: 80

We captured our friends in the square using the LX5’s Macro focus mode. This morning shot was taken with bright sunlight hitting directly on the statues, but the camera handled the contrast well, with only minor blowout on the temple of the bronze mask.

Most cameras would produce a more vivid photo (i.e. deeper blue in the sky), but the LX5 does pick up details that we don’t see from many point-and-shoot cameras, such as the worn red paint on the statues’ clothing.

Color Sample

Focal length: 17.1mm
Aperture: f/3.2
Shutter: 1/15
ISO: 80

Our indoor still life was shot using the camera’s auto white balance, under typical indoor lighting. There is certainly a warm tone to the photo, but most colors are reproduced with reasonable accuracy. The reds and oranges seem washed out compared to the blue and green tones.

Low Light Sample

Focal length: 14.9mm
Aperture: f/3.2
Shutter: 1/50
ISO: 3200

Our low light still life was shot under lab conditions, set on a tripod with a low shutter speed. We cranked the ISO up to the LX5’s highest full resolution level and decreased exposure compensation by 1/3-stop to prevent some minor blow-out in the white flower petals.

All told, this is one of the most impressive low light photos we’ve seen. There is virtually no noise in the black background—an area that’s usually riddled with noise when photographed with other point-and-shoot cameras.

The fact that we only had to take away 1/3-stop exposure compensation speaks volumes about the camera’s ability to accurately meter this tricky scene. (Typically we have to turn the EC all the way down or at least to -1.)

Still Life Comparisons
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
Canon  PowerShot G11
Samsung TL500
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
Panasonic DMC-LX5 Canon G11 Samsung TL500 Panasonic DMC-ZS3
ISO Low
ISO 80
ISO 80
ISO 80
ISO 80
Panasonic DMC-LX5 Canon G11 Samsung TL500 Panasonic DMC-ZS3
ISO 200
Panasonic DMC-LX5 Canon G11 Samsung TL500 Panasonic DMC-ZS3
ISO 400
Panasonic DMC-LX5 Canon G11 Samsung TL500 Panasonic DMC-ZS3
ISO 800
Panasonic DMC-LX5 Canon G11 Samsung TL500 Panasonic DMC-ZS3
ISO 1600
Panasonic DMC-LX5 Canon G11 Samsung TL500 Panasonic DMC-ZS3
ISO 3200
Panasonic DMC-LX5 Canon G11 Samsung TL500 Panasonic DMC-ZS3
ISO 6400
Panasonic DMC-LX5 Canon G11 Samsung TL500 Panasonic DMC-ZS3
ISO 12800
Panasonic DMC-LX5 Canon G11 Samsung TL500 Panasonic DMC-ZS3

NOTE: The images above are not used in our testing or scoring, but are included here to show real-world examples of the differences between cameras at the various ISO settings.

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
Digital Camera Review

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