Lumix LX3 triumphs in enthusiast camera shoot out
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leftistangel
Well-Known Member
Anyone reccomend a screen protector for mine?
editor
hiraethified
I never use them, but you could stick on any generic PDA/phone screen protector and cut to size.
Daniel
DelusionalDancer Since1991
A plus side is that it survives falling in snow quite a lot 
I really need a protective case as a sock gets wet and then its slightly useless, but the cases are ridiculously expensive imo.
On the camera side though, I'm really loving it now. At first I was slightly disapointed and regretted that I didnt just get a dslr, but after a couple weeks with it I'm still discovering cool features (keeping in mind its my first camera, so stupid little things like auto bracketing
) and now very happy I went for this opposed to a dslr.
Two faults I've found though is that I dislike the fact that the lense doesnt go back into the camera like some compacts do, just cos I find it makes it a little less compact when you gota squeeze that into a jeans pocket. And the other one is the obvious one of the lack of zoom, although I found out yesterday when playing with it that by dropping the MP you can increase the zoom
I really need a protective case as a sock gets wet and then its slightly useless, but the cases are ridiculously expensive imo.
On the camera side though, I'm really loving it now. At first I was slightly disapointed and regretted that I didnt just get a dslr, but after a couple weeks with it I'm still discovering cool features (keeping in mind its my first camera, so stupid little things like auto bracketing
) and now very happy I went for this opposed to a dslr.Two faults I've found though is that I dislike the fact that the lense doesnt go back into the camera like some compacts do, just cos I find it makes it a little less compact when you gota squeeze that into a jeans pocket. And the other one is the obvious one of the lack of zoom, although I found out yesterday when playing with it that by dropping the MP you can increase the zoom
Piers Gibbon
Well-Known Member
had it two weeks and loving it..and thought I had it all sorted before flying off to ecuador on monday morn...
hmmm I was hoping to set it to a Holy Grail Autoeverything setting and get it to capture RAW (which they want for book images)
but it seems RAW is not available in iA... D'OH...ooops
so that leaves me in the P setting and needing to get rapidly acquainted with it!
I've had a quick look through the various options in P and I'll take a guess as to what is going to most applicable for people(almost always I'm shooting people/jungle/people/closeups of human remains etc ;-) ...basically taking photos will always be subordinate to doing the tv filming so I'm hoping for settings that are likely to get best shots when handed to the producer to "please get some shots of me with this guy and his wife and his machete as we do the interview, thanks"
currently:
film mode - standard
quality - rawwww
intelligent iso - on
iso limit set - auto
white balance - autowb
metering - multiple
autofocus - faces!
Continuous Autofocus (batteries eek)
af/ae lock
stabilizer - auto
af assist lamp on
flash synchro 1st
in other settings I have asked for Continuous Burst (fecking brilliant for getting peoples expressions!) and set the screen to low and off asap to save batteries
hmmm I was hoping to set it to a Holy Grail Autoeverything setting and get it to capture RAW (which they want for book images)
but it seems RAW is not available in iA... D'OH...ooops
so that leaves me in the P setting and needing to get rapidly acquainted with it!
I've had a quick look through the various options in P and I'll take a guess as to what is going to most applicable for people(almost always I'm shooting people/jungle/people/closeups of human remains etc ;-) ...basically taking photos will always be subordinate to doing the tv filming so I'm hoping for settings that are likely to get best shots when handed to the producer to "please get some shots of me with this guy and his wife and his machete as we do the interview, thanks"
currently:
film mode - standard
quality - rawwww
intelligent iso - on
iso limit set - auto
white balance - autowb
metering - multiple
autofocus - faces!
Continuous Autofocus (batteries eek)
af/ae lock
stabilizer - auto
af assist lamp on
flash synchro 1st
in other settings I have asked for Continuous Burst (fecking brilliant for getting peoples expressions!) and set the screen to low and off asap to save batteries
Piers Gibbon
Well-Known Member
wow I'm immediately noticing how much slower it is writing to disk..so I only get three shots on my continuous burst...
and in answer to the screen protector question above, here's my post from up there somewhere...
((((I am loving the cover I bought for the LX3 lcd screen...pretty bulletproof flexiglass 0.6 of a mm thick
these guys sell it
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/KatrinaSource
infuriatingly they don't have one in store now so you'll have to search the store occasionally for LX3
highly recommended...))))
and in answer to the screen protector question above, here's my post from up there somewhere...
((((I am loving the cover I bought for the LX3 lcd screen...pretty bulletproof flexiglass 0.6 of a mm thick
these guys sell it
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/KatrinaSource
infuriatingly they don't have one in store now so you'll have to search the store occasionally for LX3
highly recommended...))))
editor
hiraethified
That could be down to the memory card you're using.
My bodged-on Ricoh lens cap really came to the fore when I was out shooting in a snow storm a few days ago. It would have been a real pain fiddling around with the lens cap with gloves on.
editor
hiraethified
My full review of the camera can be found here: http://www.urban75.org/photos/panasonic-lumix-lx3-review.html
nick
Pleomorphic Adenomas R us
I was just about to buy a DMCTZ5, until I started reading these glowing reviews.
Given, I only want to take holiday and indoor snapshots of the family etc, do you think the LX3 is worth the extra (as well as the hassle of separate lens cap)?
Although the big zoom on the DMCtZ5 (28-280mm) was a selling point, I realise that this may be more marketing than useful.
I'm also interested in the concept of robustness, as me and my family have managed to destroy 2 Ixus 860is cameras in the last 6 months, by dropping them on the ground when the lens was extended.
I appreciate that there is no such thing as a definitive answer, but would be interested in your thoughts
Given, I only want to take holiday and indoor snapshots of the family etc, do you think the LX3 is worth the extra (as well as the hassle of separate lens cap)?
Although the big zoom on the DMCtZ5 (28-280mm) was a selling point, I realise that this may be more marketing than useful.
I'm also interested in the concept of robustness, as me and my family have managed to destroy 2 Ixus 860is cameras in the last 6 months, by dropping them on the ground when the lens was extended.
I appreciate that there is no such thing as a definitive answer, but would be interested in your thoughts
editor
hiraethified
The LX3 isn't particularly robust, but the picture quality is exceptional. The auto everything setting is the best I've ever used and I probably get a higher rate of good shots from this than any previous compact.
In your case, I'm not sure if I'd recommend it unless you want the manual fiddling options and speedy operation.
In your case, I'm not sure if I'd recommend it unless you want the manual fiddling options and speedy operation.
nick
Pleomorphic Adenomas R us
Thanks for quick reply.
It's the auto everything bit that got me interested though (also like speedy operation)! I agree I am probably kidding myself over the amount of time I would spend in manual modes.
From what I have read it seems that there is no such thing as a robust camera that also takes decent photos - I've read damning reports of the picture quality on the shock proof olympus compacts
Has anyone had hands on of the LX3 and the TZ5 and able to give an opinion on relative build quality / robustness?
It's the auto everything bit that got me interested though (also like speedy operation)! I agree I am probably kidding myself over the amount of time I would spend in manual modes.
From what I have read it seems that there is no such thing as a robust camera that also takes decent photos - I've read damning reports of the picture quality on the shock proof olympus compacts
Has anyone had hands on of the LX3 and the TZ5 and able to give an opinion on relative build quality / robustness?
editor
hiraethified
It's an ace camera! Spend! Spend! Spend!
Nor would I - I mean it doesn't need you to be precious or anything, but if one of my priorities was young family proof, I'd prpbably be tempted to lean towards the Canon G10 - looks like it could take more of a battering & it's in the same league as the LX3.
editor
hiraethified
Trouble is the G10 is so big and chunky you may as well get the Lumix G1 and get a vastly improved camera. The Ricoh GX200 is a pretty good compromise for toughness/size.
Refused as fuck
"ethnic pakistani tosser"
And by that stage (buying a G10 or G1) I may as well be carrying the SLR around. Which is why I went for the LX3.
nick
Pleomorphic Adenomas R us
The TZ5 is now end of Life (there is a TZ7 coming out in a month that will cost a lot more - not sure what improvements it has except a higher Pixel count).
Got a bit tempted by a G10 as it felt very rugged - but was too big for me.
By using the following tortuous logic:
I have just splashed out £300 on an LX3 - hopefully coming tomorrow.
Edit to add - anyone got use for two Canon 860Is cameras? Both less than a year old - both been dropped, meaning there is a "lens error" as the lens assembly has slipped a cog or something and no longer retracts / extends / moves
Got a bit tempted by a G10 as it felt very rugged - but was too big for me.
By using the following tortuous logic:
- Tz5 only available in silver
- I don't recall when I last used full zoom, (and the LX3 does 4.5x zoom if you drop the res)
- it's only money
I have just splashed out £300 on an LX3 - hopefully coming tomorrow.
Edit to add - anyone got use for two Canon 860Is cameras? Both less than a year old - both been dropped, meaning there is a "lens error" as the lens assembly has slipped a cog or something and no longer retracts / extends / moves
G. Fieendish
Snark Hunter
Hmmm, How will the Lumix compare versus Ricoh's latest camera, the CX, one asks oneself...?
editor
hiraethified
The CX-1 is a point and shoot with none of the hands-on manual controls of the LX3.
Piers Gibbon
Well-Known Member
lx3 has just survived a ruftytufty documentary shoot in ecuador with steaming jungles and big canoe action..it didnt get dropped afaik but the whole crew picked it up to use (on the P setting as Ai doesn't do RAW sadly)
also we got caught in a nasty roadblock angry crowd thing and since the cameraman was trying to negotiate us out I got the only (scared and wobbly) movie footage...10 secs that might make it into the final cut, we'll see
also we got caught in a nasty roadblock angry crowd thing and since the cameraman was trying to negotiate us out I got the only (scared and wobbly) movie footage...10 secs that might make it into the final cut, we'll see
Piers Gibbon
Well-Known Member
street AND jungle tested...
just importing/exporting all my shots (raw and jpeg) into/out of silkypix as iPhoto won't even recognise the jpegs on the 16gig card grrrrr
just importing/exporting all my shots (raw and jpeg) into/out of silkypix as iPhoto won't even recognise the jpegs on the 16gig card grrrrr
So, I've caved in and treated myself to the external viewfinder.
It's gotta be one of the most impressive rip off's I've seen from a camera manufacturer for quite some time!
(Nikon's no screw hole for a cable release on the F4 & only a patented cable release with special plug for £117, please stand up
)
Ah well.
It's crystal clear and really makes the camera feel 'proper' I'm loving holding it up to my eye to compose properly.
lines etched on it are for 24mm in 3.2 aspect ratio & it's bang on composure wise.
Can't see them flogging many at the absurd price & you really shouldn't encourage them - but I like
It's gotta be one of the most impressive rip off's I've seen from a camera manufacturer for quite some time!
(Nikon's no screw hole for a cable release on the F4 & only a patented cable release with special plug for £117, please stand up
)Ah well.
It's crystal clear and really makes the camera feel 'proper' I'm loving holding it up to my eye to compose properly.
lines etched on it are for 24mm in 3.2 aspect ratio & it's bang on composure wise.
Can't see them flogging many at the absurd price & you really shouldn't encourage them - but I like
Piers Gibbon
Well-Known Member
http://www.flickr.com/groups/843626@N22/discuss/72157609464295791/
really interesting discussion here - people finding that other rangefinders can do the trick on the LX3
I want one
really interesting discussion here - people finding that other rangefinders can do the trick on the LX3
I want one
Yeah, that would be sweet.
Tbf & until that happens, all that's required is a slight tilt forward to see the exp graphic on the screen in Manual mode.
Yep, finding a sutable second hand one's a problem though (I've been looking a bit) & new Voightlander one's are in the same ball park price wise & I'll be fair - the Lumix one isn't plastic shite - it's solid & the glass is obviously quality
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