Lumix LX3 triumphs in enthusiast camera shoot out

[Piers Gibbon]

has anyone found a good alternative cheap viewfinder..I just can't spend on the panasonic one!

 

[Piers Gibbon]

bumped to see if anyone has come up with a cheaper viewfinder alternative?

oh and also to moan that Apples latest version of iPhoto STILL doesn't support LX3 RAWs..which sucks

still very much enjoying the LX3 though. Have had it on Ai setting permanently since Ecuador shoot, and am v v v impressed. (makes me feel a bit like a cheat but there's still time to get to know all the manual stuff)

 

[Idaho]

I bought mine today for 302. Should be here in a couple of days

What do you think of it?

 

[Piers Gibbon]

ooh and theres a new firmware version out from panasonic now..1.3 I think

 

[Pie 1]

also to moan that Apples latest version of iPhoto STILL doesn't support LX3 RAWs..which sucks

And annoyingly it displays them in the import window, giving you a false hope!

another RAW coverter that apparently works is 'RRP' - a freeware app.

http://www.raw-photo-processor.com/RPP/Overview.html

Haven't tried it myself as I have P'shop CS4 & ACR now supports the RW2 files in it.

 

[editor]

I've just been going through some photos from my New York trip last year, and the quality was so good I was convinced that I must have taken them with my D300 (OK, I should have noticed the different frame size, but the results are truly incredible for such a small camera.)

I'll post some up later.

 

[editor]

Here's a pic taken on the LX3 - taken in auto mode! It's a remarkable camera.

http://www.urban75.org/photos/newyork/red-hook-brooklyn-photos-2.html

 

[Pie 1]

I was sorting out a box of old photo junk this morning & came across an old Nikon SB27 flash.
Thought it's be fun to strap it to the LX3 & see what happened. Not bad as it goes
Flash on Man @ 1/8th power with some tracing paper taped over it & the LX3 on A.

 

[g force]

Here's a pic taken on the LX3 - taken in auto mode! It's a remarkable camera.

http://www.urban75.org/photos/newyork/red-hook-brooklyn-photos-2.html

Ed can I ask...were those pics all taken on the LX3? Mightily impressed if they were and I think that may have clinched me buying it!!

 

[manstein]

Recent LX3 snap from the Lakes.

 

[editor]

Ed can I ask...were those pics all taken on the LX3? Mightily impressed if they were and I think that may have clinched me buying it!!

Yep. All the photos on that page were taken with an LX£ - there's been a fairly minimal bit of cropping and levels tweaking and that's it. I usually bash them out in iA or P modes, and just use exposure compensation to get tricky exposures sorted.

 

[Piers Gibbon]

iA is sodding clever I find..

only thing I am failing consistently at is autofocus in Macro mode..it often seems to choose something else to focus on than the obviously lovely frog-baby front and centre

 

[Piers Gibbon]

just back from two weeks in scotland
took loads of photos every day and really enjoyed the end of day ritual of looking back on the days loveliness again via laptop...then adding the best/funniest to the folder that gets used as screensavers

reminded me of the Happiness Project idea that even remembering just one nice thing that happened each day can have a powerful effect on your mood

 

[Xanadu]

It's a fucking great camera. I marginally preferred the LX3 by virtue of its f2.0 lens, although the Ricoh is a bit more robust and handles a little better. But for overall results, it's the LX3 all the way! As that review shows, the low light performance is superb for a compact.

Two things that irritate me about my LX3:

1) It's the only camera I use, so the lack of zoom is a bit of a limitation.
2) The Auto mode is so good, I'm getting discouraged from messing about with things.

Other than that, the photos are stunning.

 

[editor]

I was out and about with the LX3 on the weekend. It really is an ace street camera.

http://www.urban75.org/london/regents-park-london.html

 

[not-bono-ever]

Ive got the Leica version - interested in the viewfinder topic- I would consider getting one, just cos i take better pix with it, but think the branded one is like £200 or soemthing - will sniff around the thread to get alternate tips

its a lovely little camera though

 

[Paul Russell]

I think there were two discussions about alternative viewfinders:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/843626@N22/discuss/72157609464295791/
http://www.flickr.com/groups/843626@N22/discuss/72157609242259273/

BTW, I think you protest too much -- you obviously are Bono.

 

[not-bono-ever]

cheers, will have a look thro them

PS am not Bono, am unemployed

 

[fen_boy]

I just got one of these

I'll let you know how I get on. £29 off ebay.

 

[editor]

Admittedly, the lighting was favourable but - blimey - the LX3 can produce some amazing photos:

Actionettes at Duckie Club. Top pic: ISO 320, no flash, P mode -0.66eV. The photos look pretty close to dSLR quality full size.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

I'm partial to this camera, but the Canon still has a pull. My first camera of the 'modern era' was a Canon, and I loved its ease of use.

 

[fen_boy]

I just got one of these

I'll let you know how I get on. £29 off ebay.

Pretty good so far - the full field of view through the viewfinder is roughly equivalent to 24mm.
The box for 35mm is about right, the 85mm and 135mm boxes are pretty much useless other than for framing. The lines through the viewfinder are bright. The viewfinder itself doesn't obstruct anything on the camera. For £29 it's probably worth it.

 

[Piers Gibbon]

thanks fen_boy..one day I'd like to try that. I very rarely zoom in so it could work for me.

on another note...I took a load of photos of a totally candlelit dinner party and it was way too dark. I'm just reading the DLux4 Leica instruction manual (muuuch better than the Panasonic book) and of course I should have used the Scene mode specifically for candlelit dinners.

I'd like to use the Scene modes a bit more in the future and get to know what's down in them there menus

Oh and I'd also like to start using the +/- exposure button as well

 

[editor]

Major firmware update announced: http://www.wirefresh.com/panasonic-lumix-dmc-lx3-firmware-update/

 

[Pie 1]

Anyone else having probs loading that update?

DL'd & extracted the file "LX3__200.bin" & put in on an LX3 formated sd card via a card reader & then popped the sd in the cam & all I get is 'No Valid Picture To Play'
Current cam FW is 1.2

It says put it into the root diectory, which I assume is the DCIM one. I've also tried it straight onto the card & in the MISC also - still no joy

Any ideas or am I just being a fuckwit?

(mac btw)

 

[editor]

It worked fine for me. I suggest you try downloading it again and using a different card (or formatting the one you've got).

Oh hang on, and it should be in the root directory - which means the very top one (i.e. not in the DCIM folder). Make sure you've got the camera set as per instructions too.

 

[Pie 1]

Hmm. Followed the instructions to the letter. Maybe this root directory thing, but all I have on a fresh formated sd from the lx3 is this:

Tried 2 different sd cards too...

 

[Pie 1]

Ahh, interesting. I just went to DL it again fresh & the Panasonic site (within the past 30 mins) has now put up this message next to both the Windows & Mac DL buttons:

"Please allow us to apologize for this inconvenience, as the firmware download is temporally suspended now.
The download will be available soon."

Guess there's a prob...

 

[winjer]

DL'd & extracted the file "LX3__200.bin" & put in on an LX3 formated sd card via a card reader & then popped the sd in the cam & all I get is 'No Valid Picture To Play'

Is your battery charged up? The camera will refuse to update if not.

 

[Pie 1]

3/4's full....