Wide Wide World of Lumix LX3

We are in exciting times again. Panasonic just announced a series of new digital cameras and one that caught my eye is the DMC-LX3. It's got Leica something Summicron lens that is good good stuff and it's 24mm at wide angle with its widest aperture at f/2.0 while at maximum tele, it is 60mm with f/2.8. That is really something for a compact camera though more zoom would have been great.

The LX3 also has full manual controls with RAW (your photo will be saved in the camera's own language without prior processing in the camera, so you can use an external program for more control). Frankly, I don't care for RAW because I am just too lazy to do any of those stuff. I suffice with JPEG. :P

The LX3 boasts a larger sensor, 1/1.63" Ultra Sensitive CCD @ 10 megapixels. Its predecessor also had 10 megapixels, so it is good that Panasonic is not joining that blardy megapixel race (not for this camera, at least, but there is one with 14.7 megapixels - the DMC-FX150... sigh). Being larger means less noise and supposedly better dynamic range.

I'm really impressed with the 1cm macro and the inclusion of 1st and 2nd curtain flash. Lovely! The LX3 has a built-in hotshoe so you can attach an external flash. There is a range of other accessories such as optical viewfinder (also attach to the hotshoe, so you only can choose the flash or this), a wide angle converter giving you 18mm, filters, etc. Another fun feature that caught my attention is the multiple-exposure function which allows three photos to be combined, something like during the film days.

Sounds good, but lets wait for the reviews to come in... expected to be available in August with a not so cheap price tag of US$499.95.

Photo from Panasonic's website.