Panasonic DMC-LX3K 10.1MP Digital Camera with 2.5x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black) |  | Brand: Panasonic
Category: Photography
List Price: $499.95
Buy New: $414.26
You Save: $85.69 (17%)
New (24) Used (4) from $359.96
Avg. Customer Rating:  33 reviews
Sales Rank: 17
Color: Black
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
System Memory: 50
Floppy Disk Drive: None
Monitor Size: 300
Optical Zoom: 2.5
Digital Zoom: 4
Display Size: 3
Maximum Focal Length: 12.8
Minimum Focal Length: 5.1
Maximum Resolution: 10.2
Has Red Eye Reduction: Yes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 2.2 x 1 x 4.2
MPN: DMC-LX3 Black
Model: DMC-LX3 Black
UPC: 037988988136
EAN: 0037988988136
ASIN: B001CCLBSA
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | 10.1-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality poster-size prints | | • | 2.5x wide-angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized zoom lens | | • | 3.0-inch high-resolution LCD screen; HD video capture | | • | Classic SLR-like manual operations include selectable AF spot/multi AF area, customization button, aperture, shutter, program and full manual modes | | • | Capture images to SD/SDHC memory cards (not included) |
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Product Description
Designed for easy, creative shooting, and high-performance in low-light conditions, the DMC-LX3 features a F2.0 24mm LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMICRON lens, 10.1 megapixels and an ultra-sensitive 1/1.63-inch CCD developed specifically for this model. By combining a high-quality lens and sensor ready for a variety of shooting conditions with a wide-range of accessories and manual controls, the DMC-LX3 is ideal for professional photographers and serious amateurs looking for a compact digital camera that furthers their creative photography.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 28 more reviews...
 Ideal if you like wide and you like control... January 5, 2009
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
There is already a lot of info out there on this camera, so I'll just quickly highlight a few things, mostly from the perspective of someone who normally shoots with DSLRs.
- Unlimited control - You can control just about anything on this camera, and a surprising amount of it very quickly through the "quick menu" accessed through the joystick.
- Wonderful wide angle lens - The 24mm equivalent field of view at the wide end is wonderful for landscapes, street photography and tight quarters. The fast F/2.0 max aperture and IS make the camera an awesome low light performer. I have a Fuji F30, long considered the king of compact low light cameras, and in reality the LX3 is able to get far more low light shots than the F30.
- Excellent user interface - Coming from almost exclusively using Canon cameras I was concerned about another user interface to deal with. I love the LX3 interface, it is so intuitive and transparent that I'm amazed that I often can get settings the way I want faster than with my SLRs.
- Excellent RAW shooting - The camera has a fairly decent RAW buffer (about three shots) and doesn't slow down at all in RAW shooting. Remember, it is still a compact camera and thus shot to shot time is longer than an SLR, but the point here is that the speed is the same regardless of whether you are shooting RAW or JPEG. Most of the few compacts that shoot RAW suddenly become glacially slow if you actually try to use the RAW mode - not the LX3.
Those are probably the four things that made me fall in love with this camera. Be advised of course that it isn't the perfect camera for everyone. If you tend to shoot in auto all the time (and the LX3 does have an excellent auto mode) you really won't be using a great part of the LX3's advantages. If you aren't comfortable working with the relatively restricted 2.5x zoom range you might also be frustrated and would probably be happier with cameras that have longer zoom ranges either by being larger (Canon G10, Panasonic FZ28) or by making a few more compromises in the lens design (Panasonic TZ5).
This camera really is a "photographers" camera that gives you not only complete creative control, but most importantly easy and transparent control through its wonderful user interface.
Even the variable aspect ratio setting, which I thought was sort of gimmicky when I read about it, has proven to be a feature I use almost continuously. The LX3's novel implementation of this (the different aspects preserve the diagonal angle of view rather than just cropping down one of the other aspect settings) is wonderful.
The size is wonderful, it is truly pocketable unlike the Canon G10 (of course the G10 has other benefits).
Being a wide angle junky I actually did purchase the wide angle adapter lens for this camera. Wow, wow, wow. I always thought these accessory type lenses were a silly idea, but this one gives an 18mm equivalent field of view and the optical performance is stunning for such a wide angle lens. My Canon XTi and 10-22mm no longer need to be hauled around for ultra-wide shots.
Finally, to repeat a point made by many, this is NOT a DSLR replacement. It can't do everything a DSLR can. It does have way more manual control than almost any other compact, it can shoot RAW much faster than most compacts, and its imager size and pixel density are better than the vast majority of compacts. That said, it doesn't offer the fast autofocus of an SLR, the deep RAW buffers and fast frame rates of an SLR, nor high ISO performance anything like an SLR. But it is a camera that performs admirably in many of those departments and most importantly it does a great job of getting out of the photographers way just like a SLR. I have now taken the LX3 on two dedicated landscape shooting trips instead of my SLR, so for some tasks is can be a replacement and for others a complement. Don't expect miracles, but do expect to be pleasantly surprised if you've shot with other compacts.
As long as you are aware of the restrictions of the 24-60mm focal range you just simply can not get a better compact camera.
Great compliment to a Digital SLR January 2, 2009
Great little camera. Easy to carry around with you, and capable of making print-quality photos. The limited focal length is a downside, but there are many upsides that make this a great camera in my opinion. The LCD is large and bright. The HD video capture capability is very convenient. Great bang for the buck.
 A Terrific Advanced Compact Camera (Thank You Panasonic!) December 30, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
The Panasonic LX3 is a great advanced compact camera for the photo enthusiast. The photo quality is terrific, the build quality is great, the size is perfect, and it has all the manual and automatic controls you could ever need.
First let me start by saying that I have always wanted a Panasonic digital camera, most Panasonics have always had great lenses, a good interface, great built quality, and image stabilizers. I never bought one, though, because photo quality was subpar, with lots of image noise and noise reduction mushiness. The LX3 is the first Panasonic camera I have bought and I love it.
The best aspect of the camera has to be that lens. It's super-wide at 24mm and is great for indoor shots, and landscapes. Moreover, the maximum aperture of the lens is f2.0 to f2.8 and really helps in low light allowing a faster shutter speed and avoiding the flash, while macro shots benefit from the greater depth-of-field. The lens is also sharp from corner to corner, and the jpeg processing removes any barrel distortion and fringing. The only downside to the lens is the 60mm reach; so take that into consideration before buying.
The rest of the camera is no slouch either. The sensor is a bit bigger than most point and shots and has a modest 10-megapixel resolution. Panasonic claims to have kept the megapixels at 10 to increase sensitivity and decrease noise, and it has worked to an extent. If you don't expect SLR quality at higher ISO speeds you'll be pleased. From ISO 80-200 I have no complaints with image quality. There is plenty of detail, good exposure, and natural looking colors. Above ISO 200 to about ISO 400 it's still plenty acceptable and depends on the subject matter and lighting. Anything above ISO 400, in my eyes, is for emergency use, or photos that are not very important. At that point most of the detail is mushed away and noise is pretty high. Of course, if you prefer to do the processing yourself you can always shoot RAW.
The camera is a good size, not large, but definitely not a pocket camera either, the protruding lens sees to that (see my included picture). Build quality is great; most of the camera is made of metal (even the front of the lens cap). The 3" screen on the back is bright and clear with a high resolution. There are manual controls for pretty much every function, two custom white balance settings, and two custom setting on the mode dial. Of course there is also a fully automatic mode and plenty of scene modes as well. I especially like the different film modes to tweak your results, and the two custom film modes, which even give you control over noise reduction. The aspect ratio switch on the lens let's you shoot in 4:3, 3:2, and 16:9, and the camera also allows you to bracket in the three ratios.
The only minor negatives I have about the camera is as follows: 1) The lens retracts too quickly when you switch into review mode, delaying the next shot, 2) The lens cap can be finicky to put on, the release buttons are quite small, 3) There is no sensor to prevent the camera from extending the lens when the cap is on, I always turn it to playback mode when I turn it off just in case, 4) The battery door, and playback/record switch don't feel as sturdy as the rest of the camera, 5) The flash release switch is small, 6) The camera can be slow when going from record to playback.
All in all... despite the few flaws it's an awesome camera, and a great companion for my digital SLR.
Not quite an SLR, but very close... December 24, 2008
Camera packed with many useful features, good quality pictures and video. the best you can get in a compact camera. Ideal if you want decent pictures and do not want to carry a bulky slr.
Great Camera, worth the wide angle and wide F stop! December 24, 2008
I had to get one due to its larger sensor and the 24mm wide angle lens and the large f2 stop, as my Canon G9 didn't have either. Taking pics with it is great, but you have to remember to just tap the zoom button before taking a shot; you're starting at 24mm so unless you want to risk wide angle distortion for a portrait, you'll want to at least go to 28mm or higher to reduce the possibility. Some of my early portrait shots had severe wide angle lens distortion towards the edges, and faces got a little skewed there. But otherwise, that's what I bought the camera for, which is to take wide angle shots, and also the f2 really helps in low lights and also blurring backgrounds. All in all, a great camera.
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