Panasonic LUMIX LX3 Review and Sample Photos

LUMIX LX3 is the main *official* camera for Ahbing.com! Yay!

This is an amazing camera. Its a compact camera that shoots as well as a mid-range DSLR. Best of all, it costs half of what a bottom-end DSLR costs.

I bought Panasonic LUMIX LX3 not long ago, and already received messages from friends.

Two main types of messages from them

1) Congratulation! I am jealous!
2) How was the camera?

I promised them to write a review, so here is it.

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.

How the camera looks like

The size of LX3 is smaller than what I had in mind. I can easily cover the whole camera with my palm.

I can switch the aspect of the camera immediately with three easy switches. These aspects determine the “square size” of your camera. If you want to have wide-screen effect, choose 16:9. Pretty much like a television.

I did not clean the camera properly after came back from experimenting at city ^^;

Auto Focus – Macro Mode – Manual Focus. These switches are mostly not available in compact cameras. Sometimes I forgot to switch back to AF after taking food macro shots ^^” so is a habit I need to change.

The round switch on the left is the manual switches. Notice there is no “Automatic” shot.

Start from SCN (clock wise) – SCENE – intelligentAperture – Program – Aperture Priority – Shutter Speed Priority – Manual – Custom 1 – Custome 2 – Video

W and T button is zoom function. This camera only comes with 2x zoom but I am satisfied with current zoom.

Focus – ah haaa I love this function. I can set the focus point manually.. usually only dSLR has such functions.

And more more more more buttons which I am too lazy to explain ^^”

This is definitely not a camera for new comers. But once mastered, this is a really really really really powerful compact camera. Especially in low light conditions.

I bought a new memory card specially for this camera. I take high resolution shots to give myself more room to edit photos in Photoshop. Normally one photo is around 3mb. If I shoot in RAW mode, one photo is around 11mb.

The battery life sucks. I need to get a spare one.

The lens will become long long when you turn it on. Many girls love this motion. I turn on my camera, they also turn on themselves. Haiyaya. I don’t know why la.. but some how that boost my ego a bit.

This spot right here very geng one.. can put external flash or viewfinder.

Eh? external flash? this means LX3 does not have flash? No no no.. this is not what I mean. This camera has its own build in flash.

Jeng jeng jeng… build in flash! You push a button, and the flash will pop up with a *click* sound. Haha its addictive to play with the click sound.

LUMIX LX3 sample screen shots

These shots were taken without going through manual book. There is much room for improvement (I hope)

Chris holding my Fantasy Chicken Wing™

Low light condition – without flash.

Macro shots.. focused on the edge.

10 second expose – outside my room.

Jacaranda trees during daylight mode. Photos taken for my Brisbane Student Guide website.

Tutorial Websites

Step by step video guides – http://www.lbguides.com
Lowyat Forum – http://forum.lowyat.net
Sample LX3 photos – http://www.flickr.com
Famous blogger using this camera – http://www.dannychoo.com

Panasonic DMC-LX3 10.1MP Digital Camera with 24mm Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black)

This is an amazing camera.

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