Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 vs. DMC-LX3 hands-on (the new Panasonic sensor works better!)
Leonard Goh from CNET Asia compared the new Panasonic LX5
Source: http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/digitalcameras/0,39001469,62201687,00.htm
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Comment from GT: Ignore those people jj, why they're make...- Comment from GT: Jon, the LX3 does not use a Sony sensor....
Comment from girl: agree with you, same here. I use nokton ...
Comment from spanky: On the surface it may seem that way, but...
Ashton Sharapova
2 years ago |thats great and all but I’m still not replacing my lx3 with lx5. i could probably produce similar results using RAW processing in silkypix. The only thing I cant get is an extra 1.5x of zoom, but still would rather save my cash money and put it into a gf1.
jan beeldrijk
2 years ago |These results are also interesting for a G1-owner like me.
The LX5 offers an (equivalent) 24 mm – 90 mm lens of (no doubt) very good quality. The 24 mm equivalent is worthwile since the G-series only offer the extremely expensive wide-angle zoom for that focal distance. The LX5 could serve as a decent companion with my G1. A comparitively cheap one too.
Besides that, the maximum aperture is 2 on the LX5. Great for available light photography.
I hope that the improved sensor on the LX5 can compete with the questionable qualities of my still beloved G1 sensor.
Zonkie
2 years ago |Difficult to draw any conclusions about the sensor in those small samples shot in JPEG. All we can see is that the LX5 has shorter exposures than the LX3. And that they seem to have done a good job to reduce flares in the lens (though from just one sample it’s nothing conclusive).
We’ll have to wait for some good full size samples, shot in RAW and manual mode to have an idea about the sensor’s performance.
Anyway, the longer zoom range and better image stabilization (and better video) are some interesting features by themselves. Maybe not enough to upgrade if you own an LX3 already, but they do make the LX5 a better overall camera.
Andy
2 years ago |I am not sure if a test in iA mode is very useful. It is more a test for the new firmware not for the sensor?! (LX3 & DP2 owner)
Boris
2 years ago |Unfortunately, iA mode was used and the difference seen in these smallish pictures can be accounted for with different exposure time the two cameras chose at the moment.
Boris
2 years ago |Zonkie, are you sure that what you see as flares are not just sunbeams going through holes in the roof?
mpgxsvcd
2 years ago |I thought the LX3 pictures looked better. I really couldn’t tell much of a difference though.
I would muh rather have the 720p @ 24 FPS video of the LX3 over the 720 @ 29.97 FPS video of the LX5.
The only improvement I see is that the LX5 has a little extra telephoto length. Overall I am very dissapointed in the LX5.
DMC-FZ100, now there is a camera I like.
Gabi
2 years ago |Did you see the sample images of the FZ100 in full size? There is not much to like in these… Just my 2 cents.
Mark
2 years ago |Boris, I have to agree with you. All the differences I see are due to lx5 exposing 1/3-1/2 stop below LX3, which in most cases show in more correct. In other words LX3 is overexposing IMHO.
Jon
2 years ago |The LX3 uses a Sony CCD. The LX5 is also a CCD (presumably another Sony). Any improvements to the sensor will have nothing to do with Panasonic’s own NMOS four-thirds sensors.
GT
2 years ago |Jon, the LX3 does not use a Sony sensor.
Joel
2 years ago |The exposures are definitely darker for the LX5. I’ve been hoping the GH2 sensor will have dramatically more headroom in the RAW files. I often pull additional detail out of RAW and create a graduated ND effect in Photoshop from multiple RAW exposures.
spanky
2 years ago |I agree with everyone else. This article isn’t much of a review as it is a confirmation that the LX5 is, indeed, a camera, and that it does, in fact, capture photos. Aside from that, it’s neither here nor there.
gabriel
2 years ago |On thoses small jpeg, every camera on the market looks good. There is small differences between lx3 and lx5, but maybe it’s sensor, maybe IA or maybe lenses, or maybe all 3 combined
But it’s too late for me, i’m already a happy father of a an Samsung EX1 baby
jj
2 years ago |Why do people insist on having 24fps video on p&s? The high shutter speed the camera will likely use makes it look more stuttery than 30fps. In order to use 24fps “properly” for filmic look, you should be able to set shutterspeed to 1/48sec or so.
mpgxsvcd
2 years ago |@jj What makes you think the camera will use a high shutter speed? My experience is that Panasonic cameras tend to use too high of an ISO and too low of a shutter speed for video.
My GF1 used to use ISO 800 or ISO 1600 all the time until I hacked to get manual video controls. Now I stick a fast F1.2 lens on there and shoot at ISO 100-400 in 4:2:2 color.
girl
2 years ago |agree with you, same here. I use nokton 50mm 1.1 and 35mm 1.2 with my GF1, I’m always happy.
GT
2 years ago |Ignore those people jj, why they’re make such a fuss about video on such a tiny still camera is beyond anybody’s guess. If they want to shoot quality video, they can go get a quality video camera.
CRB
2 years ago |Better dynamic range?I see no samples testing it….also, isn’t the AF suppose to be improved ?
Rudi
2 years ago |Yet another useless camera comparison! Why are they always made by people who seem to have no idea of what is important to a photographer, and how to do an actual comparison? The small JPEGs just add insult to injury…
Vlado
2 years ago |Nothing saying…..
How the hell you come to the conclusion that LX5 has improved senzor over LX3???
From photos made on full automatic setup?
All you can say from that is that LX5 can do better picture by automatic than LX3, but you can’t know where the improvmend was made. (more contrast lens, better jpg-engine, better noise reduction SW, better senzor, better A/D reading from senzor….)
Your conclusion is like if I whould compere pictures made by e-3+14-42 lens than with e-520 +12-60 lens on full automatic mode and made conclusion about the senzor’s in e-3,e-520 ….
Ulli
2 years ago |so many comments about a camera which has nothing to do with m4/3….;-)
spanky
2 years ago |On the surface it may seem that way, but the relevance with MFT has to do with the new microlens technology that Panasonic implemented on the LX5 to supposedly improve DR on that sensor, which is technology that’s supposedly being implemented on the new GH sensor as well. Same goes for the technologies which went into the new FZ100 – higher SNR MOS sensor, aspect ratio bracketing, new processor, etc. – all of which are likely going to show up in some form on the GH. It is definitely relevant.