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More…The 10-megapixel Lumix DMC-LX2 ($410 as of February 15, 2007), the most recent Panasonic model we've tested, has the same image stabilization feature found on many other Lumix cameras, but it dispenses with those cameras' long zoom in favor of a smaller, more compact body. Even so, the lens protrudes from the camera body by 0.75 inch when the camera is turned off, giving it a total depth of 1.75 inch and making it a little too clunky to fit comfortably in most pockets. The lens cap isn't integrated into the camera body, either; instead, it dangles from a tether while you shoot. If you switch on the camera with the lens cap still attached, you'll get an on-screen warning to remove it.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2
- Spec Navigator
- Digital Format
- Display
- Exposure
- Image Processor
- Included Hardware
- Included Software
- Lens
- Shutter
- Storage
- LCD Screen
- Exposure Controls
- Dimensions
- Power
- Flash
- Lens Features
- Connectivity
- Other Features
Image Processor
| Number of image sensor pixels | 10 megapixels |
| Image sensor | CCD |
| Maximum horizontal image resolution | 4224 |
| Maximum vertical image resolution | 2376 |
| Image sensor quantity | 1 |
| Image format |
|
| White balance | 0 |
Included Hardware
| Included Hardware |
|
Included Software
| Included Software |
|
Lens
| Accessory Lens | No |
| Lens Model | Leica DC Vario-Elmarit |
| Telephoto Aperture Maximum | 4.9 mm |
| Wide-Angle Aperture Maximum | 2.8 mm |
Exposure Controls
| Maximum shutter speed | 2000 |
| Minimum shutter speed | 60 |
| Bulb setting | 0 |
| ISO equivalencies |
|
| Exposure settings | 0 |
| Exposure compensation range | 0 |
| Number of scene modes | 18 |
- Lab Tested
- How We Test Cameras »
Pros
Very accurate exposures
Takes photos in widescreen format
Cons
High price
Must pop up flash manually
Bottom Line
High image quality and widescreen format are this camera's best attributes, though some controls could be easier to use.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2
Lumix DMC-LX2 Review, by Alan Stafford March 13, 2007
The DMC-LX2 replaces the DMC-LX1, which we tested last year. The main update involves resolution: The new model takes 4224-by-2376-pixel stills with a wide-screen (16:9) aspect ratio--a format unique to this camera. The HD format is nice for snapping wide-angle shots of, say, landscapes, but pictures that have a distinct foreground subject showed too much extraneous background (though this might be good for capturing unique effects). You can use the three-position switch on the lens to jump to the camera's 3:2 (DVD dimensions) mode, or to its traditional 4:3 mode. In 3:2 format, however, you get only 8.5 megapixels; and in 4:3 mode, 7.5 megapixels. The zoom lens extends to 6.2X if you ratchet the resolution down to 2 megapixels, but at the camera's highest-resolution setting you can only zoom to 4X.
If you choose the right format, the DMC-LX2's unusual, 2.8-inch wide-screen LCD (located on the back of the camera) crops the image just the way an HDTV does. The HD mode takes some getting used to, though. Unless you hold the camera at arm's length, you have to move your eyes to see the entire display. One nifty feature: You can set the display to "high angle" mode, making shots easier to view when you hold the camera over your head--say, in a crowd. The camera has no optical viewfinder.
The camera and the manual say that you can capture movies in either 16:9 or 4:3 mode, but the camera we received for testing allowed movie capture only in 4:3 mode. When I tried to select the 16:9 mode, the camera insisted that I was still in the unsupported 3:2 mode.
Like the DMC-LX1, the newer model has several buttons on its small, well-constructed aluminum body. In addition to the usual mode dial and menu navigation buttons, it has an exposure lock button conveniently situated on the back, and a button on the top of the camera for turning on image stabilization. This feature uses software to reduce blur, and you can use it in multiple scene modes. The tiny joystick on the back controls things like aperture and shutter speed when you use a mode that supports these manual adjustments, but I would rather have used the four menu buttons to adjust these settings. The joystick adjusts the manual focus, too--a function that it does make a bit easier.
Two buttons control the flash. Unfortunately, you must use a button on the top of the camera to pop up the flash manually. One of the four directional buttons lets you select the flash mode, but pressing it doesn't cycle through the modes; instead, it launches an on-screen menu, so you have to use the directional buttons or the joystick to select the mode, and then press the Menu button to enter the mode. That's far more complicated than it should be.
The DMC-LX2 earned excellent scores in nearly all of our image-quality tests. Most shots--even magnified enlargements--looked sharp, and the camera earned our top score for exposure quality. In our lab tests, cameras capture images while mounted on a tripod, but outside the lab, I tried the Lumix's two image-stabilization modes (one works continuously, and the other works only when the shutter release it held down, ostensibly to save battery life). Neither mode can prevent blurry pictures in extremely shaky settings (on a roller coaster, for example), but they will gain you an f-stop or two, which is enough to save some pictures, particularly in low light.
In addition to aperture-priority, shutter-priority, and full-manual shooting modes, the DMC-LX2 offers 18 scene modes, including one for 'Food' and two for taking shots of babies ('Baby1' and 'Baby2'). The latter two modes prompt you to identify your child's birthday; subsequently they refer to that date in stamping photos with your baby's age--for example, "2 years, 1 month, 19 days." (The two Baby modes are identical; there are two of them s you can track the progress of two children.) The camera's menus explain what the scene modes do, but they don't do a very good job of it--the description of Food mode reads, "For taking pictures of food. Take a picture without flash for the best result."
The camera's warranty is a bit unusual, and not in a good way: Most parts are warranted for a year, but the CCD is covered for only six months, and the labor warranty lasts just 90 days. Most camera warranties back their product for a full year on both parts and labor.
Alan Stafford
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PCWorld Lab Results
- Rating Breakdown
-
86
-
83
-
84
- See Complete Lab Results »
86
71Performance
| Battery Life (minutes) | 171.75 |
| Battery Life Score | Very Good |
| Image Quality Score | Very Good |
| Image Quality, Color | 69.9 |
| Image Quality, Distortion | 60 |
| Image Quality, Exposure | 76 |
| Image Quality, Exposure--Flash | 68 |
| Image Quality, Exposure--Normal | 79.4 |
| Image Quality, Overall | 69.7 |
| Image Quality, Sharpness | 44 |
| Number of Batteries | 1 |
| Number of Shots | 313 |
User Reviews
Review Now! Already own it? Tell us What You Think
User Reviews From Around the Web
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Reviewed by: cmcgaugh
Strengths: Excellent lens, ease of use, fast re-cycle...very versitilewith the different aspect ratios.
Weaknesses: Slightly smaller than I would have liked.
Overall: I read a lot of reviews on this camera before I bought it.Noise seemed to be a common complaint, but I haven't seenany problems with the kind of pictures I take (so far). So far it's been a real pleasure to use, and I'm extremelyhappy with the pictures. It's essentially a Leica D-LUX3 without the Leica price and logo. The only difference I'vefound is that it only has 13mb internal memory vs 64mb forthe Leica version. But it also has a small grip that the Leica doesn't. Otherwise they are exactly the same camera. Here are some pics I did of a South African plant I have at home taken without a tripod, by ambient light, 7mpx, macro mode. I feel my money was well spent. =)
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Reviewed by: x1w2c3
Strengths: Great image with high-pixel; Wide screen display; Adjustable picture aspect ratio; easy-use buttons
Weaknesses: zoom is too short; Picture out slot is not a standard mini-usb
Overall: First of all, this is really a good camera for you to use, especially if you do not want to take much time to learn how to use the digital SLR camera and you just want to take some pictures while you travel. This DMC-LX2 can give you very nice shot, especially when you take pictures of views. The high-pixel and wide-angle feature let me take some great picture while I was traveling last summer in several national parks. For those professional photographers, the quality of the pictures might be far from acceptable, but for me, that is enough. The design of the buttons is OK. It makes the camera easy to use. You can actually view and adjust pictures on the camera, which I would like to do it on my computer. Plus, this camera has menu in English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Chinese and Japanese. Might be good for people in other language. The color of those pictures is quite good, especially when there is enough light. But when the light is not good, its quality really depends. And don't be cheated by the display of the picture on the camera. Those pictures might not be that good when they show up in your computer. I think the so-called MEGA-OIS (Optical Image Stability) does not work that well as Panasonic claims. Sometime the view is so good but I cannot take a picture of it. Most of the pictures taken on those occasions are blurring. Those awful noise is surely the results of its shortcomings. And, the zoom is too short, I guess. I tried to take some pictures of mushrooms and insects in local forest but most of them are blurred. And the focus is not quite good enough. If you magnify it in your computer, I saw the stuff I take shot of is actually not right focused. And also, the picture-out slot is not a mini-usb one. You need use the one that is included in the package. I forgot to bring with it once and I could not bring the card-reader with me. I thought it might be OK cause I believe it has a mini-usb slot. So, when I find the slot is not a standard one and I was out of nowhere at that time, I have to delete some pictures. Well, other than these cons, it still makes itself a good camera. And perhaps after you read the manual and more materials, you can improve a lot of taking really good pictures with it. To choose it or not depends on what you expect out of it.
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Reviewed by: wenchaoxu
Strengths: Wide angle lens, High Pixels LCD, Optimized Automatic Mode, Other Adjustable Modes
Weaknesses: Optical Zoom is too short; MEGA OIS does not work very well as they advertised
Overall: I think this camera is very good for you to take picture for outdoor activities. It has wide angle lens which is good to take pictures of scenic view. I also believe that they optimized the "Automatic Mode". The pictures look really good if taken with adequate exposure. If you are interested, you can use other adjustable modes, which make it more like a traditional camera. The battery can work for a long hour. And I have not got any adaptation problem with any kind of regular SD card. I think for this camera, the optical zoom is too small. I cannot take good picture of something just a little bit far. And even with MEGA O.I.S., it is not easy to take a picture at night when the light is not good. The noise becomes more annoying when you raise the ISO at that time.
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Reviewed by: wreptyle35
Strengths: 1. True 16:9 ratio sensor chip2. High resolution (10.2 megapixel) for such a small size.3. 2.7 inches LCD display4. Well designed/convenient controls5. Excellent photos using sensitivity 100
Weaknesses: 1: Image noise is high when sensivity is above 4002. Slightly cumbersome of the body protruding part3. No view finder.
Overall: I love this camera! I actually bought this camera before, but returned it after using it a little while because of the price. I bought it again right before I went on vacation for a great deal, and I know it won't disappoint. There are many great aspects about this camera, so let me begin! Benefits: I really like how I can take 16:9 pictures, and this camera does it flawlessly. The sensor chip inside works really well. This camera is very compact and also easy to use, making it one of the smallest cameras with the most to offer. The large screen is pretty amazing for such a small camera, and I love how the flash is hidden. With the settings at 100 for sensitivity, the pictures of my vacation turned out great! Weaknesses: With that said, if I set the sensitivity at 400 or above, there is some image noise. I know this is a problem with most cameras when the sensitivity is tuned at that level, but I guess I expected better. Mind you it is still very good...I just had high expectations. The 4x optical zoom is great, but the protruding lens does make it a problem carrying it around in your pants pocket. But seriously, I can't see a smaller camera that has this much to offer. I would also love it if it had a view finder, but I guess that is the price to pay for such a large LCD and compact size. Overall, I love it! This is definitely everything I wanted in a digital camera, and I highly recommend it to everybody. I bought it for a little under $400.
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Reviewed by:
Strengths: Unique quality Leica widescreen 28mm lens
Weaknesses: Noisy chip kills Leica advantages, Not wide-view LCD in vertical direction
Overall: Camera is great, if you never look at picture quality at pixel level. Heavy contrast noise even at ISO-100 of this camera, reported by many profi and amateurs photographers, is sometimes so nasty, that you can not remove it with any Noise Ninja
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