Panasonic LX5 : sensor recycling
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Even though two generations of compact cameras have grown since Panasonic first introduced its prosumer compact camera, the Lumix LX3, the LX5 today announced gets the same sensor as the LX3 : a larger than average 1/1.63" CCD of 10 megapixels resolution. Yet, Panasonic says that this sensor has been redesigned to meet today's standards. Let's believe them... Actually, the noise reduction and image enhancement will be held by a new processor, the Venus Engine FHD, allowing the LX5 to reach ISO 12 800 highest sensitivity.
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Panasonic DMC-LX5 : the lens
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A lot of potential buyers of the LX3 did not finally buy the camera because of its two narrow focal length range. In spite of a nice and wide 24mm wide angle position, its tele position was only 60mm long and that is not what most amateur photographers would expect. Today, Panasonic has equiped its LX5 with a much more appealing lens featuring a reasonable and smart 24-90mm lens designed by Leica. The Leica DC Vario Summicron is still quite a fast lens with a maximum aperture of F2.0-3.3. A fast lens with generous aperture and a large sensor are the key to nice bokeh and the first requirements to low-light photography without the use of the integrated flash. The LX5's lens is optically stabilized by the latest Power O.I.S. system.
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Panasonic LX5's screen and viewfinder
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The rear LCD screen of the LX5 is a rather large and comfy 3"/460 000 dots display. Once again, we'll all regret the lack of optical viewfinder so usefull under direct sunlight. Yet, on the LX5, you may mount the electronic viewfinder designed by Panasonic for ots Micro 4:3 GF1 on the LX5's hotshoe... but that remains an electronic viewfinder...
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HD video recording
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When Sony's range of compact cameras widely gets Full HD video recording, the LX5 looks poorly equiped with 720p (1280 x 720 pixels) video capabilities. The Lumix records its video sequences at 50 fps though, a good solution for smooth images. AVCHD movie recording is here (50fps) but a traditional Motion JPEG format which is a bit bulky on the memory card but might be easier to deal with afterwards is also available at 30 fps shooting rate. Panasonic has thought of a mini-HDMI output.
 The larger than usual 1/63" sensor of the LX5. |
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Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 main technical specifications
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- 1/63" - 10 megapixels CCD sensor
- Leica DC Vario Summicron (24-90mm) F2.0-3.3 lens
- Power O.I.S. optical image stabilization
- 1cm macro mode
- Zoom shortcuts : 24/35/50/70 and 90mm
- 11-points AF with face detection and AF-tracking
- 80 to 12 800 ISO
- 2.5 fps burst rate
- 1280 x 720 Pixels at 50 fps movie recording in AVCHD and 30 fps in Motion JPEG
- mini-HDMI ouput
- Lithium-ion battery
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