Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX3 digital camera – easy to use with a great feature set

The new LUMIX DMC-LX3 digital still camera from Panasonic is designed to provide bright, clear images in a range of shooting conditions – with an ultra wide-angle 24mm LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMICRON lens and a newly-designed 10.1 megapixel CCD.

The camera offers an ultra wide-angle 24mm LEICA lens – equal to a 24-60mm lens in a film camera – with f/2.0 brightness for outstanding performance. The new 1/1.63-inch CCD offers superb sensitivity and a wide dynamic range for excellent image quality and colour reproduction in low light. Images can be captured in three aspect ratios – 4:3, 3:2 or 16:9.

The DMC-LX3 allows full manual control for advanced photography; as well as allowing users to take perfect shots with outstanding ease using Panasonic’s Intelligent Auto (iA) mode, where the camera makes settings intuitively.

The camera offers users greater shot-making flexibility and control with an easy-to use manual mode; and optional accessories such as a wide conversion lens for a maximum 18mm wide angle and filters to broaden image-creating possibilities.

Alternatively, in iA mode the camera does all the work, activating Mega O.I.S (Optical Image Stabiliser), Intelligent ISO Control, Intelligent Scene Selector, Face Detection and Intelligent Exposure. This leaves the user free to simply compose the shot and press the shutter button, knowing that the image will be clear and correctly exposed.

Large, high-performance CCD

At the heart of the DMC-LX3 is a key component, the 1/1.63-inch 10.1 megapixel CCD. The large CCD means it was possible for Panasonic to allow more space for each pixel, and also redesign the peripheral circuits and other components to further minimise noise generation. As a result, sensitivity and saturation is increased, providing outstanding image quality with a wide dynamic range and meeting the demand for a camera that offers optimal performance in low-light environments.

The CCD in the DMC-LX3 can reproduce images in 4:3, 3:2 or 16:9 aspect ratios. The newly added Multi Aspect mode allows the camera to take an image in all three aspect ratios simultaneously so the photographer can choose the best shot later.

Ultra-wide angle LEICA lens

The DMC-LX3 has a new f/2.0 24mm ultra wide-angle LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMICRON lens. With the new lens, the LX3 can shoot at higher shutter speeds and capture stunningly clear, blur-free images in low light.

The fully open f/2.0 aperture and newly adopted iris diaphragm also work together to produce stunning portraits with soft background defocus.
The 24mmi ultra wide-angle lens – rare on a compact camera – gives photographers a wider range of composition possibilities. The LEICA lens minimises distortion at the
wide end, so users can capture stunning, true-to-life images with outstanding resolution and detail.

The lens unit consists of 8 elements in 6 groups and 4 aspherical lenses with 4 aspherical surfaces – ensuring minimal distortion, high resolution, and minimum artifacts such as chromatic aberrations, ghosting and flaring.

Venus Engine IV for high-speed, high-quality image processing

The ‘Venus Engine IV’ image processing engine at the heart of the camera includes features for high-quality images and fast shooting. The LSI reduces image noise that can result in poor resolution and suppresses colour bleeding. It also enhances the accuracy of Intelligent Image Stabilisation, and suppresses blocked shadows and blown highlights with the Intelligent Exposure function. The engine allows the DMC-LX3 to shoot up to 310 photos (CIPA) on a single battery charge thanks to improvements in power efficiency.

For low-light photography, the DMC-LX3 can also record at a setting of ISO 3200 at full resolution, and up to ISO 6400 when using the high sensitivity mode. Fast response time means that the shutter release time lag for the DMC-LX3 is as short as 0.005 second. In ‘high speed burst’ shooting mode, the camera can capture 6 shots per second, and ‘burst’ shooting mode allows 2.5 shots per second at full resolution. The new ‘Flash burst’ mode allows continuous shooting using flash for up to 5 images. Unlimited consecutive shooting lets you keep shooting until the memory card is full.

Source: Panasonic