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Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 3.8x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0-Inch LCD (Black) | 
| Brand: Panasonic
Category: Photography
Buy New: $499.00
as of 9/9/2010 13:16 CST details
New (2) from $499.00
Seller: Amazon.com
Rating:  11 reviews
Sales Rank: 17
Color: Black
Media: Electronics
Optical Zoom: 3.8
Maximum Resolution: 10
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 4.3 x 2.6 x 1.7
MPN: DMC-LX5K
Model: DMC-LX5K
UPC: 885170016170
EAN: 0885170016170
ASIN: B003WJR69E
Shipping: Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Features:
| • | 10.1-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality poster-size prints | | • | 3.8x F2.0 ultra-wide-angle 24mm Leica DC Vario-Summicron lens | | • | 3.0-inch Intelligent LCD; Record HD videos in AVCHD Lite; Creative Movie mode | | • | Venus Engine FHD image processor; hot shoe for easy accessorization | | • | Capture images to SD/SDHC memory cards (not included) |
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| Accessories:
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
New High Sensitivity CCD and F2.0 LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMICRON LENS
DMC-LX5 is fully re-designed in the lens, the CCD and the image processing engine together with other improvements and upgrades. The newly developed super bright F2.0 ultra wide angle 24mm LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMICRON lens minimizes distortion for stunning, true-to-life images with outstanding resolution and detail. The 24mm wide angle offers extraordinarily large viewing space and now the optical zoom is extended to 3.8x(90mm) making the LX5 even more versatile.
F2.0 Super Bright 24mm Ultra-Wide-Angle* High Quality LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMICRON Lens with Minimum Distortion
The DMC-LX5 is equipped with newly developed F2.0 24mm ultra-wide-angle LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMICRON lens with even higher resolution. The super bright, high quality lens is redesigned for extension of the optical zoom from LX3s 2.5x(60mm) to 3.8x(90mm) to be even more versatile for snapshots including portraits. The F2.0 lens is about twice as bright as the F2.8 lens, itself generally considered a bright lens. The result is a higher shutter speed can be used to capture stunningly clear, sharp, blur-free images in lower lighting situation. This advanced lens also makes it easy to produce beautiful photos with pleasing soft-focused background thanks to the shallow depth of field provided by the extra light.
Also, the 24mm ultra-wide-angle lens - rare on a compact camera - gives photographers a wider range of composition possibilities. The super-high-quality LEICA DC VARIO- SUMMICRON lens minimizes distortion at the wide end, so users can get stunning, true-to-life images with outstanding resolution and detail. The LX5 captures approx. 213% larger viewing space compared to that of normal 35mm cameras, and approx. 136% larger compared to that of 28mm wide-angle lenses.
*35mm film camera equivalent: 24-90mm
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 11
 Almost perfect September 8, 2010
Shaer (USA)
5 out of 7 found this review helpful
This camera is nice..I will not write a detailed review but just few thoughts a bout this camera:
I owned canon S90,Sony DSC-HX5v and had DMC-ZS7...This camera takes pictures that absolutely more beautiful than the rest.
In good light all good cameras will (mostly) take nice pictures,but the challange is in low light and here were you compare this one to S90.The S90 pictures with flash are crappy and I did not take a single picture that turned out to be nice.This one definitly takes much more beautiful pics.
You can adjust minimal shuttter speed and maximum ISO.This is important if you are taking pics for kids as they keep moving...This is very important for parents.This one takes fantastic pictures indoor with shutter speed of 1/125 and Max ISO 400..You can not do that with most other brands.You can do that with the ZS5 or 7 but still the LX5 pics are more bright.
Colors are beautiful and there are so many modes for colors(If I can call them so)...Propably that is a reason why some people are not 100% satisfied with the pic quality...An example if you choose VIVD mode for indoor pictures...Most pictures will come out dark so you will not like them...And the camera will remember the color mode and it's easily to foreget to adjust it at the beginning...Keep that in mind.
The IQ of this camera is great..You can trust it in the iA mode much more than the ZS7.
You can store 4 custom settings and the camera will remember them...Makes you life easier.Which other brand will do that?
Lens cap is not good but not horrible and you will adapt to it quickly.
Size is not big,and you will find handling it much easier and more comfortable than the S90.
Accessories are rare and expensive:That's true but ho will need any because the screen of this camera is very crisp so you will not need a viewfinder and the battery takes more than 400 pics on a single charge...Keep in mind that out of the box the LCD is in the power saving mode that's why it's dark but you can adjust that and it will be bright and crisp.
Menu system is very easy and there is an Fn button that you can assign to the more common function that you use.
If you are after video;keep in mind this is a P&S and if this is your main concern,go for the DSC-HX5v that takes fantastic video but bad pics.
Has (my color) mode..Just try it and you will feel the beauty of this camera's pics.
Price wise,it's expensive but:if canon is selling the S90 for 350-399 this one price should be 700-800 with respect to the features it gives you.
It comes with SILKYPIX software to deal with the RAW images..I think the price of this software is around 150.It's a good one and comes with it for free.
So:
1.If you are a parent for young kids...This is the camera you have been looking for and that's the reason I love it.
2.Please before saying that canon is better,try it first and you will realize that this one easily win.
3.If you get images you are not satisfied with then make sure you are using the right settings.
4.I have been always a Sony's cameras fan,but this camera made me realize how much I was mistaken.
5.For some the S90 is a great camera but for me the LX5 is much much better especially when using the flash.
6.The flash recycles quicker and stronger compared to the rest including the ZS7.Also this is important for kids shots in low light.
WOW - An AMAZING camera! September 6, 2010
J.R. (Washington, DC)
3 out of 8 found this review helpful
I was going to get the LX3 several months ago, but then heard they were coming out with LX5.
All I can say is WOW! This camera is AMAZING.
Wide angle, superior IQ, great in low light conditions, easy to use, feels solid when you hold it...love this camera!
 Great little camera, but there are issues. September 6, 2010
Encite (Alaska)
2 out of 18 found this review helpful
Received this camera just hours before leaving on a two week trip to Hawaii, kudos to Amazon for getting it to me the day after it was released. I am very impressed with the camera and it's capabilities. There are already enough reviews talking about the capabilities, so I'll talk about a few issues that I need help resolving.
First, my Windows 7 starter edition does not recognize the movie files created on the camera. I upgraded my Lightroom to 3.2, and it does not import the movie files. I tried installing the included software, thinking that it would see and install the movie files, but it will not install because my gateway netbook does not have enough resolution. Very frustrating.
Second, I had already purchased the wide-angle conversion lens and the conversion tube to make it, and filters, work. Unfortunately, the tube is 46mm on one end, and 45mm on the other, and both the camera and the accessories are 46mm. Another bummer.
Third, I have been unsuccessful in finding a "Panasonic approved battery", as a spare, and was not able to find the leather camera case for sale anywhere.
I have work-arounds for most of these issues, but in my mind, after shelling out more than $600 for the equipment, I should not have to resort to work-arounds.
The camera itself rates 5 stars, but the frustrations pull it down to 4.
 Sold my Canon G11 for this - regret it - will be going back. September 5, 2010
Todd Gilbert
15 out of 36 found this review helpful
I don't know why - but I sold my G11 about a month ago. I replaced it with a Panasonic GF-1 that while I really like the camera - it is just to big to be my compact (primary is a 5D2). I plan on selling the GF-1 to pay for it's replacement. That was to be the LX5, G12, S95 or TL500/EX1. I tried the LX5 first and frankly - am quite disappointed.
Pros:
1. 24mm f/2 Wide Angle - love it.
2. Love the aspect ratio switch that ISN'T just cropping the main 4:3 aspect ratio. The 16:9 24MM angle of view is very impressive - my favorite thing about the camera by far. I originally went with this over the S95 strictly for the 24mm FOV and it is great after seeing it.
3. 3FPS while shooting raw is pretty cool.
4. Zoom/AF during video is also very nice.
5. Hotshoe - definitely a must have and the primary reason it got picked over a S90/5.
6. Battery life is pretty good - another reason it got picked over S90/5.
Cons:
1. When composing - the camera quadruples the pixels on the back screen - so only after you take the photo is the 460K dot screen actually utilized. This is a huge drawback and makes a camera that came out last week feel dreadfully dated in use.
2. Image quality is really just ok - my G11 was way better. I shoot raw exclusively - and I have to use Lightroom's noise reduction even when shot at ISO 80 to get creamy soft skys.
3. As stated the screen above isn't 460K all the time - but I also didn't realize how much I loved the swivel screen of the G11.
4. Video quality is ok - but I don't want to fire up iMovie every time I want to dump stuff off a card - wish it was a self contained file like the h.264 out of Canon.
5. Menu system feels like a 1999 camera - very dated and disorganized.
6. Build quality feels just ok - the G11 or TL500 are both built like tanks - this just doesn't have that feel.
7. The lens cap is crap and adds too much thickness - I much prefer the G11/S95's automatic cap.
8. When you turn the camera off after taking photos in succession or a video (where the buffer is used) - the lens doesn't retract immediately. You have to wait for the camera to finish writing to the card before you can put that dreadful lenscap back on. I bought a faster memory card and that did improve it - but I never had this problem with my G11.
Really I suppose what I want just isn't here yet. I want a Canon menu system GF-1 with a 24mm equiv f/1.8 pancake lens that will fit in my pocket.
The closest I think I will get to that - is the Samsung TL500 Black 10-megapixel Digital Camera
But it might just be too big - so I want to try out the Canon PowerShot S95 10 MP Digital Camera with 3.8x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0-Inch inch LCD or even a used S90 as they are CHEAP now.
Excellent Image Quality September 5, 2010
Randy Benter (Kansas City)
17 out of 18 found this review helpful
I have owned a few premium compacts, so this is a review of how I think the LX5 compares to the competition. My primary camera is a Nikon D90, but I like to have a compact camera that I can put in a pocket for outings when photography is a secondary objective.
***THE GOOD
The image quality of this camera is excellent for a compact. The metering and auto white balance do a fine job of accurately reproducing the scene. The contrast and colors are excellent with nice saturation. Skies look better than some other Panasonics which tend to render the sky more cyan than blue, but the reds seem a little too strong (be careful not to blow the red channel). I can definitely see a difference between the LX5 and previous Panasonics and overall, I think the new Venus Engine FHD does a fine job.
The ergonomics of this camera are great. I never could get used to the small size of the Canon S90, it is too small and too slick; I always felt as if I could easily drop it. The LX5 is just slightly larger than the S90 and feels much better. I have no problems operating this camera with one hand. The buttons and menu system are well designed so you can get to the most commonly used settings quickly.
The lens is super sharp for a compact fixed lens and the extended zoom range compared to the LX3 is a nice improvement. Pictures taken with the LX5 are slightly sharper than the Canon G11 and much sharper than the Canon S90 and Samsung TL500. The lens is also wider and faster than other compacts.
Low light (high-ISO) performance has long been Panasonic's Achilles heel. Pictures taken with an LX3 at ISO settings above 200 were very noisy. The LX5 is greatly improved in this area and I find ISO 800 to be very usable. Don't expect the low-light performance to be as good as an APS-C or 4/3 camera, it is not even close, but considering the sensor size, the LX5 does a good job. I think the Canon compacts are still ahead in this area, but the difference is now very slight. The new intelligent-ISO feature is also an improvement; it considers both available light and subject movement when setting the ISO. I usually set ISO manually, but by setting the ISO limit to 800 and using intelligent-ISO I have found the camera sets the ISO just where I would want it.
Autofocus seems very accurate and I seldom get a blurry shot. The AF speed is typical of cameras in this class, but noticeably slower than my GF1. I had hoped the fast AF of the GF1 would make it into the LX5, but I presume this is a trade-off for a smaller, lighter camera.
The image stabilization feature works very well and is equal to the Canon compacts.
The camera ships with the latest version (3.1) of SilkyPix, which does an excellent job of raw file conversion. The camera is also supported in Adobe Camera Raw 6.2 for users of Photoshop and Photoshop Elements.
***THE BAD (in case Panasonic is listening)
Manual Focus is difficult to use! The MF assist zoom releases within 1 second of changing the zoom while the camera is still shaking from the operation of the wheel or button. The zoom really needs to stay on longer (the GF1 stays on for about 10 seconds). I hope Panasonic releases a firmware update to fix this issue soon. I think 3-5 seconds would be ideal.
The AE-Lock indicator is only displayed with the normal display along with all other setting icons. AE-Lock only functions as lock-hold, so the status indicator is necessary. Users should have the option to disable lock-hold and the indicator should be displayed regardless of display mode.
The detachable lens cap seems unnecessary; I would prefer a built-in cap like most cameras in this class.
It is annoying that the only way to view a histogram in playback mode is to enable it in live-view mode. My personal preference is to not have it in the way while framing, but I occasionally check the histogram when reviewing a shot. A color histogram would also be nice in playback mode.
The buttons on the rear control pad are in different locations compared to my GF1 which has the ISO button on the top and the focus button on the left. The memory card orientation is also inconsistent between Panasonic models. These are not major issues, but I wish the designers hadn't overlooked this. As long as I own both cameras, I will occasionally push the wrong button and insert the memory card backwards.
There is no remote trigger option.
***SUMMARY
There really aren't many cameras to choose from in the premium compact market. I only consider those with 1/1.6 or 1/1.7 sensors and the ability to shoot raw to be true premium compacts. Anything with a smaller sensor will not deliver the same image quality. There are also some larger sensors available in small cameras, but if you want to fit it in a pocket or small belt case, then you are limited to a single focal length, like the Sigma DPx or a Micro 4/3 with a pancake lens. Once you put a zoom lens on a micro 4/3, then you are so close to the size of a small DSLR that you might as well carry a Rebel or D5000 (the same goes for the Sony NEX series). I expect when I walk out the door I will either select the D90 for image quality or the LX5 for its small size, the GF1 might get lost in the middle and may not remain in my arsenal much longer.
If you are trying to choose between an S90, a G11, an LX5 or a TL500, then I recommend you cross the S90 and TL500 off your list straight away; the LX5 and G11 are better. Choosing between the LX5 and G11 is a bit more difficult as there are some things each camera does better. I personally think the LX5 has the edge based on image quality and a slightly wider (24mm) and faster (f2.0) lens, but if an articulating screen and remote control are important to you, then a G11 will also provide excellent images. The good qualities I listed above far outweigh the minor bad issues; I highly recommend this camera.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 11
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