Panasonic may be pushing
Micro Four Thirds tech these days, but that doesn't mean it's forgotten about the pocketable high-end -- in fact, full spec sheets and pictures have just leaked from the company's technical support website, detailing the unannounced latest in the Lumix LX lineup. The 10.1 megapixel DMC-LX5 doesn't have any revolutionary new features, sadly, but it certainly brings the
2008 LX3 predecessor up to spec in nearly every way, with a longer 3.8x optical zoom lens by Leica, 12,800 ISO mixed-pixel sensitivity and a
familiar-sounding AVCHD Lite 720p video recording mode. Slightly heavier due to a larger 1250mAh battery, the camera supports SDXC memory cards this time round, has an anti-glare coating on the 3-inch LCD and thankfully replaces those bulky breakout component cables with a mini-HDMI out. There's also an optional
electronic viewfinder and a jog dial on the back, but we don't want to ruin all your fun unearthing these gems; peruse the specs yourself at our source link.
posted July 17th 2010 2:07PM
Woo
@haythem92
Aww, just got me a ZS7... I'm happy with it and just a little disappointed that I didn't wait longer for this.
Figures.. Just got a new camera...
Now need the price...
@Nightstar Exactly - I just bought an S90 for the zoom range and controls, and then they update this with both.
Not that I'm unhappy with the S90, but it would have been a much harder decision.
@Marmite Turkey
Yea. Just went DSLR with a T2i.... Oh well... Its only Money!
@Nightstar
Expected around $500-$600. This is no casual shooting price though.
@cdf74dc9
Hope they went back to the 16:9 sensor... But assume they went with 3:2
The LX cameras are fantastic. I love my LX3. I'm pleased to see they've kept the sensor at 10.1MP (same as the LX3) and forgotten about the megapixel race.
@PaulMdx I know. I really love my LX3 also and with the new improvements, I want to upgrade. But I won't be selling my LX3. It's a classic.
@PaulMdx
true.
I hope that the noise handling will be way better than the LX3.
LX3's ISO is pretty bad. Set it to 800 and it's noisy as hell.
@xValentine
Really? Gutted. I was looking at buying the LX3, as I'm a total noob who just wants nice pictures. Would love the Sony NEX-5 but the wallet doesn't stretch.
As a current LX3 owner, is there any reason for me to bother upgrading to this camera? The slightly longer zoom and [presumably] newer sensor don't seem like enough incentive. I was really hoping for a lens that retracted fully (like the Canon S90) or GPS. I think I'll just hang onto my LS3 a while longer.
@Salviati HD video, otherwise nothing really until we see the first photos.
@Salviati I think the
Longer lens with the same lens speed is awesome (at the same focal lengths of course)... And a greatly udated sensor, at the same pixel density, is awesome... Better battery life is also a welcome plus because i always forget to charge my battery. Every other upgrade on the LX5 is icing on the cake.
I also hoping to find more info about the cables and ports it has...
I will get this!
M
@jayayess1190:
The LX3 already had 720P video. The codec may be changed, but the resolution is the same.
@BigDaddyM
But it isn't a longer lens with the same aperture. For the LX3, the aperture range is:
Wide: F2.0 - F8.0
Tele: F2.8 - F8.0
For the LX5, the range is:
Wide: F2.0 - F8.0
Tele: F3.3 - F8.0
So the lens performs exactly the same in the focal range of the LX3, and adds a much needed bit to the zoom capability. But when you're zoomed all the way in, the max aperture is only f/3.3 (not f/2 like you may think).
@Salviati
I would think the upgrade would be to the GF-1 (or whatever it's predecessor turns out to be). That is unless you absolutely must have a compact. The GF-1 has a larger sensor and a relatively more useful higher ISO than the LX3. And, it kind of changes the upgrade path from purchasing a new camera every couple of years to purchasing new lenses and accessories.
@lavakillu
I'm actually fine with the LX3 as my point-and-shoot (with a couple reservations). And I have a Canon SLR with lenses for my serious shooting. I (and probably other LX3 owners) was just wondering whether this camera was worth upgrading to. Unless there are some other un-announced features, I think I'll just stick with what I have. Thanks for the suggestion though.
@Salviati
I hope that the LX5 finally allows the user to change the zoom level while filming a video.
@lavakillu The GF2 will be out by or in September. That is what I am waiting on.
@Salviati Zooming on movies and full manual controls.
hey, i tipped u guys earlier on this...
Huh? My comment got deleted because I did a steve jobs impression?
Sigh.
Twas a harmless joke.
Ok, downrank me. But I am a self proclaimed Apple fanboy, so...
Hopefully Panasonic will make more than 20 units this time.
@pika2000
For real! I paid over the cost of retail on Amazon's Refurb section for mine. The price climbed like every week.
@pika2000
So thats where phone manufacturers are getting it from...
I hope that they've kept the lense with an ultra-wide angle (I think the LX3 had a range of 24-60mm, but I might be mistaken), as that was always a pretty useful distinction. When they release this, I may have to pop down to Jessops and have a play around - it seems like the kind of camera that can pinch the pennies out of my hands without my consent!
@meeku: Just checked the links and the lense is 24-90mm, which is pretty useful for what I'd want it for.
I've never sen worse camera then LX3. Are there any fanboys for it (any m@nure has its fanbys) or here are exclusively just haters?
@S4E - I've never seen worse spelling and grammar than yours. lol.
@Den
If u r not a fanboy, forget my noobish English, i am not eng speaking. Only fanboys do not excuse eng spelling and grammar. Plus i barely type from new cellphone keyboard layout, was a first message from it.
Panas simply can not make cameras. Period. Everything, and i mean everything, is bad. It is like an insult for photographers. The company parasiting on a Leica name. LX1/LX3 have to receive the prize "The Worst Prosumer Cameras Ever Built". H@ll, even recent cell cameras are better.
@S4E
So that's why it gets high ratings..everywhere
NICE. my next cam.
I have the DMC-ZS3. Anything less than 12x simply won't do any more.
720p? They need to get on the ball with 1080 just like Sony and others have.
@KneeJerkReactionMan
I'm a Sony fanboy too. However they should learn how to test a camera. And for myself I prefer a camera that makes great pictures over one that has good video functionality but makes lousy pictures. Example: DSC-WX1. Look at that:
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/DSCWX1/DSCWX1MACFL.HTM
EVERY picture that you take with the flash on has that shadow in the lower left corner! I tested it myself!
I really like these cameras, but why does Panasonic feel they have to use an oddball connector to connect to a PC. What's wrong with the standard mini USB connector that Canon, now even Sony, uses? I know it's a minor point but I find it very annoying and unnecessary. Pany is of course are not the only ones who feel they have to reinvent the plug, but since they are so good in most other ways, this really bugs me.
@appsman What are you talking about? The LX3 uses a microUSB connector. It's not miniUSB but more devices are switching to microUSB anyway.
@tekdemon Actually, the LX3 and all of Panasonic's cameras use a proprietary connector. It LOOKS like its microUSB, but its not.
Trust me, so many friends have tried shoving their USB cables into my LX3 and G1 lol.
I have owned the LX3 since it came out.
It had in the beginning some problems with white balance, which was corrected with a software update. It has been the best pocket camera I ever bought. ( I probably owned 7 others since I got LX3)
I was looking for 3 major upgrades for the LX5 (4 is an unlucky number in Japan and is never used)
a) Stereo Sound (mics)
b) Zoom in video mode
c) 1080p with a decent bit rate
From what I see, none of these things are present in the LX5.
Is it because Panny feels that it could compete with the GF-1?
Would love to get my fellow readers input !
Jack
Missed the fact that the LX5 does zoom while shooting video.
So 1 out of 3 then,
Sorry.
Jack
@jackleboul Probably yes. And there's GF2 looming around.
I have been waiting to pull the trigger on a PAS but the ZS3 nor the ZS7 had everything I wanted (poor video quality, sensor not as big for night shots, contrasty scenes needed to be improved).. This could be it. I am wondering if it fixed:
1. The dumb lens cap issue on the LX3.. I don't think it did..
2. Battery life extended (check)
3. Optical zoom improved (check)
@canon58
Holly Akihabara! Have you noticed Panny gave us more 20 MB of RAM in addition to previous 20 in LX3?
Thank you thank you thank you, Panny. Now we can die happily!
Hopefully LX5 RAW will not take 5 sec to save it while camera is unusable. And it will take not a whole hour to transfer 4GB flash to PC via USB2.
And hope there will be less than 3000 people who (like with LX3) will sign the petition to Panasonic to change firmware allowing to control the worst image noise in industry.
@canon58 totally agreed about the lens cap here! I had been flirting with the LX3 for ages. Then I got to play with a friends S90 and it really is sweet - small, convenient and shoot very well in low light. Then I heard about the LX5... but come-on! Do away with the lens cap!
@sibyyhome lens cap isn't so bad once you get used to it. It doesn't bother me anymore, but I'll admit it was annoying at first.
I'd rather have a lens cap than end up with those lens startup errors that I've seen my friends (3 in the past year) get with their cameras.
@canon58 The lens cap is part of the charm; retro vibe going on there.
As a current LX3 user I am satisfied with the device. Not much info. so far but nice update!
Meg happy with my 5D and L-series lenses sadly at the cost of one lens you can buy three of those cameras :'(
Above all I would have liked the fiddely knob to be substituted by a better alternative and one programmable dial that could use as a iso dial for example.