Award Sounds Music, Photography & Consultancy

Panasonic have recently released news and specifications of a few new cameras. Two caught my eye; the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 and the Panasonic DMC FX-150.

DMC FX-150

The DMC-FX150 is the cheaper of the two and still aimed at consumers. It features a built-in flash with F2.8 Leica 28-100mm lens at 35 mm equivalent. It's headline-grabbing feature is the 14.7 megapixels, although I'm not as convinced that's appropriate on a 1/1.7" sensor. It will be interesting to see the noise results. More interesting for me is that Panasonic have put RAW back into a compact camera, and it's not even aimed at pros. I don't believe that justifies the recommended retail price, assuming a standard consumer lens. Yet kudos to Panasonic for listening and bringing RAW back, even if they are charging a lot for it.

Lumix DMC-LX3

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 is the higher-end of the two, again featuring RAW capture. This time there's a F2.0 24mm Leica DC Vario-Summicron lens with a 24-60mm 35 mm equivalent range. Similarly, there's an on-board flash, but this time it pops up above the camera much like flashes on compacts from 15-20 years ago. This camera has a 10.1 megapixel 1/1.63 CCD sensor.

From Panasonic:

Boldly defying the trend to cram in the most pixels possible, Panasonic limited the LX3's large 1/1.63-inch CCD to 10.1 megapixels.

Thats an interesting phrase that immediately makes me question the sense of releasing a phrase about not cramming in pixels on one camera on the same day as releasing another camera largely based on a high pixel count. Panasonic's a commercial company so has to respond to the demands of marketeers and the megapixel-race is what counts for consumers. For pros, the lens may count for more and this camera is aimed more at DSLR users who want many of the DSLR features but in a compact and more convenient size.

The DMC-LX3 also features a joystick (right now, I can't think of another compact that has one), the facility to add lens filters with an additional adaptor or another adaptor to achieve 18mm wide-angle.

No doubt about it, the DMC-LX3 is the more interesting camera and so carries a higher price-tag. But look at the DMC-LX3 and you could get a small DSLR and basic lens for the price. However you wouldn't get a F2.0 lens and that counts for a lot. Before I buy, I'd like to see results of noise across a range of ISOs, especially on the DMC FX-150 where I can imagine 14.8 megapixels creating some issue.

Both cameras are very close to what I thought I'd be looking for in user requirements for a compact camera for a DSLR user

Technorati Tags: photography compact DSLR digital RAW aperture ISO shutter requirements choosing evaluation panasonic lumix