Panasonic has crafted a beautiful camera, and done everything right to make the Lumix LX3 a photographer's delight. We spent a few days in Macau with a silver version of the camera, and found it a joy to use.

Like a true street camera, the LX3 shines in low-light shooting conditions, thanks to the combination of a fast 2.0 lens and optical image stabilization. Except for one, all night pictures in the photo gallery were taken hand-held. The wide 24mm coverage is addictive, and Panasonic didn't compromise the overall quality of the lens by going for a long zoom. Manual photographic control is comprehensive, raw mode is useful and quick.

 

Over all, the LX3 is a spectacular compact camera. However, we do have a wish-list for the next version of this camera: zoom position remembered when saved to C modes; indicator/display of current focal length so we know when we are at the classic 28, 35 and 50mm positions or better yet, a preset focal lengths switch or toggle button; addition of 1:1 square format.

 

October 2009 Update: Panasonic provides a new firmware upgrade adding 1:1 square format, zoom-lens position's resumption, and other features.

 

>> macau photo gallery

HIGH

• excellent image quality
• superb, fast 24-60mm zoom lens
• compact and beautifully styled
• light, solid, handles well in hand
• beautiful colors, large 3-inch LCD
• multi-format: 4:3, 3:2, 16:9
• RAW, RAW + JPEG modes
• can capture HD video

 

MIND

• nothing is perfect

WISE

• run to get one