A worthy successor to the LX Series

I use for almost 2 years, the first model of the LX series, the LX1. I was most of the 16: 9 mode fascinated about this camera, also the compact size and yet a professional feature set with RAW mode. The LX1 but had some drawbacks: The sensor has quite strong rushing, the noise reduction of that Lingen Venus Engine (such as the image processor used by Panasonic is called) has to muddy and performed spotty results, which has been criticized in many tests. About ISO200 could not make good use of the LX1. I have used for the reason only ISO80 together with the RAW mode. Continuous shooting or auto bracketing was not possible at the LX1 in RAW mode. But with a fast card lasted saving RAW images just 2 seconds which I could live.
The LX2 brought actually with no great innovations. The display was bigger and now natively in 16: 9 format executed, increases the number of pixels and image processing improved somewhat, so that the LX2 could provide some better results at higher sensitivities. The larger files, but storing RAW files lasted now even longer, Moreover, Panasonic has already decided the dark areas to work with RAW files greatly, which has led to ugly results when you lighten later the shadows in the image editing wanted.
The announcement of the LX3 has required since the LX2 over 2 years, and Panasonic has ventured a great step and introduced some interesting innovations. The number of pixels is almost stayed the same (unlike many other camera manufacturers who want to compete on megapixel record).
The zoom lens has now been reduced from 4x to 2.5x, but expands the wide-angle from 28 to 24mm. The telephoto range, if one at all may speak of such a, is 60mm (as opposed to the previous 112 mm). However, the main novelty is the luminous intensity, which is at the moment in a compact camera a real rarity (except for already several years old Olympus C5050 Canon G3-G7 and Sony 707 cameras). In wide-angle the most open aperture is 2.0 (formerly 2.8) at full zoom at 2.8. Its predecessor had in this zoom range already 4.0, at full zoom even 4.9.
The next major innovation is the vergößerte sensor in which never the full area is used simultaneously, which means that the focal length is maintained at all image formats. In 4: 3 to win up / down a bit now. In 16: 9 the image grows in width. With other cameras, just as it did at the LX1 and LX2 different image formats are right or up / achieved merely through simple circumcision left / down. The fact that the switch to the format switch is located directly on the lens, the LX3 is one of the few cameras where you already can contribute during recording quickly and easily by selecting the aspect ratio much for image composition and image composition.
Also important to note is now the built-in RAW buffer that allows it to take up to 3 RAW files in series, thus auto-bracketing is also possible with RAW (very beneficial for HDR images). In addition, you can easily shoot with the LX3 a RAW file at a time, without the camera ever falters. For auto bracketing it should be noted that unfortunately bridged only maximum exposure levels -1 and +1. There is also an aspect ratio bracketing, the succession to record 3 images with different format, if you can not choose in which format the subject comes to the fullest advantage.
For studio photographers is finally also a hot shoe with E-TTL measure available, which the LX-series receives a significantly more professional character.

In my direct comparison of LX1 and LX2 me immediately of much better screen is noticed. It is clearly visible even in sunlight and has a switchable Aufhellautomatik, which varies depending on ambient light. The optical viewfinder I have not missed in my LX1. On my old Canon G5 although I had one, but this never got used. By switchable live histogram, the exposure can be well controlled even before the recording. Overexposed places are recognizable after shooting by blinking, which can also be switched off by the way. I had, incidentally, the auto review completely shut down with me, because I could wait for the kind without shoot the next picture. In addition to the normal 2-second review also a Zoom Review is possible the short purely zooms after taking the picture center to the focus to better check.
Due to the increased grip the LX3 is also better in the hand. The controls were taken over almost unchanged from the previous guests. The joystick with the Quick menu is very helpful and provides access to key camera settings without having to dig through menus. The playback mode has got now donated an own slide switch, previously you had to switch for the dial. The camera is very well made, any deficiencies are not noticed. Also, I never felt as if the keys would feel cheap, quite the contrary.

In the image quality has become the predecessor lot done. The JPEGs are now much purer and have much less processing artifacts. The differences are much more evident in RAW mode. Where the LX1 and LX2 have been so strong rushing at ISO400 that the pictures hardly very sensible to work were (but this was simply washed away when the camera's internal JPEG processing), the images of the LX3 are easily available. I did A3 printing from some ISO400 pictures and was amazed by the results. Even ISO800 is with some editing still usable, especially when recording in RAW, and the images themselves processed and noise removed subsequently. With ISO1600 is the limit of sensible feasible. But that is true of the images of the highly acclaimed Fuji F30 / 31fd same. Nevertheless, one gets the higher intensity of the LX3 lens, the very effective image stabilizer to 2-3 additional stops. I could do with the LX3 sharp images at ISO80, ISO400 where the F30 has already required. For compact cameras, the LX3 can safely be called the top. Who still needs better picture quality, which can access only to a digital SLR or the Sigma DP1, the latter at higher sensitivities equally prone to noise. Also, do not forget that a mere 2.0 lens will cost much more than the entire LX3 (not to mention the size). In an unregulated 3.5 lens you would in the SLR even at ISO400 ISO800 or even where you could still shoot with ISO 100 with the LX3.

What I have noticed in my compare with the LX1 that the LX3 to record a little less detail. It really is just about nuances, but the LX1 delivered innately sharper images, which, however, offset by the much higher noise. In RAW I could anyway rauskitzeln additional details from the images, which at the time only the enclosed Silkypix can open the LX3 RAW files. More RAW converter are expected to follow in the coming weeks / months.

Unfortunately, I've noticed on many of my test photos significantly blur the left image edge, which is not acceptable in this price range, especially at a "Leica" lens. For this reason I have returned the camera back. Meanwhile, it has been found that other users have this problem, but it also copies available that provide a continuously sharp image from edge to edge. In forums is rumored that it could involve production inaccuracies from the first batch. I therefore still waiting on further advice before I go buy myself a LX3. For my vacation next week I'll still have to use my LX1.