After unpacking falls on first, that the Lumix has grown up in the third generation. She has stepped up a millimeter in any direction, is higher wider longer. The case now has a "gripping bead" which was made with a recessed plastic part grip and improves handling. The display has also increased markedly to 3 ". The manual retractable flash peeps now further from its housing. At the top now perched a hot shoe, otherwise has on the plan view is not much changed. Zoom button, scroll wheel, the power button, all there. Only the former OIS switch is now the manually positioning Focus.
At the lens down to the lid Outwardly is (more on that later) remained all the same. On top sits the switch for the aspect ratio. Laterally the switch for AF modes. The back shows clearly changed. The great display with 460,000 pixels clearly dominates the back. The small "joystick" has remained, as well as the arrow buttons around the menu button. Below sits the switch for the display and the trash. Another new feature is the AF / AE lock button and the sliding switch for switching from shooting to presentation. The predecessors the play function was still on dial. Luxurious, the LX has now included a second strap mount and a fully-fledged belt included. The battery is a "familiar face" that will please owners of older FX / LX models.
The inner values, has done much more. Inside, a relative to the LX1 significantly larger sensor 1 / 1.63 sitting. "What is intended to improve the noise performance of the LX3 and does. If the lens focal length from 28-112mm in the LX1 to 24-60mm in the current 3 is nevertheless clearly Pleasant changed. In this case, that the newly designed Leica Summicron lens with focal length of 24mm, unlike many other lenses, hardly recorded. blurring at the edge or vignetting are already also not an issue for the LX3. The lens has 2.0 intensity in Wide and 2.8 on the other end of the spectrum, what the camera but distinctly apart from others. The zoom of the new Lumix is 13-stage and therefore very precise.
Exciting for me was whether and how the quality of the images has changed compared to the predecessors.
To make it short: The image quality of the LX 3 in my opinion, brilliant. Detail and color reproduction are topp. The Lumix delivers very pleasant, natural images. When noise behavior are worlds between the LX1. But between LX2 and the current 3. LX version of the difference is clear. ISO 400 is not a real problem for the 3 Series. Higher ISO numbers, it becomes increasingly unattractive. Positive on the LX 3 I find that it creates a manufacturer to bring a consistent further development of a camera type on the market without pushing the resolution through the roof. So the LX3 comes on average (depending on the image format different) with 10MP out. The image data is processed by the way in JPEG and RAW format the Panasonic own. Another new feature is the built-Venus Engine IV processor.
Operation of LX leaves no wishes unfulfilled and is on the usual high level of Panasonic. The many manual intervention options allow the amateur photographer's heart beat faster. An optical viewfinder I do not miss by much improved in resolution and display screen.
The tripod mount is attached, which is the change of the battery, or memory card without dismantling. The battery life I have not yet explored. But I suppose that is just as good as in the predecessors. 200 pictures should be with 1150mAh loose inside.
As already mentioned, included a shoulder strap included.
Meanwhile, it is also to make for my ACD Pro possible the RAW files of the LX 3 legible. An update can be heruntergeldaen in ACD. For Adobe Lightroom has probably also been an update. Furthermore, Panasonic could enclose a full manual in print version in a camera of this price category. To make matters worse, the beautiful Leica leather case does not fit for the LX3. However, there is a similar Panasonic nice bag for the LX3. Unfortunately, not with us.
My conclusion: The LX3 is not a "Verschlimmbesserung" but a logical development, with meaningful improvements in the LX series. The "exit" from the megapixel race has the LX done well. The improvement in the intrinsic values, and the ingenious in my eyes 24-60mm Leica Summicron lens evaluate the new to full. The LX3 is a very quality and interesting "niche camera" which has its "fan base" and will find new "fans". These will still have a lot of fun at the New. That's for sure.
Meanwhile, the problem has completely done with the processing of RAW files from the LX. If now Panasonic have the right leather bag imported from Japan there for the 5th one more star to.
PS: On panasonic.net a new firmware (1.3) is available
