Find all digital cameras and information about them here. Learn everything about digital cameras before you buy. - Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 3.8x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0-Inch LCD Black

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 3.8x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0-Inch LCD Black

Price: $499.00

Product Features

10.1-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality poster-size prints
3.8x F2.0 ultra-wide-angle 24mm Leica DC Vario-Summicron lens
3.0-inch Intelligent LCD; Record HD videos in AVCHD Lite; Creative Movie mode
Venus Engine FHD image processor; hot shoe for easy accessorization
Capture images to SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

A return to the essence of photography - the Lumix DMC-LX5 from Panasonic. Look to a LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMICRON lens with 24mm wide-angle capability and f/2.0 aperture to bring you optical performance with exceptional precision and clarity. Then, rely on a 1/1.63" CCD image sensor for 10.1-megapixel still photos that exceed higher-resolution images in purity and detail. Next, adding multimedia to your outing, the DMC-LX5 lets you shoot HD 720p video with expanded manual controls. Further, while Power optical image stabilization ensures blur-free shots, a Lithium-ion battery lets you shoot up to 400 photos on a single charge. Finally, Panasonic's Intelligent Auto mode steps in and handles camera functions flawlessly when you want to focus on the fun and not on settings.

Product Accessories

Customer Reviews

Photo guy Said: The ultimate serious photographer's point & shoot ( Sep. 5th 2010 )

Wow, I am so impressed by this camera! I am a professional photographer and have been searching for a quality point & shoot for casual use when I don't want to lug around my DSLR (Nikon D700 at the moment) but have never been happy with the compromises of a P&S. Some of the features that were most important to me for a P&S were:

- RAW files - LX5 can shoot RAW files to allow changing WB and giving maximum flexibility in editing images in my preferred RAW converter, Lightroom 3.
- Fast glass - f/2 lens!! Even at 90mm, it is still f/3.3!
- Wide-angle - 24mm (35mm equivalent) is awesome, the Canon S90 only goes to 28mm and most P&S no wider than 35mm.
- Decent zoom range - I wasn't interested in a 10x superzoom but wanted something at least to 70 or 80 mm. The zoom range of 24mm to 90mm is just perfect without compromising the quality and speed of the lens.
- Reasonable compactness - it is fairly compact without feeling like I'm handling a bar of soap. It handles well for a P&S and feels like a real quality piece of equipment. The controls are logically placed with controls for the most commonly used adjustments within easy and quick access. Not as pocketable as most compact P&S cameras, but has the best handling of a P&S I've ever used.
- Low light sensitivity - I almost never shoot with the on-camera flash, so low light sensitivity is really important to me. I've shot images up to ISO 1000 that clean up quite well in LR3. I even feel that ISO 1600 is usable in a pinch if you aren't going to blow it up too large.
- Manual controls - I love that I can set everything manually: aperture, shutter speed, ISO and the controls make it quick and easy to do so without digging into the menus.
- Sharp, high quality images - I have been blown away by the quality of the lens on the LX5. I've taken shots wide open at f/2 and was very surprised at the quality, and sharpness of the images. They seriously rival images from my DSLR with some of my pro f/2.8 lenses.

Some other things to note:
- Has effective image stabilization. I've taken sharp photos at 1/10 sec.
- Shoots 720p video in AVCHD
- Has hotshoe to attach an electronic viewfinder, flash, or radio trigger (like a Pocket Wizard)
- Has a small pop-up flash
- Has a removable lens cap that many complained about on the LX3. I actually don't mind since I am used to having to remove it with my DSLRs.
- Can shoot in a number of different aspect ratios: square, 4:3, 3:2, and 16:9
- Can quickly go from play (review) mode to shooting mode with a quick tap of the shutter release button
- Can add filters and lens converters with an adapter
- All metal body - it feels really nice in the hand

One thing I really wish it had was some way to remotely trigger the camera. There is no infrared shutter release or a manual shutter release available for it. It does have the usual timer mode.

I considered a micro 4/3 camera such as a Panasonic GF1 or Olympus EP2 but the size with the lens approaches that of the smaller DSLRs. I bought a Canon S90 but returned it because the handling was just terrible. It was too small, had no hand grip and had a finnicky dial. Also, the image quality and sharpness were not nearly as good as the LX5. I've only briefly borrowed a friend's LX3 but I didn't use it enough to provide a comparison besides looking at the specs and reading the reviews.

Overall, I highly recommend the LX5 if you are in the market for a serious photographer's P&S camera. No, it won't replace a DSLR if you need the ultimate image quality and speed, but within the context of a P&S, it fits the bill nearly perfectly for me.

L. Wilson Said: Almost a 5 and a 3 ( Sep. 4th 2010 )

I gave this a 4 so I am happy for the most part with the LX5 but.... image quality does not match up to my Canon G10. I agree with most of the others in their high praise for this camera but no camera is perfect. This is my 4th Panasonic digital camera - ZS5, FZ35, GF1. I have been for the most part happy with them except for their low light capabilities which this camera is suppose to remedy. It has have a great field of view at 24 mm but the zoom does not even get you up to normal vision. You can get a converter telephoto and extension tube but that would throw this camera so far out of balance and would be bulky like an SLR. Its Raw mode really slows the camera down and at this point of time I have not found a program like photoshop to convert the Raws. Maybe Lightroom could do it. *** SEE UPDATE BELOW. I am sure the proprietary software could do it but I try and stay with more mainstream software. Its videos are well should I say they are typical for a point and shoot and you still get those bars of light from the sun and street lights that are typical of the CCD sensor. But one thing you don't get with the CCD that you get with the CMOS sensors is that Jello rolling shutter effect when panning. You have your choice of AVCHD or .Mov for easy editing which is nice feature. I like the position of the video dedicated button on top instead a thumb job on the back - just makes more sense. Although after taking AVCHD movies I could never find them in the camera. I went through file after file hidden somewhere. Final cut could not locate them in a download? A mystery. It is very small camera, big hands may find it too too small. Luckily there is a nice leather (maybe) simulated neck strap so it won't fly out of your hands on the ground as my ZS5 did once. Has a sort of useless flash over 9 feet.
Clearly the low light capabilities, full manual controls, tiny size - not as small as the S90 or 95 but smaller and lighter than the G10 or G11 , better battery life than the LX3 clarity of stills (2X), ease of operation, live view and 24 mm field of view may make you cross over from another point and shoot. To upgrade from a LX3 you should think about it. If you think you are going to get photos like a DSLR well I don't think we are there yet, but we are getting closer.
PS One note - Many of the accessories from the LX3 are not usable on the LX5
I will be returning this camera. I need a 15+ megapixel camera for large prints and little higher quality video. Just not what I expected maybe its for you - not me.

Update

*** RAW update
MACUPDATE HAS A FIX FOR NOW
Adobe Negative Digital converter can convert until adobe comes out with its own forCS4
[...]

LX5 Raw converter
CAMERA SUPPORT FOR PHOTOSHOP CS5 AND LIGHTROOM 3
Camera Raw 6.2
Mac OS Windows®
Lightroom 3.2 Mac OS Windows®
[...]

MSafer Said: Love this camera ( Sep. 3rd 2010 )

I'm not a professional photographer and I don't know a lot about the intricate details of cameras. I had a Lumix point and shoot that I got proficient with (or as proficient as one can be with a point and shoot camera) and I had limited experience with my husband's Nikon D300. I wanted to slowly step my way from point and shoot to dSLR and thought this would be a good middle ground.

The LX5is great! It is smaller than I thought it would be and light as well. The controls are easy to use and easy to access. The photos are crisp and clear and I really enjoy that I am able to have more control over my photos than I would have had with just a point and shoot. I have been able to get some great narrow depth of field and have played around with the manual modes a bit.

I am definitely impressed with the quality of pictures I have gotten so far, which have blown away my last camera's pictures (and I thought those were good!). And I really appreciate how intuitive everything is, especially for someone like me that doesn't really know anything about photography and is just learning.

Lawn King Said: The NEW Benchmark in Premium P&S Cameras ( Sep. 2nd 2010 )

The Goal:
To purchase the benchmark camera in premium compact point and shoot cameras.

The days of lugging around my DSLR are behind me. Granted nothing compares to the IQ of a DSLR, but for my purposes, today's premium compact point and shoot cameras are more than sufficient and often I cannot tell the difference. In addition, I have found that I when traveling, I end up taking more pictures when I use my premium compact point and shoot camera and I can focus more on enjoying the moment, than having to worry about the weight of carrying a DSLR; just no longer practical for my usage. While I looked at the mirrorless system cameras, such as the Panasonic DMC GF1, they were not for my purposes; still too big and expensive (but if I wanted a DSLR, I would definitely go with a mirrorless system camera). For those expecting low light capabilities and IQ on par with a DSLR, then you obviously don't know what you are buying and need to determine your priorities.

The Nominees: Canon S95, Panasonic LX5, Samsung TL500

Here are my findings (others may disagree and that is to be expected, as I am no professional photographer, nor claim to be...just a camera enthusiast):

Canon S95:
- F/2.0-4.9 aperture (slowest lens of the 3 cameras)
- 10 MP CCD sensor 1/1.7-inch
- Great if you are solely looking at the size of the camera and want something very small; some may find it to be too small
- Very sleek design, but also makes it hard to hold
- Poor ergonomics
- 720p HD video at 24p
- No grip
- Battery life approximately 200 shots
- Ring on the lens can be set for most used function
- More zoom, but no wide angle lens

Panasonic LX5:
- F2.0-3.3 Leica Summicron lens
- 10.1 MP CCD sensor 1/1.63-inch
- 24-90mm lens; ideal range for what I find to be most useful; makes indoor shots amazing
- Faster performance and better image quality than the LX3
- (24-90mm)
- Option for an electronic viewfinder (EVF)
- Just the right size and shape; easy to comfortably hold
- Higher than average light sensitivity settings
- HD videos in AVCHD Lite 720p 30p
- Costs as much as a starter digital SLR with a standard lens
- Battery life approximately 400 shots
- Accepts External Flashes
- Manual lens cap

Samsung TL500:
- Very bright F1.8-2.4 lens (fastest lens of the 3 cameras)
- Great design
- Only a 24-72mm which is more comparable to the old LX3, but still a nice wide angle lens
- Sluggish performance
- Nice Amoled Swiveling Screen

The Winner:
Panasonic LX5 - while its no DSLR replacement (and it doesn't claim to be), it is the new benchmark camera in premium compact point and shoot cameras by which all others will be judged.

Don't take my word for it, look at the Amazon.com Top 100 P&S Cameras. The LX5 is already #2 after only being available for 3 days.

terryoregon Said: Love My LX5 ( Sep. 2nd 2010 )

Sorry, don't have the patience to do one of those long reviews, there are plenty of those elsewhere.

I've had my LX5 for about five days now. I'll just say that its out-of-camera photos certainly look as good as my LX3. The photos have that unusual tack sharp realistic look & colors that I was used to with the LX3. The ability to zoom and focus track during video is a nice plus over the LX3.

The LX5 certainly created a lot of buzz on dpreview forums (now owned by Amazon). Seems that Canada got the LX5 almost two weeks before retailers in the US. People in the US ordered the LX5 from Canada and paid good money for expedited shipping. That shows you how much expectation/trust people had for the LX5.

You can't go wrong with this camera. The LX3 was one of the most highly rated point-and-shoots in the last ten years.

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