Panasonic improves sensor for LX3 enthusiast compact camera
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3
(Credit: Panasonic)One of the main complaints with the Lumix DMC-LX2, Panasonic's enthusiast pocket camera, was the high noise level of its 10-megapixel sensor. So we're heartened that for its replacement, the LX3, Panasonic decided to stick with 10 megapixels and work on improving the noise profile instead.
According to the company, the new sensor has larger photodiodes, which boosts sensitivity by almost 40 percent--maximum ISO jumps a stop to ISO 3,200 from ISO 1,600--and the sensor has increased saturation by 35 percent. In conjunction with moving to the latest version of its Venus Engine imaging processor, which Panasonic claims provides better noise reduction, we should theoretically see better photo quality from the LX3. It should offer better performance as well: burst shooting, at least, has been bumped up from a rating of 2fps to 2.5fps.
A quick comparison:
| Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2 | Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 | Canon PowerShot G9 | |
| Resolution | 10 megapixels | 10 megapixels | 12 megapixels |
| Sensor size | 1/1.65-inch | 1/1.63-inch | 1/1.7-inch |
| Lens | f2.8-4.9 28-112mm equivalent (in 16:9 aspect mode) | f2.0-2.8 24-60mm equivalent | f2.8-4.8 35-210mm |
| LCD | 207,000 pixels, 2.8 inches (16:9) | 460,000 dots, 3 inches (16:9) | 230,000 pixels, 3 inches (4:3) |
| Optical viewfinder | None | Optional | Yes |
| Hot shoe | No | Yes | Yes |
| Max ISO sensitivity at full resolution | ISO 1,600 | ISO 3.200 | ISO 1,600 |
| Raw format supported | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Movie capture | 848x480 30fps, 1,280x720 15fps | 848x480 30fps, 1,280x720 24fps | VGA 30fps, 1,024x768 15fps |
| Pricing and availability | $449.95; now | $499.95; late August | $499.99; now |
Optional viewfinder
(Credit: Panasonic)Other new features include the rather oddball ability to simultaneously capture photos in three aspect ratios (4:3, 3:2 or 16:9) and a film mode with various color and monochrome brand-emulating profiles. The LX2 lacks an optical viewfinder; for the LX3, Panasonic has taken a leaf from Ricoh's book and will be offering an add-on viewfinder as an option.
On Sale Now: $482.95 - $499.99
View the latest prices for Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 (black)
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Senior Editor Lori Grunin has been covering digital imaging for two decades, but her memory's kind of sketchy on the details. You can hear about it every week on Indecent Exposure, the podcast she co-hosts with Matt Fitzgerald. 
