Panasonic's chief fixed lens compact gets the full infoSync treatment. Check out our Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 review here.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 Overview
We had to wait two years for Panasonic to revamp the LX3, so when we initially locked eyes with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5, a tidal wave of question marks bombarded our minds. How is this a different camera? Why has hardly anything changed on the outside? However, upon further investigation, it was apparent that nearly all of the LX5's improvements resided under the hood, including AVCHD Lite with full manual video controls, gaggles of Art filters for creative expression, new image processing, and other enticing features. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 battles the Canon PowerShot G12 and Nikon Coolpix P7000, and we'll tell you that the little LX5 gives both of the aforementioned giants a run for their money.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 Design
Perhaps for the sake of aesthetic principle, Panasonic barely altered the appearance of the Lumix DMC-LX5. The same retro looks are carried over two years later in 2010, making us nostalgic for our old Yashikas and Olympus SLRs of yesteryear. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 is much more compact than the Canon PowerShot G12 or Nikon Coolpix P7000. The camera takes an entirely different approach, limiting external controls significantly and relying on the most excellent menu navigation to power us through most shooting environemtns.
Our favorite controls were the Aspect Ratio switch (which now adds 1:1 to the fleet), and Focus switch, which enabled us to instantaneously jump from AF to Macro AF to Manual Focus—both mounted around the f/2.0-f/8.0 aperture lens. That's right, we get a nice bright aperture again this year, though the LX5 only offers a 3.8x optical zoom—a minute bump from last year's 2.5x optical magnification.
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 features the same lovable popup flash found on the LX3, a hot shoe with the ability to add an electronic viewfinder (Olympus PEN cameras, much?), and a rear control dial in place of the LX3's awkward joystick. Though the LX5's control dial is more digital camera-oriented, it was still a pain in the butt to spin without pressing it in and selecting an option inadvertently. We get the same four-way directional pad with Focus, ISO, Function, and Self Timer shortcuts, and 2010 sees a new Video Record button located on top of the camera.
For a monitor, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 receives the same 3-onch 460,000-pixel widescreen display, matching the resolution of the Canon PowerShot G12's, but falling short of the Nikon Coolpix P7000's most excellent 920,000-pixel display. The LX5's screen is fixed, unlike the G12's, which can swing out and rotate.
Although the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 offers some useful external controls, it cannot match the utility belts found on the Canon PowerShot G12 and Nikon Coolpix P7000.
Shooting with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
On the brighter side of the pasture sits the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5's extensive feature suite, which trumps a good portion of the Canon G12's and Nikon P7000's. First off, there's the LX5's bright f/2.0 aperture, which both the G12 and P7000 cannot dip below an f/2.7 or f/2.8, respectively. Then there's the LX5's 60-second shutter speed and ISO cap of 12,800. Now, the Nikon P7000 has a matching shutter speed and high ISO setting, but the G12 can only sink to a 15-second shutter and caps its ISO at 3200 before entering a Scene mode for more sensitivity.
At times we felt like we were shooting with a miniature version of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10 because the LX5's menus and features were very similar. Next to Canon, Panasonic has the quickest, most organized menus in the digital camera industry. We loved the responsiveness almost as much as the LX5's expansive range of features. This year, Panasonic tacked on Creative Movie mode for shooting in Manual, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and Program AE while in video mode. This not only means the LX5 offers the ability to alter shutter speed and aperture in video mode, but we could even set the ISO up to 6400!
Not only that, but the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 offers most of its Intelligent suite like Intelligent Exposure and Intelligent Resolution, in addition to Metering options and AF/AE Lock. We have Panasonic's Power OIS for image stabilization, Wind Cut, and improved Dolby Digital Stereo sound. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 can also employ video mode in any shooting mode, which means the camera's Art filters can be used in 720p AVCHD recording mode, in addition to Scene modes. There's no question about it—the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 beats the pants off the Canon G12 and Nikon P7000 when it comes to video.
And speaking of Art filters, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 receives all of the fun creative modes we saw on the DMC-G10 and other new Micro Four Thirds models, like Expressive, Silhouette, Pure, Pin Hole, Film Grain, Retro, and more. We could make up to 4,125 combinations of scene color/contrast/saturation alterations using the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5's different shooting modes, and shoot in a three-layered Multi Exposure mode.
For focus, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 cannot be adjusted manually in video mode, but we could optically zoom. The camera has an excellent 1cm Marco distance, though Manual Focus was just like the Canon PowerShot G12 and Nikon Coolpix P7000 with a magnified box in the middle of the screen. White Balance could be fine-tuned on the LX5 using a color graph, and the LX5 accommodates wide/tele conversion lesnes, flashes, ND filters, and more.
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 is certainly the underdog of the year in terms of shooting features, and makes the Canon PowerShot G12 and Nikon Coolpix P7000 look point-and-shootish.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 Still Image Quality
Just as we expected, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 did not dissapoint when it came to snapping quality images. Of course the camera's RAW quality surpassed the JPEG quality, but not by much. We were greeted to finer detail in RAW and slightly more saturated colors. But it was a familiar performance, thanks in part to the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5's 10.1-megapixel 1/1.63-inch CCD sensor, carried up from the LX3. Though this time around, we got Panasonic's latest Venus Engine FHD processing, which is geared to be a higher quality signal processing.
After extensive tests, what we found with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 was that it is an exceptional performer in bright light, exhibiting beautiful, rich colors and crisp detail. Macros were spot on and the LX5 was no stranger to battling highly contrasted shooting scenarios.
However, we noticed that the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 failed to perform as well as both the Canon PowerShot G12 and Nikon Coolpix P7000 at higher ISO levels. For instance, an image we would deem usable at ISO 800 with the G12 or P7000 would be questionable with the LX5. It seemed as though the LX5 was a few ISO settings behind both hulking cameras, and that's after carefully analyzing all three cameras at the same ISO levels. The Canon and Nikon appear to manage their noise better as well, while the Panasonic exhibits noticeable color splotches and a messier distribution of noise.
But then look at the LX5's low ISO performance—it ranks up with the PowerShot G12 and Coolpix P7000. We're lucky we get the robust manual control suite with the LX5, allowing us to shoot at lower ISO levels without much drama.
Not only does the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5's video features kick Canon and Nikon butt, but its video quality is superior as well. You have to realize that the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 is equipped with AVCHD Lite 720p 30fps video, which has a maximum bitrate of 17Mbps. Therefore, our videos were exceptionally detailed and rife with color. We loved the shallow depth of field and versatility of the f/8.0 to balance it out. Low light was fantastic, thanks to the ability to set ISO in video mode. Finally, a digital camera that excels in the video department and gives some of the basic camcorders on the market a nice little ass whooping.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 Final Answer
And here we are, at the final destination—our final answer on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5. Let's break this down. In this class, we have the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5, Canon PowerShot G12, and Nikon Coolpix P7000. All three cameras are fantastic in their own ways, but each lacks features that the other one or both have. And why should anything be easy when picking a $500 digital camera!?
Externally, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 is not as advanced at the G12 or P7000. It's also shafted with the smallest zoom and lacks an optical viewfinder. The Nikon offers a mic jack for video mode, which the LX5 would have benefitted from the most, given its superior video mode status.
But when we talk about video mode and shooting features, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 is our choice. Yeah, it doesn't have a built-in ND filter or fancy digital level meter, but the camera is packed to max capacity with useful and fun features that will suit nearly any shooter.
In bright light, all three cameras are fairly even, but we preferred the Canon and Nikon's high ISO performance in low light. That's not to say a good photographer can't achieve champion-grade images at night with the LX5—it will just take a little extra effort.
We're perplexed to the nines. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5, Canon PowerShot G12, and Nikon Coolpix P7000 are all great in their own ways. This time, you decide! We keep cycling between our favorite one and it's a lost cause.
Price and Availability
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 is available now for $500.
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