Reading mode: Light Dark

Canon G9 or Lumix LX2??? can't decide

Go to last post
B

boxta

Forum Enthusiast
Messages
258
Reaction score
0
Location
San Francisco, US
I have a XTI with a good number of lens, so this is mainly for back up / fun trips. I can't decide whether to get a medium size SLR backup, or a ultra compact that is quite capable

here's the pros and cons i see:

G9:
+
better handling
hot shoes
image quality esp on higher ISO (at least compare to LX2)
-
Size, heavy

LX2
+
manual control for ultra compact
wide angle 28mm
16:9 format
small
-

image quality seems to be not good for high ISO because of excessive noise reduction

I don't want a camera that's so big that I won't carry it with me.. but on the other hand.. given I am used to the DSLR, i want a capable camera that would satisfy me. On one hand, maybe G9 can be my "MID" camera where it's good and mid size, and my phone can be my "LOW" camera where I should use it more to take pics. On the other hand, LX2 can be my medium low camera which I can take it everywhere.

thanks
 
He-he, tough choice! I have them both and could not chose one over the other so I have them both :-p Don't be too hard on the noise issue with the LX2 until you've had time to compare images from the G9. Both cameras are capable of excellent image quality from a P&S camera. Good luck!
--
'The primary purpose of any business is to make a profit.'
Canon CEO Fujio Mitarai

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home ;jsessionid=GX90G0k1Qp!1508707039?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=186095&is=REG&addedTroughType=search
 
Having owned both of those and many, MANY more I can say without a doubt that the quality of images that come from the G9 far exceed what the LX2 produced. And I have only owned the G9 since 2pm today!

I have tried a lot of P&S's as of late and am quite happy with the G9, it's a great little camera. I was concerned about the size at first but it's more than manageable especially after toting around a DSLR and grip and heavy lenses etc (I normally shoot with a K10D etc).

The LX2 was a nice camera spec wise but it just didn't produce good quality images, certainly not considering how much I have paid for it when it came out.

Best of luck with your decision.

--
Neil Vanderwolf
Zenfolio Featured Photographer
http://thewarmland.com
 
Framer said:
Having owned both of those and many, MANY more I can say without a
doubt that the quality of images that come from the G9 far exceed
what the LX2 produced. And I have only owned the G9 since 2pm today!
Click to expand...
I'd be surprised if you owned more cameras than me, but it is possible ;-)

I'd put the LX2 images at least on par with the G9 and may even prefer the high ISO images of the LX2.

--
'The primary purpose of any business is to make a profit.'
Canon CEO Fujio Mitarai

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home ;jsessionid=GX90G0k1Qp!1508707039?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=186095&is=REG&addedTroughType=search
 
Guerito said:
Framer said:
Having owned both of those and many, MANY more I can say without a
doubt that the quality of images that come from the G9 far exceed
what the LX2 produced. And I have only owned the G9 since 2pm today!
Click to expand...
I'd be surprised if you owned more cameras than me, but it is
possible ;-)
I'd put the LX2 images at least on par with the G9 and may even
prefer the high ISO images of the LX2.

--
Click to expand...
I'm more than happy to go along with Guerito on this. I have both as well - in fact as yet another complimentary to the G9 you might well consider the Panny TZ3. It 's not geared for Manual , but you really don't need it. Got a wonderful 10x zoom (starting at 28mm too) and that excellent Leica lens + OIS .. makes a fine SMALL cam with just simply P&S ease.

But as to the LX2, I'd mostly be hard put to decide images between that and the 'G' .. and the only real difference is that the G9 is certainly more all-embracing as a camera .. in many respects it is maybe as good as ANY to handle (better than most) and mirrors in many ways a dSLR - makes a good alternative without losing a great deal of what you are used to in the big one.

--
eric-UK

 
hmmm... thanks for all the comments...

now i am wondering if manual is a "must have" or not..

just curious.. for G9 or Lx2... can i get any shallow DOF shot by using Av and set it to max? coz if it doesn't make a diff.. and i can't get a bokeh anyways.. maybe manual is not a "must have"

thanks
 
For me, the key to getting some "shallowness" is using a heavy hand on the Canon's (200mm) zoom lever. I can get some blurring of background in a portrait (head shot) this way.
 
Yes, the LX2 is smaller, but it's protruding lens does not make it exactly pocketable. The G9 is not as big as you think - it is smaller than the other G-series. In short, size is a bit of a toss-up between the two cameras. The plus for the LX2 is more of a wide-angle.

IMHO, the speed, flexibility, and IQ of the G9 is first-rate. Also, you can add a flash and supplementary lenses, if you wish.

Choice is a personal matter, especially with two very good cameras - I'd go with the G9.
 
G9 is right for you! Just try it and you'll fall in love with this model. LX2 is also a very good model, but don't compare with G9!
 
boxta said:
just curious.. for G9 or Lx2... can i get any shallow DOF shot by
using Av and set it to max? coz if it doesn't make a diff.. and i
can't get a bokeh anyways.. maybe manual is not a "must have"

thanks
Click to expand...
Well, of course, as you may very well realise .. bokeh on ANY compact is just not the same as you can get more easily on most dSLRs .. the small sensor just doesn't allow for it. But you CAN kind of fool it into giving a fair decent representation. The Panny TZ3 and the LX2 both actually have a Menu feature called TeleMacro Zoom .. and the G7/G9 will do it just the same, even if not actually specified on the latter.

You just set Macro then instead of the usual few inches working, you actually get back up to something like maximum (or near) zoom .. and be sure you have any background as far back as you can manage - minimum of such as 10 feet or so.. and bingo , you get this sort of thing ...



A Forum friend did some trial shots just a day or two ago ..they were with a Fuji F20 mostly but he did add ONE with his TZ3 .. look at the very LAST pic of the few here..this is just the same with the TZ3 , and also you can get exactly the same on the LX2. It's a good compromise .. but still available just the same with G7/G9.

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1012&message=24974880

--
eric-UK

 
Guerito said:
Love that picture Eric.
--
'The primary purpose of any business is to make a profit.'
Canon CEO Fujio Mitarai

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home ;jsessionid=GX90G0k1Qp!1508707039?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=186095&is=REG&addedTroughType=search
Click to expand...
Thanks .. I share your joy on it too - maybe shouldn't say so ..

But it pleases me also , because perhaps I just felt that it was one of those lucky ones that pay off. The angle of sun was just about exactly right - I tried another , different day, but just half-an-hour or so either way and it's not right like this.
Always nice to grab ONE that boosts the spirits a bit .. !

--
eric-UK

 
Great idea about the macro and nice image. I will have to try that.

I compared G9 files shot at 80 with the Leica version shot at 100. To my eye, the Leica had far more noise, to the extent I considered unacceptable. I really, really wanted to like that Leica/Panasonic, because I wanted the wider lens, but no go. I bought the G9.
--
Harley
http://www.harleygoldman.com
 
harleyg said:
Great idea about the macro and nice image. I will have to try that.

I compared G9 files shot at 80 with the Leica version shot at 100. To
my eye, the Leica had far more noise, to the extent I considered
unacceptable. I really, really wanted to like that Leica/Panasonic,
because I wanted the wider lens, but no go. I bought the G9.
--
Harley
http://www.harleygoldman.com
Click to expand...
That's why I sold my Leica D-Lux 3 (same as the LX2) after a month or so. I got the G7 instead. And now the G9. In my opinion, in terms of IQ the G9 is much better than the LX2.

Enrique
 
ericN2 said:
Guerito said:
Love that picture Eric.
--
'The primary purpose of any business is to make a profit.'
Canon CEO Fujio Mitarai

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home ;jsessionid=GX90G0k1Qp!1508707039?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=186095&is=REG&addedTroughType=search
Click to expand...
Thanks .. I share your joy on it too - maybe shouldn't say so ..
But it pleases me also , because perhaps I just felt that it was one
of those lucky ones that pay off.
Click to expand...
Of course you're supposed to say so, you're taking pictures to please yourself, not others (unless you make your living that way ;-).

--
'The primary purpose of any business is to make a profit.'
Canon CEO Fujio Mitarai

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home ;jsessionid=GX90G0k1Qp!1508707039?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=186095&is=REG&addedTroughType=search
 
harleyg said:
I compared G9 files shot at 80 with the Leica version shot at 100. To
my eye, the Leica had far more noise, to the extent I considered
unacceptable. I really, really wanted to like that Leica/Panasonic,
because I wanted the wider lens, but no go. I bought the G9.
Click to expand...
You see, you didn't even need us ;-) Either would have been a good choice as they are both fine cameras. Here's one I took today with the LX2. It's at the camera's default values, medium compression, ISO 100. Notice it has pretty good dynamic range as it was very bright outside (the camera did an excellent job of metering the scene), and the 100% crop shows zero noise even in the shadowy area of the painting.





--
'The primary purpose of any business is to make a profit.'
Canon CEO Fujio Mitarai

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home ;jsessionid=GX90G0k1Qp!1508707039?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=186095&is=REG&addedTroughType=search
 
Guerito -

Sometimes I wonder if we don't just waste our time - a lot of people make up their own mind even before coming on here. I feel like you - I PREFER the general handling of the G7 (or G9 if you happen to have that) but pics I've had from the LX2 are quite excellent .. and I STILL say that .. just marginally maybe .. the Panny OIS really IS good .. arguably maybe a touch better than Canon IS .. and that helps greatly to give a good pic at all , in some very difficult lighting. But after using the G7 , I do find all of a sudden , the 'smallness' of the LX2 is a bit more awkward.
But criticism on RESULTS is very marginal I think.

--
eric-UK

 
I know what you mean Eric. Oh, well, we have to keep telling ourselves that they are only cameras and next year we get to start all over again ;-) Besides, cameras change, people don't :-p
--
'The primary purpose of any business is to make a profit.'
Canon CEO Fujio Mitarai

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home ;jsessionid=GX90G0k1Qp!1508707039?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=186095&is=REG&addedTroughType=search
 
Guerito wrote:
they are only cameras and next year we get to start
Guerito said:
all over again ;-)
Click to expand...
Hopefully not LOL. This is it for me for a small cam for a good while unless they improve the noise with higher ISOs and/or improve the OVF substantially. Since it is a secondary camera for me, this, with all the excellent manual controls, as decent an LCD as I need, and RAW---fills the bill for me. I won't chase after another any time soon. Oh--and I'd love to see a faster wider lens---but I think that will be awhile in coming also. So--no next year for me.

Diane
--
Diane B
http://www.pbase.com/picnic/galleries
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top