LX3 wins Enthusiast Camera Group Test

[panini98]

Thank you Simon, Lars, and Richard for doing these very informative and interesting group tests.

I love your individual reviews, and always wondered how the cameras compare to each other. Now you've done it and let us know. Thank you!!

 

[DRG]

Unfortunately, I am very reluctant to buy a camera that both eliminates an optical viewfinder (since this provides a far more stable shooting position and is often the only way to frame an image in bright sunlight) and requires special correction to eliminate severe lens distortion (which also results in reduced resolution where the image needs to be stretched during the correction and a final cropping of the result to maintain a rectangular image). Since the main win of the LX3 over the G10 was in low-light/high-ISO and only in the way in which NR in the in-camera JPEG is handled, this isn't an issue with raw (a key reason people buy these cameras) and thus I think I'd favor the G10. That is, if I were to buy an enthusiast compact camera at all (I've gotten pretty good at bringing my DSLR everywhere at this point, except when I feel the camera is at risk and I just want a cheap, $200 P&S with me).

David

 

[R Stacy]

I doubt the LX3 was any big surprise winner by most here. It is the camera I've been whining about someone building for several years, well, almost. I'll give it an "almost" perfect. Lower the price of the LEICA variant and we're there. Class act and function. Since that isn't likely, the LX3 is classy enough (quite) and Pany is clearly moving in a direction toward capturing some market share as an alternative photographers brand... even creating some of its own niches.

However, what was more important to me in this review were comments like this:

"... what used to be known in less enlightened times as 'nice legs, shame about the face' - or to be more specific; 'nice camera, shame about the sensor'. "

Yep!! Made me smile knowing that if you look deep enough, we find at least some at DPR have that American/Brit humour quite intact. Well done !! LOL

--



========================

When told the reason for Daylight Saving time the old Indian said... 'Only a white man would believe that you could cut a foot off the top of a blanket and sew it to the bottom of the blanket and have a longer blanket.'

 

[M Irwin]

What a very very strange test. I would say that these three companies are among the most active in this field, especially in regards to long-lasting Olympus "uzi" lore. I can't imagine a test that ignores things like the H50, SP-570, or S100FS (or even S1000FD).

 

[Richard Butler]

What a very very strange test. I would say that these three companies
are among the most active in this field, especially in regards to
long-lasting Olympus "uzi" lore. I can't imagine a test that ignores
things like the H50, SP-570, or S100FS (or even S1000FD).

If you have a look at:

http://blog.dpreview.com/editorial/2008/11/compact-camera.html

You'll see that Simon has already stated that an Olympus UZ and the H50 will be tested. That's what makes this the penultimate group test.

Richard - dpreview.com

 

[Erik Magnuson]

I would say that these three companies
are among the most active in this field, especially in regards to
long-lasting Olympus "uzi" lore. I can't imagine a test that ignores
things like the H50, SP-570, or S100FS (or even S1000FD).

Remember this is the "penultimate" test - there is one more to come that will likely cover the 15x and higher zoom cameras.

--
Erik

 

[M Irwin]

(nt) means no text

 

[panini98]

It would have been interesting to see how the Fuji f100fd compared with the cameras in the Enthuiast camera group test, especially against the LX3.

 

[noirdesir]

I would have put it into the Enthousiast group, it is not as fast (lens speed) as the LX-3 but otherwise a pretty good camera.

 

[theranman]

Another FANTASTIC comparison!!!! Thanks gang. Keep pushing for better and better, not more and more MP.

Yeah, I would have included the Fuji as well, but that's ok.

 

[Frank B]

I want to say "Thank You" to DPReview for this series of Compact Camera Reviews. All were interesting, well done and helpful. I have an LX3 and have been thinking about buying a Canon SX110 IS (I want manual control of exposure) to supplement the LX3 on the long side when I know I may want longer focal lengths and do not want to carry my DSLR around. This review has been very useful to me. I think I will try the SX110 IS. I am extremely pleased with the LX3 and always have it with me.

This last review of Enthusiast cameras is particularly helpful to me.

Thank you Simon, Lars, and Richard for doing these very informative
and interesting group tests.

I love your individual reviews, and always wondered how the cameras
compare to each other. Now you've done it and let us know. Thank you!!

--
Frank B
Photos
http://www.pbase.com/frank_b

 

[gmark53]

Great test, but none of the cameras evaluated have a swing out (articulated) LCD. Personally, a camera would need to truly be outstanding in IQ for me to forgo this.
George

 

[gigabloke]

Much praise and thanks to Panasonic for putting image and general overall quality first. Although I don't really need a compact camera, I feel like getting an LX3 just in order to support Panasonic's effective efforts to give photographers what they want. They have done well so far in all the compact tests. It's going to be interesting to see what they do with Four-Thirds, and DSLRs too in the future.
--

Be kinder than you need to be, because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

 

[Paolino_o]

I would have put it into the Enthousiast group, it is not as fast
(lens speed) as the LX-3 but otherwise a pretty good camera.

To me sounds strange that dpreview choose R10 instead of GX200, or at least they can put both (like LX3 + TZ5 from Panasonic).
Any feedback from the authors?

 

[Ehrik]

Unfortunately, I am very reluctant to buy a camera that both
eliminates an optical viewfinder (since this provides a far more
stable shooting position

That's an urban myth. Shooting with bent arms and elbows getting support against the body can give a similar degree of stablity

... and requires special correction to eliminate
severe lens distortion (which also results in reduced resolution
where the image needs to be stretched during the correction

It also means improved resolution in the centre at wide angle since the image is compressed there.

and a final cropping of the result to maintain a rectangular image).

And the option to have 22-23mm if you leave the distortion there after shooting raw.

Sure it would be better to have an eye-level viewfinder (would have to be an EVF with this zoom range, an OVF would have so poor accuracy) and a well-corrected lens, but I don't agree the problems are as big as you make them out to be.

Just my two oere
Erik from Sweden

 

[Kokopelli_Rocks]

Thanks for the test. I ordered the Canon a few days ago for my daughter. The test helped confirm the camera is the right choice. Prime decision driver was cost - under $200 - but a good feature set and with AP, SP and manual exposure modes she can do some additional experimenting with the camera. This is an upgrade from her A series that I bought her 3 years ago.

Thanks for the test and all the tests you guys have done for the holidays.

Ed

 

[jjs01]

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I love your group reviews, but this time I'm confused by your definition of "Enthusiast Cameras".

It seems to me that some of the cameras in this group test (like the R10, or Z5)could have easily been placed in the premium compact camera comparisons.

In addition the FX150 in the premium comparision could have been placed in the enthusiast comparison since it shoots RAW.

I was also quite surprised that you did not include the Ricoh GX200 in this test as it directly competes against the G10 and LX3 in the marketplace.

I also question if these different groupings of cameras should be tested in the same manner. I would submit that the buyer of an enthusiast compact camera is looking for different features and performance levels than the buyer of another sub-category of compact camera.
I look forward to reading your thoughts.
John

 

[VladimirV]

This is a worthless comparison to say the least. The selection of cameras makes no sense at all.

The Ricoh R10 and Panasonic TZ5 are compact superzooms and not enthusiast cameras since they lack RAW and manual controls. Both cameras should have been included in previous tests already. The Kodak camera has also no place here and this also goes for the Canon SX110 since both don't have a wideangle lens or RAW either. Also why include 2 cameas from Panasonic and Canon but only one from the other manufacturers? Where is Fuji here?

And why compare a consumer camera like the Ricoh R10 if Ricoh offers real enthusiast cameras like the GX200 and GRD II? Maybe because they could not praise any Canon otherwise and satisfy their advertisers? Why not include the Sigma DP1 in the conclusions if it's all about enthusiast cameras?

The compact camera reviews here leave a lot to be desired and are more aimed at giving the million Canon Ixus model with 1MP more a highly recommended rating while ignoring the much more interesting compact cameras from Ricoh and Samsung?

One question though, what was wrong wth the R10 camera you've got? I have one here and have not managed to produce such a bad image like your review sample even at ISO 1600.

--
http://ricoh-gr-diary.blogspot.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cristiansorega

 

[Barry Fitzgerald]

This is a worthless comparison to say the least. The selection of
cameras makes no sense at all.

Maybe a tad harsh..

But yeah, the kodak in particular has no business being there..nor really the TZ-5...

 

[thw]

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A View through my Lens
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