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Test Driving the Panasonic Lumix DMC LX-3
February 7, 2009 | Gadgets & Reviews, Projects | 13,478 views
I just got myself a Panasonic Lumix DMC LX-3 point and shoot… yes a point and shoot! Ever wonder why I got this little toy since I have been a dSLR user for quite sometime? I have tried a few test shots with the Panasonic Lumix LX-3, with 2 strobe lights. Yep, it has a hot shoe and I can put an external flash or a remote trigger for wireless lighting.
Panasonic Lumix LX-3 @ f5.6 1/400 iso100. Macro mode / cropped
Strawberries (2009)
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I spent about an hour in the shower to get these shots. It’s a bit cramp with all the background, lights and water effects in my setup, all inside my small bathroom. For this series, I tried the macro feature of the Panasonic LX-3 and I set my settings between f5.6 to f7.1, 1/250 to 1/500 at iso100 for most of the shots. The flash X-sync speed can reach up to the maximum 1/2000 shutter speed but really depends on the power of the flash. I settled to about 1/500, just enough to stop the water droplets in the mid air.
I will be testing this little wonder for the coming days in different shooting scenarios but as for my first impression I say, Panasonic Lumix LX-3 point and shoot camera + good lighting = unbelievably clean images for a camera with a tiny sensor.
Panasonic Lumix LX-3 @ f6.3 1/250 iso100. Macro mode / cropped
Wet Berries (2009)
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Comments (42)
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bariles
Emily
Rea
lito
Lantaw
[...] : I finally got my self a Panasonic Lumix LX-3, I have tested a few shots with this tiny wonder. See here by Leonard Pe, Digital Photographer [...]
[...] : I finally got my self a Panasonic Lumix LX-3, I have tested a few shots with this tiny wonder. See my macro shots here by Leonard Pe, Digital Photographer Gadgets & [...]
Great shots! May I know which on your mode dial is pointed to (was it on shutter priority or manual)? Thanks.
Awesome shots from such a small camera!
Very, very impressive, Leonard!
Pa-borrow ha? :)
bariles’s post: Heart and Music with Alberto Dal Pino at the Tropics this Valentines
@Jakz – I used manual mode to control everything, from aperture, to shutter speed, to iso. The shutter speed was also fast enough to disregard all ambient light since I am using 100% light source from the 2 slave flashes. White balance was set to sunny.
I also used tripod here since my other hand was busy holding and dropping the strawberry :)
@bariles – thanks.. hmmm depende hehe. I love my lx-3. ayoko pahawakan sa iba hehehehe
Hi, is it necessary to update the firmware of the LX-3? Thanks!
It is not really necessary to update the firmware but still better if you update to version 1.2 since it will improve the Auto White Balance and will support full compatibility with the FL220 flash unit.
you can download the firmware here
http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/download/LX3/index.html
thank you very much for the tip sir. forgot to ask what AF mode did you employ on the shots.
could it be easier if you had the shots on a timer (10 secs.) so that you’ll have both hands free =). i noticed that the lx3 gives 4 quick beeps before it takes the shot.
@Jakz – for the AF, I tried several modes to experiment. I even tried manual focus but it’s too flimsy to use, I settled in AF macro mode. 10 sec timer is too long and timing is difficult to shoot moving objects. It’s easier for me to use one hand adjusting the subjects and the other ready to click the shutter.
The trick is, try half pressing the shutter so it will be in focus already, then press it down to shoot at your desired moment.
The quick beeps is just an alert that the camera already got an area in focus.
Leonard Pe’s post: Test Driving the Panasonic Lumix DMC LX-3
got your point. thanks for the clarification :)
but what i meant by AF mode was the ones on page 82 of the manual. The manual lists 6 AF modes namely: face detection, AF tracking, multi-area-focusing, 1-area-focusing (high speed), 1-area-focusing, and spot-focusing. so which AF mode were your camera was set to when you shoot this wonderful set?
I have set it to 1-area-focusing-high speed. But it doesn’t matter really because I pre-focus before taking the shot by half pressing the shutter button. I didn’t experience a significant shutter lag with this technique.
@Jakz – One more thing, I’m used to my DSLR’s one-shot focus and using only the center focus point. I find the LX-3′s 1-area-focusing almost the same with the latter.
LX-3′s face detection, AF tracking, multi-area focusing seem to consume more time to focus.
Sir, ang aperture at shutter speed manual po?
This is more than just a point & shoot camera.
Yes, naka manual. If you shoot with remote flash / studio flash you need to use manual to have consistent settings with every shot.
waw lingawa uy! playing with speed. hehe.
pwede na pang-advertise ng products. yahoo!
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wow. sublime! *still in awe* those were great pics actually. nice one! kudos.
@Rea – hehe kahit ako di ko expect ang image quality ng camera na ito, the fact na point and shoot lang sya.
@beans – thank you beans :)
o nga nu, point and shoot pala toh. pero muka naman xang digital eh.
hmmm.
i miss making pictures. hmmm.
Rea’s post: Interview Jitters
@Rea – happy shooting!
Wow. It’s like an SLR.
Yes, for the image quality, almost at par with a DLSR. But as for the speed and other functions, the SLR is still ahead.
with the point and shoot, most of its useful settings like ISO, WB, etc. they dont have a dedicated button for you to access it, you have to go through lots of menus to change them. A real hassle if you are shooting fast paced events.
I LOVE THE PICTURES! xD
whee. they were nicely taken. there’s always room for improvements. hope to see more beautiful shots! :D :D
but i still think nikon is better ._.
@YL – thanks YL. well about what’s the better brand… I say, it’s not the camera but the quality of light captured by the camera, just a thought.
Great experiments bai! Thats a great PS camera!
Please visit my alter ego :)
Lantaw’s post: breakfast, beach, and shell pickers
@Lantaw – thanks bai. wow nice new blog.. galing ng mga shots !
wow! ^^ galing2x inggit ako sa new cam!!!
and so i have seen and read….. mupalit na jud ko ani diri!!!! thanks nard for the reviews… will soon ask for your expertise pag naa nko lumix..
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@dimpay – di pa yan review hehe. anyway, go palit na before it runs out. LX-4 was rumored to be replacing the LX-3 anytime soon.
Really amazing shots. Have the LX3 myself and am interested in what strobe setup you used for these? Did you say you had one on the hotshoe?
Cheers, Diego
@Diego – I use a remote trigger on the LX-3 to fire two Sigma strobes positioned on both sides of the subject, one for the background lighting and one for fill in. I also used a ringflash attachment on the fill in Sigma.
nard i hate you! now i want one too :(
@zo – oh… you’ll love me kasi pinahawak kita ng LX-3 ko hehehe..
bili na suki!
Really wonderful shots! I’m breathless.
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@Ayel – thanks! huminga ka naman hehe
galing ng outcome. small but terrible ang cam. haha!
nice!!!! this is from a point-and-shoot? wow!
yes :) pretty impressive point and shoot
sobrang gandang shots! :)
Hi,
Is it safe to use a Canon 550EX on the LX3? I read you can do it if you set it to manual mode. I have a canon “off camera cord 2″ between the bracket and the camera, but I’m not going to turn this on until I know that I won’t blow out the camera’s electronics.
I havent tried Canon 550EX but I have tried Sigma 500 and Nikon SB600 on my LX-3, the flashes work on manual/slave mode.
So with the 550ex, probably yes. 5 volts won’t fry your beloved cam. Cross your fingers