Panasonic LX3 or LX5?

[jennym]

I am not sure if I should be posting this here, but I am looking at a Panasonic LX5 as a replacement for my little Ricoh which I use to assess shots before setting up the 5x4, and therefore uses as an accessory for my LF work. I have been very impressed by the quality of images I have seen from the LX3 but there seems to be some discussion about the quality from the LX5. Does anyone have any experience or advice? I prefer the slightly longer zoom range of the LX5 but am not sure what to make of comments about some soft images from the LX5. Is this something to be concerned about? Many thanks.

Jenny

[msbc]

Jenny,

Have you considered the Canon G12 as an alternative - it has a 5x4 aspect ratio option - very handy!

Mark

[Ed Moss]

BJP has a review of the LX5 and G12 this month. They favoured the LX5.
My friend has just bought a G12, as it had a viewfinder, something the LX5 didn't have.

[Paul Mitchell]

For a bit extra you could look at the GF1 Jenny... bought mine last month for my trip to Scotland and it was like having a DSLR in your pocket the quality is that good. They're also coming down in price with the imminent release of the GF2

Paul

[dave_whatever]

The GF1 really is a dynamite camera for actual use (with its perfect partner the 20mm), but if you want something with a range of focal lengths for quick shot assessment then and LX3/5 or a Canon S90/95 would be a more pocketable choice.

[jennym]

Thanks to everyone for your replies. I do have a G1 which I chose rather than the GF1 as I found it easier to hold the camera steady with the the little hand grip. But this does make the camera a bit bigger (my pockets are not that big) and I tend to use it when I am out and about with the family without the LF camera, and prefer to have a little pocket camera as my scouting aid. How many cameras do I need, you might ask?! Anyway the great man has offered to buy me one for Christmas and I"m not going to argue! I just need to sort out the best option. I have thought of a little Canon but am not very familiar with them. Any more thoughts on the S90/95 vs LX3/5?

Many thanks.

Jenny

[David Evans]

Thanks to everyone for your replies. I do have a G1 which I chose rather than the GF1 as I found it easier to hold the camera steady with the the little hand grip. But this does make the camera a bit bigger (my pockets are not that big) and I tend to use it when I am out and about with the family without the LF camera, and prefer to have a little pocket camera as my scouting aid. How many cameras do I need, you might ask?! Anyway the great man has offered to buy me one for Christmas and I"m not going to argue! I just need to sort out the best option. I have thought of a little Canon but am not very familiar with them. Any more thoughts on the S90/95 vs LX3/5?

Many thanks.

Jenny

Well here's a link to the Powershot S95, Lumix LX5 and Coolpix P7000 tests and comparisons http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/Q42010h ... pactgroup/

A whole host of reviews can be found here http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/

[timparkin]

The LX5 is wonderful - Joe and David have both had the LX3 and LX5 and have said the LX5 is substantially better..

The main advantage of the LX5 against other compacts - it will fit in a pocket whilst having a reasonable zoom range. The GF1 plus 14-140 is still a substantial sized camera - definitely not easily pocketable. Also, the LX5 has a 24mm wide angle as opposed to the 28mm of the 14-140 (assuming you want a useful zoom range for use as a finder) and the 28mm of the Canon..

24mm is equivalent to a 96mm lens - pretty good model for a 90mm

28mm is equivalent to a 112mm lens - OK if your base lens is a 110mm

It does also have a 'nearly' 4x5 mode with 4:3 - and you'll never get completely accurate framing because of LF perspective capability.

Even better - the LX5 is still pocketable with the RF75 adapter on!

Highly recommended

Tim

[jennym]

Thanks everyone. Useful information and useful links. It's between the Canon S95 and the Panasonic LX5 then...... they both look pretty impressive. I'll probably go for the LX5 given that I use my 90mm LF lens a lot and the LX5 gives me a wider angle.

Happy Christmas,

Jenny

[Baxter]

I've an LX5 in the post for my parent's xmas present. I shall give it a good testing and if my suspicions are correct about how good it is, will probably sell my GF-1 and its two prime lenses.

All of this is assuming that Amazon can get it delivered before my departure to deepest Cornwall.