Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX5 review

We review the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 - the hotly anticipated successor to the LX3, this prestige compact will be one for experienced photographers

It’s been two years since Panasonic launched the premium compact – the LX3. It was a camera that offered user control, impressive image quality, and all in a pocketable body that gives an advantage over bulky DSLRs. The LX3 had legions of fans and its cost never deviated far from the standard retail price. But with competitors like Samsung and Canon cashing in on the high-end compact market, Panasonic has stepped up and finally released a revised version – the LX5.

Out of the box, the LX5 looks a lot like its older brother. It retains the same, small design that emanates style with hints of a Leica compact about it. The protruding lens does add to the width somewhat, and means that it would be a tight fit for a jean pocket and more appropriate in a small camera bag instead. This model is still smaller than its main rivals, though – the Canon G11 and the Samsung EX1.

There is an improved grip and a DSLR-like jog dial on the back of the camera within thumb’s reach. The d-pad has lends quicker access to frequently used settings such as ISO and Focus, which means you won’t miss a photo opportunity whilst delving into menus. If there is something you find yourself using the Quick Menu for frequently, there is also the option to add it into one of two Custom settings.

The mode dial gives the enhanced creative control that is expected from a high-end compact with the P, A, S, M modes. From here you can also switch to video, which records in AVCHD Lite and Motion JPEG. In Creative Movie mode, the shutter speed and aperture can be altered to unleash creativity. The LX5 also caters for beginners who want a camera that will enable them to progress as their skills develop with Scene and Intelligent Auto. Scene mode recognises 22 different scenarios and adjusts the settings to suit, whereas Intelligent Auto does this without the need to delve into the menu and alter the shooting situation.

Incidentally, the automatic mode is reliable and generates images that are vibrant and true to life. This is thanks to a new 1/1.63-inch CCD sensor with 10.1-megapixel recording. Panasonic has proudly called a cease-fire on the pixel count war and kept the same pixel count as seen on the LX3. This can only be a good thing, as more pixels crammed onto the generally smaller sensors found in compacts decrease light sensitivity, thus causing poor performance in low light conditions. The latest model, however, enhances sensitivity by 31%, further expanding the dynamic range and resulting in accurately rendered images.

The LCD screen has also undergone treatment. It’s still a 460k-dot three-inch display but it now boasts a High CRI (Colour Rendering Index) backlit LED to make shooting and playback of images possible in glaring sunshine and dark night. With the improved sensor and wide aperture of f2.0, the LX5 copes well under low light conditions. Noise didn’t creep in until ISO 400 and even then, pictures were still useable as it manifested itself like film grain rather than multi-coloured specs. Incidentally, if film grain effects are what you’re after, you can select this option from the newly added My Color mode. This can be found on the mode dial and there are 12 options to choose from that affect the overall appearance of a photograph, including Pin Hole, Retro, and Dynamic Art.

The ability to shoot with manual modes, in RAW as well as JPEG, and achieve great image quality in such a suave, portable form undoubtedly makes the LX5 a tough premium compact to beat. The main features of the LX3, an already much-loved option for second shooters and advanced amateurs, have been given an update and the features give good value for money. Excitedly, this new release should finally dent the cost of its predecessor for those looking for quality on a budget.