Panasonic DMC-LX3 VS Canon Powershot G10

This is a simple test to the video. I placed the cameras on a rock outcropping on the beach on a small tripod.

Cameras set to run on auto and simply let them run for a short time. I did not have the Canon Wind Filter turned on that I know of.

These are VERY large files about 80MB each so you might want to download them to see them.

Both files are in MOV format which is what the camera recorded on to the SD card…

Canon Video

Panasonic Video

DETAILS: The panasonic takes HD video and the Canon does not.

Canon G10: Max. Clip Size: 4 GB*. * Even before the recording size reaches 4 GB, recording will stop at the moment the recording time reaches 1 hour. Depending on memory card capacity and data write speed, recording may stop before the file size reaches 4 GB or the recording time reaches 1 hour. Movie: 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) available up to 4GB or 60 minutes

Specs: http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=144&modelid=17624#ModelTechSpecsAct

Manual: http://gdlp01.c-wss.com/gds/0300001565/PSG10_CUG_EN.pdf’,%20′PSG10_CUG_EN.pdf

Panasonic LX3: Max. Clip Size: 2 GB. Motion picture: QuickTime Motion JPEG. 4:3 Aspect Ratio: VGA 640 x 480 pixels 30 fps, QVGA 320 x 240 pixels 30 fps/10 fps 16:9 Aspect Ratio: WVGA 848 x 480 pixels 30 fps, HD: 1280 x 720 24FPS.

Specs: http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-electronics/support/Cameras-Camcorders/Digital-Cameras/Lumix-Digital-Cameras/model.DMC-LX3K

Manual: ???

Which do you enjoy looking at the most?

Which seems technically the best?

Where we bought ours:

Panasonic DMC-LX3

Canon Powershot G10

More Posts:

LX3: http://www.vitalbodies.com/blog/tag/lx3/

G10: http://www.vitalbodies.com/blog/tag/canon-powershot-g10/

Canon G10 Eagle telephoto

Panasonic LX3 Eagle Telephoto

Panasonic DMC-LX3 VS Canon Powershot G10

For this one, you really need to see the bigger image.

This Eagle does not usually stay in that tree very long and I was lucky to get two images even on auto.

All auto, just another test shot, hand help but braced against the open window frame.

Click the images or visit The Gallery for larger images.

Get each image from the gallery set up on your screen so you see the image the way it looks best.

Which do you enjoy looking at the most?

Which seems technically the best?

Where we bought ours:

Panasonic DMC-LX3

Canon Powershot G10

More Posts:

LX3: http://www.vitalbodies.com/blog/tag/lx3/

G10: http://www.vitalbodies.com/blog/tag/canon-powershot-g10/

Panasonic LX3

Canon G10

Panasonic DMC-LX3 VS Canon Powershot G10

The images are hand held looking mostly towards the sun as you can see from the reflection.

All auto, just another test shot. Click the images or visit The Gallery for larger images.

Get each image from the gallery set up on your screen so you see the image the way it looks best.

Which do you enjoy looking at the most?

Which seems technically the best?

Where we bought ours:

Panasonic DMC-LX3

Canon Powershot G10

More Posts:

LX3: http://www.vitalbodies.com/blog/tag/lx3/

G10: http://www.vitalbodies.com/blog/tag/canon-powershot-g10/

We now have both cameras on hand to do some real testing. Today we had just enough time to take a few test shots.

The test below is a simple wide angle shot taken on AUTO with both cameras.

I set them both on the deck hand rail and took and the images. The images where taken perhaps one minute a part. And the cameras might have been about 1 foot a part on the rail.

The images are not intended to be show stoppers just a simple point and shoot test. Note that blog templates tend to only allow images to be so wide. I made the two reductions below 470 pixels wide.

Canon G10 Test Shot

Pansonic LX3 Test Shot

Panasonic DMC-LX3 VS Canon Powershot G10

NEW: I uploaded the images on our new gallery.

http://www.vitalbodies.com/images/v/VitalBodies+Graphics/blog/

Don’t laugh, there is not much in the gallery but a few images for testing the Gallery 2 software mostly plus these images for the blog.

One nice thing about the Gallery is that you can see the images in different sizes including full sized.

I really like the Gallery 2 Open Source offering! VitalBodies would like to thank the Gallery 2 team!

Here are two more images with no postwork.

G10 Product Test Image

Panasonic LX3 Product Test Shot

Where we bought ours:

Panasonic DMC-LX3

Canon Powershot G10

More Posts:

LX3: http://www.vitalbodies.com/blog/tag/lx3/

G10: http://www.vitalbodies.com/blog/tag/canon-powershot-g10/

The Panasonic arrives soon and I would like to create some test shots to determine the winner between it and the G10.

What kind of test shots would you need to see to help you decide?

We have some ideas and would like to hear yours.

Wide on the LX3  vs Wide on the G10.

Low light.

Macro.

Landscape.

Telephoto.

Raw.

…are a few ideas.

LX3 HD video Vs G10 video too.

Where we bought ours:

Panasonic DMC-LX3

Canon Powershot G10

More Posts:

LX3: http://www.vitalbodies.com/blog/tag/lx3/

G10: http://www.vitalbodies.com/blog/tag/canon-powershot-g10/

Bought the Canon Powershot G10 and returned the LX3!

Just had see if the Panasonic really was the best. Did we make the right choice?

Panasonic DMC-LX3 VS Canon Powershot G10

G10: Shoots what a first glance appears to be sharper images. On closer inspection the images seem blown out in the highlights, too dark on the mid-range dark and less rich in the mid tones. Much less of the scene tends to be in focus and some time that amount is less than 1/2 an inch! This might be fine for an artistic shot where that is the goal but not otherwise. The camera can not compete in low light. Be aware that low light is any light other than flash and outdoor day light. So taking a photo in the house or office this difference really shows unless you have a very well lit home or office. Overall the photos just do not look as nice. They do tend to look “technically” better in a technical way which might work well if you are shooting technical things like machine parts. They also have a cleaner look which is nice for some types of photography. When it comes to shooting life this camera does not compete in our minds. The build of the camera is really excellent and the knobs are great but the overall user experience tends to be less intuitive other than the setting controlled by knobs. There is also a button right near where you place your thumb when holding the camera which is challenging to avoid pressing particularly if you pass the camera back and forth or pick it up and put it down a lot. The charger is bigger, as is the camera and battery.

IN SHORT:

• Cleaner less grainy shots.
• Bigger and heavier charger, camera and battery.
• Less of the overall photo is in focus and the highlights tend to be blown out with a lack of richness of color across the low, mid and high tones.
• Narrow aspect ratio and less on the wide angle are a deadly combination for landscape and wide angle shooting. Better on telephoto.

No combination AC/DC charger is provided which is strange for a high end travel camera. This is not ecological if all these folks have to buy two chargers just to travel. If we are expected to pay big bucks for name brand batteries one might think the charger should be a smart charger also that is capable of refreshing and discharging the batteries to prolong their life. This camera does not offer a built in way to have a hand strap that attaches at the top and bottom of the side of the camera wrapping around the back of your hand, so one generally has to use a long neck strap. That dangles in the sand or mud of you hold the camera low to the ground.

LX3: The wide aspect ratio (if you set the camera to that) automatically makes for more stunning landscape and wide angle shots! Having a switch to shift ratios is so nice! The camera can make an everyday shot an enjoyable photo to look at. On close inspection the images do look a bit more blurred if one is pixel peeping. If you are not peeping then much more of the scene tends to be in focus and because the highlights are not blown out the photos look clearer and more satisfying. The build of the camera is solid, trim and compact without large rough knobs sticking out.If you combine the wide aspect ratio and the wider wide angle lens shot for shot between the two cameras you feel like you are looking through a key hole on the G10. That is an over exaggeration but hopefully you get my point. The color on the LX3 in outdoor photos is beautiful thing; rich and full bodied! They do not look muddy as the mid tones are much better represented and balance with the highlights and darker tones.

IN SHORT:

• Grainier shots. More enjoyable photos.
• Smaller lighter charger, camera and battery.
• More of the overall photo is in focus with a richness of color across the low, mid and high tones.
• Wide aspect ratio and more on the wide angle are a winning combination for landscape and wide angle shooting. Short on telephoto.

No combination AC/DC charger provided, which is strange for a high end travel camera. This is not ecological if all these folks have to buy two chargers just to travel. If we are expected to pay big bucks for name brand batteries one might think the charger should be a smart charger also that is capable of refreshing and discharging the batteries to prolong their life. This camera does not offer a built in way to have a hand strap that attaches at the top and bottom of the side of the camera wrapping around the back of your hand, so one generally has to use a long neck strap.  That dangles in the sand or mud of you hold the camera low to the ground.

Bought the Canon Powershot G10 and returned the LX3!

Just had see if the Panasonic really was the best. Did we make the right choice?

So far we would say no so we bought the LX3 again for a side by side shoot out!

Next up is a side by side comparison.

…When the LX3 gets here and it is on the way!!!

Where we bought ours:

Panasonic DMC-LX3

Canon Powershot G10

More Posts:

LX3: http://www.vitalbodies.com/blog/tag/lx3/

G10: http://www.vitalbodies.com/blog/tag/canon-powershot-g10/

Trying to choose a point and shoot digital camera for photo enthusiasts is a tough job. But somebody has to do it… : )

After surfing around a bit and seeing that are more cameras than one can think about I had to narrow our choices down.

Rather than mega-pixels (MP) as one of our deciding factors, we chose the ability to shoot in RAW. To further narrow we wanted a 3 inch 460,000 pixel screen (or better ) rather than the 230,000 pixel screens.

Another deciding factor is portability, we have other big cameras but we want one to have with us all the time. So truly portable matters.

Additionally Image Stabilization was a deciding factor.

One of us wanted HD video as a BONUS and the other wanted some telephoto range but they were not to be the deciding factors.

We both wanted great shots without have to fiddle with the camera and the ability to fiddle if we want to. This camera is for shooting family gatherings and other “in the moment” events where setting up a camera and fiddling with it is either distracting or you miss the shot. Thus – point and shoot is a must.

We narrowed all the contenders down to two choices and then a third if we did not want to spend the big bucks after all or just wanted to compromise.

OUR TOP CONTENDERS:
Canon Powershot G10 $408:
PROS: Middle on most things, Viewfinder, Best resolution at 14.7MP.
CONS: Highest price, Middle on most things, No HD video.

Panasonic Lumix DCM-LX3 $399:
PROS: F2-2.8, HD Video, Small and Light, best low light and wide angle.
CONS: $180 more that the TZ5, 10.1MP, No Viewfinder, 60mm telephoto.

Panasonic Lumix DCM-TZ5 $220:
PROS: Price, 28mm-280mm, HD Video, 2.3″ CCD, Small and Light, best telephoto and price.
CONS: Lowest Resolution, 9.1MP, No Viewfinder, F3.3-4.9, No RAW or manual adjustments.

THE SAME FEATURES ON ALL:
Really nice 3″ 460K screen, image stabilization.

MENTAL DELIBERATIONS:

• The TZ5 is what we were really looking for and the price is right and the zoom is great but this ones is the worst of the bunch for low light.
• The G10 is really nice in that it has more zoom than the LX3. Does RAW and is a pro version (like the LX3) and manual controls and build like a tank but bulkier and heavier with perhaps better controls.
• The LX3 is small light and the low light low noise and 24mm with F2. The 60mm is some what of a show stopper and if that 60mm was not a factor it might be the easy 1st choice. DP review liked this one best though.

THE COMMON WEAK POINT:
In general this type/category (small point and shoot) of camera are very challenged by low light and indoors shooting. so that is a factor to really consider and what we would say is the weakest point. If you read the reviews below and on sites like Amazon this subject comes up over and over again. This is something to really factor in.

THE REVIEWS:

Enthusiasts Group at DPreview: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/Q408enthusiastgroup/
Canon G10 VS Nikon at Luminous Landscape: http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/pocket-battleships.shtml
Canon Powershot G10 at DPreview: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/CanonG10/
Panasonic Lumix DCM-LX3 at DPreview: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicdmclx3/
Panasonic Lumix DCM-LX3 a Luminous Landscape: http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/lx3.shtml
Canon G10 VS a $40,000 Hasselblad H2 at Luminous Landscape: http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/kidding.shtml
(Hasselblad H2 and 39 Megapixel back Phase One P45+ with the Hasselblad 55-110mm lens attached)

SAMPLES:
http://www.dpreview.com/gallery/panasoniclx3_samples/

http://www.dpreview.com/gallery/canong10_samples/

THE TIE BREAKER:

We could not decide. Even eating an extra piece of Green and Blacks organic DARK 85% chocolate was not enough to help us decide.  This was a tough a choice.

In order to finally decide I suggested we put everything else aside and look at the sample images on DPreview. I invited my dad to join in also who also offered a lot of valuable advice.

We all liked the photos from the LX3 best!

My mom offered $100 towards what ever camera we wanted so price would not be the deciding factor. Thanks mom, this helped also!

THE WINNER: Panasonic Lumix DCM-LX3!

Panasonic Official Site: http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-electronics/shop/Cameras-Camcorders/Digital-Cameras/Lumix-Digital-Cameras/model.DMC-LX3K.O_11002_7000000000000005702#tabsection

Canon Official Site: http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=144&modelid=17624#ModelDetailAct

WHERE TO BUY A PANASONIC DCM-LX3:

I already knew the best prices I was finding was at Amazon. But instead of going to Amazon, the tab was already open in Firefox, I closed the tab. I went to DPreview and clicked to Amazon from their site.

They deserve what ever affiliate money they get from that click! VitalBodies thanks DPreview for their great site and help.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicdmclx3/

I am not sure what review I liked the best but the Enthusiasts Group was perhaps my favorite. The samples broke the tie.

We would have liked to see more portraits in the samples for the G10.

If we buy accessories we will click from Luminous Landscape as that site helped a lot also. Much thanks to Luminous Landscape!

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/lx3.shtml

We hope this blog post helps you decide also, if so buy through us with the links below…

Also, if you have any questions about where NOT to buy consult http://www.resellerratings.com

We found a questionable seller while shopping. They were listed as a sellers who routinely does the classic low price bate and switch scam.

Nice to know…

Where we bought our final versions of these cameras:

Panasonic DMC-LX3

Canon Powershot G10

More Posts:

LX3: http://www.vitalbodies.com/blog/tag/lx3/

G10: http://www.vitalbodies.com/blog/tag/canon-powershot-g10/