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/

Sigma SD14

Lumix DCM-LX3

3 Test Images:
The first two are a simple product shot done indoors near a window in fairly low natural light from the window.

The product shots were done on Automatic and were meant to simulate taking products shots where one needs some nice clear images in a hurry.

No time to fiddle with the camera.

Every setting on the camera is at the default as far as we know.

Lumix Product Shot 1: http://www.vitalbodies.com/ws07/images/offsite/blog/P1000107.JPG

Lumix Product Shot 2: http://www.vitalbodies.com/ws07/images/offsite/blog/P1000108.JPG

Sigma Product Shot 1: http://www.vitalbodies.com/ws07/images/offsite/blog/SDIM3414.JPG

Sigma Product Shot 2: http://www.vitalbodies.com/ws07/images/offsite/blog/SDIM3415.JPG

The second images are shot with a tripod set on the railing of an ocean front deck.
This landscape shot the cameras are set to Auto. The Lumix was taken first and the Sigma immediately after.

The Sigma uses a 17-70MM F2.8-4.5 lens and the lens was set to 17mm.

Every setting on the camera is at the default as far as we know.

This image was not intended to be artsy or amazing, but was taken in the spirit of trying to show something to someone.

To show something you see, as you would see it.

Like, here is what I see off my deck today…

Lumix Landscape Shot 1: http://www.vitalbodies.com/ws07/images/offsite/blog/P1000109.JPG

Sigma Landscape Shot 2: http://www.vitalbodies.com/ws07/images/offsite/blog/SDIM3416.JPG

The photos are likely to have some noise full size, but see how they look scaled down to the size you might print or show on your screen or a web site.

Additionally, no post production was done to the images.

To the eye of the photographer, the Lumix photo matched what the eye saw when the photo was taken way better.

Which photos do you think turned out best?

Classic situation, you decide to go for a walk on the beach; at the last moment you grab your camera and pop it into your pocket.

The sun is about to set and by the time you make it to the sand, the sun has set.

A beautiful yet low light situation…

In simple point and shoot mode with the camera on auto, how does it perform?

IMAGES:

Point and Shot: http://www.vitalbodies.com/ws07/images/offsite/blog/P1000114.JPG

Point and Shot: http://www.vitalbodies.com/ws07/images/offsite/blog/P1000115.JPG

Point and Shot: http://www.vitalbodies.com/ws07/images/offsite/blog/P1000116.JPG

Point and Shot: http://www.vitalbodies.com/ws07/images/offsite/blog/P1000117.JPG

Point and Shot: http://www.vitalbodies.com/ws07/images/offsite/blog/P1000134.JPG

Point and Shot: http://www.vitalbodies.com/ws07/images/offsite/blog/P1000135.JPG

Point and Shot: http://www.vitalbodies.com/ws07/images/offsite/blog/P1000160.JPG

Straight from the camera with no post work.

Point and Shoot is fun again! : )

We thought the results were amazing, what do you think?

3 Test Images:
The first two are a simple product shot done indoors near a window in fairly low natural light from the window.

The product shots were done on Intelligent Automatic (iA) and were meant to simulate taking products shots where one needs some nice clear images in a hurry.
Every setting on the camera is at the default as far as we know.

Product Shot 1: http://www.vitalbodies.com/ws07/images/offsite/blog/P1000107.JPG

Product Shot 2: http://www.vitalbodies.com/ws07/images/offsite/blog/P1000108.JPG

The second images are shot with a tripod set on the railing of an ocean front deck.
This landscape shot the camera is set to iA.

Every setting on the camera is at the default as far as we know.

This image was not intended to be artsy or amazing, but was taken in the spirit of trying to show something to someone.

To show something you see, as you would see it.

Like, here is what I see off my deck today…

Landscape Shot 1: http://www.vitalbodies.com/ws07/images/offsite/blog/P1000109.JPG

The photos are likely to have some noise full size, but see how they look scaled down to the size you might print or show on your screen or a web site.

The photos all in all, came out really nice compared to cameras we have had in the past. We are very excited about this camera.

Additionally, no post production was done to the images.

Here is a first VERY VERY brief impression. Just got the camera today.

Set to iA (auto) 16:9 and took a shoot out the window and included the window frame.
Not the greatest (fairly dark rainy day) light but the image looks like what you would see with your eyes.

CHARGING: The battery does not come charged, so we had to charge it. The charger is small and nicely built. When the green light is on, the battery is charging and when the green light is off the battery is done charging – simple.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: The size and build seem very nice. The three aspect ratios are really nice also and are as easy as setting the switch on the top of the lens. The screen is amazing. HD looked amazing. Seems intuitive to use for a new user.

SLIGHTLY DEEPER: We do like the wide angle lens – especially for point and shoot! The macro close up is close and worked for us in poor light!

ON THE BIG SCREEN: Most of the test shots came out about how they look to the eye but a bit brighter on the computer screen. The results in poor light seem awesome. The big concern would be graininess from what I saw so far.

Still need to check if the RAW files can be edited in UFRaw or RAWstudio.

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/