The new Panasonic LX5 is a premium compact camera that makes a lot of sense. For one, a jump by a number in the naming convention — there is no LX4 after the LX3 — gives the impression that this camera is two generations ahead of the LX3, its much-respected predecessor.
For another, Panasonic also maintains a “conservative” 10.1 megapixels, making no attempt to squeeze more pixels in the large — by a compact camera standard — sensor of 1/1.63 inch.
Panasonic LX5
This is a reassuring development at a time when 14-point-something megapixels on a tiny 1/2.33-inch sensor seems to be the standard for many compact cameras out there.
Panasonic says, the CCD sensor in the LX5 has undergone a redesigning process to achieve a further expansion of dynamic range by increasing the sensitivity by approximately 31 per cent and the saturation by 38 per cent compared to the already highly-acclaimed LX3.
Speaking of sensor… look, we strongly think that the 1/2.33-inch sensor should now be phased out to allow for the incoming of a large one. To support the phasing out of 1/2.33-inch sensor in compact cameras, this blog will no longer make any mention of any camera which has that sensor size except in the context of this “crusade”.
Back to the LX5, the camera also sports a f2.0 Leica lens, also with a conservative 3.8x optical zoom which translate into 24mm-90mm in 35mm equivalent.
At this focal length, the lens has a slightly longer reach than, say, a 16-50mm DSLR lens on an APS-C camera.
Other “wow” features of the LX5 include: the addition of a 1:1 aspect ratio, high ISO capabilities, faster continuous shooting than the LX3′s, HD video… I wish it had an interval shooting mode and a swivel LCD screen though.
