The Panasonic Lumix Dmc-LX5, also know as the Lumix LX5 for short, is a high quality Compact Camera that I was fortunate enough to try out in my travels. If that name rings a bell, it’s because the LX5 is the direct successor to Panasonic’s LX3, which also gained a foothold in the high-end compact digital camera market, with aplomb. The LX3 offered a remarkable array of features and image quality to those fortunate enough to own one, but Panasonic saw room for improvement and came out with the LX5 model.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 At a Glance

The Panasonic DMC-LX5 continues the series’ rather unassuming appearance, though the controls and right hand grip have been beefed up a bit to accommodate a larger array of manual options and menu buttons. It certainly isn’t a deterrent though, the size increase is almost negligible, especially considering the improvement in grip if/when you decide to add on larger flashes or secondary displays the new model can now accommodate, but we’ll get to those features later. Perhaps the most noticeable, at least the most valuable, improvement Panasonic made to the Lumix LX5 was to its lens. While the LX3 can only zoom in 2.5x, the Lumix LX5 is capable of a 3.8x zoom. The aspect of the new lens that is truly worthy of remark is how it mitigates the loss of light, even at full zoom. At its widest scope, the same 24mm its predecessor offered, the improved Panasonic DMC Lumix-LX5 lens boasts an aperture of f2.0, and at its full 90mm stretch, its focal ratio only increases to f3.3.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 New and Improved Features

Now on to manual features. The Panasonic DMC-LX5 is equipped with a clickable thumbwheel that makes for remarkably simple navigation when selecting a value or switching between adjustable functions. For instance, say you’d like to adjust the shutter speed for a new scene, but the dial is set to adjust aperture: click to change function, slide to set value. Another crucial feature the Lumix LX5 offers that the LX3 was lacking is an accessory port for attaching a secondary viewfinder capable of tilting 90 degrees horizontally. The port is located directly behind the hot shoe on top of the camera. The hot shoe is moved slightly from where it sat on the LX3 to accommodate the new feature. Like the LX3, its aspect ratios are manually adjusted from the front of the camera, however the LX5 features a new 1:1 aspect ratio in addition to the 4:3, 3:2, and 16:9 offered by the LX3.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 3.8x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0-Inch LCD – Black
The left side of the camera is fitted with a switch that allows to user to switch between Macro AF, AF, and manual focusing modes.As for the rear interface, the Panasonic DMC-LX5 retains a layout that will be familiar to LX3 owners. Right-side button layout is basically a shot for shot remake, with the inclusion of a new standalone play button, rather than the dual play / record switch. That function was moved to the shutter release, which switches automatically from play mode when pressed halfway down. This makes for a much more convenient, and thereby faster, transition between playback and camera. One of the prevailing complaints people had with the LX3 was its taking much longer to start up when it was turned off in play mode. Panasonic fixed this issue by giving the user the option to allow startup into play mode, which incidentally avoids the pesky lens cap error message that appears before play mode is enabled, and press the shutter release halfway to exit play mode. This results in a much faster and error message-free transition if the camera is shut off while still in play mode. Together, the new thumb wheel and play button combination make for a far smoother transition than the more awkward joystick and record / play toggle of its predecessor.

Lumix Lx5 Movie Mode

Even Though the movie mode on the Lumix LX5 is still shot in 720p resolution, Panasonic makes for this by included loads of extra features and options to compensate. For example, you can now perform optical zoom during a recording. The user can now also adjust exposure and has an AVCHD mode, where videos are stored in smaller files, allowing for longer durations for recorded video. There is a contingency however, AVCHD high definition videos aren’t supported by the camera’s on board memory.

Lumix LX5 Battery Life

Another new addition is the mini HDMI port that replaces the LX3’s analog component output. Needless to say, this improves the quality of video output immensely. The battery and charging units also saw improvements; the LX5 now sporting a battery that lasts about 33% longer than the LX3.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 Field Performance

As mentioned earlier, the Lumix LX5 is now capable of zooming in by 3.8x at a focal length of 90mm, 30mm greater than the LX3, and at surprisingly little sacrifice to focal ratio. This equates to more light in the lens (lower f-number) and, in turn, maintaining a clear image at a drastically improved reduction in the depth of field.

A positive effect of the impressive focal ratio is reducing the effect of camera shake on the quality of the image. Camera shake is more noticeable when less light is let into the lens and the shutter speed is increased, capturing any motion that occurs over the longer amount of time necessary to capture the image. By keep the f-number low, as the LX5 does well over other comparable cameras of similar zoom and resolution capabilities, the shutter speed is increased, reducing exposure time and the motion that occurs therein, and resulting in a final picture that is higher in quality (due to the increase of light exposure), and lower in blur (due to the reduced amount of time necessary to capture the image) that really brings out the best of it’s 10.1MP resolution. It’s a win-win.

How Does The Lumix LX5 Sum Up?

In conclusion, the Panasonic Lumix DMC LX5 is a clear winner. Panasonic addressed all the issues with controls and ergonomics that hindered the usability of the old LX3 model, and even improved upon the LX3’s best features. It all comes together seamlessly: the controls are faster and easier to use while accommodating entirely new features, the lens and zoom have been upgraded and fitted with optional manual controls for fluid adjustments, and there are far more options for video recording and output. This camera maintains portability while still being compatible with added extras for drastically improved quality. So, my Panasonic Lumix LX5 review boils down to the camera’s central dogma: It’s a high-end compact with a slew of extra features, it given it’s remarkable performance in the field, I would say it’s certainly found a comfortable niche in the transient casual / professional market.

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V is designed for people that need a travel sized digital camera but don’t want to lose any of the features. The DSC-HX9V comes with a 16.2 mega-pixel CMOS senosr and a 16x, 24-384mm zoom lens. Despite having a lens that is more powerful than most travel cameras, the Cyper-shot still easily fits into pockets thanks to a one inch thickness at its narrowest point. There is no viewfinder, so the rear of the camera has more room for the three inch LCD display for view-finding and picture playback.Some of the software features of the DSC-HX9V include an automatic scene analysis function which will select one of the 11 camera settings based on what the camera sees. Also included are facial recognition features which automatically focus on a subjects face and can be set to snap the shutter when it detects that the person is smiling. The Cyber-shot also takes 1080p picture quality video.

Bonus features include an intelligent sweep panorama shooting mode for easy creation of panoramic photos. All the user has to do to make a panoramic photo is to press and hold down the shutter button while moving the camera from left to right or top to bottom, and the camera will automatically process and create the panoramic image. The DSC-HX9V can also create 3D images for users that have a 3D TV and 3D glasses. The user needs to take two pictures from slightly different angles and the camera combines the images for 3D viewing.

Whether your a seasoned photographer or a novice just starting out, the Canon G12 digital camera is an excellent choice. It is a 10 megapixel device that features Canon’s unique HS system, which delivers exceptional shots, even in situations where your hands are shaking while snapping your photos. This leaves your pictures very bright and sharp, which is wonderful for individuals who are using the camera in crowded situations and shooting images during concerts or sporting events. The HS System also makes for capturing amazing images in low light.

The Canon G12 offers users 5x optical zoom with its 28mm wide angle lens. The camera has the ability to shoot quality 720p HD videos in stereo sound that can be played back on your HDTV or computer via the HDMI output. You can take photos in various sizes, including 10:9, 4:3, 1:1, 3:2 and 4:5 and get sheer quality in all of your pictures, no matter which resolution you select.

This Canon digital camera has an excellent autofocus feature that is fast and accurate. If you enjoy taking photos of beautiful landscapes, this is definitely the right camera for you.

Price $409.00

You can save all of your images and video to various types of memory cards, including SD, SDHC, SDXC, MultiMediaCard, MMC Plus Card or HC MMC Plus Card, which does not come with the camera. During video capturing with the Canon G12, you can even zoom by way of the 5x optical zoom feature to capture the object of your main focus.

Modes that the camera uses are RAW and JPEG format. You can later transfer your RAW images to your computer and edit them with image editing software to get them exactly as you want. You can even snap your images in both formats simultaneously and choose which one looks best.

Overall, the Canon G12 digital camera is easy to use and is consists of a quality, durable design that will last you through mishaps such as dropping it. It is a bit larger than many cameras on the market but is sturdy and offers a good grip in the hands. It is also well worth the cost for any serious photography enthusiast.

Canon G12 10 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.8 Inch Vari-Angle LCD

There is no better way to capture all of life’s most important moments than with a video recorder – the Toshiba Camileo X100 Full-HD Camcorder to be exact. This model of camcorder is the perfect option for consumers looking for a lightweight hand-held option that is known for capturing high-quality images at an affordable rate.

Product Details

The 9.6 ounce Toshiba Camileo X100 has a 10x optical zoom, as well as a 10x digital zoom for up to 100x zoom, and records in your choice of 1080p / 30fps and 1080i / 60fps resolution for crisp, clear, high definition imaging. The screen is a 3.0 inch LCD touch screen, and features include 4 GB of flash memory and HDMI digital AV output. Included in the price of the camcorder is one Lithium ion battery, one HDMI cable, and one USB cable.

Features

With the Toshiba Camileo X100, users have the option of shooting in four separate recording modes. These include macro mode, which optimizes your close up shots; motion detection mode, for consumers using this camera for surveillance; slow motion mode, which is perfect for sports shooting; and time-elapsed mode, which allows you to shoot an image every few seconds, then replay it back at a rate that appears to make time move faster. The X100 takes photos, too; still images are shot at 10 Mega pixels.

Built-in video stabilization allows for smooth transitioning as users to move from close up to panoramic shots with the 10x zoom function. Meanwhile, users can control everything from the 3.0 inch LCD touch screen without having to stop recording for even a moment.

By default, the X100 has 4 GB of memory, however, the addition of a 32 GB SD / SDHC memory card will give users between five and 12 extra hours of recording time, depending upon the chosen recording mode. The battery charges using a USB cord, which allows you to charge via wall outlet, car converter, and via personal computer with ease.

One of the most convenient features of the Toshiba Camilea X100 is its web sharing options. With just the touch of a button, users can quickly and easily upload home videos to youtube, and uploading videos to other social networking sites is just as easy. When users want to review videos on the big screen, it as simple as plugging the included HDMI cord into their high definition television

Price $194.99

In a world where an overabundance of video recorders exist on the market, the Toshiba Camileo X100 Full-HD Camcorder stands out in the crowd.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 12.1 MP Camera was announced in June of 2011, and is the eighth camera descendant that follows in the Panasonic Lumix G dynasty. It adheres to the Micro Four-Thirds System (MFT) Panasonic design standard, and is the successor of the DMC-GF2.Panasonic was one of the pioneers to introduce to the world to the digital interchangeable lens, which made shooting high quality 3-D images not just a possibility, but a standard by which all other interchangeable lens systems would have to follow. This new 3-D interchangeable lens system combines instant 3-D image capability, without actually designed as a camera specifically with a 3-D structure, and adds much easier handling. Distorted 3-D images with the Lumix DMC-GF3 are greatly eliminated, as well as time lag between both left and right images, even with fast moving targets. Another breakthrough was how Panasonic utilized innovative technology and added the VIERA 3-D TV feature, which makes it easy on the eyes while viewing even close-up images.By introducing the Light Speed AF feature, the DMC-GF3 doubles drive speed from 60 fps to 120 fps, which greatly reduces detection time speed for focusing to about 0.1 seconds. Not only is the accuracy ahead of its class, but the speed far excels many other high-end SLRs on the market. Combined with touch AF control, the user will never miss those once-in-a-lifetime moments because DMC-GF3 has made setting and focusing remarkably easy and fast. Just some of the features include:

• Interchangeable 4/3 lens system
• Live 12.1 megapixel MOS image sensor
• Intelligent LCD three-inch touchscreen
• AVCHD 1080/60i HD video image recording
• Styles and Creative Controls
• Menu customization
• Dust Reduction System
• Contrast AF system
• Intelligent Auto and Plus mode
• Very lightweight at about 7.4oz
• Super fast 3-D still images
• SD, SDXC and SDHC card slot

$599.00

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 breaks the record for one of the smallest and lightest digital interchangeable lens cameras by greatly downsizing its mount design compared to its DMC-GF2 predecessor. And in the pursuit of ultimate compactness, equipment and features of the older model weren’t compromised, such as built-in flash. The DMC-GF3′s extremely compact, stylish round-form, aluminum build and ergonomically designed grip makes it comfortable to hold, as well as one of the easiest and smoothest cameras to operate.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 12.1 MP Camera provides the type of performance and HD 3-D photo quality in a relatively tiny package that even most point-and-shoot professionals should like. It is the first of what can be hoped to be the prototype design that all point-and-shoot digital cameras follow.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 12.1 MP Micro Four Thirds Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera with 3-Inch Touchscreen and 14mm F2.5 ASPH Lens