Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2 Review

The all-glass Leica DC VARIO ELMARIT 4x zoom lens is equivalent to a 28-112mm zoom on a 35mm camera. It has a F2.8 to F4.9 maximum aperture. This lens is constructed of 9 elements in 8 Groups (with 3 Aspherical Lenses.) A lens cap is provided for when the camera is powered down.

Lumix cameras help solve the problem of unsteady hands with advanced MEGA Optical Image Stabilizer technology. The DMC-LX2 has a built-in gyrosensor that detects any hand movement and relays a signal to a tiny microcomputer inside the camera, which instantly calculates the compensation needed. A linear motor then shifts the Optical Image Stabilizer lens as necessary to guide incoming light from the image straight to the CCD. You won't even notice it working-all you'll see are the outstanding results!

The TTL contrast-detect auto focus system has selectable 9-area-focusing, 3-area-focusing, 1-area-focusing and Spot-focusing and works in Single-AF or Continuous-AF mode with Manual focus possible. It has an AF-assist lamp for low light focusing. Focus range in Wide is from 19.7 in. (50cm); Tele: 3.28 feet (100cm) to Infinity in normal mode. The Macro focus coverage in Wide is from 1.97 in. (5cm); Tele: 11.8 in. (30cm) to Infinity.

The large 2.8-inch color LCD has 207,000 pixels of resolution and is used for framing, review and menu operations (it offers 100% frame coverage.) Press the Display button for more than 1 second to enable Power LCD mode to brighten or dim it. Real time histograms can be displayed when desired. There is no optical viewfinder.

The popup speedlight features Auto, Auto Red-eye reduction, Slow-sync. / Red-eye, Fill and Forced Off modes. The flash range in Wide angle is from 1.97 - 16.07 ft. (0.6 - 4.9m), in Telephoto it covers from 0.98 - 7.21 ft. (0.3 - 2.2m) at ISO Auto. The flash output is adjustable in 1/3EV steps from -2 to +2EV.

Controls on the back:

The AF/AE Lock button allows you to lock focus and exposure values for re-framing the subject or to create multi-image panorama shots. The "joystick" is used for manual focus and manual exposure adjustments. The 4-way selector in Record mode toggles the flash mode when pressed "Right." When pressed "Up" it adjusts exposure compensation. Press "Left" to activate the Self-timer and press "Down" to use the Quick Review mode to examine the last image captured. In Playback mode the 4-way selector is used to select images and in both record and play is used to navigate the menu screens. The MENU/SET button calls up the menu system. The DISPLAY button toggles the amount of overlay information shown on the LCD, when held for more than a second it brightens the display. The Drive mode button selects normal or sequential shooting mode, in playback it is for deleting images.

Controls on top include the Aspect Ratio switch on the lens; choose from the 4:3 PC screen ratio, 3:2 for perfect 4x6-inch prints or the 16:9 ratio for big screen TV viewing. The combination shutter release and zoom lens control ring. The zoom ring is used in playback to enlarge the image or display an index page. The button to the right of the shutter release turns the image stabilizer on/off. Below that is the Power on/off switch.

The Mode Dial has positions for:

Movie - Capture motion JPEG with audio, length is limited only to available memory. 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratio at 30 or 10 fps

M - Manual exposure mode, up to 60 sec. shutter speed

S - Shutter-speed priority mode, 1/2000 to 8 seconds

A - Aperture priority mode, F2.8 to F8 in 1/3EV steps

P - Program AE, also Program-Shift mode

arrow icon - Playback of still images, movie or audio notes

camera icon - The automatic point-n-shoot mode

SCN - Scene: Settable for Portrait, Sports, Food, Scenery, Night Scenery, Panning, Night Portrait, Fireworks, Party, Snow, Baby, Soft Skin, Starry Sky, Candle

print icon - For quick printing to PictBridge compliant printers

The A/V Out port sends the video to a television set, the video format is user selectable for NTSC or PAL standard. This is also the USB 1.1 data I/O port, it is Mass Storage compliant and also supports the PictBridge direct-print standard.

An optional AC power adapter or external battery pack can be connected to the DC IN port.

The DMC-LX2 is powered by a proprietary 3.7v 1150mAh rechargeable Li-ion battery. Panasonic claims a fully charged pack provides power for up to 300 frames with flash used 50% of the time (CIPA standard).

Still images and movie clips are stored on the 13MB of internal memory or a removable Secure Digital memory card. We tested it with a fast and spacious ATP Pro Max 2GB SD card. Below you can see the approx. storage capacities.

16:9

3:2

4:3

Movie mode