Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2

10.20 Megapixels   4X optical zoom lens   2.8 inch LCD

The 10-megapixel Lumix DMC-LX2 ($410 as of February 15, 2007), the most new Panasonic model we've experienced, has the similar image stabilization characteristic establish on a lot of other Lumix cameras, but it dispense with those cameras' extended zoom in good turn of a lesser, more dense body. Even so, the lens protrude from the camera corpse by 0.75 inch at what time the camera is twisted off, charitable it a total depth of 1.75 inch and creation it a small too clunky to fit contentedly in most pockets. The lens cap isn't included into the camera corpse, also; instead, it dangles from a join as you shoot. If you switch on the camera by means of the lens cap motionless emotionally concerned, you'll get an on-screen caution to take away it.

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The DMC-LX2 replace the DMC-LX1, which we experienced last year. The major update involve decree: The new replica takes 4224-by-2376-pixel still with a wide-screen (16:9) feature ratio--a format sole to this camera. The HD arrangement is nice for snap wide-angle shots of, say, landscape, but movies that have a separate forefront topic showed too much unrelated backdrop (though this strength be high-quality for capturing sole effects). You can employ the three-position button on the lens to bind to the camera's 3:2 (DVD size) mode, or to its customary 4:3 mode. In 3:2 arrangement, though, you obtain only 8.5 megapixels; and in 4:3 mode, 7.5 megapixels. The go fast lens extend to 6.2X if you ratchet the decree down to 2 megapixels, other than at the camera's highest-resolution location you can merely zoom to 4X.

The camera and the physical say that you can imprison movies in also 16:9 or 4:3 mode, but the camera we conventional for difficult allowable movie imprison only in 4:3 mode. When I try to choose the 16:9 mode, the camera insist that I was motionless in the unconfirmed 3:2 mode.

Two buttons manage the flash. Unluckily, you have to use a button on the pinnacle of the camera to pop up the blaze physically. One of the four directional buttons lets you choose the flash form, but urgent it doesn't cycle from side to surface the modes; in its place, it launch an on-screen menu, so you have to use the directional buttons or the direction control to choose the mode, and then push the Menu button to go into the mode. That's far more complex than it should be.

The DMC-LX2 earns excellent scores inside nearly all of our image-quality tests. The majority shots--even exaggerated enlargements--looked pointed, and the camera earn our top score for contact excellence. In our lab test, cameras imprison images while mount on a tripod, but exterior the lab, I tried the Lumix's two image-stabilization modes (one works incessantly, and the other works only at what time the shutter let go it held downward, apparently to save series life). Neither mode can stop blurry movies in very shaky setting (on a roller coaster, for instance), other than they will increase you an f-stop or two, which is sufficient to put aside some movies, chiefly in low glow.

The camera's guarantee is a small piece strange, and not in a high-quality way: Most part are warranted for a year, other than the CCD is covered for only six months, and the work guarantee lasts just 90 days. Most camera warranty backs their manufactured goods for a filled year on both part and work.

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