August 3, 2010

Panasonic Lumix LX5

I bought the highly acclaimed Panasonic Lumix LX3 early last year. I spent months convincing my SO that the LX3 is a wonderful little camera, showed her plenty of sample shots from the Internet, until she finally agreed to let me buy it. Of course, right afterwards, it became hers.

The LX5 was announced last week to be released later this month. Maybe she can have her LX3 and I can have my LX5.
Even though the specs and all the news sites are gushing about the Leica DC VARIO-SUMMICRON f/2.0 lens, it's in fact a variable aperture lens that goes from 2.0 to 3.3. The actual specs of the lens is 5.1-19.2/2.0-3.3, which is equivalent to 24-90 for 35mm cameras.

Compare that to the LX3's 5.1-12.8/2.0-2.8 (equivalent to 24-60 for 35mm). The LX5 has more zoom, but it seems to have a smaller aperture, but actually, when the LX5's zoom is at 12.8 (60 for 35mm), the aperture is also at f/2.8. Only when the zoom is at maximum then the aperture reduces to 3.3.

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