Digital camera

SeattleYates · #11 10-23-2006, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeattleYates

Speaking of Lumix, their new LX2 (10mp) just may be the best point & shoot camera on the market. Don't read this unless you have an extra $500, 'cause you're likely to decide you absolutely, positively MUST have one: http://panasonic.co.jp/pavc/global/lumix/lx2/index.html
And this from dpreview: http://www.dpreview.com/news/0607/06...nasoniclx2.asp

A quick update....Not long after I wrote the above, I found and actually did buy a Lumix LX2 for $450, and I really DO think it might be the coolest point & shoot on the planet. It's slightly larger than the really thin models (like my Canon SD550 and Lumix FX01), but still very small and amazingly powerful! Here are the highlight features (in addition to the features you find on most other p&s's) that make it different:
- Ability to shoot in true RAW format
- Image stabilization
- High sensitivity mode (automatically bumps ISO and/or shutter speed in low light situations so you can still get the shot)
- 10megapixel 16x9 panorama shots
- 28mm (film equivalent) wide angle lens (most p&s cameras have a widest angle of about 35mm)
- a special "high angle" viewfinder mode for you short people who have to hold the camera up high to shoot pictures over other people's heads

To give you an idea what all this means in the real world, here are a couple of shots I've taken with it (these are lo-res versions of the originals) in the few days I've had it.

The first was inside my car (to show a problem with my nav screen) in a dark garage - using high sensitivity mode, it automatically bumped the ISO to 3200, and even at a shutter speed of 1/4 second, the image stabilization made the picture come out amazingly sharp...considering I was shooting in the dark! You can see the photo in this thread (can't upload it twice):
http://www.xoutpost.com/x5-e53-forum/...up-camera.html

The second one (attached) was taken out my side window in Northern Arizona while driving down the highway at 73mph (had cruise control on) using shutter priority mode (1/1300th of a second, f/8). One of the primary reasons I bought this camera (and my other Lumix) was so I could take sharp (not blurry) photos while in moving cars and/or on moving motorcylces. I've never been able to do that with any of my Coolpix or Canon p&s cameras.