Panasonic LX3
- 10MP - 1/1.63" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 80 - 6400
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1280 x 720 video
- 24-60mm (F2.0-2.8) lens
- 265g - 109 x 60 x 27mm
- Introduced November 2008
- New Model is Panasonic LX5
- Read full specs
- Alternatives
- Size Comparison
- FAQ
91 Imaging
34 Features
40 Overall
36
Panasonic LX3 overview
Panasonic LX3 is Panasonic's Small Sensor Compact digital camera first introduced on November of 2008. The camera includes a 10MP, CCD 1/1.63" sized sensor and has a peak resolution of 3648 x 2736.
Panasonic brought out the newer Panasonic LX5 (Read Full Comparison) in order to upgrade this model.
The LX3 is rated #83 out of 261 in Small Sensor Compact cameras and all-around #896 out of 1465 for cameras in our collection. You can test our Advanced camera finder to find camera results based on your customized criteria.
Below is a chart of multiple criteria used in the scoring system.
Panasonic LX3 history
The Panasonic LX3 comes with a history of related cameras. Below, you can view all past and current models along with main specifications.
F2.0-2.810MP1/1.63"2008
Panasonic LX3 Gallery
You can see the LX3 from several angles in the gallery here.
Panasonic LX3 Pros and Cons
Below is a list of benefits and drawbacks of the Panasonic LX3 based on features which are oftentimes seen as useful in a digital camera.
Panasonic LX3 Sensor info
The sensor size in the Panasonic LX3 is 8.07mm x 5.56mm (1/1.63"). The 45 mm² sensor can resolve 3648 x 2736 pixels at aspect ratios of 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The camera includes Image Stabilization (Optical). Optical stabilization is more effective than digital stabilization as the latter can easily lead to cropping.
Photography GlossaryThe CCD sensor boasts 10 megapixels and features a standard ISO range of 80 - 6400. RAW files are saved therefore the user has wider room to maneuver in post.
The graphic underneath illustrates the LX3's sensor dimensions compared to other popular sizes. The LX3 sensor comes with a crop factor of 4.5 and is shown in green.
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music videoTo get an idea of specific aspect ratios, you should refer to the graphic below.
Panasonic LX3 dimensions
Panasonic LX3 weighs in at 0.58 lbs (265 grams or 9.35 ounces) and features outside proportions of 109mm x 60mm x 27mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.1"). The weight of general Small Sensor Compact camera is 174 grams so the Panasonic LX3 is more heavy compared with other rivals.
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created ImagesUnderneath is a picture of the Panasonic LX3 beside a soda to help you to have a sense of its scale.
The top view just below will show the button design on the LX3.
Panasonic LX3 Lens info
The LX3 includes an inbuilt lens and a focal range of 24-60mm giving it a 2.5 x zoom which is definitely not outstanding nevertheless it is likely to be helpful in a few scenarios.
At the widest 24mm, the lens offers an aperture of f2.0 and that's great in low light conditions and capturing a shallow depth of field. It will also allow you to use a lower ISO and get cleaner shots. At the tele end, 60mm comes to f2.8 which is fairly decent and lets you maintain high shutter speeds.
Panasonic LX3 Connectivity
The LX3 has the following connectivity:
- USB Yes
Cameras which include NFC and / or Bluetooth support are able to be controlled wirelessly by smartphones. You will be able to transfer images and at times change settings without connecting directly to the camera.
Certain applications even provide a Liveview and press the shutter whenever you aren't near the camera. If the camera boasts a HDMI out, it can easily be attached to an external screen. Nearly all cameras enable you to recharge the battery using the USB port.
Panasonic LX3 Video info
The highest video quality in the Panasonic LX3 is 1280 x 720 and it can capture in file format. 720p is low by today's standards. You should go for at least 1080p quality for decent video. The camera doesn't include a mic and / or headphone socket which means that you get no control over your audio. It is perhaps a better idea to consider a different model if you need better audio in your videos.
Panasonic LX3 Weather Sealing
Panasonic LX3 doesn't include weather sealing so rainy conditions can easily damage the camera.
Panasonic LX3 Screen and Viewfinder
The Panasonic LX3 includes a 3" fixed screen boasting a resolution of 460k dots.
Please note that the screen offers no touch support.
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a LandslideThe ViewFinder specifications regarding Panasonic LX3 are below:
- ViewFinder None
Viewfinders can be rather beneficial during sunny outdoor conditions which will make the camera screen washed out and very difficult to view.
Panasonic LX3 Shutter info
Panasonic LX3 can shoot continuously at 3.0 frames per second. The max shutter speed is 1/2000 seconds.
Panasonic LX3 Flash and Hot shoe info
Panasonic LX3 includes both integrated flash and also external flash ability.
Panasonic LX3 Autofocus info
Panasonic LX3 includes just Contrast Detect Auto Focus and does not have Phase Detect Auto Focus. Phase Detection focusing is more quicker and exact compared with Contrast Detect focusing.
Panasonic LX3 boasts manual focus if needed during low light scenarios or you want to have more exact control on focus.
Panasonic LX3 Battery life
The typical Small Sensor Compact camera battery life is 241. Fujifilm X30 offers the highest (470) battery life within this range of cameras.
Below is a number of Small Sensor Compact cameras with the highest battery life:
Panasonic LX3 for specific kinds of photography
The following graph gives a summation of the Panasonic LX3 for specific kinds of photography. To read more, browse to the specific section underneath.
Panasonic LX3 Portrait photography features
The Panasonic LX3 gets a rating of 40 which is bad, and means the camera is not really appropriate for portraits. Shooting portraits leans greatly towards sensor specs, RAW support together with the capability to use external lighting.
Panasonic LX3 as a Street photography camera
With a moderate score of 60, the Panasonic LX3 is fairly suitable to buy for street photography. A good street photography camera comes with a good balance of image quality and portability.
Panasonic LX3 Sports photography info
A bad sports photography score of 27 suggests the Panasonic LX3 is not really appropriate for photographing sports. A camera should have great autofocus plus fast continuous shooting for sports photography.
Travel photography with Panasonic LX3
Weight is super critical in choosing a camera for travel. In general, the Panasonic LX3 gets a reasonable 60 for a travelling camera which makes it fairly adequate to take with you on your vacations.
Panasonic LX3 as a Landscape photography camera
If you find yourself planning to pick a camera for landscape photos, the most critical aspect is going to be image quality. The Panasonic LX3 and it's modest grade of 52 for a landscape camera is fairly suitable among its competition.
Panasonic LX3 Vlogging advice
A vlogging camera ought to posses a moving display, microphone input and preferably IBIS. Considering all things, the Panasonic LX3 is not really appropriate for vlogging as it delivers a bad rating of 30.
Panasonic LX3 Alternatives
If you need alternatives to the LX3, below is a range of the highest rated cameras which fall within the family of Small Sensor Compact.
The chart down below shows you a bird's eye view of the LX3 compared to it's top scored competitors shown previously.
Following are additional cameras you might check out as alternate options. To read through a thorough comparison, go to the "compare" link.