If you have no interest in cameras, please move along, nothing for you here.
The Canon 1D is by far the best camera I have ever owned. With the right lens attached, there is nothing it can’t tackle. It’s massively capable. It’s also massive. The body is more than a kilo, with a 300mm lens attached you have nearly 4 kilos to lift and point; and if you fancy a day out with a few lenses, you can have a backpack weighing close to 10 kilos for company. If you are going out to take photos, you just suck it up and manage the weight and the bulk. But what if you are just going out…?
If you enjoy photography, you really want to be able to take photos any time, not just when you happen to be carrying all your camera gear. What you need is something smaller, a carry-anywhere camera for all those moments when you would otherwise say “I wish I had my camera with me”.
The camera shops are awash what are popularly known as point and shoot cameras. There are two problems with most of these cameras. The first is that the concept of point and shoot does not extend to “set up the camera for how I want to take the photo, and shoot”. There are limited settings for those who want some control over how the shot is taken, you just select “sunny day” mode and press the shutter. The second problem is more fundamental; the photos they take are shit. And the culprit is megapixels.
Go into a camera shop and the description of each camera will highlight the number of megapixels, with the clear marketing message that more is better. It’s bollocks. The ever increasing megapixels are being crammed onto tiny sensors, meaning that each pixel is getting smaller, meaning that their ability to capture light and detail are reduced, which means that the resulting photos are horrible.
Why can’t someone produce a camera with a good lens, a sensor that is not overly stuffed with pixels, and a range of controls to satisfy the casual shooter and the enthusiast? There is a market waiting for this camera.
The Sigma DP1 is almost such a camera. It’s got a large sensor which produces stunning photos from a beautiful fixed length lens. The whole effort is spoiled by appallingly slow focus, impossibly delayed shoot times and a control set which is very limited. When you do get a shot, it is lovely; but you miss many and the frustration levels are high.
Then last year Panasonic introduced the Lumix LX3. A Leica lens with limited zoom; enough to be useful, not enough to spoil the quality. Sensor slightly increased in size and pixel count slightly reduced. Image stabilisation and a lens that opened to F2, meaning you could shoot in low light without bumping the ISO too high and creating noise. And a fully featured control set with some cool options. Easy to carry and quick to operate. Was this the camera that people had been waiting for?
Apparently so. One year from release and demand consistently exceeds supply. DSLR owners are finding that they are leaving the DSLR at home and taking the LX3 instead. Forums overflow with love for the camera (rather than the usual complaining), and great photographers are producing some great photographs.
Of course, I had to have one. And it is great. I always enjoy photography, but the LX3 really makes it fun. Not only does it take excellent “ordinary” photos, but the macro mode is just crazy. You can get the lens really close to the object and it will still focus.
Why so far away?
Come closer…
I can shoot RAW, I can shoot JPEG. I can shoot RAW and JPEG. I can shoot RAW and three separate me-defined JPEGs, all with one press of the shutter. Right now I am enjoying setting the JPEG to “Dynamic Black and White”, which explains the recent surge in B&W images. Even some of the scene modes are fun, “pinhole camera” for example:
I can shoot images in 16:9, 3:2 or 4:3. I can have complete control over every setting or let the camera decide (which is rather cleverly manages, based on what you are pointing at). I can stop making this read like a review, there are plenty of those available elsewhere.
If you are serious about photography and want a carry-around camera, consider an LX3. If you are not serious about photography but want a decent camera that will both assist you and encourage you to go further, consider an LX3. Can be found in Bangkok for around 15,000 baht and for an equivalent amount in the rest of the world, although they disappear fast.
Go on, you know you want one.
Comments 🔗
2009-06-24| The Son saysAmazing macro shots!
2009-06-30| Nok 13/1 saysno good no have bluetoos
2009-06-30| Spike saysRedtoos will do instead. In fact, most professionals recommend them.
2010-05-08| Jamie saysYes I think I do want one… for just that reason you stated - sometimes you are just “going out” and don’t want to carry a big camera.