The DMC-LX1 captures images using
a new type of CCD with an aspect ratio of 16:9, measuring
1/1.65 inch diagonally. Composed of 8.61 million pixels, of
which 8.4 million are effective, the LX1 has a maximum image
size of 3840 × 2160 pixels, but only when the 16:9 aspect
ratio is used.
Selection of the aspect ratio
that the camera will record is made using a switch on top
of the lens barrel (see the Ergonomics section of
the review). Set to a 4:3 or a 3:2 aspect ratio, the camera
does not use the sides of the CCD to record the image, while
when the LX1 is set to 16:9 the full image area of the CCD
is used. This process is unlike other cameras that offer a
16:9 format, a process that usually involves cropping the
top and bottom of the image captured by a 4:3 aspect ratio
CCD.
CCD sensitivity starts at 80
ISO, but can be manually increased to 100, 200, or 400 ISO
when the camera is set to P, A, S, or M mode. In all other
capture modes, the CCD sensitivity is automatically controlled
by the camera, ranging from 80 to 200 ISO and 100 to 400 ISO
when the flash is used.
The LX1 is equipped with a
Leica DC Vario-Elmarit 4X optical zoom with a focal
length range that covers from 6.3 to 25.2 mm, the 35
mm equivalent of a 28 - 112 mm when the camera is set
to capture a 16:9 aspect ratio image. Composed of 9 elements
in 8 groups, the zoom incorporates 3 aspherical
surfaces to correct optical distortions. Apertures start
at f2.8
when the zoom is set to the widest angle and f4.9 at the maximum
telephoto setting, closing down to f8 for both.
And, as with all LUMIX cameras the LX1 includes a built-in
optical image stabilization system called Mega O.I.S.
Panasonic takes advantage of
the DMC-LX1's high resolution CCD to offer a digital zoom
that does not interpolate. Called somewhat confusingly "Extended
Optical Zoom," the digital zoom is useable when the selected
image size is inferior to the maximum size. In use the camera
uses the entire image area of the CCD and then crops the image
down to produce an field of view similar to what a longer
focal length would capture, the "magnification"
power of the digital zoom increasing as the image size is
diminished. Image resolutions that allow the use of the Extended
Zoom are identified with the initials EZ.
In addition, the LX1 also offers a standard digital zoom,
the kind that interpolates the cropped centre portion of the
image to the currently selected image size, causing a progressively
greater degradation of the image quality as the zoom's power
is increased. By default the digital zoom is set to Off, and
it must be turned On in the menu to be available.
The shutter speed range of the LX1 covers from 1/2000 to
60 seconds overall, but with some restrictions on that range
depending on the shooting mode in use, and the longest exposure
time is only available if the camera is set to Manual
orthe Starry Sky scene mode.
Because it offers 3 aspect ratios, the LX1 is capable of
capturing images using any one of eleven image sizes:
Whatever the image size used, the camera offers three
image formats:
TIFF: images are recorded without any compression
and a JPEG copy is also saved using Standard compression.
JPEG: can be set to either of two compression levels:
Fine applies the least compression and offers
the highest image quality.
Standard applies a stronger compression, making
it possible to store more image within a given memory
size at a lower image quality.
RAW: records the data coming from the CCD without
any processing. Camera settings for such things as exposure
compensation, white balance, etc. are recorded with the
image, however, and can be applied — or modified —
when the image is interpreted using the software included
with the camera. Then, once processed, the image can be
saved as JPEG or TIFF. (See the Interface and Software
section of the review for more information about the software
included with the DMC-LX1.)
The DMC-LX1 has a shortcut
menu that is displayed when the joystick is pressed in
vertically for more than a second.
The menu appears as a line at the top of the monitor, consisting
of 4 settings if the camera is set to P, A, S, or M, allowing
fast changes to White Balance, , Sensitivity, Image Size,
and Image Format.
While with all other capture modes, only 2 options are shown:
image size and format.
All menus are accessed by pressing
the button at the centre of the 4-direction control. Menus
are composed of two sections, each identified by a tab at
the top of the display. The first tab contains the options
that are related to the current camera mode, the other is
an access to the Setup menu (see the Interface
and Software section of the review for details on the
Setup menu). In the capture mode, the most extensive set
of options is available when the LX1 is set to P, S,
A or M:
W. Balance allows setting the white balance according
to the ambient light source: Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Halogen
(incandescent), White Set 1, White Set 2, and White Set
which serves to set the white balance under ambient light
that does not fit one of the preset, and store the setting
as White Set 1 or White Set 2.
Sensitivity: Auto (reserved for the Auto shooting
mode or the Scene modes) and 80, 100, 200, or
400 ISO when the camera is set to P, A, S or M.
Pict. Size: serves to select the image size (see
above).
Quality: serves to select the image format (TIFF,
or either one of two JPEG compression levels, or RAW).
Audio Rec.: allows recording a 5-second sound bite
that will be associated with a JPEG image immediately after
capture.
AF Mode selects the number of focus point
the autofocus uses: 9-Area-Focusing uses 9 AF points grouped
near the middle of the frame, 3-Area-Focusing uses 3 AF
point aligned horizontally middle of the frame, 1-Area-Focusing
(High Speed) uses the centre of the frame and a narrower
focus range to speed the focusing, 1-Area-Focusing simply
focused on the subject at the centre of the screen using
the entire focusing range of the camera, Spot-focusing focuses
on a narrow area at the precise centre of the frame.
Cont. AF: controls the Continuous AF mode and operates
when the focus mode is set to 1-area-focusing (High Speed),
or 1-area-focusing, or spot-focusing.
AF Assist Lamp: turns On or Off the lamp that helps
the camera focus when the ambient light is too low, and
has an effective range of 1.5 m (4.92 ft).
AF/AE Lock: selects the way the AF/AE button operates,
locking the autofocus only, the exposure only, or both.
Digital Zoom: controls the 4X standard digital
zoom.
Col. Effect allows changing the colour tone of
images: Off (default) records standard colours, Cool, Warm,
B/W, and Sepia.
Picture Adj. controls the image processing done
by the camera prior to the image being saved: Contrast,
Sharpness, Saturation as well as Noise
Reduction, can be increased or decreased.
Flip Anim.: allows capturing an animated sequence
up to 20 seconds long and composed of up to 100 images.
Unlike with the more advanced modes (P, A, S and M) when
the LX1 is set to the Auto shooting mode the menu presents
only three options: Image Format, Quality
and Digital Zoom, each offering the same settings as
listed above.
Set to the Motion Picture
mode, the menu contains options that are slightly different
and which omit options that are not related to the Motion
Picture mode. The options are spread out over 2 screens.
Pict. Mode replaces the image size and quality options
of the still modes, and serves to select the frame size and
frame rate of the movie: with the aspect ratio switch set
to 4:3, the choices are 640 x 480 or 320 x 240 pixels at either
30 or 10 frames per second. With the aspect ratio set to 16:9,
choices are 848 x 480 pixels at either 30 or 10 frames per
second. Worth noting, movies cannot be captured if the aspect
ratio switch is set to 3:2.
When the DMC-LX1 is set to the Playback mode the
menu provides options to adjust images, or set printing parameters.
The playback mode options are spread out over three screens:
Slide Show: allows selecting photos to be included
in a slide show, all or only those that have been selected
as Favorites ().
In addition the on-screen time for the photos included in
the show time can be specified (1, 2, 3 or 5 seconds) and
should a sound be associated with an image, it can be allowed
to play or not.
Favorite: serves to select images so that only
those marked with
will appear in a slide show.
Rotate Disp.: serves to display images captured
vertically the correct way up.
Rotate: allows rotating images in 90° increments
to the left or right.
DPOF Print: serves to select which photos will
be printed on a DPOF or PictBridge compliant printer, or
by a printing service. The number of prints to make of each
photo can be specified, as well as whether or not the date
will be superimposed on the photo.
Protect: allows selecting and tagging images so
they cannot be accidentally erased.
Audio Dub: makes it possible to add a voice annotation
lasting up to 10 seconds to any still image, unless it has
been protected. Audio cannot be added to images captured
with the TIFF or RAW formats.
Resize: allows resizing down an image to another
size available in the same aspect ratio, and saving it over
the original, or as a new image. The option is not available
for photos captured as TIFF, RAW, or which have an associated
sound recording.
Trimming: serves to crop an image and either over-write
the original with the cropped version, or save it as a new
image. Images that have an attached sound, as well as those
that have been captured using the TIFF or RAW formats cannot
be trimmed.
Aspect Conv.: allows converting 16:9 format images
and converting them to the 3:2 or 4:3 aspect ratios. Once
again, this cannot be done with RAW or TIFF format images.
Clean Up: defragments the SD card so that it can
be better utilized and have a faster access time. This option
cannot be used with MMC cards.
Format: serves to format the memory card.
The LX1 is compatible
with both SD (Secure Digital) and MMC (MultiMedia)
memory cards, but offers better performance when used with
SD cards. The card slot is located underneath the body, behind
a door that also covers the battery compartment.
In North America the camera is retailed with a 32 MB SD card
which, when the file size of 8.4 megapixel images is considered,
as well as the fact that the camera is capable of saving images
as RAW and TIFF, makes the acquisition of a greater capacity
card necessary.
The chart below gives an idea of the number of images that
can be stored using the 32MB card and an optional 1 GB card.
Memory
32
MB
1
GB
Format
TIFF
Fine
Standard
RAW
TIFF
Fine
Standard
RAW
16:9
Aspect Ratio
8M
1
7
14
1
36
230
460
52
5.5M
1
11
22
—
57
360
710
—
2M
4
28
54
—
145
910
1720
—
3:2
Aspect Ratio
7M
1
8
17
1
43
270
540
53
4.5M
2
13
27
—
69
440
860
—
2.5M
3
21
41
—
1025
680
1310
—
4:3
Aspect Ratio
6M
1
9
19
1
48
310
610
53
4M
2
15
29
—
76
480
940
—
3M
3
19
37
—
96
610
1180
—
2M
4
30
59
—
155
970
1880
—
1M
7
46
86
—
240
1470
2740
—
Memory
32
MB
1
GB
Frame
Rate
30
fps
10
fps
30
fps
10
fps
4:3
Aspect Ratio
640 x
480
17
sec.
59
sec.
5 min
42 sec.
17
min 1 sec.
320 x
240
59
sec.
2 min
57 sec.
17
min 1 sec.
49
min 31 sec.
16:9
Aspect Ratio
848 x 480
14 sec.
50 sec.
4 min 33 sec.
14 min 36 sec.
The Lumix DMC-LX1 is powered by a Lithium-Ion (CGA-S005A)
rechargeable battery. The battery is maintained in place by
a spring loaded catch so it will not slide out when the memory
card is extracted. The camera is supplied with a charger (DE-A11B)
which is able to recharge a fully depleted battery in approximately
130 minutes.
At the top, and gold-plated, is the combination
Digital (USB 2.0 Full Speed) and A/V Out
(NTSC or PAL) connection, the type of connection being determined
by the cable in use, either USB or AV. At the bottom is the
DC-IN jack, designed to accommodate the optional AC Adapter
(DMW-AC5) which makes it possible to run the camera off of
regular household current.
Compare Prices for Panasonic DMC-LX1/S 8.4 MP, 4x zoom Digital Camera
Characteristics
:
2304 × 1728
).
In addition the on-screen time for the photos included in
the show time can be specified (1, 2, 3 or 5 seconds) and
should a sound be associated with an image, it can be allowed
to play or not.
8M
