By combining a high-quality lens and sensor ready for a variety of shooting conditions with a wide-range of accessories and manual controls, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 Digital Camera (Black) is ideal for professional photographers and serious amateurs looking for a compact digital camera that allows for a full range of creative photography capabilities.
The camera incorporates a wide angle f/2.0 aperture Leica DC Vario- Summicron lens with 3.8x wide-angle optical zoom (equivalent to 24mm - 90mm on a 35mm film camera) and the MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) system. The camera also incorporates an enhanced 1/1.63-inch CCD that is capable of capturing 10.1-Megapixels and has been designed to provide more space for each pixel to minimize image noise and optimize image quality and dynamic range. The CCD is also capable of reproducing images in 4 aspect ratios (4:3, 3:2, 16:9 or 1:1), and the Multi Aspect mode allows the camera to take an image in all three aspect ratios simultaneously. It also boasts the Venus Engine FHD high performance image processing LSI to dramatically reduce image noise (even using the high sensitivity setting of ISO 12800), and provide fast shooting performance with an incredibly fast shutter lag, and burst shooting capability.
The DMC-LX5 is further distinguished from other cameras by its full manual capability for both stills and video. These features include a Film mode that allows users to emulate the effects of different film types, a multiple-exposure feature for creating artistic photos by overlaying up to three consecutive images, and easy-to-use Manual modes that give the user greater shot-making flexibility and control. If you choose not to use the manual mode, then Intelligent Auto Mode will do all the work for you. In addition the camera can also capture video clips in HD, and standard video formats.
The camera's large 3.0-inch LCD is outstanding for both shooting and viewing. With a 3:2 aspect ratio and high 460,000-dot resolution, the LCD panel provides bright, easy-to-see images over a wider viewing angle. Furthermore, the Intelligent LCD function, assures comfortable viewing in virtually all conditions by automatically adjusting the backlighting of LCD as the ambient light level changes. The camera also provides an impressive slideshow feature where users can select the images, choose for a series of creative transitions and even add music to the presentation - all within the camera. And the camera has HD output capability (Requires an optional HDMI cable) to view your images, slideshows and video clips in beautiful HD quality.