Pros

Solid build, Impressive image quality, Design, Great LCD screen, Impressive AF performance

Cons

Ineffective grip, Limited zoom range (though potentially this is beneficial to image quality)

Design	19/20
Image Quality	18/20
Performance	19/20
Value	17/20
Features	18/20

Score

91%

Judging by the number of high-end compacts currently on the market, the appetite for them is still there. Traditionally the market has comprised Canons G series and Ricohs GR and GX offerings, and though all three are still going strong its fair to say they are now part of a much larger crowd. Nikons P series has provided one alternative, as has Sigmas DP1, though most enthusiasts will no doubt have had an eye on what the Leica/Panasonic partnership has had to offer and with the LX3 you can see why.

Features
In its own words, Panasonic has boldly defied the trend to cram in the most pixels possible, restricting the 1/1.63in CCD of the LX3 to 10.1MP. Equally bold are its claims regarding the sensors performance, with each pixel said to be around 45% larger than those in ordinary 10-megapixel cameras, and an increase in both sensitivity and saturation over the LX2 predecessor. The LX2 featured a marginally smaller sensor than the LX3 (as well as a 16:9 aspect ratio), though an increase in the size of the LX3s photodiodes and newly designed CCD circuitry are said to further minimise noise and enhance colour reproduction.

The cameras Leica-branded 24-60mm lens boasts a maximum aperture of f/2.0 at its widest end, effectively making it almost twice as bright as that of the LX2. Options for shooting in 4:3,16:9 and 3:2 formats may be selected via the lens barrel, with Mega Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) accompanying the lens, and options for both auto and manual focusing. Autofocus tracking has been a recent addition to the Lumix line, and on the LX3 it joins an already competent list of focusing modes, including spot focus and face detection.

In terms of image capture, Panasonic has abandoned its previous Cool, Warm, Black and White and Sepia quartet in favour of a comprehensive selection of Film Modes. These range from Standard and Black and White to Vibrant and Nostalgic, with further options allowing you to define your own film modes. Individual control over contrast, saturation, sharpness and even noise reduction is offered, with images saved as either Raw or JPEG files, or one of each kind. HD-quality movie clips may also be taken, with a capture rate of 24fps, while a full set of manual controls join the auto and scene options all of which are selectable via the mode dial.