Panasonic DMCLX5W 10.1-megapixel Lumix digital camera

Re-evaluating priorities

The root of the word "photography" is pretty straightforward — it combines the Greek words for "drawing" and "light". Accordingly, where camera design is concerned, you'd expect the most attention to be paid to the ability to capture light. Spend ten minutes shopping for today's digital point-and-shoot cameras, and you'll find a different focus. Most of the current digital camera offerings flaunt ever-higher megapixel resolutions, shooting modes, picture effects, and the like. Very few, if any, bother to discuss what is unquestionably among a camera's most essential components — the lens. And the reason is simple: most cameras don't offer lenses worth mentioning. Which is another way of saying that they offer mediocre light-capturing capacities. And less light means less clarity, detail, and precision in your photos. Accordingly, the folks at Panasonic have taken it upon them selves to re-evaluate their priorities, and to return to what is fundamental about photography. And the result is the DMC-LX5 digital camera with an advanced LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMICRON lens. First off, blending ten total lens elements into nine groups, the LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMICRON lens ensures precise, fluid light gathering and focusing for exceptional visual precision. Second, an incredible f/2.0 aperture capability dramatically expands your photographic repertoire, allowing for both gentle, soft-focused backgrounds and exceptional speed and clarity when shooting in low-light situations. Finally, a 24mm-90mm focal range equips you with both expanded wide-angle and entry-level telephoto shooting capabilities. Ultimately, the unique level of attention allocated to the DMC-LX5's lens construction makes taking stunningly sharp and detailed photos under a diverse array of shooting conditions a priority.

And end to the nonsense

If you know anything about photography, then you know this: a war has been being waged in the digital-camera realm for several years now. A war to become the very best digital camera EVER! And the weapon being used: megapixel resolution. Again, if you know anything about digital photography, you know that the situation has gotten a little out of hand. After all, the whopping 12.1-megapixel resolution that has now nearly become standard offers enough detail to make a high-resolution billboard! Since their modus operandi for the DMC-LX5 is a re-alignment of priorities, the folks at Panasonic have taken a different approach when it comes to capture resolution. Capturing a very respectable 10.1 megapixels, the DMC-LX5 uses an extra-large 1/1.63" CCD image sensor to deliver images with a level of detail, purity, and clarity that bests the higher-resolution images produced by smaller sensors. Further, the DMC-LX5's expanded dynamic range capabilities increase sensitivity by 31% and saturation by 38%, and deepen the photo diode to manage enhanced signal richness. Finally, the high sensitivity of the CCD sensor complements the brightness of the lens, extending low-light sensitivity as far as ISO 12800 or a three-lux minimum when shooting video. No nonsense, just exceptional photo performance.

Take control . . . in HD

The high-performance optical system and CCD image sensor offered by the DMC-LX5 digital camera have added a new height of realism to your still photography. Now it's time to amp up the detail in your home movies . . . Not only does this Panasonic Lumix digital camera deliver stunning 10.1-megapixel still shots, but it also equips you to shoot high definition 1280 x 720p video wherever you go. Further, true to form, the DMC-LX5 offers expanded control for enhanced video results. Look to Creative Movie Mode to diversify your creative control even when shooting video. Use manual shutter-speed controls to optimize your footage for shooting fast-moving subjects, or turn to manual aperture control to expand depth of field for scenes with full dimensionality. Should you ever tire of capturing pristine still shots, the DMC-LX5 puts an HD video camera right in the palm of your hand.

Rock steady

Get ready to bid camera-shake blur adieu. Whether you enjoy shooting pristine landscapes, wildlife, sports or candid moments at gatherings with friends, the excitement of the shot can get to even the most seasoned of photographers, putting even just a teeny shake in an otherwise steady hand. The unfortunate result? Blurry memories and fuzzy moments. Enter Panasonic's Power Optical Image Stabilizer, featured on the DMC-LX5 digital camera. A built-in gyrosensor detects any hand movement during a shot, and then sends a signal to the camera's microcomputer. After calculating the necessary compensation, the microcomputer shifts the optical image stabilizer to guide the incoming light from the subject directly and cleanly to the CCD image sensor. Your get all of your DMC-LX5's 10.1 megapixels devoted to sharp, clear detail and not to blur and fuzz.

Intelligent. Automatic. Lumix.

The true test of any digital point-and-shoot camera is fun. Not the fun you have taking photos, however. We're talking about all the fun you're having hanging out with friends, tackling the great outdoors, or journeying on a road trip . . . and not even thinking about your camera's settings. Automatic shooting features keep you in the moment and in the action, allowing you to document everything perfectly without missing a beat. And when it comes to automatic shooting, Panasonic's Lumix DMC-LX5 delivers . . . big time. Presenting Intelligent Auto from Panasonic. This technology combines six detection and correction functions to deliver clear, beautiful images, every time. While Auto Focus tracking locks onto and maintains focus on moving subjects, optical image stabilization reduces image blur. Digital red-eye correction and Face Detection combine to produce stunning portraits, and Intelligent ISO control helps optimize exposure under different lighting conditions. Finally, an Intelligent Scene Selector automatically configures camera settings for a variety of common shooting conditions. Get going.

One battery. 400 shots.

Hey, let's be honest: if you always had to stay within 10' of an electrical outlet to keep recharging your digital camera's battery, your photos would get pretty boring in a hurry. After all, if a camera's gonna have a built-in battery, you ought to be able to range far and wide on a single charge, right? Well, the folks at Panasonic think so, and accordingly, they've outfitted the DMC-LX5 with a powerful Lithium-ion battery that stores enough juice to let you shoot up to 400 shots on a single charge. And the battery is rechargeable, so after a full day of shooting, you can plug the battery into the charger and be ready to go again in a couple hours.

Included purchase

The following items are included with the purchase of the Panasonic DMC-LXK: Battery charger, Battery pack, AV cable, USB cable, Shoulder strap, CD-ROM, Lens ring front, Hot shoe cover, Lens cap, and Lens-cap string.