Pocket digital camera is about to get closer to Single Reflect Lens capability. This phenomenon generally occur in digital camera at prosumer class, which has pocket camera looks, but with ability near to SLR capability. One good example come from latest Panasonic camera : Lumix DMC-LX3.

This Lumix is the successor of previous one, Lumix DMC-LX2 with some improvement for better performance. DMC-LX3 is designed to solved problems experienced by user, such like the ability to take shoot in narow room, where the image captured is very limited. That's why Lumix LX3 is equipped with extra wide angle lens 24 mm to enable user take picture from narow point. And if it's still not enough, a converter DMW-LW46 is available to make more wide angle into 18mm.

The use of Leica DC Vario-Summicon 24-60mm lens is to make sure the high quality of image could be produce. This lens has maximum diafragma open up to f/2.0. As we know the more diafragma could be opened, it will help producing sharp image in low light condition.

The most important improvement from Lumix LX3 is the modification in CCD censor tobe more sensitive. Panasonic inject high sensitivity CCD with 10.1 megapixel resolution. This technology let the camera produce high quality image even when it crops extremely. Another advantage of high sensitivity CCD technology is to minimize noise to image produces even using high iso.

Panasonic Lumix DMX-LX3 come up with 2 colors, black and silver. Image format supported by this camera is JPEG and RAW at 3968 x 2232 pixel max. Full resolution image at 2.5 frame per second, LX3 could record 8 frames in standard quality, 4 frames for fine quality, and 3 frames for RAW quality. For burst mode, 6 frames could be recorded by the camera.

Lumix LX3 is also equipped with intelligent Auto (iA) which very helpful for beginner to capture high quality images. Also there is Mega O.I.S (Optical Image Stabilizer), Intelligent ISO Control, Intelligent Scene Selector, Intelligent Exposure, Face detection, and AF Tracking, wow... Those features are to make user confort to produce high quality image and blow out all the potential of this camera.

Lumix DMC LX3 is not just fully automated digital camera. For those who like to experiment with features and parameters setting, Lumix LX3 is ready to go. Shutter speed, aperture, and focal pont coould be controlled easily through joystick at the back of camera.

It's alittle weird that LX3 is only equipped with 50MB internal memory, which only 14 fine picture could be stored. It's too small for the ability of the camera. For expanding storage capacity, SD card slot is available.

They said that the battery supplied could take about 380 frames in standard condition, which is display turned on. And to increase the life of the camera, just turn off the display and use the external viewfinder DMW-VF1 24 mm.