KurtLux
03-10-2010, 03:23 PM
Hi, I'm considering the purchase of either of the two cameras listed in the title, and wanted to invite opinions. Some background:
- experienced film photographer going back 30 years
- currently using Canon A630 as primary camera
- I do understand and use the manual controls of the A630 (shutter-preferred, aperture-preferred, ISO, etc)
- mostly shoot family snapshots, but occasionally run into opportunities for beautiful pictures, often landscapes; for these, image quality is paramount
- really should be using a DSLR, but I know that I wouldn't want to lug it around; replacement doesn't have to be pocketable, just fit in a padded case around neck or on belt
The limitations that bug me the most about the A630 are
- noise at any ISO above 200
- lens not wide enough
- lens not fast enough
- movie mode has underlying hum
- some dynamic range issues where the A630 does a poor job of capturing both shadow detail and highlights
So, I'm considering the jump up a step to the G11 or the LX3. Money is not a big issue, so a Micro Four Thirds camera isn't out of the question, but then again I've held these and they are fairly large cameras when you put a zoom lens on one of them.
I've looked at both the G11 and the LX3 at the camera store. The G11 wins the human interface question hands-down, with the dedicated dials for ISO, EV, and mode; the LX3 interface is best described as quirky, but I could probably master it. The G11 also appears to have slightly better high ISO noise performance, but the LX3 has a faster lens to even things out to a draw.
For me it all comes down this one shot that Jeff includes in nearly every camera review: the Cathay House corner shot in Chinatown. When I put these shots side by side and compare them, the LX3 clearly comes out on top: it just looks more natural, with better color and detail in both the shadows and the highlights. With the LX3 you can actual see that the underside of the pagoda roof is red. The Canon shot looks contrasty and over-saturated. Here they are for you to click and compare:
LX3 Cathay House corner (http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/panasonic/dmc_lx3-review/P1000026-pp.JPG)
G11 Cathay House corner (http://www.dcresource.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/gallery_large/galleries/canon-powershot-g11-photo-gallery/IMG_0013.JPG)
On the basis of this apples to apples comparison I have this feeling that the LX3 is just going to provide better pictures overall. My question, then, is this: is this apparent superiority of the LX3 just an anomaly of this one scene, do you think? I know that the Canon has lots of control over the images it produces; would changing the settings for contrast and saturation (presumably present in the menus) make the G11 produce a more natural, pleasing shot like the LX3's in a situation like this? Or is the G11 just wired to produce punchy, contrasty shots?
Thanks for any advice you may have to offer.
Kurt
- experienced film photographer going back 30 years
- currently using Canon A630 as primary camera
- I do understand and use the manual controls of the A630 (shutter-preferred, aperture-preferred, ISO, etc)
- mostly shoot family snapshots, but occasionally run into opportunities for beautiful pictures, often landscapes; for these, image quality is paramount
- really should be using a DSLR, but I know that I wouldn't want to lug it around; replacement doesn't have to be pocketable, just fit in a padded case around neck or on belt
The limitations that bug me the most about the A630 are
- noise at any ISO above 200
- lens not wide enough
- lens not fast enough
- movie mode has underlying hum
- some dynamic range issues where the A630 does a poor job of capturing both shadow detail and highlights
So, I'm considering the jump up a step to the G11 or the LX3. Money is not a big issue, so a Micro Four Thirds camera isn't out of the question, but then again I've held these and they are fairly large cameras when you put a zoom lens on one of them.
I've looked at both the G11 and the LX3 at the camera store. The G11 wins the human interface question hands-down, with the dedicated dials for ISO, EV, and mode; the LX3 interface is best described as quirky, but I could probably master it. The G11 also appears to have slightly better high ISO noise performance, but the LX3 has a faster lens to even things out to a draw.
For me it all comes down this one shot that Jeff includes in nearly every camera review: the Cathay House corner shot in Chinatown. When I put these shots side by side and compare them, the LX3 clearly comes out on top: it just looks more natural, with better color and detail in both the shadows and the highlights. With the LX3 you can actual see that the underside of the pagoda roof is red. The Canon shot looks contrasty and over-saturated. Here they are for you to click and compare:
LX3 Cathay House corner (http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/panasonic/dmc_lx3-review/P1000026-pp.JPG)
G11 Cathay House corner (http://www.dcresource.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/gallery_large/galleries/canon-powershot-g11-photo-gallery/IMG_0013.JPG)
On the basis of this apples to apples comparison I have this feeling that the LX3 is just going to provide better pictures overall. My question, then, is this: is this apparent superiority of the LX3 just an anomaly of this one scene, do you think? I know that the Canon has lots of control over the images it produces; would changing the settings for contrast and saturation (presumably present in the menus) make the G11 produce a more natural, pleasing shot like the LX3's in a situation like this? Or is the G11 just wired to produce punchy, contrasty shots?
Thanks for any advice you may have to offer.
Kurt