Canon IXUS 980 IS Vs Panasonic LX3

[Gliese 581c]

I had originally thought I was all set to get the 980 IS but now after reading more on the LX3 I'm not so sure now so would like some outside thoughts.

Looks...

Canon is very stylish and sleek looking in black.

Panny is quite frakly dull and ugly.


Dots...

Canon is 14.7mp (same sensor as G10)

Panny is 10.1mp


Light...

Canon is f/2.8 at wide and a pretty slow f/5.8 long

Panny is f/2.0 at wide and f/2.8 long (wow for a p&s)


Price...

Canon is around £230-£240

Panny is around £300-£310


I know the cramming of lots of mp's in the 980 does not make for a better picture, and I realise the limited zoom capabilities of the LX3 but I like the wide lens on the LX3.

I just cant make my mind up now.

[cuscus]

I'm in exactly the same position, sold all my Canon DSLR kit as in all honesty couldn't be bothered lumping a large camera round, i had actually already made my mind up for the LX3, but now thinking that the 980IS may suit me more, slightly more compact etc...

Just not too many reviews yet for the 980IS, but boy it looks nice &sleek.

[Burakiosaurus]

i would stick to the Canon as I think it's widely recognised the Canon, Sony and Nikon make the best lenses so wouldn't want to experiment with a Panny.

I have a Canon IXUS 90IS (all be it a lower model) and couldn't be happier with the picture quality

[jonnymorris]

I looked at the 980 but it didn't actually look as good as the 970 so ended up getting that instead. Performs brilliantly, and to be honest I think 14MP is wasted in a camera this small so 10MP should be more than enough (famous last words!) Seriously though, 10MP should be enough for A4 prints, probably A3 even, or a serious amount of cropping.

The image stabilisation in the 970 is pretty good too, but the clincher for me was 5x optical zoom which is fantastic in such a small camera. I don't think many do this, the 980 doesn't (according to the specs I read). The only down side to the 970 (and probably most compact cameras really) is that they have plastic bodies. Ixus cameras used to be metal bodied but that seems to have stopped in recent years. Still, you'd have to hit it or drop it pretty hard to actually break the casing.

My advice would be to save your money and buy the 970 while it's selling cheap and still available. I got one with a spare genuine Canon battery for £215.

[Keiron]

Originally Posted by Burakiosaurus

i would stick to the Canon as I think it's widely recognised the Canon, Sony and Nikon make the best lenses so wouldn't want to experiment with a Panny.

Better reputations than the Leica lenses used by Panasonic? I think not.

I have the LX3. It is good, but not as good as some of the hype would have you believe. Images aren't as "clean" as my old Fuji but the fast lens does allow you to use low ISO, image stabilisation seems pretty good, the complete manual controls are more than just a bonus. The build (and I think the looks) are top of the class and that 24mm lens can produce really eye catching, dramatic results.

As for the short tele, well, maybe I don't cut the mustard as a purist, but if you can produce nice clean, sharp, noise free images, don't be afraid to crop. There are 10mp to play with. I've not experimented yet but the EZ zoom feature gives extra reach in the same way i understand.

It's a luxury compact with a price to match, and not an easy purchase decision if it's going to be your only camera.

[Radiohead]

Originally Posted by Burakiosaurus

i would stick to the Canon as I think it's widely recognised the Canon, Sony and Nikon make the best lenses so wouldn't want to experiment with a Panny.

Apart from the fact that the LX3 uses a Leica lens.....

[Gliese 581c]

Originally Posted by Keiron

Better reputations than the Leica lenses used by Panasonic? I think not.

I have the LX3. It is good, but not as good as some of the hype would have you believe. Images aren't as "clean" as my old Fuji but the fast lens does allow you to use low ISO, image stabilisation seems pretty good, the complete manual controls are more than just a bonus. The build (and I think the looks) are top of the class and that 24mm lens can produce really eye catching, dramatic results.

As for the short tele, well, maybe I don't cut the mustard as a purist, but if you can produce nice clean, sharp, noise free images, don't be afraid to crop. There are 10mp to play with. I've not experimented yet but the EZ zoom feature gives extra reach in the same way i understand.

It's a luxury compact with a price to match, and not an easy purchase decision if it's going to be your only camera.

After now owning the LX3, if you knew what you know now, would you buy it again ?

[Gliese 581c]

Fairly good review of the 980 IS here

DigiCamReview.com - Canon Digital IXUS 980 IS Digital Camera Review

[Gliese 581c]

From all the reviews I'm reading on both camera's it certainly seems for these 2 cameras that it really depends on what your shooting.

The LX3 certainly excells in low light situations and seems to have less noise at higher sensitivities over the 980 IS although I cant find any direct comparisons. I have seen direct comparisons with the LX3 Vs the G9 and even at one stop higher (ISO100) the LX3 has less noise. Although I would be interested to see how well the LX3 compares to the G10/980 IS as they both have the same sensors. I'm sure the Digic 4 in the 980 IS will help with noise.

The 980 IS is a fair bit sharper in good light situations and at normal ISO80 it gives better results over the LX3

The LX3 lets you save in RAW mode, this is good for editing later of course, but If I wanted to edit that much I would buy a DSLR. (This is my own opinion of course) I'm sure super fine jpeg would be fine for normal P&S pictures.

LX3 only has a x2.5 optical zoom, the 980 IS has x3.7 I think the LX3 is let down in this area but its not a huge drawback or anything.

LX3 can take HD video, the 980 IS cant. I'm not too fussy over this as I have an HD camcorder anyway, which of course will be far superior, but still very nice to have on the LX3

The 980 IS has a viewfinder and the LX3 does not, its quite handy to have, especially if the sun is glaring down on your LCD screen and you cant see very well, although I believe both the LCD's on these models are very good. I believe the LX3 has the better quality LCD screen.

Both the LX3 and 980 IS have manual controls, I believe the 980 IS is the first IXUS to have this control in their compact camera's, and also it has over 16 auto presets, so for someone like me who just wants to point and shoot this is very good when auto mode is being used. I used to have a Nikon D200 and to be honest, when setup and paired with great glass the shots were jaw dropping, but If I want to use manual I will, but for me, and especially with a P&S camera I'll use auto the most especially when I want to take a 'quick' shot, if I'm taking sceninc shots or landscape shots I will jump to manual, oh yes, before I forget the LX3 will take better landscape shots with its 24mm wide view, well when I say better I mean more coverage I'm sure I read with the LX3 you can slot on another lens that will give 18mm coverage, which is good but then, for me its taking it away from being a p&s camera that sits in your pocket.

Image stabilisation on both camera's does the job its meant to do, so not much to say about them.

I think for normal, everyday shooting in normal light and with its better optical zoom and sharper results at normal ISO80 the 980 IS wins, when you start to go indoors and the light is not so good this is when the LX3 shines, it gives really good results and less noise at high sensitivity. I dont think the 980 IS is a poor choice in this respect, its just the LX3 is better.

For me, I'm swaying towards the 980 IS at the moment. It's also around £60 cheaper than the LX3.

Anyone any other thoughts ? Would be nice to hear from other LX3 or 980 Is owners to see if your thoughts are the same as mine ?

[cuscus]

Thanks for the link, it certainly seems to tick most of the boxes.

The other thing that is swaying me towards the Canon is that the lens is fully retractable, whereas the LX3 sticks out somewhat...

I think (with the price difference also) i'll be going for the Canon, if they were both the same price i'd probably swing for the LX3 but i don't think i can justify the extra £s.

[Keiron]

Originally Posted by Gliese 581c

After now owning the LX3, if you knew what you know now, would you buy it again ?

In all honesty, I think I would get the Fuji F100 because I keep saying to myself about the LX3: "noise shouldn't be quite so visible at ISO 125 in a £300 camera". I think Fuji and Panasonic are at opposite ends of the scale here.

I'm also wondering just how useful manual controls really are on a compact. Choosing a wider aperture achieves nothing creatively - it certainly doesn't give the dappled, blurry background of an SLR, it just helps create the impression of more noise.

It's just as well the LX3 has such a fast lens because otherwise, you'd have to choose high ISO all the time and the noise would be unacceptable.

Honestly, I still am tempted to exchange it for a bargain priced SLR (say, the D40 for £225) for just rare occasions like beautiful portraits or special occasions and, because I really want a P&S with 28mm, the Fuji F100. So for the price of a few beers over the LX3, I have pretty much all bases covered.

[Jamesie M]

This thread is interesting and answers some of the questions I've been thinking about. I've got some cash from Santa as I was going to buy a new laptop but my new job will now supply me with a nice new one.

I need to replace my work fuji f31d and was in two minds originally to buy either a G10 or LX3 (and now the 980IX). I liked the G10 as it looked like a proper 'mans toy' but then the LX3 is an attractive looking rangemaster (?-think thats the word). The alternative is to take the plunge and buy a grown up dslr.

If what a lot of forums suggest is correct, a basic £100 quid P&S compact that has a decent sensor and lens may be almost as good as spending more that £300 on one of the prosumer type compacts. I hardly use mine except at family functions and the work photos are at 0.3MP size of commercial property.

I like the thought of taking photography a bit more serious and looked at the Nikon deals and the Olympus 410 (twin lens) @ £280 -(Curry's) or ebuyer have the E520 + one lens at £330 quid (must be a mistake?). After having a quick play with some of them in a store I think I'd get really annoyed at having to carry it around though.

Alternatively amazon have the Canon G9 at £220 which may give me the flexibility of some manual control with room to fit in large pockets! It's getting towards the price of a normal compact.

Sorry to the OP for adding to his question but it didn't quite feel like a new thread was required. Anyone got any thoughts they can add on the G9 at that price vs the 980 & LX3?

[Keiron]

Originally Posted by Jamesie M

I like the thought of taking photography a bit more serious and looked at the Nikon deals and the Olympus 410 (twin lens) @ £280 -(Curry's)

Do you have a link to that?

[Gliese 581c]

Originally Posted by Jamesie M

This thread is interesting and answers some of the questions I've been thinking about. I've got some cash from Santa as I was going to buy a new laptop but my new job will now supply me with a nice new one.

I need to replace my work fuji f31d and was in two minds originally to buy either a G10 or LX3 (and now the 980IX). I liked the G10 as it looked like a proper 'mans toy' but then the LX3 is an attractive looking rangemaster (?-think thats the word). The alternative is to take the plunge and buy a grown up dslr.

If what a lot of forums suggest is correct, a basic £100 quid P&S compact that has a decent sensor and lens may be almost as good as spending more that £300 on one of the prosumer type compacts. I hardly use mine except at family functions and the work photos are at 0.3MP size of commercial property.

I like the thought of taking photography a bit more serious and looked at the Nikon deals and the Olympus 410 (twin lens) @ £280 -(Curry's) or ebuyer have the E520 + one lens at £330 quid (must be a mistake?). After having a quick play with some of them in a store I think I'd get really annoyed at having to carry it around though.

Alternatively amazon have the Canon G9 at £220 which may give me the flexibility of some manual control with room to fit in large pockets! It's getting towards the price of a normal compact.

Sorry to the OP for adding to his question but it didn't quite feel like a new thread was required. Anyone got any thoughts they can add on the G9 at that price vs the 980 & LX3?

If you look at the camerlabs review here, it compares all the sample pics of the LX3 Vs the G9

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 review Cameralabs introduction

[Jamesie M]

Olympus Evolt E520 10mp Digital SLR Camera with Image Stabilization with 14-42mm lens - Ebuyer Canon 520 + single lens- £330

Currys - Shop for Digital SLR Cameras - Olympus e410DZ 10 million pixel Digital SLR Twin Lens Kit
Olympus 410 and 2 lens (collect at store only, had a few still left in Scotland)-£283

The G9 was about £220 at Amazon.

Cheers for the comparison link. I'm still undecided- I think I get more fun out of researching bits of technology than actually using them!