PhotoTech: Powerful Point-and-Shoot Digicams

Since Panasonic's award-winning compact digital camera was launched mid 2008, snappers up to now are still waiting for its price to go down. And it doesn't seem to show any signs that the price will drop like what you'd normally expect in most electronic gadgets after certain months of existence, even with the rumored LX4 successor. LX3 has gained tremendous praises from various photographers, be it from amateur or pro. The 24mm wide angle lens and the f/2.0 aperture, the first in this category I believe (not to mention its twin brother D-LUX4 from Leica), has allowed users to shoot better quality images in low light conditions without the need for flash (which is good as built-in flash tends to ruin the image than deliver a fine picture, I mean on some occasions).

Nikon’s high-end compact P6000 have tried to measure up with LX3’s capability but failed, and this product earned various criticisms from enthusiasts instead. I guess this is what the manufacturers will get when their Engineers focuses more on design aesthetics. Canon's G-series (G9/G10/G11), on the other hand, have tried to steal the crown by offering feature-rich compacts with longer focal length and larger pixels. But the steep price of this series and the bulkier & heavier body had caused some potential buyers to look for alternatives.

Still, Canon will not just sit and watch Panasonic rule in this digicam category, so they've introduced yet another powerful compact camera under their Powershot line, called the S90.

By just looking at ‘em, which do you think is better?


(images courtesy of neutralday.com, actually I just grabbed them, hehe)

Well, there’s only one way to find out…


The Battle of the Titans.

See for yourself if this new product from Canon will get them to sit on the "Superior PNS throne" =)

Effective Pixels
S90: 10.0 megapixel
LX3: 10.1 megapixel


Sensor Size (Bigger is Better)
S90: 1/1.7" CCD
LX3: 1/1.63" CCD


Aperture
S90: f/2.0 (Wide); f/4.9 (Tele)
LX3: f/2.0 (Wide); f/2.8 - F/8.0 (Tele)


Focal Length
S90: 6.0-22.5mm (35mm equivalent: 28-105mm)
LX3: 5.1-12.8mm (35mm equivalent: 24-60mm)


Zoom Factor
S90: 3.8x
LX3: 2.5x

Digital Zoom: Same @ 4x


Macro Focusing Area
S90: Wide 5-50cm
LX3: Wide 1cm


Built-in Flash
S90: Yes
LX3: Yes

External Flash Compatibility
S90: Nil
LX3: Yes, via standard hotshoe


ISO Sensitivity: Same @ Auto / 80 - 3200


Shutter Speed
S90: 15 - 1/1600 sec. (only for Shutter Priority and Manual Mode)
LX3: 60 - 1/2000 sec. (for Manual Mode, while PSA Modes varies)


Image Recording format
S90: JPG, RAW
LX3: JPG, RAW


Video Recording
S90: Standard
LX3: HD


No doubt Canon S90 offers promising features in a smaller package. And we may not be comparing apple to apple here, but if you're considering getting a compact digital camera with a wider view and fast lens, S90 or LX3 is for you. Of course, it really depends on one's preference. Biased pa rin ba? haha =)


For the detailed specifications, you may visit these links:
Canon Powershot S90
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3

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