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....Panasonic has designed a camera that's darn close to perfect, but then put in a CCD with too many pixels, and then turned the noise reduction to eleven. The LX2 does almost everything right, except take photos that capture fine detail. It's a great camera if you're shooting at ISO 100 and keeping your print sizes fairly small, but if you're shooting at high ISOs, making large prints, or viewing the photos on your computer screen, you will be disappointed."

...Since it's aimed at more advanced users and boasts a very large image sensor and a Leica-branded lens, I wasn't surprised that the Panasonic LX2 captured very good quality images. Overall sharpness with the camera's 4x, Leica DC lens (f/2.8-f/4.9) was solid, even in images shot with the lens pulled back to 28mm in 16:9 mode...

While all of Panasonic's digital cameras attract the eye because of their stabilizer technology and the use of Leica lenses - a legendary lens and camera manufacturer favored by another legend, Henri Cartier-Bresson - the DMC-LX2 has the added attraction of having a native 16:9 aspect ratio.

Combining an image format that is very appealing, with a good stabilized lens, the DMC-LX2 deserves the attention, in particular, of those that have already made the switch to HDTV, and would appreciate having a camera with the same aspect ratio. With the addition of the HDTV Photo Player (DMW-SP1), which converts the LX2's 10-megapixel image to one that precisely matches HDTV's definition, the LX2 can be both a digital slide projector, but also the source of excellent prints up to 14 x 8 inches."

To combat noise and allow recording up to 1600 ISO at full resolution, the LX2 employs Panasonic's latest Venus Engine III image processor. The new Venus Engine also equips the LX2 with Panasonic's Intelligent ISO Control which can automatically adjust the ISO and shutter speed based on any subject motion.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2 is very much a camera of two halves. In use, it can be an absolute dream with its wide lens, sensor and screen inspiring your creative side, and the decent build quality and high level of manual control satisfying the demands of enthusiasts. In these and many other respects it's an excellent product. It's only once you get home and take a closer look at the images that you realise anything shot above 200 ISO is severely compromised by noise reduction and processing...."

The noise reduction technology is at times, dangerous, with resulting images visibly marred in High mode. However, noise levels in general were a very noticeable improvement over the LX1 and the camera did produce sharp images with significant detail. The optically stabilized Panasonic LX2 certainly has a lot to offer consumers; unfortunately, its $499 price tag marks it as a niche camera, intended for those with a much more expensive plasma display hanging from their living room wall..."

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2 provides what I consider an absolutely incredible assortment of contrasts; lots of creative flexibility and tons of manual exposure options, but no optical viewfinder. Near neutral color interpolation, but soft default sharpening. A tack sharp lens and superb detail capture, but high noise levels. Image stabilization, but no USB 2.0 High Speed connectivity. That's an amazing collection of contrasting elements to be found in a single camera. Here’s the final contrast - the LX2 is more expensive than most of its competition and it doesn't do a better job in return for that extra money...."

It has fast performance with 1 sec. startup and no practical shutter lag. It has a 16:9 [HDTV] aspect ratio image sensor and the 28mm wide-angle lens is perfect for landscape and group shots.

Image quality is very good to excellent at ISO 100, with low noise and images retaining most of the details. At higher ISOs, images suffer from noise and loss of detail, and the LX2 is therefore not recommended for snapshooters..."