Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 vs Leica D-Lux 5

Same same, but (slightly) different


Digital Camera Showdown: Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 vs Leica D-Lux 5

by Trevor Tan

05:55 AM Jan 14, 2011

FOR years, it was hard to tell the difference between Panasonic and Leica digital compact cameras due to their close collaboration in jointly developing digital still cameras using Leica's optical lens units.

It's the same story with Panasonic's Lumix DMC-LX5 ($799) and Leica's D-Lux 5 ($1,290). Both cameras are equipped with a 10.1-megapixel image sensor, a bright f2.0 3.8x (24-90mm in 35mm equivalent) optical zoom lens and a 3-inch LCD screen. They support up to SDXC cards.

Both cameras weigh around 270g and are almost of the same size, except the LX5 is 18mm thicker due to its rubberised grip. The D-Lux 5 sports a clean, classical design and bears the famous "Leica" logo in front; the LX5 is less subtle with its prominent Lumix branding. The LX5 is available in black and white bodies, while the D-Lux 5 comes in black only.

The button layout is the same, with the mode dial, zoom lever, dedicated video record button and power button on the top right and a dial on the rear right for your thumb to change settings with ease.

A picture aspect ratio selector switch sits on top of the barrel while the focus selector switch sits on the side. This lets you change the aspect ratio from 1:1 to 16:9 and switch from auto to manual focus on the fly.

The two cameras seem well built, although the LX5's rubberised handgrip gives me added assurance. An optional handgrip ($130) is available for the D-Lux 5.

What I don't like about both cameras is the annoying lens cap you need to remove before you can shoot. I don't understand why Panasonic or Leica hasn't manufactured a self-retaining lens cap such as the one on the Ricoh LC2. Fortunately, I found a solution - just google "JJC ALC-5" and you can get yourself a screw-on self-retaining lens cap that can be used on both cameras. I got mine off eBay for $24.

I prefer to photograph through a viewfinder and if you have a Panasonic LVF-1, you can also use it on the D-Lux 5.

Start-up time is around 1.6 seconds for both; shutting down takes 2.2 seconds. Shutter lag is around 0.5 seconds while shot-to-shot timing is around 1.7 seconds.

In a variety of indoor and outdoor scenarios, I took the same shots using the same settings under the same lighting conditions, and did a picture-to-picture comparison. Generally, the LX5 seems to produce slightly sharper images. Although there are more details in the shadows areas for the D-Lux 5, the LX5 handles the highlights better. There is better dynamic range rendered in images captured by the D-Lux 5.

Noise performance is great in both, with no visible noise artifacts up till ISO 800. At ISO 1600, chromatic noise is readily seen but it is still acceptable. Even at ISO 3200, it is still good for Web use.

Both cameras produce stellar images with spot-on auto white balance. The 720p high-definition videos produced by both are equally sharp, with less wind noise than most digital compact cameras in the market.

Note that the D-Lux 5 comes bundled with Adobe Lightroom 3, which is worth US$299 ($387). The camera also has a two-year warranty, double that of the LX5.

So if you don't need photo editing software like Adobe Lightroom 3, go for the LX5. If you want resale value and a longer warranty, go for the D-Lux 5. TREVOR TAN

Source: www.todayonline.com

Leica D-Lux 4 Digital Camera (Black)

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Bluetooth Headset Review: Jabra Wave

The next wave


Bluetooth Headset Review: Jabra Wave

by Trevor Tan
05:55 AM Jan 07, 2011

JABRA'S iconic behind-the-ear headset design has created bestsellers such as the EarWave Boom and the BT250. The Wave is Jabra's latest Bluetooth headset to don a similar aesthetic.

The Wave is slimmer than its predecessors and sports a minimalist design. A volume control button and a power on/off slider sit on the headset while the answer button rests on the microphone itself.

Setting up the Wave is a breeze. Slide to power on the device, activate Bluetooth on your mobile phone, pair them, and you can start using the Wave straight away. You can connect the Wave to two devices at the same time. The Wave even delivers voice prompts to inform you of the battery and connection status.

You can easily make the Wave fit your ear thanks to its flexible rubberised arch. The ear gel sits comfortably in your ear canal, so you can wear the Wave the whole day without feeling any irritation.

You can choose to put a wind sock (included in the box) over the boom arm for further wind noise reduction. But even without the wind sock, the wind noise reduction is good enough.

During calls, the other parties thought I was at home even though I was driving (and I didn't use the wind sock). They reported that they could hardly hear any traffic noise - a typical complaint when I was using other Bluetooth headsets.

On the downside, they found my voice to be slightly muffled, though I could hear them loud and clear.

While the specifications indicate the Wave to have a standby time of up to eight days, I had to charge the Wave by the sixth day from its last full charge.

At $128, Jabra Wave might be a tad expensive, but it is well worth the money for its comfort, ease of use and adept noise reduction. Trevor Tan

Source: www.todayonline.com

Jabra EarWave Boom with Nokia "POP-PORT" Connector

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Meet your new GF

by Trevor Tan

03:35 PM Jan 12, 2011

The successor to the critically-acclaimed mirrorless interchangeable lens Micro Four-Thirds (MFT) camera, the Panasonic GF1, is here. Meet the GF2.

While it has the same 12-megapixel image sensor and image processor as its predecessor, the GF2 sees a raft of improvements in other aspects.

It's still a 3-inch display, but the screen is now touch-sensitive. You can even tap to touch focus during video recording. The GF2 is capable of shooting 1920x1080 full high-definition (HD) videos; the GF1 can only shoot 720p HD video. The maximum ISO setting has also been raised to 6400 from 3200 in the GF1. Finally, the GF2 has a built-in stereo microphone, compared to the mono microphone in the earlier iteration.

Despite the improvements, the GF2 is 19 per cent smaller and 20g lighter than the GF1.

The Panasonic Lumix GF2 retails at $1,099 (with 14mm lens) and $1,299 (with 14mm and 14-42mm kit lens). Choose from colours of white, silver, pink and black.

Source: www.todayonline.com

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 vs Leica D-Lux 5

Same same, but (slightly) different


Digital Camera Showdown: Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 vs Leica D-Lux 5

by Trevor Tan

05:55 AM Jan 14, 2011

FOR years, it was hard to tell the difference between Panasonic and Leica digital compact cameras due to their close collaboration in jointly developing digital still cameras using Leica's optical lens units.

It's the same story with Panasonic's Lumix DMC-LX5 ($799) and Leica's D-Lux 5 ($1,290). Both cameras are equipped with a 10.1-megapixel image sensor, a bright f2.0 3.8x (24-90mm in 35mm equivalent) optical zoom lens and a 3-inch LCD screen. They support up to SDXC cards.

Both cameras weigh around 270g and are almost of the same size, except the LX5 is 18mm thicker due to its rubberised grip. The D-Lux 5 sports a clean, classical design and bears the famous "Leica" logo in front; the LX5 is less subtle with its prominent Lumix branding. The LX5 is available in black and white bodies, while the D-Lux 5 comes in black only.

The button layout is the same, with the mode dial, zoom lever, dedicated video record button and power button on the top right and a dial on the rear right for your thumb to change settings with ease.

A picture aspect ratio selector switch sits on top of the barrel while the focus selector switch sits on the side. This lets you change the aspect ratio from 1:1 to 16:9 and switch from auto to manual focus on the fly.

The two cameras seem well built, although the LX5's rubberised handgrip gives me added assurance. An optional handgrip ($130) is available for the D-Lux 5.

What I don't like about both cameras is the annoying lens cap you need to remove before you can shoot. I don't understand why Panasonic or Leica hasn't manufactured a self-retaining lens cap such as the one on the Ricoh LC2. Fortunately, I found a solution - just google "JJC ALC-5" and you can get yourself a screw-on self-retaining lens cap that can be used on both cameras. I got mine off eBay for $24.

I prefer to photograph through a viewfinder and if you have a Panasonic LVF-1, you can also use it on the D-Lux 5.

Start-up time is around 1.6 seconds for both; shutting down takes 2.2 seconds. Shutter lag is around 0.5 seconds while shot-to-shot timing is around 1.7 seconds.

In a variety of indoor and outdoor scenarios, I took the same shots using the same settings under the same lighting conditions, and did a picture-to-picture comparison. Generally, the LX5 seems to produce slightly sharper images. Although there are more details in the shadows areas for the D-Lux 5, the LX5 handles the highlights better. There is better dynamic range rendered in images captured by the D-Lux 5.

Noise performance is great in both, with no visible noise artifacts up till ISO 800. At ISO 1600, chromatic noise is readily seen but it is still acceptable. Even at ISO 3200, it is still good for Web use.

Both cameras produce stellar images with spot-on auto white balance. The 720p high-definition videos produced by both are equally sharp, with less wind noise than most digital compact cameras in the market.

Note that the D-Lux 5 comes bundled with Adobe Lightroom 3, which is worth US$299 ($387). The camera also has a two-year warranty, double that of the LX5.

So if you don't need photo editing software like Adobe Lightroom 3, go for the LX5. If you want resale value and a longer warranty, go for the D-Lux 5. TREVOR TAN

Source: www.todayonline.com

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Running with Nike, TomTom

05:55 AM Jan 07, 2011

TomTom and Nike have collaborated to create the Nike+ SportWatch GPS Powered by TomTom. The running watch, unveiled at the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show, will provide athletes a dynamic running experience and a direct connection to www.nikeplus.com, the world's leading running community with almost 4 million members.

The Nike+ SportWatch GPS has a clear user interface that delivers the information necessary to the user while in-run. It adds personalisation and motivational features to the running experience, including audible sounds, challenges and reminders.

The watch is scheduled to be at retail stores and online in the US and the UK from April 1. Broader distribution is scheduled for July 1. The Nike+ SportWatch GPS will be previewed for consumers at Nikerunning.com and TomTom.com starting today.

Source: www.todayonline.com

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Sony Ericsson dishes out slim and light Gingerbread phone

by Hazwan Norly
05:55 AM Jan 07, 2011

LIKE the dinosaurs, bulky phones have long become extinct. Many phones these days are slim but powerful, such as Sony Ericsson's latest Xperia arc.

The Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) smartphone measures 8.7mm at its thinnest part and weighs only 117g. It comes with a 4.2-inch multi-touch Reality Display with the Mobile BRAVIA Engine. It also sports an 8.1-megapixel camera with high-definition video recording capability and an f/2.4 lens that lets you take low-light pictures and videos. You can connect the phone straight to your television through an HDMI port.

The Xperia arc runs on a speedy 1GHz Qualcomm processor. No word on availability and pricing yet. HAZWAN NORL

Source:

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Bluetooth Headset Review: Jabra Wave

The next wave


Bluetooth Headset Review: Jabra Wave

by Trevor Tan

05:55 AM Jan 07, 2011

JABRA'S iconic behind-the-ear headset design has created bestsellers such as the EarWave Boom and the BT250. The Wave is Jabra's latest Bluetooth headset to don a similar aesthetic.

The Wave is slimmer than its predecessors and sports a minimalist design. A volume control button and a power on/off slider sit on the headset while the answer button rests on the microphone itself.

Setting up the Wave is a breeze. Slide to power on the device, activate Bluetooth on your mobile phone, pair them, and you can start using the Wave straight away. You can connect the Wave to two devices at the same time. The Wave even delivers voice prompts to inform you of the battery and connection status.

You can easily make the Wave fit your ear thanks to its flexible rubberised arch. The ear gel sits comfortably in your ear canal, so you can wear the Wave the whole day without feeling any irritation.

You can choose to put a wind sock (included in the box) over the boom arm for further wind noise reduction. But even without the wind sock, the wind noise reduction is good enough.

During calls, the other parties thought I was at home even though I was driving (and I didn't use the wind sock). They reported that they could hardly hear any traffic noise - a typical complaint when I was using other Bluetooth headsets.

On the downside, they found my voice to be slightly muffled, though I could hear them loud and clear.

While the specifications indicate the Wave to have a standby time of up to eight days, I had to charge the Wave by the sixth day from its last full charge.

At $128, Jabra Wave might be a tad expensive, but it is well worth the money for its comfort, ease of use and adept noise reduction. Trevor Tan

Source: www.todayonline.com

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