Panasonic LX2 - feedback now it has been out a while...

[Efliernz]

I'm ready to choose my AP cam.

The Canon-640 is popular of course but the LX2 goes to 28mm without addons. Big bonus. This is for hanging under the Trex600 so while I need to be weight concious, I can lift a load if I need to.

How is the pic quality compare at up to 400 or 800 ASA?

[LoopBaCK]

I'm curious as well.

I've used an LX1 for some time now and it works great. Pics @ ISO 100 have noise requiring extra processing in post - which is why I always shot in RAW. Otherwise a great camera. I specifically went with the LX1 for the 16:9 format and RAW capability. The LX2 looks to add more pixels and greater detail to the final image. It ought to be a great match for our AP setups.

I've considered upgrading to the LX2... always something to buy!!! :wink:

[ssozonoff]

Hi,

This is what I plan on using though I have not had it up in the air yet but I do shoot with it on a regular basis on the ground.
The sesor is noisy at higher iso so works best at iso 100.
I would personally never want to shoot anything above iso 400 with the camera except for B&W.

I actually have the Leica ... but its the same thing.

Serge

[Efliernz]

Thanks all.

Perfect project for someone!!! Add the 640 and LX2 together. 28mm lens with IOS onto the clarity of the Canon 640 :)

[bladebreaker]

Panasonic builds great cameras, Leica builds great lenses...but I sold my LX-1 because of the excess noise. The pannys have some great features and feel solid, but I won't buy another one until they address the noise issue.

[Arthur P.]

I went from the LX1, which I liked even though it was a bit noisy, to the LX2 which I absolutely love. Noise is a LOT less while all the good attributes of the LX1 have been retained: the "28mm"Leica lens, the very high shooting speed (about 1pic/sec), the ruggedness (survived a couple of "too fast landings"), good colours, easy config for servo shutter control (same "cap" fits the LX1 and the LX2), reasonably long battery life (>350 pics in one shoot). Only supprising thing is that where the LX1 accepted 4GB SD cards, the LX2 is picky. It only seems to accept cards up to 2GB. But that's still almost 400 pics. There is even a trick to get it to output to a video downlink (manual says it can't be done, but there seems to be an undocumented long-keypress effect on one of the buttons which does get it into an undocumented mode which does output the video signal while taking pics). Only downside imho is the weight. That, and wanting to have at lease one similar pixel resolution camera available, is the only reason why I've also moved from the Pentax Optio A20 (unfit for RCAP imho due to the chip vibrating on a piezo membrane) to a Casio Elixim EX-Z1050.

[bladebreaker]

So have you gotten it to downlink, or have you tried that yet?

[Arthur P.]

Here's a link to the info on the downlink with the LX2: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=676701

I don't have a downlink (yet). I fly with the Spektrum DX7/DX6/AR7000/AR6000 systems. That reduces my downlink options. 900MHz is a GSM band here. 1.1GHz also is in use I believe (some emergency aircraft channel?) although some cheap 50mW pinhole cam systems can be found. But I'm not too impressed with the image quality of those and doubt the range. I have looked at a 2.4GHz downlink of a friend a couple of weekends ago. Didn't seem to be any interference with the transmitters and Rx within a meter of each other, not even with the DX7 next to the AV downlink antenna. But there are enough posts claiming significantly reduced control distance to wait until others have figured out what does and doesn't work.

[Efliernz]

I have just ordered a 1.2G 800mw cam off ebay.

1.2G is not in use here and I'll be trialing it on my 1.4m foamie homebuilt cam-plane with the DX7 radio out at our farm field strip before it gets anywhere near my helis (or in town). The LX2 looks like I need to "borrow" one for a play :D

That 28mm lens really does tempt me. Thanks for the feedback...