The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX1 uses the latest Panasonic Venus II large-scale integration (LSI) image-processing chip and turned in the kind of performance figures we expected -- with a few exceptions. Time to first shot was a lazy 3.8 seconds, but thereafter, the LX1 snapped off photos every 1.4 seconds and slowed to just 2.9 seconds with the flash popped up. Even TIFF shooting intervals were tolerable at 17 seconds, while it took a little more than 8 seconds to store a raw image to the SD memory card.
Two burst modes are available: a normal-speed continuous mode that captured full resolution frames in 2.1 seconds, and a high-speed mode that nearly topped 3 frames per second with 9 shots at the lowest 1-megapixel resolution. Shutter lag was minimal at 0.6 second under high-contrast lighting conditions and a commendably brief 0.8 second under low-contrast lighting when the reddish focus-assist lamp kicked in.
Shooting speed in seconds (Shorter bars indicate better performance)
 |
Typical shot-to-shot time | |
Time to first shot | |
Shutter lag (typical) |
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX1
1.4
3.8
0.6
Canon PowerShot SD500
1.5
1.4
0.6
Sony Cyber Shot DSC-P200
1.6
2.0
0.9
Olympus Stylus 800
1.7
2.0
0.6
Pentax Optio WP
3.5
3.6
0.9
Continuous-shooting speed in frames per second (Longer bars indicate better performance)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX1
2.4
Canon PowerShot SD500
1.7
Olympus Stylus 800
1.3
Sony Cyber Shot DSC-P200
1.1
Pentax Optio WP
0.8
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