One more question if any one can help G10 and LX3 which has the better sensor,today i read one of the news paper article sensors is more important for the compact camera the smaller sensor the better :angel:
if any article says smaller sensor is better you should throw it away. But i guess what you're referring to is that sensors that pack less megapixels would produce better results. I don't have either camera, so this is based solely on specs.
between the G10 and LX3:
G10:
Pros
"essential" wide angle of 28mm (as compared to the G9)
great resolution
5X zoom
Rugged, well built body
Well placed dials and controls
optical viewfinder
Cons:
higher ISOs not impressive, disappointing actually
slower lens - 2.8 - 4.5 (in comparison to LX3, but for most people it wouldn't be a problem)
chunky and fat body - better to have hanging off your shoulder than in your pocket
G10 shoots VGA resolution video (this is only a con in respect to most cameras moving towards HD video)
LX3:
Pros
"ultra" wide angle of 24mm
a fast lens f2 - f2.8, not forgetting it's a badged Leica
relatively small and svelte, pocket-able (but the lens protrudes to almost the same thickness as the G10.)
HD Video 720p
High ISO handling better than G10 (from dpreview, but really not too far off)
1/1.63 sensor size
customizable aspect ratios (16:9, 4:3, 3:2)
Cons
short zoom of 2.5X or in 35mm terms, 24 - 60mm equiv (honestly too short)
Dials and menus are more cumbersome to access
no view finder
When choosing between both, each camera has pros and cons that make them both high contenders in anyone's choice of a compact camera. It boils down to what YOU want from it.
In my opinion, i want a small compact camera that's good for general landscapes (24 or 28mm is fine, 24mm is a bonus), High ISO handling, fast lens, HD video (bonus for me) and it has to have manual functions. If someone gave me either, i would be happy and probably not dump it for the other. This shows how little difference it would make once you actually decide on one. But since i'm starting from a clean slate here, i'd take the LX3.
Why so? ground breaking lens 24mm AND at f/2.0 - never before seen in a compact camera. Perfect for indoor party shots/general purpose. Great for landscapes (but bear in mind, wider does not always equate to better landscape shots.) I don't need the 5X zoom of the Canon G10, some people may.
I really love the dials on the G10, and wish maybe the LX4 could have dials for easy access to useful stuff like the G10. I also like the way the G10 is made to look like a rangefinder/vintage classic look. But in essence, these things are aesthetic.
IF i had no other camera, i will perhaps consider the G10 as my only camera. But i do, so i feel the lx3 would be a better companion to my Hexar RF.
Oh, the the LX3 has nice film modes (even a "pinhole" mode)
Okay this is just my jumble of thoughts on the matter. I've also been thinking hard about the choice. Hope it helps.