Thanks for writing about your experiences, really interesting. Have you shot with the GF1 and Lumix 20mm f/1,7 in low-light conditions? As the lens doesn't have image stabilization, it loses a bit of the attraction for me.

I'm currently using the LX3, and I'm hoping to find some day a combo which could be used for hand-held landscape/cityscape shooting during the dark Finnish winters. Typically this would require the capability to take 1/4 to 1/8 exposures at ISO 1600, f/1.7.

"No doubt it adds bulk, but a Gorillapod is invaluable in such circumstances. Regardless of the camera, tonal range and colors take a real hit at those ISOs."

I'm currently using a mini-tripod (bought for about four USD at dealextreme), which works excellently with the LX3, and I can use ISO 100 with 4-8 second exposures. But the problem with this is that I need to use existing support - rocks, poles, heaps of snow etc. - and this limits possibilities for photography. Handheld shooting would be nice once in a while. So, my dream camera would be able to shoot at ISO 1600 with and image-stabilized lens (or body) in the f/2.0 region.

I don't like the Gorillapod, I found it very cumbersome, but that is just my opinion.

100% agree. I got my GF1 and it started slow for me. I have full line of Nikon D700 and D3 and most of their best lens but this GF1 with the 20mm/1.7 pancake lens is killer. This is becoming the camera I reach for first. Absolutely love it.

Curious to hear anyone who would suggest buying the GH1?

I have a couple of the other lenses but they are very average.

CNET DMC-LX3 Reviewer Leonard Goh has now confirmed that the LX3s that he evaluated performed (PRE-".RW2") NOISE REDUCTION as well as SHARPENING on the RW2 files that the LX3 records!!!

See: http://www.seriouscompacts.com/2007/05/keeping-ra...

This finding (should rightly) send some chills down the spines of users of all of the OTHER Lumic camera models that generate ".RW2" format image files!

CNET reports that the user-settable "NR" and "SHARPNESS" controls in the "Film Modes" of the DMC-LX3 exert some measure of control upon the resultant characteristics of RW2 file (and not just the JPG file) contents (this was how Leonard Goh originally discovered these facts in the first place). See his August 26, 2008 CNET Review of the DMC-LX3 at:

http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/digitalcameras/print...

that Panasonic *itself* proudly re-posts on their own web-page at:

http://panasonic.com.ph/web/cid/MainCont/1823

Now is the time for all good persons to rise up and (with CNET's assistance) demand further factual information from Panasonic relating to the operational performance any/all Lumix camera models that generate ".RW2" format image files!

CNET's Senior Editor for Digital Imaging (who herself authored a DMC-LX3 review for CNET USA, and states that she was, prior to yesterday, unaware of Leonard Goh's August 26, 2008 reported findings) can be reached (via web-based email) at:

http://www.cnet.com/profile/lgrunin/

Unfortunately, Leonard Goh's contact email at CNET is a non-operational email address that will bounce your emails.

I am refraining (for reasons of Leonard's internet privacy, sanity, etc.) from here providing his direct email address at CNET.

While Leonard Goh is the CNET Reviewer who first discovered these facts, Lori Grunin is (one of the two) CNET Senior Editors for Digital Imaging, and the author of the most recent CNET DMC-LX3 review. For the above stated reasons, it (to me) seems appropriate that interested persons contact Lori Grunin directly regarding their inquiries surrounding these important as well as disturbing issues that rightly deserve disclosure and clarification on the part of Panasonic (who might well ignore inquiries from the readers of Serious Compacts, but are unlikely to ignore inquiries from the Senior Editors for Digital Imaging at CNET).

I believe that now is time to get to the bottom of these issues. "Use the force, CNET!" ... ;-)

Hi,
Also, i've heard that the 'half press' of the shutter button doesn't show you the final image, like it should in a LX3...if that's the case then they should implement it asap thru' a firmware.
regards,
anurag