LC1 sensor vs New Lumix LX3 sensor

[jtharvie]

Any help appreciated.
What if any would be the difference between the 5 mp 2/3 sensor and the new 10 mp 1/1.63-inch of the LX3. In RAW will this new sensor provide an equal quality image at low ISO and good lighting? This new camera really rings all my bells in size and accessories. My reality is I am never going to afford an M camera but this new Lumix sure looks inticing / affordable / light / etc. How do I understand the sensor sizes of the two?
Please help.
Thanks,
jth

[mjh]

Originally Posted by jtharvie

What if any would be the difference between the 5 mp 2/3 sensor and the new 10 mp 1/1.63-inch of the LX3. In RAW will this new sensor provide an equal quality image at low ISO and good lighting?

Hard to say in advance, but given that the pixel pitch of the LC1/Digilux 2 sensor was 3.4 µm vs. the 2.0 µm pixel pitch of the LX3 sensor (so the pixels of the new sensor are 2.9 times smaller), both dynamic range and signal-to-noise-ratio should be lower – if everything else was equal, which of course it isn’t. Comparing a Panasonic CCD introduced in 2008 to a Sony CCD introduced in 2001 isn’t that easy.

[Riley]

at base iso LC1 is going to be tough to beat, b/se the IQ is great
but as you go into low light noise is terrible. From what i hear (without seeing for myself) people are saying that LX3 might be good for up to 400iso, this is territory i would never take LC1, as i know what it looks like.

Then there is the handling, should you be used to film cameras LC1 is unsurpassed, i really doubt LX3 would touch it there.

so it roughly depends on your shooting circumstances,
....and the style you are accustomed too

I'd sit back a spell and check over the LX3 images, this has been up for a few days
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i guess we all figure this is the next Leica compact, or something better
with a 24mm/2 theyre going to clean up with this thing
there is certainly a lot of interest in it right now

[diogenis]

Looking at its specs, it seems like a hard nut to beat.
What a lens!