Panasonic LX3 Case & Strap
Posted in Photography Gear on July 2nd, 2009The Panasonic LX3 (and the similar Leica D-LUX4) is a bit of a clunky “compact” camera in terms of its form factor. The protruding lens barrel gives the camera an slightly odd, “non-box” shape, and finding a good carrying solution is a challenge. Personally, I don’t want to carry the camera around in the $90 Panasonic DMW-CLX3 case. The case is a classic, retro look, but the LX3 is a lot more useful if you can carry it and maneuver it like any other standard compact camera. Also, the suggested OEM case is not very discreet for street photography.
The best solution, I’ve found, is an $8 Lowepro case. The Lowepro D-RES 8 is the perfect size for the LX3. There’s an inner pocket just enough room for an extra SD card and battery. The D-RES 8 fits the LX3 almost perfectly, and there’s plenty of padding for bump protection. This case is discontinued, so look for new old-stock on e-Bay and your favorite camera stores.
The best strap for the LX-3 is a hand-carry strap if you want to carry the camera in-hand. Carrying the LX-3 around the neck seems unnecessary for such a light and small item, and everyone has his/her shooting preferences. The Olympus adjustable wrist strap (part# OLWASB, $4 at BH Photo) is a great solution for hand carrying. It’s soft and strong, and it has a an adjustable eyelet that keeps the loop around your wrist when you are swinging the camera everywhere. Everything feels lot more secure with an adjustable wrist strap! Let this wrist loop hang out of your Lowepro D-RES 8 case, and you have a really compact carrying solution for $12!
Put the rest of the money you save on batteries for the LX3 since this little camera does eat batteries. You can purchase an extra lens cap for $8 directly from Panasonic. Search for part VYF3198 at