[deadwolfbones]

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 10.1MP Digital Camera with 3.8x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3" LCD (black) $269 + Free Shipping - ***************

Great deal.

[eddie1960]

really great deal

(bet there is a new model pending for CES in January)

[deadwolfbones]

I'm going to Florida next Saturday... buying this to take on the trip. If I love it I'll keep it, if not I'll sell it and break even.

[Unsinkable II]

Am stunned that it would be on offer at that price (and miffed I missed it!)

Weren't LX3's hard to find at $400 a couple of years ago?

I guess the Canon S, Oly XZ and now the Fuji X10 have taken a big bite out of demand.

If anything new is at CES, I'll hopefully be there to have an early play!

If anyone could create the PnS equivalent of an S100 size, with X10 sensor and XZ-1 lens..... OK, while I'm dreaming, throw in the NEX-7 EVF.

Need to wake up.

[Aegon]

I guess the Canon S, Oly XZ and now the Fuji X10 have taken a big bite out of demand

I think Panasonic is converting inventory to cash on hand, probably to double-down against Olympus in their time of pain.

I bought a GF3 for $120 recently (strange deal direct from Panasonic), the GF2 was selling on Newegg for $290 with kit lens and stuff, GF3s are at Target for $325 with kit lens, Panasonic Leica 25mm ƒ/1.4 went for $450 over Thanksgiving weekend, GH2s are on sale for about $500 after selling the included lens, etc. Throw in LX5 and it looks like systemic liquidation rather than just some hot deals.

My guess is they will invest in a new fab and rule the roost for µ43, leaving Olympus on their old sensor for good.

[Nesster]

It was a one-day special is all... price is back to over $300 - $348 to be specific.

[Aegon]

Today the GF3 is approx $180 on the Panasonic website.

Add a GF3 with 14mm lens for $500, the cart adds a $0.01 14-42 lens, sell the 14 for $220, sell the 14-42 for $110, subtract $10 for paypal, get a body for $180. Ta-da!

Panasonic has been clearing out everything. Tomorrow will bring new deals.

[eddie1960]

Today the GF3 is approx $180 on the Panasonic website.

Add a GF3 with 14mm lens for $500, the cart adds a $0.01 14-42 lens, sell the 14 for $220, sell the 14-42 for $110, subtract $10 for paypal, get a body for $180. Ta-da!

Panasonic has been clearing out everything. Tomorrow will bring new deals.

Panasonic is Preparing for CES in January where they are one of the biggest players (as opposed to Photokina where it's all Canikon and some Sony grabbing the headlines)

[Aegon]

Oh, interesting.

I don't doubt your explanation, and obviously you are right that Panasonic is a big player at CES, but I'm curious to know how clearance sales helps Panasonic prepare for CES. I've been trying to understand all the sales, too.

(I know that everything written in a forum appears sarcastic and condescending. I don't intend to sound sarcastic or condescending, I'm just wondering what's up).

[eddie1960]

Oh, interesting.

I don't doubt your explanation, and obviously you are right that Panasonic is a big player at CES, but I'm curious to know how clearance sales helps Panasonic prepare for CES. I've been trying to understand all the sales, too.

(I know that everything written in a forum appears sarcastic and condescending. I don't intend to sound sarcastic or condescending, I'm just wondering what's up).

Clearing inventory during the biggest sales spike of the year is not unusual. New items that will be launched in january are probably in production now or soon will be. It takes a lot of product for floor-lining worldwide.
They likely looked at inventory levels and said time to make a push

I also think the crappy economy has them reacting earlier than they need to because much of the christmas planning was done just after CES last January and the economy has gotten much tighter than predicted at that time so there is probably more stock than they are comfortable with
Maybe Costco or Walmart or Best Buy backed out of a big commitment for Xmas (or scaled it back heavily) to late for the production to change. It's been known to happen

[einstrigger]

I think clearance sales are just that. Clear out some inventory to make room for newer stuff. With the case of the GF3, they've done similar with GF2 kits in the past. Will there be a GF4? Who knows, but they are probably hoping to sell a lot of GX1's.

As for the LX5, that was an awesome deal and I feel bad for those of you who wanted it, but missed it. Even at the current price of $348 on Amazon, I think it's a better deal then either the Canon S100 or Olympus XZ-1. Especially when you consider their pricing, strengths, and weaknesses. Not a bad camera in the bunch really, but the LX5 to me is the better "all-around" performer. By all-around, I mean in both video and stills. From latest tests, the S100 has improved video, but the photos have more noise when compared against the XZ-1 or LX5. As for the XZ-1, great photos and jpg rendering, but the video is severely lacking. The LX5 is like the baby bear from the Goldilocks children's story..."Just Right".