One of the things that I love about compact cameras (aside from the great quality you can now achieve with some of the “Pro” models) is that they are easy to carry. They are light and fit easily into your pocket or bag. This makes them the ideal photographer’s tool to have ready to hand at almost any time. It also means you can take a good quality camera with you, just in case when you are out and about. This is one reason why I first invested (a few years back) in the new breed of compacts and bought an LX5.
At the time I had heard good reports about the LX3 and LX5 but had decided not to invest as I was concerned about image quality. Once I saw some images and processed some RAW files for myself, I was convinced. This was also the ideal camera for me to take out when I was walking locally.
I am sure many of you reading this also have or would like compact cameras that allow you to capture images when you are out and about near to home. If that is the case, let me ask you, how often do you actually do/would you do this and what do you do with the images after?
The reason I ask this is because I don’t think that I take my camera along often enough. If I am out for a walk locally, I often don’t feel the landscape (I am after all a landscape photographer) is worthy of taking photographs. This is odd as I know people who travel to where I live to take picture and I have even seen magazine articles. Strangely I just can’t see it and can’t enthuse over the landscape. I think I have become blinded by familiarity and often find myself travelling for an hour or two to areas that I feel offer more potential.
Last night however I was working through my huge back catalogue of images that are yet to be processed, looking to delete some when I came across the image here. I have never really paid any attention to the images I have snapped locally but I found last night that I actually quite like this one. It’s not earth shattering but it gives a pleasant view of one of the villages where I live.
The village you see in the picture is of Delph in Saddleworth and I am on top of the hill above Dobcross. You probably haven’t heard of either of these but both have been used as Film and TV locations. Dobcross was used in the film Yanks amongst others whilst Delph appeared (briefly) in the Film Brassed Off. They must have been chosen for a reason.
What I think I need to do is to open my eyes to the beauty of the location where I live and not go out with a pre-conception of the type of image I want to capture.
The Lightweight Photographer 
I live not too far from this location and it can on occasions look quite bleak! but the light with this image is beautiful, and that’s what makes the shot. Amazing image quality to.
Hi Alan, yes it can and often does look very bleak. I think you hit the nail on the head when you say its the light that makes the shot but I also like the detail in the viallge. The large print is great to look around because there is so much in there. I’m pleased you like the image quality. The LX5 is an amazing camera. I recent;y (last week) sold mine as it doesn’t come out much given I have the Sony RX100 but if the pixel count goes up in the next “LX” camera I may well buy another. The lens was hard to beat. All the best Robin
lovely photo, I am a great fan of good compacts, out of choice I would use one over an SLR. the LX 3 is a great camera, still use mine, I am now trying a Fuji x20.
Great to hear from someone else who appreciates the benefits of good compacts. I never had an LX3 as I went for a Sony R1 instead. I think it was the limited zoom that put me off. The LX5 is a super camera though as no doubt the LX7 is.