Panasonic LX-7 hands on review by Hosea

[Hosea]

Great insights and fantastic images you captured at Garden by the Bay.:thumbsup::thumbsup:

Thanks!

I am getting used to its functions and began to like it though there are some wish lists up my sleeve.
I lug it inside my pocket and bag everywhere I go with ease. This would not be possible with my heavy weight DSLR
The “Touch Up” function in this camera is cool.

 

[heshanj]

ive been closely looking at the RX100 and the LX7...trying to decide between the two.. these pictures look great, thanks for sharing. the RX100 looks fantastic, on paper, and the samples.. but if the image quality is good enough on the LX7, i might go for that..save some bucks, and get a few extra features too

 

[Hosea]

ive been closely looking at the RX100 and the LX7...trying to decide between the two.. these pictures look great, thanks for sharing. the RX100 looks fantastic, on paper, and the samples.. but if the image quality is good enough on the LX7, i might go for that..save some bucks, and get a few extra features too

My pleasure to share; wish you choose the cam that is suitable for you.

 

[Hosea]

Lx7 has an aperture ring; the cover can be uncovered for lens accessories. Its design is different from LX5

Different between LX5 (Black) and LX7(White) lens ring .
The Auto lens cap for LX5 would not be suitable for LX7

 

[Hosea]

As you turn the Aperture ring, the Aperture and SS will show up on the screen( when you select Display)
This is quite a useful feature for you to view the camera setting.

 

[NazgulKing]

As you turn the Aperture ring, the Aperture and SS will show up on the screen( when you select Display)
This is quite a useful feature for you to view the camera setting.

Wow, this is quite a full featured camera with even some kind of gyroscope built in.

 

[Hosea]

The Dynamic monochrome under the creative control is a very good feature for street and candid Monochrome photographic.
When using Manual, Aperture or SS priority; the monochrome under the photo style allows contrast, saturation, Tint and NR selection.

 

[Hosea]

Monochrome Setting
I have a high expectation from LX7 to deliver a beautiful Monochrome result just as LX5
The "D" or Dynamic BW is move to the creative control; adjustment on the B&W has to be selected at the Photo Style ( replacing film mode in LX5).
This is for those intending to select your own BW Tone preference with other camera setting.


F1.4, 1/320, ISO 2500, SHADE, MULTI METERING APERTURE PRIORITY, 24 MM FOCAL LENGTH OF LENS
Aspect ratio 4:3
Photo Style >Monochrome > +2 Contrast,+2 saturation

 

[Hosea]

CREATIVE CONTROL/Dynamic Monochrome
Leave the monochrome setting to the camera and start shooting freely with the Dynamic monochrome at the Creative Control.
The result is as good and if not even better.


F4, 1/1600 ISO 80, CREATIVE CONTROL/Dynamic Monochrome, MULTI METERING APERTURE PRIORITY, 70 MM FOCAL LENGTH OF LENS
Aspect ratio 16:9

 

[Hosea]

LCD display. True Display Color of images
What you see is what it is?
I would be utterly dismay to see an overly exaggeration of the color saturation on the LCD Display if the picture turns up to be dull when downloaded on the computer. I saw this happened in one of the popular smart phone and previously on one of the DSLR camera (before firmware upgrading)

[FONT=&amp]
[/FONT] The photo's color displayed on LX7 LCD is not over exaggerated with highly saturated images.It is not illusive.
This is one of my top priority Check-list when considering buying a camera.

[FONT=&amp]
[/FONT]F4, 1/300 ISO 80, , MULTI METERING APERTURE PRIORITY, 24 MM FOCAL LENGTH OF LENS
Aspect ratio 16:9 AWB
[FONT=&amp]
[/FONT]

[FONT=&amp]



[/FONT]

 

[wonglp]

Keep the pictures coming, the dynamic monochrome is interesting! Nice review and pictures!

 

[Hosea]

Thanks wonglp. Cheers

 

[Hosea]

LX7( White ) Hand grip vs LX5 ( black ) Hand grip
I am not sure why the hand grip is redesigned; ergonomically it is inferior to its predecessor LX5

If you read review that the grip is an improvement from the LX5 with a deeper grip; you might want to evaluate it.
In my opinion, this is a design's ergonomic degradation; but there could be some reason for such redesigning of the LX5 hand-grip for LX7



photo taken with iphone

 

[Hosea]

Long Exposure

I was trying a hand-held long exposure shot by placing the camera on the bridge railing (didn't bring tripod) for 6 seconds.
The result was interestingly good enough and I believe the long exposure could be much better with a proper tripod set up and composition.
I quite like the star burst.

LX5 allows a max of 250sec (4.167 min) though it doesn't have bulb mode.
This is sufficient for a reasonable Fireworks shot with a tripod.



F8 ,6sec , ISO 100, AWB, MULIT METERING, MANUAL , 24 MM FOCAL LENGTH OF LENS
Aspect ratio 16:9

 

[Hosea]

[FONT=&amp]White Balance Setting[/FONT]
Progressive Color Temperature adjustment from 2500K to 10000K.
LX7 has this good feature for color temperature progressive adjustment( available a DSLR camera )

Testing two-folds objectives for these 2 photos taken with tripod.
[FONT=&amp]Progressive WB [/FONT]
LX7&5 has this interesting progressive WB adjustment which is very handy when capture scene with customized WB instead of relying only on the standard WB. You can view at the Display LCD while adjusting the white balance until you are satisfy that it is the same as what the naked eyes would see.

[FONT=&amp]ISO 1250 [/FONT]
Long exposure at ISO 1250 is still acceptable.
[FONT=&amp]Please note that you do not need ISO 1250 for a long exposure shot unless you have other objectives of attaining a specific shot within a shorter time span[/FONT]
The option of choosing a low ISO is a more appropriate approach for landscape or cityscape long exposure shots.


F8 ,10sec , ISO 1250, MULIT METERING, MANUAL , 24 MM FOCAL LENGTH OF LENS
Aspect ratio 16:9

WB K SET(3500K)

F8 ,10sec , ISO 1250, MULIT METERING, MANUAL , 24 MM FOCAL LENGTH OF LENS
Aspect ratio 16:9

WB K SET(3200K)

 

[ed9119]

[FONT=&]White Balance Setting[/FONT]
Progressive Color Temperature adjustment from 2500K to 10000K.
LX7 has this good feature for color temperature progressive adjustment( available a DSLR camera )

Testing two-folds objectives for these 2 photos taken with tripod.
[FONT=&]Progressive WB [/FONT]
LX7&5 has this interesting progressive WB adjustment which is very handy when capture scene with customized WB instead of relying only on the standard WB. You can view at the Display LCD while adjusting the white balance until you are satisfy that it is the same as what the naked eyes would see.

yeah i love this feature as well

 

[Hosea]

Indoor Shot & Creative Retouch
[FONT=&amp]Candid indoor shot could easily[/FONT] be done with some basic photography knowledge; you could create a
reasonable interesting indoor B&W photo without emphasizing on Camera 's high ISO capability & performance
under low light condition.

Creative Retouch
This is an interesting and useful feature built into the LX7 for fast and easy retouch with a standard Retouch Menu list.
I selected the Mini Option from the menu for this pix.

Original Photo

Retouch with Creative Retouch > MINI
Mini is similar to Tilt-shift; it allows tilt-shift application onto certain portion of the original photo
on the camera itself

 

[Hosea]

A Break
[FONT=&quot]There are just too many features to explore; LX7 is definitely more than just a simple compact camera.
It is users friendly as a compact camera with the Screen, Creative Control and P mode.

The images quality can easily match well with higher range cameras if you do apply some simple basic photography understanding.
The Monochrome (B&W) is just too good for me to ignore. The Colors is as good with the LCD displaying non over exaggerated color[/FONT] intensity.

[FONT=&quot]The period given for this hand-over is rather short; I would try my best to see if I could further explore in coming 1-2 days before returning the camera. Keep tune in for more reviews soon.

F1.4
I am sure many would like to know how the f1.4 aperture fares in term of the DOF with a nice bokeh.
I had tried a few shots; it is not as impressive and you would need to go real close to the subject to achieve a reasonable good
bokeh.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]
In my opinion, LX 7 is a good compact camera and it really looks great; many would turn to take a second look at your cam when they walk pass you. I am not particular with those minor odds which some would care for.[/FONT]

 

[rain5533]

How bout the macro mode?

Look in forward is quite interested of all the feature with the monochrome output.

Thanks

 

[Hosea]

If you intended to use the Camera Adapter Tube for Macro; do refer to my review on the different lens Ring design between LX5 & LX7.