Panasonic LX100 preview and review

[rhino123]

Wow... if that was indeed the price (and I am thinking that if the street price is lower a couple of months down the road), maybe I should sell my G7X, save up a bit and get this camera instead. Nowadays, we consumers are really pampered with choices

 

[keithwee]

Haven't been able to try the LX100 as I missed the hands on

Can ask (yes I know it's relative) , is the zoom speed using the knob at shutter slow as shared? Let's say if we compare against the 14-42EZ zoom's speed.

Read that we can assign the rings on the lens itself to zoom either at preset focal lengths or across the whole range , has anyone tried that yet?

 

[kandinsky]

Read that we can assign the rings on the lens itself to zoom either at preset focal lengths or across the whole range , has anyone tried that yet?

Yup, I did that with the review unit. There's only one control ring, can be set to zoom, step zoom, wb, iso, filter. When in MF mode, it will automatically be set to focus adjustment.

Those interested might like to check out the manuals:
DMC-LX100: Basic Operating Instructions (2.2mb/PDF)
DMC-LX100: Operating Instructions for advanced features (9.1mb/PDF)

 

[kandinsky]

Can ask (yes I know it's relative) , is the zoom speed using the knob at shutter slow as shared? Let's say if we compare against the 14-42EZ zoom's speed.

Here's a sample clip I found on youtube that might give a sense of the speed:

[video=youtube;5MdVoc-hQPU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MdVoc-hQPU[/video]

 

[kei1309]

Tried the Panorama mode too ..... it works in art filter mode too (Dynamic Monochrome in this case)
The stitching algorithm makes it look seamless and bestows images with a fish-eye effect

Able to stitch perfectly but the lines of the different frames are showing. is this an issue with a prototype firmware?

 

[kandinsky]

Able to stitch perfectly but the lines of the different frames are showing. is this an issue with a prototype firmware?

Don't think ed9119 used the unit with the pre-release firmware for those shots. It's likely that the scene was pushed the pano mode to its limits. See bolded points below.

The manual explains the limitations to the panorama mode:

• The zoom position is fixed to the W end.
• [Stabilizer] does not work when it is set to [ ] (Normal).
• Since the aperture value and shutter speed are automatically controlled during panorama picture recording, settings made by the aperture ring or shutter speed dial are disabled.
  [*]The focus, exposure and White Balance are all fixed to optimal values for the first picture. If the focusing or brightness of pictures recorded as part of a panorama picture after the first picture are significantly different from those of the first picture, the panorama picture as a whole (when all pictures are stitched together) may not have consistent focus and brightness.
• When the picture effect (Filter) is set, [White Balance] is fixed to [AWB].
• Since several pictures are stitched together to create a panorama picture, some subjects may be distorted or the joining portions of successively taken pictures that are stitched may be noticeable.

Panorama pictures may not be created or pictures may not be recorded properly when taking pictures of the following subjects or when taking pictures in the following recording conditions:
••Subjects that have a continuous monotone or pattern (sky, beach, etc.)
••Moving subjects (person, pet, vehicle, waves, or flowers swaying in the wind, etc.)
••Subjects whose colours or patterns change quickly (such as an image appearing on a display)
••Dark locations
••Locations with a flickering light source (fluorescent lamp, candle light, etc.)

I had a pano shot that was shot in the day, no banding issues but had minor stitching issues. Quick verdict: Good for casual use with very little effort, but given the lack of manual exposure controls, as well as availability while shoot JPGs, can't compare to the manual method for sure. I'll upload it in the other LX100 thread later for comparison.

 

[ed9119]

sorry was away

I shot the panos with Dynamic Monochrome which I suspect caused this

I dont notice this when doing pano in 'regular' non-art filter mode

 

[kei1309]

it's really going to bust my budget

aside from needing to get the SEL1635Z for my A7R... hmmm somehow i need to factor this into my budget :bsmilie:

 

[keithwee]

Here's a sample clip I found on youtube that might give a sense of the speed: YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MdVoc-hQPU

Many thanks bro

 

[celebo]

Great review. This looks like a good alternative to Sony RX100 3. How fast and accurate is the autofocus? Good enough for street photography? Thks.

 

[xonix]

DPreview on LX100: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonic-lumix-dmc-lx100

The Final Word

It should be apparent that we really liked the LX100. It's not a small camera, but it's not that much bigger than the likes of the Canon PowerShot G12, which people happily carried around. And, importantly, it offers significantly better image quality than pretty much any zoom compact ever made. It's not a camera entirely without flaws but most of them are so minor that it's unlikely they'll ever be more than slight irritations about a camera you'll love.

Other than size, it's the camera's zoom range that stops it being the ideal camera for a majority of dedicated photographers. I did find the 24-75mm equivalent range a touch restrictive, but it's the only major concern I had: my overall experience has been much more about what the camera can do than what it can't. The LX100 is a pleasure to use and offers superb image quality. I'd consider it the best photographers' cameras on the market and probably the best zoom compact ever made.

 

[smurfpiss]

Cool it got the gold award!

 

[Parka]

Does the LX100 have any option to choose between 30fps or 25fps? Or are the local sets just fixed at 25fps?

 

[kandinsky]

Does the LX100 have any option to choose between 30fps or 25fps? Or are the local sets just fixed at 25fps?

The local sets would be the PAL variant. No 30p option.

 

[machiavellian]

On e thing I really like is the AF+MF override. The Picture in picture (PIP) works really really good. This is of course if you have the luxury to focus using the control ting.

 

[kandinsky]

Yeah, especially with focus peaking on, even better.