Panasonic LUMIX LX100 / SHOOTING REPORT

The Panasonic LX100 is an "all-in-one" camera packed with everything we need (or more than necessary) for a compact camera. The top feature is the large 4/3-inch sensor and this means it generates the image quality of Panasonic's digital interchangeable-lens micro four-thirds cameras. So, without a doubt, it's the strongest contender of a high-end compact digital camera. The lens is a fast standard zoom lens with the angle of view equivalent to 24-75mm / F1.7-2.8 in 35m format. It also supports 4K movie shooting, so you can cover most situations. While I'm excited about this camera, I'm also worried if I may stop using my main system even if I bought this camera as a sub camera. But, anyway, good tools are always welcome. Now, let's see the world captured by this camera.

( Photography & Text : 48 )

Developed without cutting corners. Devoted to serious photography.

Let's check the appearance. The body with proper user interface looks simple and condensed. The dial for exposure compensation is convenient. The shutter-speed dial and the aperture ring enable intuitive control of exposure. If you set the two dials to auto, it becomes program auto. Then, if you turn the shutter-speed dial from the auto position, it becomes "shutter-speed priority auto." Or, if you turn the aperture dial from the auto position, it becomes"aperture priority auto." And, if you turn the two dials, it becomes "manual exposure mode." What this means is, you don't even need to switch between "modes" like you did with compact cameras and the more experienced you are the easier it is to handle. Plus, these dials feel nice to touch and click. The control ring on the lens barrel has a nice torque as well. When a camera feels nice and solid, shooting becomes even more fun.

The lens barrel also has the AF/AF Macro/MF switch and the aspect ratio switch. And, the body has many customizable buttons and an EVF. I wish if the rear LCD could tilt, but it's OK because the body would become thicker. It doesn't have a flash, but thanks to the high sensitivity performance and the fast lens, I think you can shooting with available light in most situations. When the power is on and the lens extends, the beautiful body shape is lost unfortunately, but who cares when the shooter can't see it?

Look how small it is!

Take this camera, wherever you go.

Now, it's time to go out to take some pictures. Because the LX100 is small and light enough to put in the bag or the pocket, I headed to a deep forest. After I passed deserted village, a crooked path, and a hand-cut tunnel, I arrived at a calm river. It was a quiet time when the morning sun started to shine.

The river was shallow enough to walk upstream with a pair of boots. I shot around wide open. The color reproduction and the contrast are very good and it perfectly captured the transparent water flow. The location was covered by trees and it was a little dark. So, this underexposure was a right decision and it was easy to do so thanks to the dedicated dial.

The shape of the rock was interesting, so I shot it wit my motorbike that took me there. The equivalent angle of view I chose was 35mm (15.9mm). With this performance, I think I don't need to stop down. And, I found the zoom lens very convenient in the location where the choices of shooting positions were limited. By turning the control ring on the lens barrel, you can choose stepped focal lengths of 24, 28, 35, 50, 70, and 75mm, while by the lever next to the shutter button, you can zoom steplessly. The power zoom can't zoom quickly, but it has the 6 focal lengths in one barrel.

After returning to a human habitation, I took a shot of a mountain view using the wide-end and stepping down a little. The sensor has 16 megapixels but the number changes according to the aspect ratio. At 4:3 aspect ratio, it's 12.8 megapixels which is practically large enough. The 24mm wide-end (in 35mm format) is perfect for travel photography.

The sheep seemed to be happy under the warm sunshine, so I used the wide-end to include the entire relaxing environment. The EVF makes a big difference in bright situations. The 2760000-dot viewfinder screen was so easy to see, so I took almost all shots with the EVF. I would need to stretch my hands when shooting with the rear LCD, but I could hold the camera and focus on shooting when looking into the viewfinder.

Depiction of the lens changes according to the distance to the subject and I feel the depiction of this lens becomes more tasteful in close distance. I took this shot at the tele-end (75mm in 35mm format). The bokeh is nice and it has the 3D quality even at this aperture. It's sharp enough, but not razor sharp. It like, as in this image, it's sharp but has some softness, too. Take a look at the sheep's hairs and grass, and you'll know what I'm talking about.

At the macro mode. The texture of the rose looks just like what I saw. The minimum focus distance is 3cm at the wide end and 30cm at the tele-end, which cover most situations. Switching to the macro mode is one-touch with the switch on the lens barrel and fine-adjusting focus after autofocusing is easy with the control ring.

No need to miss sudden shutter chances

Everyday, we are surrounded by shutter chances and you won't miss them with this small camera. They can be sweet lighting, beautiful clouds, or shining street after the rain. Such scenes make me feel happy and stop to take pictures. I believe that photographers are fascinating people because they have eyes to enjoy the world differently.

The town and the light make me feel the change of seasons. Thanks to the sensor and the image processor, it reproduced the great detail of the stone pavement.

Macro photography is so easy with this camera. Recent cellphones do take great pictures, but their macro mode is limited to the wide angle and they don't let us compose this way. The texture of the corks looks very realistic.

Each meal is an entertainment on the table. I usually stop down in this situation, but I shot wide open to test the performance. The big bokeh gives you an extra room to adjust image quality. Because the camera can develop the RAW data inside the camera, you can do al the following at the location: shoot RAW in difficult situations, develop the data in the camera, send the images to the smartphone through Wi-Fi / NFC, and then share them on SNS. How sweet!

The high sensitivity performance is great and I feel I can use ISO 3200 or 6400 without practical problems. But, at night, I would basically use ISO 1600, which still lets me shoot wide open at the tele-end with a shutter speed of 1/30 or 1/60, and this way I can capture the night mood. And, this means, with this camera, you can shoot handheld from morning till night.

It was still dark before the sunrise, but some people were already working in the market and they keep working no matter how cold it is. Once you get this camera, you can extend your day. For example, you can leave your home 1-hour earlier than usual. Or, you can use a street that you don't use regularly. Or, you can get off right before the one you get off usually.

A break time after working. We have a little time before the dawn.

The LX100 is everything you need for a trip or a walk.

The operability and the image quality excel other cameras of the same size and this camera gave me a freedom of shooting in my trip. This high quality body makes more than a great super sub-camera supplementing the main system. Note that you may find this camera a little slow for capturing moving subjects. Mechanically, you have to wait until the lens comes out completely after turning the power on and until it finishes zooming after moving the zoom lever. So, I kept the power on when shooting in the street. If you shot sports, you can shoot the 4K movies so that you can select the frame later as suggested by the manufacturer. Anyway, in most cases, we stand still and take time to shoot. So, you don't need worry about it too much.

Now, we can get this high image quality without carrying heavy equipment. This small and capable package allows me to go even further. The options for this camera are a map, a guidebook, and a passport. Have you decided on the destination of your next trip?

( 31.10.2014 )