Probably the best in-depth review of any consumer product I have ever watched. After watching, I feel like I have personally used the product. Bravo Sir Maarten! You raise and set the quality bar for independent video reviews.
One of the best, most informative reviews I've seen in a while. Problem is I'm now so overwhelmed by the menu selection I think I'll go back to my Kodak Brownie.
+Jorg Fledge Thank you for taking the time to comment with such kind words, appreciated. There's no denying the simplicity of the Brownie, however finding film and processing is becoming increasingly more difficult and expensive.
Finally, I am here - I have found your review of the LX100! And, I am not disappointed with the outcome. In fact, having watched your reviews covering the three cameras that were on my shortlist, I am now convinced that the LX100 is the camera for me. I can see the drawback at not having an articulated screen but, I have never had one in the past so I am sure I'll cope with it! Fantastic review, thank you.
+Darren Saunders More kind words! So glad you found what you were looking for and that my videos have assisted you in your decision making. I too was very impressed by the LX100 - so I'm sure you'll enjoy your new camera. Please send a DM with links to images when you are ready to share.
Not sure if I'm plinking down for this camera, but by Jove good sir that is a brilliant review. Definitely earned a subscriber right there - love how you get to the details and don't take viewers lightly. Most reviewer went through things with far too much haste.
Thank you for taking the time to make this video. As a professional photographer, looking to purchase a simple compact system with "professional" characteristics for my carry around camera, I watched this video early on during my research. After purchasing the LX100 this weekend, I again watched your video today. What a thorough rundown of all the options. Your video was extremely helpful for me to delve deeper into the menus and understand some of the nuances this little gem has to offer. All the best ... and happy shooting!
I've been binge watching all of the LX100 reviews in search of interesting features so I consider myself an expert on the matter ;). Most of them are like a broken record - covering the basics time and time again. You covered the basics and proceeded to present all other features which no one dared to touch. I will be studying my lx100 with your review hand in hand to use more of its potential. Panasonic could discard the obsolete paper instructions in favor of your reviews. Thanks again, Maciej
Again, very kind - thanks for commenting. I'm happy with a pdf instead of the paper instructions - but I do like some documentation, even if it's sparse. And it helps me to fall asleep.
Heb deze camera onlangs nieuw gekocht voor een heel mooi prijsje, ondanks het feit dat het een ouder model is met (maar) 12,8 MP. Gewoonweg omdat het een alles-in-1 camera is met heel veel mogelijkheden, een grotere 4/3 sensor en met een lichtgevoelige leica lens die hetzelfde (?) is als een leica D-lux type 109 camera. Wordt in een Nederlands review een 'profesionele compact camera' genoemd. Superleuk om dan een uitgebreid review filmpje tegen te komen van een andere Nederlander-Canadees en test foto's te zien van plaatsen in Canada waar ik in de jaren 80 heb gewoond. Dat was pure nostalgie, want ik woon ondertussen alweer lange tijd in NL. Thank you so much for this very thorough review, because it shows all the functions and features of this camera which saves a lot of time in learning from the the 332 page manual !
Bedankt voor de vriendelijke woorden, ze worden op prijs gesteld. I've always appreciated reviews that explained the features that made a camera interesting (dpreview used to do this) and that's what I try to do.
As usual, excellent commentary and video. Maarten's observations are succinct and correct. I know because we were colleagues and I highly respect his opinions.
Thank you for taking the time to do this review. Very relieving to watch such a detail demonstration of the camera and its features. For my intents and purposes this may be the best option for me. Keep doing what you are doing!
This has to be the most comprehensive review ever. I know the LX100 is an old camera by today's standards but I do find that there is something very special about it so I'm buying one. I also know that this review is 3 years old but I do thank you for this wonderful video
Me too, I love watching Maarten's reviews since I saw the first one even though I too am NOT in the market for a new camera. I have an a5100 which Maarten helped convince me to buy - I'm glad he did. Fantastic little camera, I am beyond impressed with it (and glad I did not splurge for the a6000 ;)
For me I had the Nex 5T and decided I had to have a viewfinder but the attachment was crazy expensive, so I sold the 5T and got an a6000 instead, less hassle, great EVF
Great video, I remember seeing this years ago. Fast forward 6 years and multiple cameras later, this is still my go to street/pocket camera. The above average image quality in this little beast makes it a no brainer for me when size matters.
I think it's the only youtube video I'd have you watch again at x0.5 to catch it all. just got a lx100. still an amazing camera and now in a superb price. thanks a lot!!!
I rarely would buy a camera that has been out for two years already, but I made an exception for the LX100 because, for my purposes, it's the best thing on the market still! I love that I can still mount filters on the 43mm thread, take super sharp 4K and make use of that fast wide end for night shooting. The controls and ergonomics make it a joy to use as well. Great review!
Thanks Maarten,for the closeup, detailed, explanation, for the functions of this LX100 camera. Best video explanation I have viewed. I ended up purchasing the Photographers guide to the Lumix LX100 book by Alexander S. White recently, since purchasing in 2019 to get my head around this mega function compact camera. Had the basic booklet that came with the camera. Not good enough. Then downloaded the Advanced version online. Still not completely explaining the camera. Eventually, I want to be intuitive when operating it as Second nature.
I appreciate what you explained and guided for viewer, who concern about this old device in last day of 2020. Really love this video, detail, professional. I subscribed and thank you.
Dear Maarten, you stole my heart ( and this splendid review as well 🙏🏽💎🙏🏽) It convinced me to get this little monster beside my dlsr equipment .Happy Holidays from the Netherlands 🎄
Great review, Maarten. I just got an LX100 myself, for live music photography and videography. I hate the lack of mic input, but as far as my research showed, there wasn't a better camera at the price point, or at the size.
+Fish in a Barrel Thanks for the kind words. Although a mic input is nice, external recorders (like the Tascam DR-70D) can be mounted on the tripod under the camera, can provide XLR inputs and record at a higher quality than the internal. I'm finding syncing the two recordings is easy (although there is sometimes a little drift over time). For music, I'd highly recommend this as a solution.
+Maarten Heilbron All well and good for some of the more professional gigs I do with multiple cams or a tripod mounted option, but I usually free-hand the camera and get audio from that. For professional gigs, I usually source a proper recording from the sound tech via the desk. For cheaper hires, I usually set up a Zoom h4n somewhere central to get room audio, and may also grab vocals from the desk. I was looking into some options for improving the audio from the LX100 itself, but find mounting the h4n on the shoe makes the whole thing unwieldy for free-handing the process, which is mostly what I do. I considered some solution where I mount a mic to the shoe and plug it into the Zoom, which I could keep in my pocket as a recording device. I wish there was some kind of wireless option.
+Fish in a Barrel Those are all good solutions - I have a zoom particularly for that purpose - either to do a recording from the console, or from an good listening position, which is what I'd recommend. As you move around the audio perspective (and quality) will change and is usually not desirable. For wireless (camera mounted shotgun to zoom?) I'd recommend the RodeLink, which is part of my kit. Although it's not the Sennheiser AVX equivalent I'd like it to be, it is better then the Sennheiser analog (ew100) solution. That is an excellent thought - why doesn't someone make a camera with a wireless receiver built in? They've included wifi - it could easily piggyback on that solution.
***** I actually looked at the Rodelink as an option. Most of the free-handed audio seems pretty reasonable for when I'm doing off the cuff hobby stuff, so might go with the mic+pocketed Zoom option to enhance it a bit.
While DPreview makes excellent technical reviews. This is a more real world review and a look over the possibilities. Really appreciate what you did here. Thank you for all the effort you've putted into this review.
really nice! And now I'm not talking about camera but reviewer performance. Wonderfully done presentation; great image, voice and information, all in once. Thank you sir. (note: and this is the first time I wrote something like this, I'm not impressed easily ;) )
Mahalo, Maarten! I use my LX100 everyday, on Hawai'i Island. I re-watched your excellent review since I'm going to be using it more for video. It's still a fantastic little camera. Thanks again!
Wonderful review. Thanks for all the detail and putting the camera through real-world use, as all camera reviews should be. Unfortunately I think the lack of tilt-screen and built-in flash is almost a deal breaker (give me one or the other and I would have already bought it). But 4k is so tempting!
Chris Estrella Thanks for the kind words - 4K is tempting, but otherwise I support your assessment. Still, the most interesting, challenging and feature-rich camera I've reviewed.
Great review. I think I'll have to get one. For me, the interface makes this the best DSLR complement. Yes, the sony rx100iii is smaller, but this just seems so much more fun to shoot with.
An astounding level of passion and detail exhibited for this camera that I JUST purchased! Thank you for your work on this excellent video! Now it's time for me to start the climb up that steep learning curve. As this is a camera that should suit me well for some time to come, I'm in no hurry. :-)
+Darren Stephens That's very kind of you to say - I appreciate your comment. I also appreciate your interest in learning all of the camera's capabilities, as Panasonic offers a really rich feature set. Thanks for your comment.
Wonderful review! This must of taken you a long time to make and it's clear you know what you are talking about. It sure seems the Panasonic DMC-LX100 is just short of a really amazing camera. Perhaps there will be a "pro" version encompassing the missing features - for a price I am sure.
Paul Lampron Thank you for your kind comment. Yes, it takes a while, but it's a very enjoyable endeavour. I'm hoping that some of these features end in next year's version, but even without, it's a most interesting piece of equipment.
Another fab video, thank you marten,I love watching all your videos, even for cameras I don't and won't own. They are all very interesting and informative .☺
Nice comprehensive video. Really curious if you find it having enough Bokeh for subbject-background separation , for like portraits and stuffs in the street ? cheers
Thanks for the kind words, always appreciated. It's harder on the street - but easy enough for portraits. Large aperture (small Fstop number) stay zoomed in, keep the subject as close to the camera as possible. Paul and I explain in three minutes: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-FgpHdMxv2rg.html
Late right now, so I will watch this tomorrow, but I did want to say that I recorded some friends in a well-known Canadian prog (Saga) band last Saturday in Toronto with my LX100 close to the stage, blasting out of a large sound system. I was extremely pleased that (with the mics at the 'low' setting- I didn't try the higher settings) I got a nice clear sound, with absolutely no distortion! I also used a Zoom H1 mic part of the time, and the recording from that was only slightly warmer, with a little more bass response. The LX100 captured more high frequency. Both work nicely together, but the LX100 sounds nice on it's own if you don't want to carry a mic. And, since my card was 32GB, I didn't get quite the whole concert in 4K, so had to switch to regular 1080p at one point near the end. Even then, in the regular 1080p mode (not down-sampled from 4K), the video was still sharper than my Sony RX100, and again- with no audio distortion! And, needless to say, the 4K is amazing!
JoeSzilagy Thanks for the update. In those kinds of situations I often make a second audio recording - wither directly from the mix board or with the Zoom recorder in a place where the pics will pick up good sound without too much direct audience noise. Using a camera that provides live video out, I'd plug the Zoom's output into an Atomos recorder as the second channel.
Very nice video! Actually, I had recently bought the Zoom H1, and really only wanted to test it out, along with the LX100s internal mics. I suspect getting permission and cooperation to plug into the board would have been a fair amount of hassle anyway. I bought a little adapter from the Cowboy Studio photo accessory shop in Mississauga, (I suspect we both live around the Toronto area, judging from your video!) for around $9 that allowed me to attach the Zoom to the hot shoe on the LX100. Later, I synced both audio tracks up in iMovie, and it sounded and looked pretty good- for a very amateurish concert recording! One of these days I'll get Final Cut for more complex stuff. Speaking of which, you are light years beyond me Maarten, and I have a lot to learn, but I find that's one of the fun and interesting things about the LX100!
JoeSzilagy In some venues it is, but I usually shoot footage of bands I know and they're usually helpful in introducing me to the sound operator who's usually cooperative (not always). I have a small Sony bracket which has a flash shoe and a larger Shape bracket which I use to attach devices like the Zoom, an external monitor and recorder. I felt the LX100 performed really well for recording video in small venues with bad lighting.
Great review and tutorial! Just one question to Maarten: Do you experience that the camera screen resolution goes down in playback as compared to when shooting? I do (not due to slow shutter speeds) and this annoys me because this is making focus check post shooting difficult.
The menu system has been improved in the Lumix LX100M2. Still a challenging set of features, but for instance I found the format option in no time at the top level in the menu hierarchy. Great little camera, by the way. Thanks, as always, for your concise and calm review.
Just thought I'd let you know that I got my LX-100 and I was correct. You can skip menu pages forward and backward by using the zoom lever just as with the FZ-200. You can do the same within menu items that have more than one page. I'm quite pleased with the camera. Due to the horrible weather we are having, I haven't had time to test it extensively. But from what I can see so far is that it takes really nice pictures, but not quite as sharp as my FZ-200. But then it is a compact camera. I'm going to get a case for it and UV and infra red filters as well. It and the FZ-200 complement each other, in my opinion. Also, since the menu items are similar on both, the learning curve is not as great as if I had come from another brand of camera.
Thanks for the update. I agree, the consistency of the menus on Panasonic models is a great feature. And it's great that so much functionality is the same - really full featured. On the GH4 (there is no zoom dial) the aperture dial selects categories and the shutter dial navigates, but I haven't found anything to skip pages.
Really comprehensive! Im buying this camera for sure but sir can i ask a question about the video limit, Is the 4k video 15 min limit per video clip or for the whole sd card you will put in? My lumix fz150 has unlimited video and will depend on capacity of the sd card, for 1080p it will store 2h20min of video on a 32 gb sd card. Is there a firmware update that wont limit its video on any setting? Thanks and more power to your channel!
Thanks for the kind words, always appreciated. The limit is per clip, and you can start recording again immediately. There's no official update that changes this behaviour.
I have wanted this camera for a few years now but couldn't bring myself to pop $600+ for a new version. I recently obtained a used, but excellent condition version for half that price. This LX100 I just bought only has a dozen or so shots on it and came with some extras, including the auto-shutting lens cover. Can’t wait to get it our and put it through its paces. PS: Thanks for a great review - this will be helpful as I set about learning this camera.
Mind you I've been shooting SLRs for over 20 years. I'm thoroughly familiar with photography, cameras, etc. Yet this is still an overwhelming camera. I wish there was a menu option to switch between simple and expert modes, each turning off all functions that only the other type of user would want to see (and, of course, a third option that would be as it currently is, with all options available). That would make both my wife and I much happier using this impressive but frustrating camera.
+Jon Miller I understand what you mean ... coming to grips with the steep learning curve and navigating the menu systems is a daunting task. More than once it's happened that I know that a camera has a feature, but while I'm out shooting I can't find it for love or money. The Nikon 1's menu system has a simplified mode, but I actually find it more trouble. Many cameras offer less menu functionality if you are in full auto (not P) mode - and that's a frustration all it's own as it eliminates the ability to shoot in RAW, or use other desirable settings that are independent of a simpler version of the menu. Thanks for the ability to rant on this.
Thanks for this review, lots of practical stuff !! I own an LX100 and love it for its compact size, fast lens and abundance of features. Only thing I dislike is the processing of skin tones (pink/purple lips and cheeks in one instance, brownish in another), which previous Panasonic cameras (G5, GF) did not have a problem with. Have you experienced this and is there a setting to work around this ?
+colonelcalhoun It's my pleasure, always nice to hear that it's been useful. I'm not sure what you mean ... is the auto white balance not getting the right colour temperature? Is the problem visible in the RAW images, or just the JPEGs? Are you using the "Photo Styles"?
+colonelcalhoun That is strange. Thanks for the link - it's nice to find reviews that aren't just someone sitting at a desk - I wish he'd do more. Still wondering if it affects the RAW file, or it's just a JPEG processing error. I have a meeting at Panasonic later in the week, I'll try to remember to ask.
That was a top notch video review. I could watch a couple of times to make sure I got it all. I use the GH4 and this could be a good second camera. Thanks.
I've been thinking about buying my first camera; I would be using it mostly for traveling and I appreciate great quality images. It has come down to lx100, rx100m3 and ricoh gr; any thoughts what would be the best choice? Been leaning towards the ricoh as I hear great things about it... Would appreciate an answer as I've come to realise you know a great deadl about photography and cameras.
Bor Motore Thanks, but let's not give me too much credit. If size/cost isn't an issue, I'd take the LX100. On the other hand for travel, I'd probably lean towards the smaller RX100 (and I'd be nearly equally happy with the M1 as the M3 versions)
Thank you for doing the most comprehensive camera reviews I've seen on RU-vid! Really helps as I am looking to buy a camera this summer. Quick q: should I get the newest model available or are older models fine? How old is too old?
syahiratunadiah I appreciate your kind words - thanks! Unless you are experienced enough to understand the difference, being a year or two out of date will get you pretty much everything you need for a lot less money. For beginners, buying a less expensive or older camera is a great way to start. For example, unless you need 4K video (and some of the other features that I talk about, you could be very happy with the GF1 - a Panasonic model that I bought when it was new and still use with pleasure. How old is too old? Less than 12Mp is too old.
***** thank you for the prompt reply! I was tempted to buy the latest camera available with all the bells and whistles but I know it will be wasted on a beginner like me. Another question I have is which type of camera would you suggest a beginner to buy: a point-and-shoot or a mirrorless? Since the GF1 you suggested is a mirrorless. Thanks again!
syahiratunadiah If you just want to take pictures and a phone won't do, get a point and shoot (hint - they're all pretty much the same from where I sit). All point and shoots are mirrorless. If you want/plan to be serious about photography, get a camera with 1) a 1" or larger sensor; 2) interchangeable lenses; 3) full manual control (exposure - ISO, aperture, shutter) and focus); 4) viewfinder; 5) saves RAW. You might let one (like lenses or viewfinder) of these go, but not two. If you were considering the LX100 - the GF1 seemed a good compromise.
Great review Maarten. Subbed! BTW, can I ask for your comments on what's a better buy between the Sony A6000 (16-50mm) and Panasonic LX100? They are about the same price in our country and can't conclude a definite decision on what to buy. Will just use the kit lens and I have no intention to upgrade lenses (not a pro, just an advanced shooter). Low-light performance, General IQ and DOF control (better bokeh) is important for my use. What would you recommend between the two (LX00 vs A600 w/ Kitlens)? I'm inclining to get the LX100 because of the lens flexibility (1.7-2.8 zoom lens equivalent to the Sony system is out of reach budget-wise). So I'm also considering if the extra stops advantage in aperture makes up for the smaller sensor of the LX100 in terms of noise performance vs the A6000. Will appreciate your advice since you have used th both of them. Thanks!
+mauirev Thanks for the kind words. In situation, I'd choose the LX100. If you are prepared to buy additional lenses, I'd change my mind. But in the end, take the one you can afford, and the one you'd never leave at home.
+Maarten Heilbron Thanks for the reply. No, I'm not prepared to buy additional lenses (most probably). I came from a Panasonic Lumix GF1 + 20mm 1.7 (which I sold recently), so the thin DOF is surely a top priority. In terms of DOF, IQ and low-noise performance, do you think the LX100 and A6000 (kit) are marginally neck-to-neck? If not, who wins in DOF, IQ and noise performance. Thanks again!
+mauirev I don't really do back to back comparisons as I only very rarely have two cameras at the same time - so I'm not really well qualified to answer that. I'd recommend that dxomark and dpreview do a more detailed analysis of exactly those issues. I hope this helps.
Great review! Leaning towards buying the LX100. How would you compare the LX100 and the RX100M3 in terms of image stabilization? Is the IQ when panning acceptable?
Lana Step Thanks so much for your kind words. So many more things I could have covered in the video ... the stabilizer is on for the handheld recording of the cyclists, and I thought it was good. There is a photo-only "panning" stabilization mode, but in video you get full stabilization. It's hard to compare without having them side by side. As I'm thinking about "acceptable when panning", I'm thinking that maybe you're reacting to motion artifacts, the same issue I mentioned when I talk about shutter speed for video. In a camcorder or video mode on a still camera, if you can't (or don't) set the shutter speed to 1/60 (or so), the resulting pans will look odd - the higher the shutter the more odd. We expect to see motion portrayed a certain way (if it's our eyes, or what we're accustomed to in movies, which are 24 fps usually with a shutter speed about twice that) and if it doesn't look like that we notice it, but aren't always able to identify why it's wrong. I hope this helps.
Lana Step My pleasure. I'm not sure why this isn't a more widely publicized tip - video should be 1/60th (or so). Of course, many camcorders have no control for this. And in many situations, you'll need an ND filter, which is why you'll find many manufacturers now including them in cameras.
Another great video ***** Lens is the reason for lack of full sensor readout. Imaging circle of the lens doesn't cover full sensor, so only ratio options are the ones without extreme corners of the sensor
one question: is it possible to separate focus from exposure? On my Canon DSLR I can use several combinations. It's quite useful, since it allows you to focus once and then forget about it, just recompose and shoot quickly. In street photography especially, when something blocks your view of the subject momentarily. Otherwise just go manual, obviously.
hi maarten, enjoyed viewing your videos, though the more i viewed, the more difficult choosing a camera has become, ha! im looking at the lx100 or the a6000 as a travel/home camera. im new to the photography game, but seen great reviews for the a6000, but the lx100 has now been thrown into the mix. i initially was looking at the rx100 m3, but i favoured the a6000. probably not alot between them spec wise? but the a6000 is around $140 cheaper so helped sway me a little. im new, but keen to learn at least the basics to take some nice photos, for family, holidays etc. what camera would you suggest? im ideally looking at a good low light camera, something good for landscapes/portraits, vehicle photography and good autofocus. hd video is enough for me. the lx intrigues me purely because of the easy to use manual controls, the a6000 requires more work for manual settings? but i will more than likely use this 90% of the time as a auto point and shoot, especially when on vacation. so auto features are a must really. the lx100 with a bolt on flash would annoy me i feel, and will only 12/16 megapixels quality, does worry me slightly over the a6000 24. lx is around $50 more than the a6000. regards
jdm1hunter Both (or all three) are good choices. It's very hard to recommend one over the other. Choose based on price, feel in your hand or the look. I know it sounds like there are a lot of differences, but really, they're more similar than different. Don't worry unduly about manual controls - very few photographers shoot in full manual - most use aperture priority. For a beginner, best to concentrate on composition and let the camera worry about the exposure/focus settings. Mastering the right auto exposure or auto focus setting for the situation is also a craft to be learned. And with any of these, should you wish to experiment with longer shutter speeds you'll be well positioned.
***** many thanks for your reply. to make things worse i just saw your video on the a5100, ha. so another camera thrown into the mix. aarrrhhh! i will take your advise and have a play with these in person at the store, hopefully that will help sway me one way or another. keep up the informative and fun videos! jim from the UK.
So pleasant review, best one on LX100, so far I watched till today! Did you speak on Panasonic G7 yet? Something detailed like this one on G7 would help a lot.
Dear +Maarten Heilbron, I'm considering to buy an LX100 very soon. I usually shoot photos for hours at a time and lately videos too simultaneously. I had a horrible experience with a bridge camera lately. I'm simply pissed off with its crappy battery. Could you please tell me about the battery life of Lumix LX100 asap? It'd be a huge help. Thanking you in advance.
Nemo Neelkantho Although I'd recommend a second battery for those circumstances, I did find the LX100 battery to be better than average, typically lasting for a day's worth of shooting.
Great review! I've been stuck between purchasing the LX100, a6000/5100 or rx100 iii. It'll be my first "real" camera with the primary objective to photograph my first child that's still in the oven. Would the LX100 be adequate once they're mobile and running a mock or would the AF of the a6000/5100 be more beneficial?
Larry Ranallo I would choose either the LX100 or the RX100 (they're small, light, simple so you never have to think about whether to take it or not) with a slight preference to the LX100 for capability and the RX100 for size.
Hi! Amazing review. I'm stuck between the Lx100 and the Lx10. I think the deciding factor is the low light 4k video performance and the crop. Does the lx100 crop like the lx10 when shooting 4k and is the lx100 good at shooting low light 4k?? Thank you so much
Thanks for your kind words. I don't have a note on the crop, which in general is not a concern I have, although I realize that some want to make a big deal of it. I don't really consider this an issue as 4K video only requires 8Mp, so even if there is a crop it wouldn't affect the quality of the image. Low light performance is about the same, the LX100 has a small edge, but I would not judge it as significant - your choice of lens will make a larger difference. When choosing between two cameras I'd always choose the larger sensor, but I do realize that the megapixel count really throws the balance to the LX10's favour. Then there's the articulating screen ...
Maarten Heilbron Thank you very much. As I'm using the camera for mainly shooting 4K movies, I think the less-noticable crop on the Lx100 (which I found to be 28mm instead of the lx10's 36mm) would still allow me to achieve wide angle shots. I hope you agree with me on this; if not, do say! Your reviews are second to none. I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say you're doing a great job. Again, thank you!
So, my Lx15 is dead... I wasn't pretty happy with that camera (especially with the 36mm crop when shooting in 4K)... You've just sold me an Lx100 this time! Excellent review! You could just add that the Lx100 uses almost the whole sensor when in 4K providing a 26mm focal length in 24p which is more important for me than the touch screen (I hope so..)... Thanks again!
I'm not sure why you need it to use the "whole sensor". By definition 16x9 would never use all of a 3x2 sensor. And wouldn't it make more sense for the manufacturer to choose a limited set of pixels that suit the ratio and that can be mathematically mapped to the 1920x1080 or 3940x2160 needed for video? Forcing a mismatch will end up with bad pixel mapping. As for 24 frames, please watch this: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-z1rdjGLmsd8.html
@@MaartenHeilbron Thanks for replying! I didn't know that when I bought the lx15 here in Greece.. And when I first saw it's crop on 4K I was really disappointed. After all I'm a musician and when I readed 24mm-75mm plus 4K I was mislead. Back then if I also knew that f1.7 on a micro 4/3 sensor is shallower dof than f1.4 on a 1" sensor I would have definitely bought the Lx100.. Thanks again for all your amazing videos! Keep on!
Informative video! I have shot in raw at times, but often when I have little time for post processing, I shoot Jpeg. Under Photo Style in the menu settings, what would the optimal settings be for contrast, sharpness, noise reduction, and saturation for Jpegs? And should I use Vivid, Standard or Natural?
Thanks for the kind words. In my mind the default settings are the optimum, make adjustments only if you have an alternate vision to express. I would use Standard, unless I want the colour to pop more, and Natural if I'm planning to make adjustments (but since I typically make them from RAW and only the JPEGs are affected) it really doesn't matter.
This is the best review of the LX100 that I have found on the internet. There should be a "Pay a coffee to Maarten" and "check out with PayPal" button below the video really :) Many thanks
Thank you so much for this video. I have had my LX100 for several years and hardly used it. It just wasn't intuitive to me although I have had several Panasonic cameras over the years. I tried reading the manual but it wasn't helpful to me. I'd struggle with the LX100, get really frustrated, and then go back to one of the other Panasonics that I understood better time and again. Thanks again. You gave me some hope that maybe I can use the LX100.
a pleasant review, sir! What a dedication to make such a comprehensive review like this. I've been thinking to purchase a compact camera and haven't decide between this LX100, Fuji X30 or Fuji X100 for daily use. Unfortunately i don't have a strong knowledge in photography, but maybe do you have suggestion on what's best for a beginner like me? Thank you!
Ferry Aritonang All three are good choices. Take the one that appeals to your wallet and your sense of style. The most important attribute of a camera is some unquantifiable aspect that means you always want to have it with you. After making sure you have the features you really want, choose with your heart.
Hey Maarten, would you recommend lx100 or Sony rx100 iii if your priorities are user friendliness, stills, beginner/ enthusiast, large hands, and the option to print your photos in a3, give or take....
Very nice and in depth review Maarten! Thanks. And I think you're correct with the "without hesitation" recommendation. I just have a question, I have a micro four thirds camera (OMD EM5). Do you think I'll be better off having this camera instead of buying the panasonic 12-35mm f2.8 lens? Thanks again.
Edwin Canlapan Thanks for the kind words. That's a tough call depending on your needs and intentions ... although I've not reviewed the OMD EM5, I understand it's a very capable device, that I'd hesitate to give up too quickly.
***** sorry for the confusion. What I mean is, do you think I'll be better of with the LX100 (which has a 24-75mm equiv) camera, instead of buying Panasonic's 12-35mm (24-70mm equivalent). Thanks for the feedback by the way.
Edwin Canlapan I'd have to know a lot more about what your photo plans are - there's a lot of difference between buying a lens and buying a camera. If you're happy with the EM5, buy the lens. If you see features in the LX100 you'd like to have, buy the camera. Hope this helps.
hi sir maarten.. im a casual photographer and i'm looking for a good compact camera for travelling.. just want to know your opinion, is this camera still worth buying for this year? thank you so much :)
Maarten Heilbron thanks for the quick response sir :) as an expert in photography, if you were to choose from these 3 what would it be?? lumix lx100, lumix gx85 or sony a6000?? im more into photo than video.. thank you :)
I would likely choose the GX85, it's on my to-do list, but my sister (editor at tribute.ca) recently purchased one and couldn't be happier - and I agree, it's small, easy to use the both images and video are high quality.
Excellent review, I haven't seen you do a bad one yet. I am terribly intrigued by this camera, while the price is a little steep compared to other compacts, there is no doubting you are getting value, a similar body/lens in mft would be a few thousand I think. My main concern, again, aside from price, is the zoom range, I really do like to get in close. Since you've also reviewed the x30, the other camera I'm really looking at, I wonder if what you noticed more, being held back by the range of the Panny or the low light/noise of the Fuji?
Every once in a while I go back and watch these again. It must be frustrating going through the different brands, but I've stuck with Nikon and Panasonic, and there's really not much to remember. The menus are the same on most every model. Maarten does nice reviews though!
Really helpful review, as one wanting something more compact as an alternative to DSLR & all the kit iwas looking at this & the Sony rx100 iii. Decided on the LX. Thanks.
Hi Maarten quick question. I know this is an old video but I had this camera a while ago and only recently have I decided to do some serious video work with it. I seem to have a problem with focusing. I've only tested this out for 5 minutes but if I set it at 1.7 aperture and when I try to focus it hunts quite badly. But once the aperture is set at say around 5.6 then the focus works much faster. I am very new into photography and video but is this how autofocusing usually works with every camera because the depth of field on 1.7 will be extremely shallow. Does this therefore make focusing take a lot longer or is this problem isolated to the LX100 Thank you
Most focus systems work better with smaller apertures and in situations with more light. Distance to the subject may also be an issue - larger apertures may have more problems with closer subjects.
Thank you for your answer. I completely understand now :) May I ask what you believe to be the best aperture setting for the LX100's focusing? I really appreciate your response and your videos are amazing.
Always happy to help, thanks for the kind words. I'd go with F4 - but I don't really have a lot of experience. I returned the camera (on loan from Panasonic) after I produced this video.
Thank you so much Maarten. Your reviews have always been straight to the point and showcases all the features of the camera. You do it in such a natural way and I am a big fan of your work! Keep it up :)
A shortcoming in most reviews is Video capabilities and quality..most film time is spent on photography. Maybe 2 separate videos one photo capabilities one video ? Thank you for the well balanced and trusted opinions given in your reviews
Thanks, I appreciate the kind words and your trust. Here's the thing. When I tried that, only a small percentage watched the video segment. On the other hand, maybe only a small percentage watch the video portion of a longer video.
This is the best review I have seen of the LX100 the comparison with RX100 XXX just bored me and this gave me an insight to what this camera can do. Thank You
Outstanding review. I learned a lot more from your video than I have from all the others combined! Have you tried using the zoom lever to change menu pages? This is a fast way to change pages on the DMC-FZ200 that I own. I wonder if the LX 100 does the same thing since, a you note, Panasonic menus seem pretty much the same.
Allen Myers Those are kind words, thanks! Wow - interesting tip. The LX100 is back in Panasonic's hands, so I can't try it. Thanks for that - I do try to read the manual cover to cover - so I'm sorry I missed that. I do love/hate those kinds of easter egg features.
Great review. I'm sure you've learned this in the 2+ years since posting, if you hit the DISPLAY button in the menu, it skips to the next page, so you don't have to scroll through all the options to get there.
Thanks for your kind words. I'm always puzzled by this question. Once in video mode, one adjusts to compensate for whatever crop is applied. When a manufacturer crops for video it's first to adjust to the video aspect ratio and then to select an area of the sensor with a pixel count that adjusts to video resolution with a minimal amount of pixel binning and line skipping.
Maarten Heilbron Thanks for your reply. I was wondering if the crop is way too much or not. Do you think it does better in low light compared to the 1” LX10 or ZS100?
