​Panasonic Lumix LX100 II​ Review

October 3, 2018 | Mark Goldstein | Rating star Rating star Rating star Rating star Half rating star

Introduction

The Panasonic Lumix LX100 II is a premium compact camera which incorporates a new 17 megapixel multi-aspect Micro Four Thirds sensor. The Panasonic LX100 also features 4K video recording at 30/24fps including the ability to extract high-resolution 8MP images from the 4K video, a 24-75mm f/1.7-2.8 Leica lens, high-speed AF in approximately 0.10 seconds, built-in Live View Finder (LVF) with 2760K-dot equivalent high resolution, a 3.0-inch LCD touch screen with 1240k-dot resolution, an ISO range of 100-25600, high speed burst shooting at 11 fps (AFS) / 5.5 fps (AFC), aperture and control rings, a hot-shoe flash, USB charging and integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. The Panasonic Lumix LX100 II is available now in black for £849 / €949 / $999. Note that the LX100 II is an addition to the LX range and will not replace the current LX100 model.

Ease of Use

Four years after the launch of the original LX100 camera comes the Mark II version. This is the first time that Panasonic have ever given a camera the Mark II designation, rather than a completely new model name (LX200, for instance), which indicates that the LX100 II is an evolution of the original model, rather than a major upgrade - and after using it for a few weeks, that's certainly what I found.

Which isn't to say that you should dismiss the LX100 Mark II and quickly look elsewhere, for two reasons. Firstly, the original LX100 was rather ahead of its time in offering a large image sensor paired with a standard zoom lens in a compact form factor, and secondly, it still has little competition today if that's the main feature set that you're looking for.

As the cameras are so similar, it's probably a good idea to read our in-depth review of the Panasonic LX100 first, and then return here to read all about the changes that Panasonic have made to the Mark II version, as that's what we're going to mainly focus on in this review.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T90
Front of the Panasonic Lumix LX100 II

Main rivals of the Panasonic LX100 II that instantly spring to mind are the Sony RX100 series of cameras, especially the RX100 V, the APS-C Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III and the one-inch sensor Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II, and the Fujfiilm XF10 and Ricoh GR III, which both have APS-C sensors but offer a fixed focal length lens rather than a zoom. And that's it.

So, what have Panasonic decided to improve in the 4 years since the LX100 was launched? Well, its mainly two things - the image sensor, and the touchscreen LCD. The sensor is now a new 21.77 megapixel multi-aspect Micro Four Thirds variant, rather than the 16.84 megapixel one offered by the LX100. As on the original model, the LX100 II crops the image to allow for multi-aspect shooting, which results in a highest resolution of 17 megapixels in the 4:3 mode. This compares to the 12 megapixels offered by the LX100 in the same mode, so you effectively get 5 extra megapixels on this latest model.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T90
Front of the Panasonic Lumix LX100 II

In addition to that extra resolution, the Panasonic LX100 II uses exactly the same sensor and processor as the GX9, so in both theory and practice, it offers a very similar level of image quality to that mirrorless camera.

The second major innovation on the LX100II is the mostly welcome addition of a touchscreen LCD. The most immediately noticeable function is the ability to focus on your main subject simply by touching it on the LCD. If the subject then moves, the LX100 II cleverly follows it around the screen using the the AF tracking function. If the subject exits the frame entirely, simply recompose and tap it again to start focusing.

There's also a clever feature called Touchpad AF allows you to move the focus point area with your finger on the LCD while you're looking through the EVF. It is a little too easy to accidentally press the screen with either your finger or nose and set the focus point to the wrong area for the current subject, but a simple tap in the middle of the LCD will center the AF point. The size of the AF point itself can also be changed via an interactive onscreen slider.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T90
Rear of the Panasonic Lumix LX100 II

If you prefer to manually focus rather than use the lightning fast AF system, you can magnify any part of the subject by 1x, 5x or 10x by simply dragging the yellow box around the screen. The final touchscreen ability from an image composition point of view is the ability to release the shutter, with a small icon on the right hand side of the screen enabling this functionality, and then a single on-screen tap all that's required to take the picture.

All of the menu options can be changed via the touchscreen interface, including the Main menu system, and there five extra "soft" function buttons available on the LCD screen in addition to the physical Fn buttons. You can also control image playback by touching the screen, with the ability to tap a thumbnail to see the full-size version, scroll through your images by dragging them from side to side, and magnifying them up to 16x.

The LCD screen also benefits from a bump in resolution from 921K dots on the original to 1240K on the Mark II. We'd have preferred to have seen Panasonic implement a tilting screen on the LX100 II - instead it remains resolutely fixed in place, making it less suitable for vlogging than some of its competitors.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T90
Top of the Panasonic Lumix LX100 II

Physical differences between the LX100 and LX100 II are small. The latter now has five function buttons, rather than three, and an ever so slightly bigger grip. It's fair to say that if you enjoyed using the first version, you'll be instantly at home with the second.

The LX100 II offers the same 4K Photo modes as found on Panasonic's latest mirrorless cameras, including Post Focus, Focus Stacking, Sequence Composition, Light Composition, Auto Marking and Bulk Saving. The first two in particular may be good enough reason to upgrade to the Mark II for some specialized photographers. For black and white shooter, two new Photo Styles have been added, the L.Monochrome and L.Monochrome D modes, bringing the total number of photo modes to nine.

The original LX100 was well ahead of it time by supporting 4K video recording at 30/25/24p, with a 1.2x crop resulting in a 28mm wide-angle field of view. On the LX100 II the crop factor has increased slightly to 1.32x, producing a slightly narrower 32mm focal length at the wide end of the zoom when shooting video. Unfortunately Panasonic haven't added a Microphone Input port to the LX100 II, one of the things that we wished they had included on the first model.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T90
The Panasonic Lumix LX100 II In-hand

The new Bluetooth 4.2 option establishes a low-energy, permanent connection between the camera and a smart device for easier transfer of images. The LX100 II also again offers the same 2.4GHz (IEEE 802.11b/g/n) wi-fi as its predecessor. Establishing a wi-fi connection lets you use your smartphone to change the key camera settings and even fire the shutter button remotely, while the auto transfer function automatically backs up your photos onto a tablet. You can also use GPS data from your smartphone to record the shooting location onto your images.

Both the LX100 and the LX100 II have USB ports, but whereas the one on the original model as used to connect it to a PC, the port of the Mark II camera can be used to charge the battery by connecting it to a computer or portable charger, so you don't need to carry the supplied battery charger if you wish.

And that's about it for the improvements offered by the Panasonic Lumix LX100 II in comparison with the popular LX100. You'd be hard-pressed to tell the difference between them side-by-side, with the touchscreen functionality being the main handling difference. Now let's move on and take a look at the image quality offered by the new image sensor...

Image Quality

All of the sample images in this review were taken using the 17 megapixel Fine JPEG setting, which gives an average image size of around 6Mb.

The Panasonic Lumix LX100 II produced images of excellent quality during the review period. It produces noise-free images at ISO 100 to 3200, with limited noise starting to appear at ISO 6400. ISO 12800 exhibits quite visible noise and loss of fine detail, and the fastest setting of ISO 25600 is even noisier, but still usable for small prints and web use.

The Panasonic Lumix LX100 II dealt extremely well with chromatic aberrations, with limited purple fringing effects appearing only in high contrast situations. The night photograph was excellent, with the maximum shutter speed of 60 seconds allowing you to capture plenty of light.

The built-in anti-shake system works very well when hand-holding the camera in low-light conditions or when using the telephoto end of the zoom range. Macro performance is also very good, allowing you to focus as close as 3cm away from the subject (although it's difficult to get the lighting correct at such a close distance). The images were a little soft straight out of the camera at the default sharpening setting and ideally require further sharpening in an application like Adobe Photoshop, or you can change the in-camera setting if you don't like the default results.

The large number of Creative Controls and Photo Styles allow you to quickly and easily customise the look of the camera's JPEG images, while the clever Panorama mode allows you to take panoramic images very easily by 'sweeping' with the camera, with the ability to apply one of the many different creative filters.

Noise

There are 9 ISO settings available on the Panasonic Lumix LX100 II . Here are some 100% crops which show the noise levels for each ISO setting for both JPEG and RAW file formats:

JPEG RAW

ISO 100 (100% Crop)

ISO 100 (100% Crop)

iso100.jpg iso100raw.jpg

ISO 200 (100% Crop)

ISO 200 (100% Crop)

iso200.jpg iso200raw.jpg

ISO 400 (100% Crop)

ISO 400 (100% Crop)

iso400.jpg iso400raw.jpg

ISO 800 (100% Crop)

ISO 800 (100% Crop)

iso800.jpg iso800raw.jpg

ISO 1600 (100% Crop)

ISO 1600 (100% Crop)

iso1600.jpg iso1600raw.jpg

ISO 3200 (100% Crop)

ISO 3200 (100% Crop)

iso3200.jpg iso3200raw.jpg

ISO 6400 (100% Crop)

ISO 6400 (100% Crop)

iso6400.jpg iso6400raw.jpg

ISO 12800 (100% Crop)

ISO 12800 (100% Crop)
iso12800.jpg iso12800raw.jpg

ISO 25600 (100% Crop)

ISO 25600 (100% Crop)
iso25600.jpg iso25600raw.jpg

Focal Range

The Panasonic Lumix LX100 II 's 3.1x zoom lens offers a fairly versatile focal range, as illustrated by these examples.

24mm

focal_range1.jpg

75mm

focal_range2.jpg

Sharpening

Here are two 100% crops which have been Saved as Web - Quality 50 in Photoshop. The right-hand image has had some sharpening applied in Photoshop. The out-of-the camera images are a little soft at the default sharpening setting. You can change the in-camera sharpening level if you don't like the default look.

Original (100% Crop)

Sharpened (100% Crop)

sharpen1.jpg sharpen1a.jpg
sharpen2.jpg sharpen2a.jpg

File Quality

The Panasonic Lumix LX100 II has 2 different JPEG image quality settings available, with Fine being the highest quality option. Here are some 100% crops which show the quality of the various options, with the file size shown in brackets.

Fine (7.71Mb) (100% Crop)

Standard (3.52Mb) (100% Crop)

quality_fine.jpg quality_standard.jpg

RAW (19.4Mb) (100% Crop)

quality_raw.jpg

Chromatic Aberrations

The Panasonic Lumix LX100 II handled chromatic aberrations excellently during the review. There's very slight purple fringing between areas of high contrast, but it's only noticeable on really close inspection, as shown in the examples below.

Chromatic Aberrations 1 (100% Crop)

Chromatic Aberrations 2 (100% Crop)

chromatic1.jpg chromatic2.jpg

Macro

The Panasonic Lumix LX100 II offers a macro setting that allows you to focus on a subject that is 3cm away from the camera when the lens is set to 24mm wide-angle. The first image shows how close you can get to the subject.

Macro

macro1.jpg

Night

The Panasonic Lumix LX100 II 's maximum shutter speed is 60 seconds, which is great news if you're seriously interested in night photography. The shot below was taken using a shutter speed of 30 seconds at ISO 200.

Night

night.jpg

Aspect Ratios

The Panasonic Lumix LX100 II offers four different aspect ratios.

4:3

aspect_ratio_1.jpg

1:1

aspect_ratio_2.jpg

16:9

aspect_ratio_3.jpg

3:2

aspect_ratio_3.jpg

Photo Styles

The Panasonic Lumix LX100 II has 8 preset Photo Styles, with Standard as the default setting. The contrast, sharpness, saturation and noise reduction can be individually set for each picture style, and there is also a Custom style so that you can create your own look.

Standard

photo_style_01.jpg

Vivid

photo_style_02.jpg

Natural

photo_style_03.jpg

Monochrome

photo_style_04.jpg
L.Monochrome
photo_style_05.jpg
L.Monochrome D
photo_style_06.jpg

Scenery

photo_style_07.jpg

Portrait

photo_style_08.jpg

Filters

The Panasonic Lumix LX100 II has an extensive range of creative Filters with 22 different options on offer.

Expressive

Retro

filter_01.jpg filter_02.jpg

Old Days

High Key

filter_03.jpg filter_04.jpg

Low Key

Sepia

filter_05.jpg filter_06.jpg

Monochrome

Dynamic Monochrome

filter_07.jpg filter_08.jpg

Rough Monochrome

Silky Monochrome

filter_09.jpg filter_10.jpg

Impressive Art

High Dynamic

filter_11.jpg filter_12.jpg

Cross Process

Toy Effect

filter_13.jpg filter_14.jpg

Toy Pop

Bleach Bypass

filter_15.jpg filter_16.jpg

Miniature Effect

Soft Focus

filter_17.jpg filter_18.jpg

Fantasy

Star Filter

filter_19.jpg filter_20.jpg

One Point Color

Sunshine

filter_21.jpg filter_22.jpg

Sample Images

This is a selection of sample images from the ​Panasonic Lumix LX100 II​ camera, which were all taken using the 17 megapixel Fine JPEG setting. The thumbnails below link to the full-sized versions, which have not been altered in any way.

Sample RAW Images

The Panasonic Lumix LX100 II enables users to capture RAW and JPEG format files. We've provided some Panasonic RAW (RW2) samples for you to download (thumbnail images shown below are not 100% representative).

Sample Movies & Video

This is a sample movie at the highest quality setting of 3840x2180 pixels at 30 frames per second. Please note that this 15 second movie is 174Mb in size.

This is a sample movie at the highest quality setting of 3840x2180 pixels at 30 frames per second. Please note that this 19 second movie is 218Mb in size.

This is a sample movie at the highest quality setting of 3840x2180 pixels at 30 frames per second. Please note that this 16 second movie is 187Mb in size.

Product Images

Panasonic Lumix LX100 II

Panasonic Lumix LX100 II

Panasonic Lumix LX100 II

Panasonic Lumix LX100 II

Panasonic Lumix LX100 II

Panasonic Lumix LX100 II

Panasonic Lumix LX100 II

Panasonic Lumix LX100 II

Panasonic Lumix LX100 II

Panasonic Lumix LX100 II

Panasonic Lumix LX100 II

Panasonic Lumix LX100 II

Panasonic Lumix LX100 II

Panasonic Lumix LX100 II

Panasonic Lumix LX100 II

Panasonic Lumix LX100 II

Panasonic Lumix LX100 II

Panasonic Lumix LX100 II

Panasonic Lumix LX100 II

Panasonic Lumix LX100 II

Panasonic Lumix LX100 II

Panasonic Lumix LX100 II

Panasonic Lumix LX100 II

Panasonic Lumix LX100 II

Panasonic Lumix LX100 II

Panasonic Lumix LX100 II

Panasonic Lumix LX100 II

Panasonic Lumix LX100 II

Panasonic Lumix LX100 II

Panasonic Lumix LX100 II

Panasonic Lumix LX100 II

Panasonic Lumix LX100 II

Conclusion

The seventh generation of the LX-series is very much evolutionary, rather than revolutionary, hence the addition of the Mark II moniker, rather than a completely new model name. If you're already a Panasonic Lumix LX100 user, then you'll find little here to tempt you to upgrade. For new would-be owners, though, the Panasonic Lumix LX100 II remains an excellent pocket camera for enthusiasts that has few real rivals.

A relatively large Four Thirds sensor, excellent 4K video, a fantastic Leica-branded lens, touchscreen LCD and a viewfinder are just some of the mouth-watering features on offer in the new LX100 II. The fact that most of them were also present in the 4-year-old LX100 camera leaves a lightly bitter taste in the mouth, but shouldn't be reason enough to put you off what is an undeniably excellent pocket camera.

That said, a combination of the launch price of LX100 II being pitched higher than the original model, and that latter model now being around the £600/$600 mark, we'd probably recommended tracking down an LX100 in the first instance, unless you really want the higher resolution or touchscreen functioanlity offered by the 2018 variant. In either case, you'll be getting a fantastic camera that's capable of capturing both stunning stills and video.

4.5 stars

Ratings (out of 5)
Design 5
Features 4.5
Ease-of-use 4.5
Image quality 5
Value for money 4

Main Rivals

Listed below are some of the rivals of the ​Panasonic Lumix LX100 II​.

Fujifilm XF10

The Fujifilm XF10 is a brand new premium compact camera with a large 24 megapixel APS-C sensor, fast 28mm f/2.8 lens, touchscreen LCD, built-in wi-fi and bluetooth connectivity, and 4K movie recording, weighing in at a mere 280g. Read our in-depth Fujifilm XF10 review now, complete with full-size sample JPEG and raw images, videos and more...

Nikon Coolpix A

The Nikon Coolpix A is a new pocket camera for professionals. The Nikon A features the same 16 megapixel APS-C sensor as the D7000 DSLR, a 28mm f/2.8 lens, full manual controls, 1080p HD video recording, a high-resolution 3-inch LCD screen and 4fps burst shooting. Read our in-depth Nikon Coolpix A review to find out if this justifies the £999.99 / $1099.95 price-tag...

Ricoh GR II

The new Ricoh GR II is a discreet compact camera with a fixed focal length 28mm wide-angle lens, 16 megapixel APS-C sensor, high-res 3 inch LCD screen, flash hotshoe and pop-up flash, built-in wifi/NFC connectivity, a wealth of customisable controls and a fast auto-focus system. Read our in-depth Ricoh GR II review complete with full-size image samples (JPEG and Raw) to find out if it can improve on its popular predecessor...

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV is the latest version of Sony's flagship pocket camera for enthusiasts, now offering 4K video recording, a new image sensor and an electronic shutter. Is this the ultimate compact camera? Read our Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV review to find out...

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V offers the World’s fastest auto-focusing speed, the World's most AF points, and the World's fastest continuous shooting speed, for a humble compact camera. Is this enough to justify the $1000 / £1000 price-tag? Find out by reading our expert Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V review, complete with sample photos, test shots, videos and more...

Sony RX100 VI

The new Sony RX100 VI is the most technologically capable compact camera on the market, but is it the right travel-zoom camera for you? Find out by reading our detailed Sony RX100 VI review...

Review Roundup

Reviews of the ​Panasonic Lumix LX100 II​ from around the web.

techradar.com »

Panasonic hit something of a sweet spot with the first version of this camera, and although it's complex and fiddly in some areas the Lumix LX100 II has lost none of the original's appeal. A brilliant compact for the enthusiast photographer.
Read the full review »

Specifications

Metrics Dimensions (W x H x D) 115.0 x 66.2 x 64.2 mm (4.53 x 2.61 x 2.53 inch)
Weight Approx. 392 g with Battery and SD Memory Card (0.86 lb)/Approx. 350 g without Battery and SD Memory Card (0.77 lb)
Pixels Camera Effective Pixels 17 Megapixels
Sensor Sensor Size / Total Pixels / Filter 4/3-type High Sensitivity MOS Sensor / 21.77 Total Megapixels / Primary Color Filter
Lens Aperture F1.7 - 2.8 / 9 Diaphragm Blades (F1.7 - 16.0 (W), F2.8 - 16.0 (T))
Optical Zoom 3.1x
Focal Length f = 10.9 - 34mm/(24 - 75mm in 35mm equiv. in 4:3, 3:2, 16:9)/(28 - 88mm in 35mm equiv. in 1:1)/(32 - 100mm in 35mm equiv. in 4:3 in 4K PHOTO)/(31 - 97mm in 35mm equiv. in 3:2 in 4K PHOTO)/(30 - 94mm in 35mm equiv. in 16:9 in 4K PHOTO / 4K video recording)/(34 - 106mm in 35mm equiv. in 1:1 in 4K PHOTO)
Extra Optical Zoom (EZ) 4.3x (4:3 / 8.5M (M)), 6.2x (4:3 / 4M (S))
Intelligent Zoom 6.2x
Lens LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMILUX/11 elements in 8 groups/(5 aspherical lenses / 8 aspherical surfaces / 2 dual-sided aspherical surface ED lenses)
Optical Image Stabilizer POWER O.I.S.
Digital Zoom Max. 4x (When Digital Zoom is used simultaneously with Intelligent Zoom, you can only increase the zoom ratio up to 2x.)
Focus Focusing Area Normal: Wide 50 cm - infinity/AF Macro / MF / Intelligent Auto / Motion Picture: Wide 3 cm - infinity / Tele 30 cm - infinity
AF Assist Lamp Yes (On / Off)
Focus AF* / AF Macro* / MF *Each available with AFS (Single) / AFF (Flexible) / AFC (Continuous)/Quick AF, Continuous AF (during motion picture recording), Touch AF/AE Function, Touch Shutter, Eye Sensor AF,/Touch Pad AF, MF Assist, Touch MF Assist, AF+MF, Focus Peaking, One Shot AF (Set the Fn button in custom menu to AF-ON), Low Light AF, Starlight AF
Post Focus Yes
Focus Stacking Yes
AF Metering Face/Eye Detection / Tracking / 49-area / Custom Multi / 1-area / Pinpoint/(Full area touch is available)
Shutter Shutter Speed [Still Image] Approx. 60 - 1/4,000 sec (Mechanical Shutter)/Approx. 1 - 1/16,000 sec (Electronic Shutter)/Time (Approx. 30 min)
Shutter Speed [Motion Picture] Approx. 1/25 - 1/16,000 sec/Approx. 1/2 - 1/16,000 sec (Video M Mode / MF Mode)
File File Format Still Image: JPEG (DCF/Exif2.31) / RAW/4K PHOTO: MP4/Motion Picture: AVCHD Progressive, AVCHD (Audio format: Dolby Audio 2ch), MP4 (Audio format: AAC 2ch)
Recording Modes Filter Expressive / Retro / Old Days / High Key / Low Key / Sepia / Monochrome / Dynamic Monochrome / Rough Monochrome* / Silky Monochrome* / Impressive Art / High Dynamic / Cross Process / Toy Effect / Toy Pop / Bleach Bypass / Miniature Effect / Soft Focus* / Fantasy / Star Filter* / One Point Color / Sunshine* (22 filters) *For photos only.
Recording Mode Intelligent Auto (by iA Button)/P, A, S, M (by Aperture Ring and Shutter Speed Dial)
Burst Shooting Mode (Approx.) [AFS] H: 11 frames/sec, M: 7 frames/sec (with Live View), L: 2 frames/sec (with Live View)/[AFF/AFC] H: 5.5 frames/sec, M: 5.5 frames/sec (with Live View), L: 2 frames/sec (with Live View)
4K Photo Mode (*2) 4K Burst: 30 frames/sec, max. 15 min/4K Burst (S/S): 30 frames/sec, max. 15 min/4K Pre-Burst: 30 frames/sec, approx. 2 sec/Exif Information: Yes (Each JPEG image cropped out of the 4K burst file complies with EXIF.)/Auto Marking Function: Auto / Face Priority / Motion Priority (in 4K Burst mode and 4K Burst (S/S) mode)
Motion Picture Recording (*2) MP4 [4K] 3840x2160 4K/30p: 100Mbps/[4K] 3840x2160 4K/25p: 100Mbps/[4K] 3840x2160 4K/24p: 100Mbps/[Full HD] 1920x1080 FHD/60p: 28Mbps/[Full HD] 1920x1080 FHD/50p: 28Mbps/[Full HD] 1920x1080 FHD/30p: 20Mbps/[Full HD] 1920x1080 FHD/25p: 20Mbps/[HD] 1280x720 HD/30p: 10Mbps/[HD] 1280x720 HD/25p: 10Mbps
AVCHD [Full HD] 1920x1080 FHD/50p: 28Mbps, 50p recording/[Full HD] 1920x1080 FHD/50i: 17Mbps, 50i recording/[Full HD] 1920x1080 FHD/25p: 24Mbps, 50i recording (sensor output is 25fps)/[Full HD] 1920x1080 FHD/24p: 24Mbps, 24p recording
Continuous Recordable Time (Motion Pictures) (*2) AVCHD FHD/50p: Approx. 90 min (rear monitor), 80 min (LVF)
AVCHD FHD/50i: Approx. 90 min (rear monitor), 80 min (LVF)
MP4 4K/30p, 4K/25p: Approx. 70 min/FHD/60p, FHD/50p: Approx. 80 min
Actual recordable Time (Motion Pictures) (*2) AVCHD FHD/50p: Approx. 45 min (rear monitor), 40 min (LVF)
AVCHD FHD/50i: Approx. 45 min (rear monitor), 40 min (LVF)
MP4 4K/30p, 4K/25p: Approx. 35 min/FHD/60p, FHD/50p: Approx. 40 min
Exposure Parameters Exposure Program AE, Aperture Priority AE, Shutter Priority AE, Manual
Exposure Compensation 1/3 EV step, +/-5 EV (when set with the control ring / touch menu) (+/-3 EV for motion picture / 4K PHOTO), +/-3 EV (when set with the dial)
Light Metering Intelligent Multiple / Center Weighted / Spot
ISO Sensitivity Still Image: Auto / i.ISO / 100* / 200 / 400 / 800 / 1600 / 3200 / 6400 / 12800 / 25600 *Extended ISO/Motion Picture: Auto / 100* / 200 / 400 / 800 / 1600 / 3200 / 6400 *Extended ISO/(Changeable to 1/3 EV step)
Picture Quality Still Picture Recording 4:3 4736x3552 (17M) (L) / 3360x2520 (8.5M) (M) / 2368x1776 (4M) (S)/3:2 4928x3288 (16M) (L) / 3504x2336 (8M) (M) / 2496x1664 (4M) (S)/16:9 5152x2904 (15M) (L) / 3840x2160 (8M) (M) / 1920x1080 (2M) (S)/1:1 3552x3552 (12.5M) (L) / 2528x2528 (6.5M) (M) / 1776x1776 (3M) (S)
Image Quality RAW / RAW+Fine / RAW+Standard / Fine / Standard
White Balance AWB / AWBc / Daylight / Cloudy / Shade / Incandescent / Flash / White Set 1, 2, 3, 4 / Color Temperature Setting/(2-axis adjustable)
Photo Style Standard, Vivid, Natural, Monochrome, L. Monochrome, L. Monochrome D, Scenery, Portrait, Custom
Picture Adjustment Contrast, Sharpness, Noise Reduction, Saturation*, Color Tone**, Filter Effect**, Grain Effect**/*Except for Monochrome mode. **For Monochrome mode only.
Bracket Aspect Bracket Yes
AE Bracket 3, 5, 7 images in 1/3, 2/3 or 1 EV step, Max. +/-3 EV
Aperture Bracket 3, 5 or all positions in 1 EV step
Focus Bracket 1 to 999 images, focus steps can be set in 10 levels
White Balance Bracket 3 images in blue/amber axis or in magenta/green axis
Other Digital Red Eye Correction (Red-Eye Removal) Yes (On / Off)
Wi-FI IEEE 802.11b/g/n/2412 MHz - 2462 MHz (1-11 ch)/WPA / WPA2/Infrastructure Mode / WPS
Bluetooth Bluetooth® v4.2 (Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE))
Self Timer 2 sec / 10 sec / 10 sec (3 images)
Display Playback Mode All, Picture Only, Video Only, Slideshow (All / Picture Only / Video Only, duration & effect is selectable), Calendar
Thumbnails / Zoomed Playback 12,30-thumbnails / Yes
Rating / Rotate Image / Protect Yes / Yes / Yes
Show Histogram/ Show Highlights Yes / Yes
Edit Retouch Clear Retouch
Image Composition Light Composition, Sequence Composition
Creating a Motion Picture from Still Pictures Time Lapse Video, Stop Motion Video
RAW Processing Yes
Resize/ Cropping Yes / Yes
Title Edit / Text Stamp Yes / Yes
Video Divide Yes
Direct Print PictBridge compatible
Setup OSD language Japanese, English, German, French, Italian, Spanish
Finder Viewfinder 0.38" LVF (Live View Finder) (2,760k dots equiv.), Field of View: Approx. 100%/Magnification: Approx. 0.7x (35 mm camera equivalent)
Monitor LCD Monitor 3.0" (7.5cm) TFT Screen LCD Display (1240k dots)/Static Touch Control/Field of View: Approx. 100%, AF Coating
Flash Flash (Bundled) GN7 ISO100・m / GN10 ISO200・m/Auto*, Auto/Red-eye Reduction*, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync., Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off *For iA, iA+ mode only./Flash Synchro: 1st / 2nd Slow Sync./Synchronization for flash dimming and exposure compensation/0.6 - 14.1m (Wide / ISO Auto), 0.3 - 8.5m (Tele / ISO Auto)
Media Recording Media SD Memory Card, SDHC Memory Card, SDXC Memory Card/(Compatible with UHS-I UHS Speed Class 3 standard SDHC / SDXC Memory Cards)
Built- in- Memory -
Audio Microphone / Speaker Stereo / Mono
Interface Interface microHDMI typeD (*3), USB2.0 Micro-B
Power Power Li-ion Battery Pack (7.2V, 1025mAh, 7.4 Wh) (Included)/USB power charging
Battery life (Approx.) Approx. 340 images (rear monitor), 270 images (LVF), 320 images (LVF eco30fps setting) (when not using flash) Approx. 300 images (rear monitor), 240 images (LVF), 280 images (LVF eco30fps setting) (when using flash, CIPA Standard) (*1)
Standard Package Included Software ・ The software to edit and playback images on computer is not bundled with this camera. To do this, PHOTOfunSTUDIO is available for download at Panasonic website using computer connected to the Internet./http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/soft/download/d_pfs10ae.html (For Windows)/・ The software to process RAW file on computer is not bundled with this camera. To do this, SILKYPIX Developer Studio is available for download at Ichikawa Soft Laboratory's website using computer connected to the Internet./http://www.isl.co.jp/SILKYPIX/english/p/ (For Windows / Mac)
Standard Accessories Battery Pack, AC Adaptor, USB Cable, Lens Cap, Lens Cap String, Hot Shoe Cover, External Flash, Flash Storage Bag, Shoulder Strap/・ Operating Instructions for advanced features is available for downloaded at Panasonic LUMIX Customer Support Site using PC, smartphone or tablet connected to the Internet.
NOTE *1 Recording conditions by CIPA standard
NOTE - Temperature: 23 oC (73.4 oF) / Humidity: 50%RH when monitor is on.
NOTE - Using a Panasonic SDHC Memory Card
NOTE - Using the supplied battery.
NOTE - Starting recording 30 seconds after the camera is turned on. (When the optical image stabilizer function is set to [ON].)
NOTE - Recording once every 30 seconds with full flash every second recording.
NOTE - Rotating the zoom lever from Tele to Wide or vice versa in every recording.
NOTE - The number of recordable pictures varies depending on the recording interval time.
NOTE - If the recording interval time becomes longer, the number of recordable pictures decreases.
NOTE - CIPA is an abbreviation of [Camera & Imaging Products Association].
NOTE *2 - Use a card with SD Speed Class with ""Class 4"" or higher when recording motion pictures.
NOTE - Use a card with SD Speed Class with ""UHS-I Speed Class 3 (U3)"" when recording motion pictures with [MP4] in [4K] or [4K PHOTO].
NOTE (SD speed class is the speed standard regarding continuous writing.)
NOTE - Recording stops when the continuous recording time exceeds 29 minutes and 59 seconds with [AVCHD].
NOTE - Recording stops when the continuous recording time exceeds 15 minutes with [MP4] in [4K].
NOTE - When using an SDHC memory card: You can continue recording without interruption even if the file size exceeds 4 GB,
NOTE but the motion picture file will be divided and recorded/played back separately.
NOTE - When using an SDXC memory card: You can record a motion picture in a single file.
NOTE - Recording stops when the continuous recording time exceeds 29 minutes and 59 seconds with [MP4] in [FHD] and [HD].
NOTE You can continue recording without interruption even if the file size exceeds 4 GB,
NOTE but the motion picture file will be divided and recorded/played back separately.
NOTE - These are standard times taken at a temperature of 23 oC (73.4 oF) and a humidity of 50%RH.
NOTE - The time available for recording varies depending on the environment, the interval between recordings, and the manner of use.
NOTE - Actual recordable time is the time available for recording when repeating actions such as switching the power supply [ON] / [OFF], starting/stopping recording, zoom operation etc.
NOTE *3 For [4K] video output, use an HDMI cable that has the HDMI logo on it, and that is described as"4K compatible".

News

The Panasonic Lumix LX100 II i a new premium compact camera with a 17 megapixel multi-aspect Four Thirds sensor, 24-75mm f/1.7-f/2.8 high-speed lens and a touch-sensitive screen.

The LX100 II will be available from 1st October priced at £849/€949. The LX100 II is an addition to the LX range and will not replace the current LX100.

Panasonic UK Press Release

The new LUMIX LX100 II camera: your perfect companion

· Large high-sensitivity 17 megapixel multi-aspect-sensor (when 4:3)

· Leica DC Vario-Summilux Lens with f/1.7 fast aperture for gorgeous bokeh

· New touch-sensitive screen for more flexibility and creativity

22nd August 2018 - Panasonic is proud to announce the Lumix LX100 II. Now in its seventh generation, the acclaimed LX series is the ideal companion for street photographers, being small and light while still featuring many high-end technical specifications.

Along with a new 17 megapixel multi-aspect Four Thirds sensor, the LX100 II houses a Leica DC VARIO-SUMMILUX f/1.7-f/2.8 high-speed lens offering a 35mm equivalent of 24-75mm for superb versatility. 

An LVF (Live View Finder) joins a new 3.0-inch touch-sensitive screen, giving you the flexibility to compose your images however you want to. Other fantastic features include 4K Video and 4K Photo, the introduction of new Monochrome Photo Styles, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, plus USB charging for power boosts on the move.

LX100 II will be available from 1st October and RRP £849/€949. The LX100 II is an addition to the LX range and will not replace the current LX100. 

#LX100 #LX100II #lumix #panasonic 

Lumix LX100 II Key Features 

Micro Four Thirds Large High Sensitivity MOS Sensor and Venus Engine

The Lumix LX100 II integrates a total 21.77-megapixel sensor achieving effective 17.0 megapixel in 4:3 aspect. A boost in resolution when compared to the original LX100 camera, the extra pixels ensure high resolution no matter which one you choose to shoot in - pick from 4:3, 3:2, 1:1 and 16:9. 

Approximately 1.6x larger than a one-inch type sensor, the new sensor boasts excellent signal to noise ratio, resulting in a dramatic reduction in noise when shooting at the maximum ISO setting of 25,600. 

Meanwhile, the latest Venus Engine renders vibrant, true-to-life high quality images with excellent resolution, high contrast and impressive colour reproduction.

*2 Multi-aspect count

24-75mm f/1.7-2.8 (equivalent) lens: LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMILUX Lens and 3cm Macro Shot

Providing a 3.1x optical zoom, the 24-75mm equivalent lens is close to the classic 24-70mm focal length.

Giving you the flexibility to shoot a diverse range of subjects, from landscapes to portraits, the lens also benefits from a wide f/1.7-f/2.8 aperture for beautiful bokeh and fantastic low-light shooting. 

Equipped with Power O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabiliser), and comprising 11 elements in 8 groups, including 2 ED lenses and 5 aspherical lenses with 8 aspherical surfaces, you can be sure that your shots will be sharp and superbly defined.

Macro shots can be captured beautifully thanks to a minimum focusing distance of 3cm (wide) and 30cm (tele).

Intuitive controls, easy composition and high-speed response

Along with a high-resolution (2764k-dot) Live View Finder, offering a 100% field of view and excellent magnification (0.7x, 35mm equivalent), significant improvements have been made to the rear LCD screen. 

For example, resolution has been boosted to 1240k-dots, while touch-functionality has been added for improved ease-of-use. No matter your composition preference, the LX100 II has you covered.

Direct, intuitive control is promised thanks to dedicated rings and dials including an aperture ring, control ring, shutter speed dial or exposure compensation dial.

LUMIX LX100 II achieves high speed AF of approximately 0.10 sec* and high speed burst shooting at 11 fps (AFS) / 5.5 fps (AFC) to capture fast moving subjects just in-focus. The LUMIX LX100 II integrates Starlight AF which allows users to shoot a star in the sky at night with auto focus. This can be achieved by accurate calculation of contrast value in a smaller AF zone.

* Based on the CIPA standard. At wide-end, when using Live View Finder at 60 fps.

Ultra high-definition 4K video and 4K Photo for unmissable moments

Panasonic’s advanced 4K Photo function takes advantage of 4K video recording to allow you to shoot at up to 30fps*1 and extract the perfect moment as 8-megapixel stills directly in the camera. New additions include an Auto Marking function, which enables quicker jumping to the most appropriate frame; and Sequence Composition, the merging of various frames to create a special effect. 

Post Focus and Focus Stacking functions have also been added, plus Light Composition mode can be used to create dramatic firework or night scenery shots with ease.

*1 About 4K motion picture recording / 4K Photo recording

- Use a card with SD Speed Class with "UHS-I UHS Speed Class 3 (U3)" when recording motion pictures with [MP4] in [4K] or [4K PHOTO] (SD speed class is the speed standard regarding continuous writing.)

- Recording stops when the continuous recording time exceeds 15 minutes with [MP4] in [4K].

  - When using an SDHC memory card: You can continue recording without interruption even if the file size exceeds 4 GB, but the motion picture file will be divided and recorded/played back separately.

  - When using an SDXC memory card: You can record a motion picture in a single file.

- When the ambient temperature is high or continuous recording is performed, the camera may stop the recording to protect itself. Wait until the camera cools down.

*2 For [4K] video output, use an HDMI cable that has the HDMI logo on it, and that is described as"4K compatible”.

Creative possibilities increased, new L.Monochrome D mode and grain effect added

L.Monochrome D has been added to the monochrome Picture Styles options, which creates dynamic black and white images with emphasized highlights and shadows, all while preserving details. Choose from different grain strengths to add a filmic quality to your monochrome images.

Other features include: 

- Bluetooth 4.2* and Wi-Fi 2.4GHz (IEEE802.11b/g/n/)*

The Lumix LX100 II integrates both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity for quick and easy image sharing. Bluetooth Low Energy compatibility means a constant connection can be maintained with minimum power consumption.

- AC/USB Power Charging 

Charge the LX100 II’s battery either via AC or USB, making it ideal for a quick power boost while travelling. 

* •The Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ Logo is a certification mark of Wi-Fi Alliance®.

•The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Panasonic Corporation is under license. Other trademarks and trade names are those of their respective owners.

About Panasonic

Panasonic Corporation is a worldwide leader in the development of diverse electronics technologies and solutions for customers in the consumer electronics, housing, automotive, and B2B businesses. Celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2018, the company has expanded globally and now operates 591 subsidiaries and 88 associated companies worldwide, recording consolidated net sales of Euro 61.4 billion for the year ended March 31, 2018. Committed to pursuing new value through innovation across divisional lines, the company uses its technologies to create a better life and a better world for its customers. To learn more about Panasonic: http://www.panasonic.com/global. 

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First Impressions

Photography Blog attended the London, UK launch of the new Panasonic Lumix LX100 II to find out just what this new premium compact camera is capable of...

Introduction

Panasonic has announced the LX100 Mark II – following on from the LX100, which was debuted all the way back in 2014. Now in its seventh generation, this latest premium LX compact camera is aimed at travel and street photographers looking for something small and light.

It uses a Four Thirds sensor – the same size as the sensors you’ll find in Panasonic’s compact system cameras. As with the previous generation, the sensor is accompanied by a Leica DC VARIO –SUMMILUX f/1.7-f/2.8 3x optical zoom lens.

New features include a touch-sensitive screen, more 4K Photo features, USB power charging and new creative options.

When the Lumix LX100 launches in October, the price will be £849.  Anybody who pre-orders the camera can take claim a free battery pack for charging on the go.

Ease of Use

Panasonic Lumix LX100 II

In terms of size and design, the LX100 Mark II is very similar to its predecessor. It’s small and light, but it’s not quite compact enough to fit into a trouser pocket – you should have better luck with a jacket pocket or small bag.

That said, for travelling photographers keen to keep their kit bag to a minimum, it’s a great compromise between size and high-quality thanks to the large sensor. A new chunkier grip makes the LX100 Mark II feel comfortable in the hand, with a protruding thumb grip on the back helping that even further.

These days, a 3x optical zoom lens may not sound like its all that flexible, but consider that at 24-75mm equivalent, it’s very similar to the classic 24-70mm focal length used with DSLR cameras.

Panasonic Lumix LX100 II

Designed to appeal to enthusiasts who want camera controls at their fingertips, the LX100 Mark II uses a classic control layout. On the camera’s top plate there’s a shutter speed dial and an exposure compensation dial, while aperture is controlled via a ring around the lens. A switch around the base of the lens can also be used to quickly switch between the multi aspect-ratios the camera sensor offers (16:9, 4:3, 3:2, 1:1).

Another lens ring sits behind the aperture ring. This can be customised to change various different settings depending on your preference from the main menu. An Fn1 button on the top plate can also be customised, while there are a further four custom buttons on the back of the camera.

The back of the camera sees a pretty standard button layout, with a four-way navigational control which doubles up as a scrolling dial. New for the LX100 Mark II is the addition of a touch-sensitive screen, which you can use to move the focus point around the screen, make changes to various menu items and flip through your images in playback.

Panasonic Lumix LX100 II

As this camera is aimed at street photographers, it would have made sense for the screen to be tilting – but perhaps it would have made the overall camera too bulky – it’s a bit of a shame though for ultimate discreetness.

The electronic viewfinder has an eye-sensor which automatically switches it on (and the screen off) for a seamless transition between using either option to compose your images. The viewfinder displays a bright and clear view of the scene and comes in extremely handy when shooting in bright light.

Another new feature for the LX100 Mark II is the ability to charge the camera via USB. This makes a lot of sense for a camera which is aimed at travelling photographers – being able to quickly charge using a battery pack while on the go is extremely useful.

Image Quality

Panasonic Lumix LX100 II

So far we’ve only had chance to shoot with a pre-production model of the Panasonic LX100 II. All sample images should be viewed with that in mind – final image quality may be slightly different.

That said, early indications are very positive. Colours are nicely rendered and saturated, while the overall impression of detail is excellent. I’ll be keen to put the LX100 II through some low-light testing as so far I’ve only been able to use it in brightly lit conditions

Early Verdict

Panasonic Lumix LX100 II

The LX100 was an extremely well-liked camera, being a fantastic option for travelling photographers. These days, there’s arguably even more options for this kind of photographer, so whether the LX100 Mark II can stand out in this crowded market remains to be seen.

It still represents a great compromise between high image quality thanks to the large sensor and portability, something which very few – if any – other cameras offer to quite this extent.

Panasonic has taken four years to update this model, and while there are some notable improvements, it’s probably more of a refinement or incremental upgrade than complete overhaul. The only major disappointment is the decision not to include a tilting screen – but it’s understandable wanting to keep the size of the camera to a minimum.

Making it more of an incremental upgrade is not necessarily a bad thing – after all, if the concept and execution were popular, altering the formula wouldn’t make much sense. It’ll be interesting to see exactly how well the final sample of the LX100 Mark II fares – watch this space.

Hands On

Want to see exactly what the new Panasonic Lumix LX100 II premium compact camera looks like in the flesh?

Check out our extensive hands-on gallery of photos of the Panasonic Lumix LX100 II premium compact camera.

A gallery of hands-on photos of the Panasonic Lumix LX100 II premium compact camera.

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Preview Images

Ahead of our full review, here are sample images and a movie taken with a pre-production version of the new Panasonic Lumix LX100 II premium compact camera.

A gallery of sample images taken with the Panasonic Lumix LX100 II premium compact camera.

Panasonic Lumix LX100 II Sample Images

Sample Movie & Video

This is a sample movie at the highest quality setting of 3840x2180 pixels at 30 frames per second. Please note that this 16 second movie is 187Mb in size.

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