Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX10
The Panasonic Lumix LX10 is a 20MP large-sensor compact with a bright (F1.4-2.8), 24-72mm equivalent zoom lens. Which is to say, it’s a very capable pocket camera. And, being a Panasonic, it has video specs and clever video-based features to back up its stills capabilities.
Panasonic’s LX cameras have always had the enthusiast in mind. Built around larger-than-average sensors with short but bright lenses and as many direct controls as can sensibly be fitted onto a pocketable camera body. They helped reinvigorate the enthusiast compact sector and prompted a series of imitators before the much larger sensor of Sony’s RX100 rendered them irrelevant.
The LX10 is Panasonic’s first direct response to the big-sensored Sonys. The company has already built an excellent series of compacts that address every other niche you can think of: the long zoom stills/video FZ300 and FZ2500, a large sensor TZ220 version of their well respected travel zoom series, and a larger sensor photographer’s cameras. But the LX10 is a head-to-head competitor for Sony’s pocket wonders.
The approach is a little different: unlike the RX100 III and IV, the LX10 doesn’t have a viewfinder. Instead, it offers a touchscreen interface and a screen that can be tilted upwards.
The camera also offers Panasonic’s 4K Photo mode. This offers a series of ways of specifying when the camera should capture a video clip from which stills can then be extracted. It also has Post Focus mode that captures a video clip of the camera racking focus, so you can choose to grab the frame with optimal focus, after the fact.
Lumix LX10 Compared with its peers
The LX10 means there are now three brands building small cameras with 1″-type sensors and short, bright zooms . We believe the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX10 is the best of them.