Photokina 2014 - Panasonic Lumix LX100, an expert compact with a very large sensor
Panasonic is coming out of its relative lethargy to tackle the market for the compact digital camera expert. Long on the front of the stage with its LX range (LX3, LX5, LX7), the manufacturer seemed to have fallen asleep on its laurels and let its competitors get ahead. With its RX100, Sony has emerged without resistance on the market. A time to be gone with the Lumix LX100. Panasonic is attacking his fellow countryman head-on. The proximity of the names (a single letter separates them), is surely not a coincidence. With the Lumix LX100, Panasonic brings together (with a few details) all the features and features that Sony has achieved in three generations of RX100 (RX100, RX100 II and RX100 III).
LX100: a big sensor
Sony had managed to fit a one-inch sensor into its expert compacts. Panasonic goes even further. The Lumix LX100 hosts a 12.8 megapixel 4/3 format MOS sensor. This is the same type of sensor that equips the hybrid camera range of the manufacturer. All in a volume of 11.48 x 6.62 x 5, 5 cm for a weight of 393 g. Compare to 10.16 x 5.81 x 4.1 cm for 290 g of RX100 III. A slight overweight that is easy to excuse and understand given the size of the sensor and the presence of other features.
LX100: an optical
The Pansonic Lumix LX100 has a 3.1x optical similar to that of its competitor with a focal length covering the range 24-75 mm. A Leica Vario-Summilux optic (against Zeiss) which is also very luminous with openings f / 1.7-2.8 at each end of the lens.
LX100: viewfinder and screen
For control and aiming, the Lumix LX100 features a three-inch diagonal LCD (approximately 7.6 cm) for a 921,000-dot resolution. An electronic viewfinder completes it. Unlike the RX100 III, there is no need to deploy it to be operational. Just put your eye on it. It displays a definition of 2,764,000 points for 100% coverage and a magnification of 1.39x.
LX100: a "direct" ergonomics
The Panasonic Lumix LX100 makes in simplicity and efficiency for its ergonomics. If the back does not present any major surprises with classic clover navigation, the encoder wheel and a set of shortcut buttons. The top of the LX100 casing returns to fundamentals of manual camera use with the presence of two dials: one to access exposure compensation directly and another to select the speed. For convenience, the LX100 stands out from competitors at Sony by adopting a small handle to ensure a firm and comfortable.
LX100: Ultra HD / 4K
Panasonic wants to be at the forefront when it comes to Ultra HD / 4K. The manufacturer proved it with its hybrid GH4 and its expert bridge FZ1000. For its video part, the Lumix LX100 is largely inspired by the FZ1000 and offers to film in Ultra HD / 4K (3840 x 2160 pixels) in 24p and 25p. Who can do the most, can the least and the LX100 offers a full palette of Full HD mode.
The LX100 hosts Wi-Fi and NFC for sharing and managing with / via mobile devices (smartphones and tablets). The LX100 is of course stabilized, it still offers the different aspect ratios 4: 3/3: 2/16: 9/1/1 directly on the lens, it advances a burst mode of 11 frames per second, the distance minimum macro focus is 3 cm at wide angle and 30 cm at telephoto.
With its LX100, Panasonic signs its awakening in the world of compact experts and hits a big blow. Sony has found an interlocutor. The Panasonic LX100 should arrive in October 2014 at around 900 euros. Needless to say, we can not wait to test it.
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