FIRST IMPRESSION
The workmanship is very good and with the handle (the technically otherwise identical but more expensive Leica D-Lux 109-sister does not have), the camera also sized well in hand. Copied from the retro style of the Fujifilm X-Series you have the wheels for Aperture, time and exposure, what I would rather have than the otherwise common P / S / A / M modes, since so the camera can operate faster without the process on any displays to check. The camera is quite fast when switching on, after about 2 seconds it is ready, so you got along well. The viewfinder is sharp and also for me a good view as eyeglass wearers. The colors in the viewfinder display, however, are a bit cool and flat and are different from those of the main display. The autofocus is actually wieselflink, even in low light conditions and even if you turn off the AF illuminator.
IMAGE QUALITY
At maximum aperture in wide angle the camera records quite soft, which some well to put the camera to certify basic blur. But if you stop down a bit, at the latest from Aperture 2.8 and from a telephoto range of 50mm anyway, the picture is sharp; from aperture 4 so crisp. Image parameters as sharpness, contrast and noise reduction can be calibrated precisely also on personal preferences. Some complain of so-called flares, ie lens reflections in backlight. This is true in part, but not in direct backlight, but rather with side light, while you could get a screw to the 43mm thread lens hood. But the flares are not bad, you have to watch a little halt, especially in video. Toll is the macro capability - here you come to 3 cm to the banished into the lens staring eg tame gerbil.
VIDEO QUALITY
Absolutely super. Not only that, you can of course use all photo settings of aperture and time for the video. You can change the level of the built-in stereo microphone. You can choose between Full HD and 4K video, and in the 4K mode, you can turn the camera on a so-called 4K photo mode, ie you can picture exactly extract afterwards from the video single 8 megapixel photos. This yields a gigantic burst mode of 25 frames / sec. I tried this function at a live rock concert. Despite the usual low light and associated 1600 - 3200 ISO values I received good to use 8 megapixel photos, not just for the magazine spread, but for the internet or small format prints quite good and fairly noise-free. The microphone I had herabgepegelt to a minimum and there was no clipping or distortion, but a - for such rock concert proportions - good usable sound. I'm using a fast 64 GB card, on the 80 minutes 4K video fit (or converted 120,000 8MB photos ...)
NOISE
The noise reduction can be increased or reduced in 10 steps. I have them at -2, what the detail increases, but still very reduced noise in low light conditions. In general, the camera is quite low noise, such as the Sony RX100 / RX10 competing models.
BATTERY
No complaints - a battery enough for a three-hour evening with 30GB movie and a subsequent one-hour viewing of the material. What you should know: If you leave the battery in the camera is switched off, it continues to draw some power. If after a few weeks you should reach for the camera - do not be surprised, the battery may now be emptied. So if you are planning to use the camera for medium to longer storage, rather earlier check the battery level.
COMPARED TO SONY RX10 / RX100
The RX10 bridge camera I own, it has the same sensor and a similar vision as the Sony RX100 III. In bright light conditions, the Panasonic LX100-MFT sensor and the Sony-1 inch sensor that Sony do not take much, both sharp and good resolution, with 20 megapixels, the Panasonic has a nominal 16 MP (from which, however, by the native image size ratio setting ( 16: 9/3: 2/4: 3/1: 1) only one part is used by a maximum of 12.8 MP This, however, also possible blurred edges are virtually eliminated).. However, the dynamic contrast of the Panasonic is much better, especially when the so-called "iDynamik" switched on. With Sony's eat fast times lights and sink details in black shadows, in which Panasonic more subtleties are in lights and in the shadows shown.
Under low light, the Panasonic has its nose slightly in front and really demonstrates good low light capabilities. The RX100 models are smaller in housing, but much less grip and you have to constantly dive for the settings menu. The Panasonic makes here in practice more fun, but bulges up his coat pocket stronger. And somewhere else then bulges nor the attachable flash, the Sony's have been on board.
CRITICISM
- The LX100 Unfortunately Panasonic does not charge via the USB cable to the PC itself, so you need to always have the charger.
- The camera is attached a small external flash. This works fine, but it would have been smart, if you had this lightning - though externally - with a small joint to provide UP panning in order to thus also flash indirectly can. He is, however, adapted to operate other slave flashes (also this would be an indirect flash device have been handy).
- On the camera there are also buttons for the iA ("idiot-automatic" or "Donkey Button" - which is not bad by the way, if you want losfeuern without thinking quickly in potential hassle) and "filter". Of course there are customers who find it really great to provide their photos automatically with art filters such as "blur", "sepia", "Retro" or "toy" effect. To each his own, I myself prefers natural photos, this filter I find downright "anti artistic" because they finally yes the photos with an artificial automatic creativity distort, which is not just personal. Now there is but this filter button prominently next to the shutter release - because it would have been nice, you could prove that button and possibly the iA with other functions, such as ISO or self-timer, something, but you can not.
- When silver model have to be careful - there are some whose lens is black. So there is black plastic from the otherwise silver camera - it looks cheap. It is the silver version but also with silver lens - so it should be. Since it is better to previously ask the seller.
- The telephoto is operated relatively weak in the video mode to 75 mm in photo mode, 86 mm. That's ok, but if you like to photograph a tiger portrait at the zoo or on a safari, would have to await his limitation here (or would have to risk his life, which indeed limiting effect).
- As already mentioned above: at maximum aperture in wide angle the camera records soft; in 100% view, one could say, out of focus.
AND OTHERWISE
... I am very satisfied. This camera is not my only, but if I had to choose only one, I would currently Select this. Landscape, people, concerts, street and with the right settings a bit object photography - which can be therefore do everything in high photo quality.
