Panasonic Lumix DMC compact camera review

The success in developing “system” cameras with the function of video recording of professional level has pushed Panasonic to search for the similar solutions in the segment of compact cameras. The LX100 is an experience in creating a device where the emphasis is on the quality of the optics and the image as a whole, albeit at the expense of versatility. With the FZ1000, the focus is on the widest possible range of possible camera usage scenarios

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100

12.7MP 24-75mm 3.1x 3″ NEW

It seems that Panasonic from the very beginning created LX100 by Leica’s design technique, so the camera could maximally fit in the partner’s own line of cameras. But for some reason, this time the German manufacturer decided to work more on changing the appearance of the original model. A reincarnated Lumix with the famous red circle instead of the original logo as D-Lux Typ 109 is already on the shelves and costs around 69 000 roubles, whereas the question of availability and price of LX100 at the time of this review was still open.

There are a lot of beautiful cameras on the market, but what makes the LX100 really unique is the sensor. For the first time since the first 4/3-inch sensor was introduced back in 2001, a camera with an integrated lens is built on this format. It’s a serious answer to the competitors that use inch and APS-C sensors. The first one and a half times smaller in effective area, the second one though is bigger, but all the cameras built on “DSLR” sensors have only built-in optics. The LX100 has not powerful, but more universal lens and higher aperture ratio.

Panasonic armed the new flagship Lumix compact cameras with a sensor used in “system” cameras. Of the original 16 megapixels, no more than 12.7 are used at a time. The matter is that the optical system is designed in such a way that when you set different aspect ratios the maximum number of cells on the matrix is illuminated and the largest angle of view is preserved. Apparently, they thought the multi-format quality of the LX100 was important enough, because a separate switch on the lens was dedicated to setting the Aspect Ratio. The zoom body is the focal point of the controls. Beside the format lever there is another one for adjusting the pointing mode. Behind it, there is a ring to control the zoom or manual focus. The following ring is responsible for manually setting the aperture. Shutter speeds are selected using the respective selector labeled on the top panel. This is the exposure control system currently available on Fujifilm and Leica cameras, and many photographers find it more convenient and clearer. The dedicated selector also sets the exposure compensation to ± 3 EV. The Filter button next to it shouldn’t deceive open aperture fans: the LX100 has no built-in ND filter. Compensate for its absence by switching the shutter to electronic mode, where ultra-short shutter speeds of up to 1/16,000 s are available. The most curious thing is that this dedicated button turns on the digital filters, something you wouldn’t expect to see in an older camera. You can’t change it, and there are three other buttons on the back for accessing additional functions.

Along with a three-inch display, the LX100 has a small but clear electronic viewfinder. The images on them can not only be duplicated but also “replenished”. Say, if the photographer works with the eyepiece as the primary means of composing a frame, a special information screen can be displayed to give an indication of the status of all major shooting parameters. Unfortunately there is no touch screen interface and the display is permanently built into the back of the camera.

Inside the body there is no room for a built-in flash, but the camera comes with a removable blitz with a guide number of 7 m, 100 ISO , previously found with some mirror-less Lumix cameras. If you want, you can put a flash in the “hot shoe” and a more serious flash. No additional connectors in the “shoe”, respectively, no additional active accessories, such as external zoom microphones, can be installed in it. There is not even an audio input for recording audio from external devices, which is a shame because the camera’s video mode is outstanding. Panasonic was the first company that taught its senior compact cameras to shoot 4K 3840×2160, 30p movies.

Specifications:

Matrix	Manufacturer	Panasonic
Model	Lumix DMC-LX100
Average price*	NEW
Size, inches	4/3
Effective pixels, millions	12,7
ISO sensitivity**	100-6400 25600
Lens, focusing	Eqv. Focal length, mm	24-75
Zoom, magnification optimum ./digital	3.1x/4x
Shooting	Image stabilization***	o
Aperture value	1,7-2,8
Manual focus	+
Macro mode, MDF, cm	3
Shutter speed range, sec	60-1/16000
Scene programs	16
Mode A	+
S mode	+
M Mode	+
Manual White Balance	+
Built-in function flash, m	7,0
Connecting external flash	Hot-shoe
3:2 image format	+
16:9 aspect ratio	+
RAW	+
Video and sound	Video, Pixels	3840×2160@30p
Video sound	+
Sound Commentary	–
Recorder	–
The camera	LCD monitor, inches	3,0
LCD monitor resolution, thousand pixels	921
Viewfinder****	je
Memory cards	SD/SDHC/SDXC
Internal memory, MB	–
Power*****	Li-ion 300
Dimensions, mm	115×66×55
Weight, g	393
Announcement date	9/15/2014

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LF1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LF1

12 MP 28-200 mm 7,1x 3″ 14 700 Dollars.

The LX100 is a rather large camera due to its format, while the Lumix LF1 is Panasonic’s attempt to fit into the older pocket-sized camera segment. The entry ticket – small size, high-quality electronic components, a large sensor and extensive control capabilities. It turned out pretty good.

Designers opted for a lens with a smaller maximum aperture and a wider focal range than the competition. At wide angle it offers f/2, but covers up to f/5.9 at maximum zoom. Such approach is justified: not many photographers know and like to work with the subject at a short distance, and there are more opportunities to choose perspective with 7.1x optics.

Unique for the class and generally uncommon to compacts with a thickness of 28 mm feature – built-in electronic viewfinder. True, its necessity in an advanced pocket camera is questionable, and the quality is mediocre: only 200 thousand pixels of resolution do not leave a chance to enjoy it fully. But as you can tell from other compact and “system” Lumix cameras released recently, developers are trying to build the viewfinder in wherever they can.

The compact itself looks attractive, but it’s not as spectacular as the Fujifilm XQ1. The hardware interface is implemented traditionally for the amateur compacts, although the software is not bad.

It isn’t without a Wi-Fi module, which is completed with an NFC chip that allows setting up a connection between devices simply by touching one to the other. Controls for a small camera is implemented quite convenient. The reconfigurable multifunction ring on the lens plays a big role here.

Technical characteristics:

Sensor	Manufacturer	Panasonic
Model	Lumix DMC-LF1
Average price*	14700
Size, inches	1/1,7
Effective pixels, millions	12,1
ISO sensitivity**	80-6400 12800
Lens, focusing	EQ. Focal length, mm	28-200
Zoom, magnification opt./digital	7,1x/4x
Shooting	Image stabilization***	o
Aperture value	2,0-5,9
Manual focus	+
Macro mode, MDF, cm	3
Shutter speed range, sec	60-1/4000
Scene programs	16
Mode A	+
S-mode	+
Mode M	+
Manual white balance	+
Built-in flashes, m	0,6-7,0
Connection external flash	–
3:2 image format	+
16:9 image format	+
RAW	+
Video and sound	Video, pixels	1920×1080@50i
Video sound	+
Audio commentary	–
Recorder	–
Camera	LCD monitor, inches	3,0
LCD monitor resolution, thousands of pixels	920
Viewfinder****	je
Memory cards	SD/SDHC/SDXC
Internal memory, MB	87
Power*****	Li-ion 250
Dimensions, mm	103×62×28
Weight, g	192
Date of announcement	4/24/2013

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000

20 mP 25-400 mm 16x 3″ 43 500 rub.

Panasonic’s success in developing “system” cameras with professional-grade video recording has prompted it to look for similar solutions in the compact camera segment. The LX100 is an experience of creating a device where the emphasis is on the quality of the optics and the image as a whole, albeit at the expense of versatility. The FZ1000 emphasizes the widest possible range of possible camera uses and puts quality in the background. The result is an ultra-zoom with a large one inch sensor, a low-luminosity lens but the most powerful zoom in this segment in the form factor of the “system” camera. It is quite possible that the designers purposely decided not to experiment with bigger format matrixes as even with the light receptor the device turned out to be heavy and more similar to a DSLR. Though it was always considered a plus for the long lens cameras because the camera stability, reliability of the grip and balance are extremely important at a small angle of view. Another advantage of the FZ1000’s considerable size is that it has a large number of buttons, selectors and levers on its body. The camera’s toolbox is so vast that easy access to the camera’s basic functions is a must in order to get the most out of it. And since it didn’t have to save space inside the unit, the designers didn’t make a compromise when choosing an electronic viewfinder: a picture with a resolution of 2.4 million pixels is displayed in the sufficiently large eyepiece area. Underneath it, there are proximity sensors that automatically switch the image from the screen to the viewfinder the moment the photographer brings the camera close to his or her face.

The FZ1000’s clear three-inch display was made fully rotatable, which in light of the serious video functionality is especially useful, but for some reason it was stripped of the touchpad. However, five customizable buttons, a navigation key, two click wheels and a whole range of dedicated selectors should be enough for even the most fastidious user.

Camera gets top-notch performance from fast readout sensor and 4-core Venus Engine. There is no phase sensor on the sensor, but the camera is equipped with the newest technology of sharpening by contrast DFD. Its secret is that the lens unit responsible for focusing doesn’t have to travel over the entire zoom range to show the sensor the best possible contrast, because powerful electronics have learned to analyze blur patterns as well. In order to calculate the focus position at which the sharpness will be achieved, the camera needs only two images with a foreground and a far background focus. This dramatically increases autofocus speed. Three innovative algorithms are employed in the processing of the images to enhance details, reduce brightness and chromatic noise, and minimize the effects of diffraction.

The hardware performance is enough to capture and encode 4K video at 30 fps. To help you capture not only clear, but also properly shot video footage, the FZ1000 offers an array of tools – such as focus-picking, real-time zebra highlighting of underexposed and “knocked out” areas, several gamma options, audio level control indicators. Offers a choice of five focus response modes to rotate the ring on the lens. Ring, however, one, and it is responsible for sharpening, and for zoom control modes switch a special lever , so that during the recording video manually work both with zoom and focus can be difficult. While photographers have no problem with this solution, videographers have. But both categories of users will be glad the camera has five axis optical stabilization system.

In terms of photographic equipment, the FZ1000 offers the most. Everything an experienced photographer or beginner might need when they get their hands on this camera. Of non-standard options include the ability to separately adjust the brightness of lights and shadows in several levels.

Specifications:

Sensor	Manufactured by	Panasonic
Model	Lumix DMC-FZ1000
Average price*	43500
Size, inches	1,0
Effective pixels, millions	20
ISO sensitivity**	125-12800 25600
Lens, focus	Eqv. Focal length, mm	25-400
Zoom, multiplicity opt./digital	16x/4x
Photography	Image stabilization***	o
Aperture values	2,8-4,0
Manual focus	+
Macro mode, MDF, cm	3
Shutter speed range, sec	60-1/16000
Scene programs	16
Mode A	+
Mode S	+
M mode	+
Manual white balance	+
Built-in flashes, m	0,5-13,5
Connection external flash	Hot-shoe
3:2 image format	+
16:9 aspect ratio	+
RAW	+
Video and sound	Video, pixels	3840×2160@30p
Video sound	+
Audio commentary	–
Voice recorder	–
Camera	LCD monitor, inches	3,0
LCD monitor resolution, thousands of pixels	921
Viewfinder****	je
Memory cards	SD/SDHC/SDXC
Internal memory, MB	–
Power*****	Li-ion 360
Dimensions, mm	137×99×131
Weight, g	831
Date of announcement	6/12/2014