Compact Camera News

Panasonic introduced the 12.8-megapixel DMC-LX100 compact camera with a Micro Four Thirds-sized sensor at photokina today. This pocket-friendly shooter features a newly developed, Leica-branded DC Vario-Summilux lens with a 35mm-equivalent focal length of 24-75mm, and an F/1.7-F/2.8 aperture range.

The LX100 is the successor to both the Panasonic DMC-LX7 and the pioneering DMC-LC1, which was Panasonic’s first fully manual compact camera from 2004. The Panasonic LX100 will go on sale in October though pricing for this premium compact camera has not been announced yet.

The LX100 also features Panasonic’s revamped Venus Engine image processor, which includes multiple noise reduction systems including Multi Process NR, Random Filter and Aperture Filter. These tools are designed produce better color and less noise even when shooting in low light at high ISOs. Meanwhile, a 9-blade aperture diaphragm in the Leica-branded lens is designed to produce bokeh with a smooth, circular shape. Because the LX100’s sensor is multi-aspect, you can shoot in 4:3, 3:2 or 16:9 ratios to achieve a range of different looks.

The LX100 has a LVF (Live View Finder) with 2764K-dot equivalent high resolution and nearly 100% color reproduction. This 16:9 Wide Screen LVF offers approx.1.39x / 0.7x (35mm camera equiv.) magnification and 100% field of view. Along with full 1080p HD at 60p, the LX100 can shoot in 4K (3840x2160) at 30p in the MP4 format. Panasonic says you can shoot “4K Photos” in this mode, by grabbing a 3840 x 2160, 8-megapixel equivalent image from this ultra high def footage. The LX100 has a new Hybrid Photography 4K Photo mode to help you do this.

For still photo shooting, the Panasonic LX100 is designed to be speedy. According to Panasonic, the camera has a “Light Speed AF” of approximately 0.14 sec for focus lock, and a high speed burst mode that can capture 11 frames per second at full resolution. It has a maximum 1/4,000 second mechanical shutter speed, and 1/16,000 second electronic shutter speed.