Panasonic LUMIX DC LX100 II Review | 108 Data compared

The DPReview evaluation identifies the Panasonic DC-LX100 II as an enthusiast travel camera boasting an excellent 24-75mm equivalent f/1.7-2.8 Leica zoom lens and a large, high-resolution multi-aspect Micro Four Thirds sensor. Key pros include improved 17MP image quality, responsive touchscreen, and a tactile, customizable interface. Conversely, the review highlights significant cons, including a dated 16:9 EVF with color tearing, a fixed rear LCD, and a 1.25x crop in 4K video. Additionally, the camera lacks external audio inputs, and the DFD autofocus can struggle with tracking fast action.

The Panasonic Lumix DC-LX100 II is a premium compact camera featuring an upgraded 17MP multi-aspect Micro Four Thirds image sensor (up from 12MP in the original) paired with the same bright 24-75mm equivalent f/1.7-2.8 optically stabilized zoom lens. Designed with a heavy Leica influence, its main pros lie in its excellent tactile control layout—incorporating physical aperture, shutter speed, aspect-ratio, and exposure compensation controls—and its larger sensor, which ensures great image quality with crisp details up to ISO 1600. Additional benefits include a deep shooting buffer for its speedy 11fps burst capture, a sharp 3-inch touch LCD with TouchPad AF, crisp 4K photo and video capabilities, integrated Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, and new internal seals designed to minimize dust on the sensor. However, the camera falls short due to several prominent cons, starting with its steep £949 price tag and a bulky build that is not quite pocket-friendly for typical clothing. Reviewers find the fixed rear LCD highly limiting for low-angle framing, and its dated field-sequential EVF is prone to displaying distracting rainbow color tearing artifacts during quick pans. On the performance side, continuous...

The Panasonic Lumix LX100 II is a compact camera featuring a 17-megapixel Four Thirds sensor and a bright f/1.7-2.8 Leica zoom lens, praised for delivering excellent image quality and offering tactile, manual controls including a dedicated aperture ring. Key strengths include fast focusing, good detail retention, and the addition of a high-resolution 3-inch touchscreen and USB charging. Conversely, the review notes significant limitations, most notably a fixed, non-tilting screen and the lack of a built-in flash, requiring an external unit. Additionally, the camera faces a 1.25x crop factor when shooting 4K video, limiting the wide-angle view, and lacks an external microphone input for videographers.

The Panasonic Lumix LX100 II updates its 2014 predecessor by introducing a higher-resolution 21.77MP multi-aspect Four-Thirds type sensor, which yields images up to 17 million pixels compared to the original's 12 million pixels. It retains a premium, retro aesthetic featuring metal control dials, physical exposure controls, and a high-quality Leica DC Vario-Summilux 24-75mm equivalent f/1.7-2.8 lens that delivers sharp detail and natural colors. Key advantages include extensive depth-of-field control from the large sensor, retro metal control dials, and an easily accessible physical switch on the lens barrel to instantly swap between 3:2, 16:9, 1:1, and 4:3 aspect ratios. However, the camera suffers from a few notable design limitations, most significantly a completely fixed LCD screen that hinders creative, high- or low-angle shooting. It also lacks a built-in pop-up flash, and its built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi system is criticized for having a clunky auto-transfer process. Additionally, while low-light performance is generally strong, images captured at higher sensitivities like ISO 3200 do not tolerate post-capture brightening very well, and the dedicated Intelligent Auto button on the top plate is prone to accidental...

The Panasonic Lumix DC-LX100 II is a versatile premium compact camera ideal for travel, featuring a fast Leica 24-75mm equivalent f/1.7-2.8 lens and a retro design with dedicated, hands-on controls for aperture and shutter speed. It shines with its 4K photo/video capabilities and quick, responsive autofocus, allowing for high-quality, immediate photography. On the downside, the camera relies on a motorized power zoom for both photo and video, which provides a slower, less precise experience for still shooters compared to a manual zoom, and it lacks a built-in flash. The review concludes that while it is an excellent performer, these specific handling choices may frustrate users looking for instant, tactile zooming.

The SonyAlphaLab review characterizes the Panasonic LX100 II as an enthusiast-focused compact camera prioritizing tactile shooting and creative control, highlighting its large Four Thirds sensor, intuitive menu system, and excellent macro capabilities. Key pros include superior depth of field control, dedicated aperture and shutter dials for an enjoyable user experience, improved battery life, and a 15-minute 4K recording limit. Conversely, the review notes significant cons, such as its larger, non-pocketable form factor and the lack of a built-in flash. Compared to the Sony RX100 VA, the camera falls short in autofocus speed, slow-motion features, and lacks an articulating screen, while offering similar performance to the Leica D-Lux 7.

The Panasonic LX100 II is a highly capable, incremental upgrade over its predecessor, utilizing a multi-aspect 20-megapixel sensor derived from the Panasonic GX9 to output up to 17 megapixels of resolution. Tested heavily in real-world scenarios on England's south coast, the camera proves to be a street and travel photographer's dream due to its blazingly fast AF-S (single autofocus), reliable pinpoint focus accuracy, and upgraded dynamic range that easily recovers substantial detail from RAW files. It handles tricky lighting well, though it has a subtle tendency toward underexposure that.3EV exposure compensation tweak on bright days. Additionally, the inclusion of an electronic shutter allowing speeds up to 1/16,000 sec enables shooting wide open in glaring midday sun, while the silent leaf shutter serves as an excellent asset for strobist work. Despite its strengths, the camera comes with notable trade-offs in lens performance and design. While the fast Leica f/1.7–2.8 lens remains razor-sharp across the center of the frame, this specific field review noted a downgrade in edge-to-edge performance, observing visible softness in the corners and outer edges at most focal lengths...

The Amateur Photographer long-term review of the Panasonic Lumix LX100 II highlights its excellent image quality, driven by a Four Thirds sensor and a bright, 24-75mm equivalent zoom lens. The camera is praised for its direct, tactile controls and a versatile design that balances portability with a large sensor, making it suitable for travel and everyday shooting. However, the review notes significant drawbacks, including a fixed rear screen that lacks tilting capability, restricting creative, low-angle shots. Furthermore, the lens is prone to flare when shooting toward direct light, and the body, while portable, is not small enough to fit in a trouser pocket.

The Panasonic Lumix LX100 II is a high-end compact camera designed for enthusiasts that marries a retro, control-heavy design with significant feature upgrades. It features a 24-75mm equivalent f/1.7-2.8 Leica zoom lens paired with a multi-aspect Four Thirds sensor, which has been boosted to capture 17-megapixel images (up from 12 megapixels on the original model). The camera stands out for its excellent physical controls—including dedicated aperture, shutter speed, and exposure compensation dials—as well as its short 3cm macro focusing distance and superior background bokeh rendering. Additionally, it introduces a high-resolution 1240k-dot touchscreen, Bluetooth connectivity for seamless smartphone integration, USB charging, and updated L Monochrome high-contrast photo styles. It is also a highly reliable movie tool, capable of filming 4K video with clips up to 15 minutes long without the fast overheating issues found in compact competitors. However, the camera has several distinct drawbacks, most notably its fixed screen which does not tilt or flip, making it highly impractical for vlogging or shooting at awkward angles. Despite housing a large Four Thirds sensor, the lens design forces a heavy crop that...