Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7 Pro Reviews

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7 has a larger than average image sensor and fast zoom lens, but it's best to keep the ISO set on the low side.

As a point and shoot camera for those wanting to upgrade to something better or a smaller back up for someone owning a G-series compact, the LX7 cuts the proverbial mustard, but, despite being as consistently competent and reliable as one might hope, in present company doesn’t have enough about it to stand ahead head and shoulders above rivals like the Samsung EX2F or Sony RX100.

There's a lot to like about the LX7. The metal-finish body produces a classy, high-end feel that doesn't disappoint, while the ability to add an EVF is bound to appeal to the more discerning shooter. On top of that, the controls, interface and now the addition of the aperture ring make this a very fast and enjoyable camera to shoot with. With rivals opting for larger sensors, the decision to actually use a smaller sensor in the LX7 than its predecessor is a brave one. While it can't quite deliver the same levels of detail and ISO performance as the RX100, it's still very good, while you also have to factor in the faster lens throughout the range that the LX7 offers. While it may not quite have the same standout features as some rivals, the LX7's strength lies in the fact that it really doesn't have a weak one, delivering a solid performance in pretty much every area, producing a very polished and competent enthusiast compact camera.

It wasn't easy to improve on the already impressive DMC-LX5, but Panasonic managed to pull it off with their new LX7. Enthusiasts will love its fast lens, manual controls, photo quality, and 1080/60p movie mode. Beginners can enjoy the LX7 too, thanks to Panasonic's great Intelligent Auto mode.

Priced at around £449.99 / $499.95, the LX7 is another recent high-end model that further blurs the line between compact and larger-sensor cameras. Consumers have never had so much choice at this price-point - premium compact, mid-range compact system camera and even an entry-level DSLR are all available. Were it not for the arrival of the Sony RX100, the LX7 would have been our defacto choice as a pocketable and user-friendly compact for keen photographers that delivers excellent image quality considering the small size of its sensor, but Sony's offering produces even better images from an even smaller camera, admittedly at an even higher price. Ultimately we prefer the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7's interface and handling, but clearly give the nod to the RX100's extensive feature-set and amazing image quality.

The Lumix LX7 re-establishes the edge Panasonic gained when it launched the Lumix LX3 and ignited the interest of enthusiasts by offering the holy grail of DLSR control and decent quality in a compact form factor. Since then the World has moved on though and there's now a lot more choice, not just from other compacts, some with larger sensors, but also mirrorless compact system cameras. There's still a lot of interest in this market though, both from enthusiasts who want a truly compact advanced DSLR alternative and those looking for a first camera with advanced features, but without the bother and expense of interchangeable lenses. Several things give the Lumix LX7 a lead in this market. Most important is the extraordinarily bright f1.4-2.3 lens. There's few models that can match its maximum aperture at the wide angle angle end of the range and the longer you zoom the bigger its advantage gets. This crucially allows the LX7 to claw back some of the noise advantage of rivals with bigger sensors as their generally slower lenses means they're forced to operate at higher ISOs than the LX7 under the same conditions. In particular the LX7 enjoys a two stop advantage over the G1 X when zoomed-out and more than two when zoomed in. In practice this means when the LX7 is working at, say, 200 ISO, the G1 X requires at least 800. And while there's a smaller 2/3 of a stop benefit against the Sony RX100 when both are zoomed-out, there's again around two stops in the LX7's favour when zoomed-in. Ultimately the bigger sensors may still deliver lower noise, but their benefit is much reduced in practice due to their often slower lenses.

The LX7 is a superb camera with many DSLR features packed into a compact body, which produces excellent images. If you have a good budget to spend and aren't concerned by large amounts of optical zoom, but want a serious camera capable of great results, you can't go wrong. You can shoot at full resolution at 11 fps, battery life is excellent, there is low noise up to ISO 3200 and full manual controls with RAW shooting, making a camera we are happy to recommend.

Exceptional photo and video quality, nippy performance and lots of creative control – as close to perfect as we've seen from a compact camera

Even though it doesn’t have the biggest sensor on the market, the LX7 doesn’t fail to impress. The design embodies exactly what a high-end camera should be: the physical aperture ring and other well-positioned controls ensure that the LX7 is easy to use, yet without ever holding any user control back. Autofocus is impressive and images are extra sharp thanks to the lens, plus there are few other cameras can compete with the f/1.4-2.3 wide aperture setting. The 24-90mm equivalent lens might feel a little "short" for users looking to zoom in that extra bit further, and high ISO images really don’t meet or beat the competition, but otherwise the Lumix LX7 is a great success. It’s taken some risks, but the package as a whole really pays off and shouldn't be underestimated; this here's a connoisseur's camera of choice.