Panasonic LX100 compact camera

introduction

announced Sept 2014
a touch large for a pocket, but OK for a jacket pocket, and smaller than the Canon G1 X II
built-in EVF so it can be used like a camera should be used, and great for those who need reading glasses
mechanical controls for shutter, aperture and exposure compensation as well as AF/MF, and aspect ratio
3x zoom 24-75mm f/1.8-2.8 zoom with 3cm close focus is perfect for most travel needs and unlike most compact cameras and iPhones, it will still give great shots in low light thanks to the large sensor (twice as large as that in the Sony RX100 III)
multi-aspect sensor means you are not cropping your images to get to 16:9
- 4:3 aspect ratio gives a 4112×3088 (12.5mp) pixel image
- 3:2 aspect gives a 4272×2856 (12mp) image
- 16:9 aspect gives a 4480×2520 (11mp) image
- 1:1 square format gives a 3088×3088 (10mp) image
awesome 4K video with 30fps 8mp stills possible
apparently it has a leaf shutter for flash sync at all speeds to 1/4000th sec - could be strobists' heaven!
fast 11.9fps burst rate and DFD fast AF which also includes eye detection AF - very handy indeed to many subjects - although the lack of telephoto makes it limiting for most sports

although it uses a Micro Four Thirds size sensor, the lens is not interchangeable
tripod socket is not centred under the lens
zoom control is only via a power zoom lever
no external mic socket
no built-in flash (bundled flash and hotshoe provided)
no built-in ND filter
limited telephoto zoom (3.1x zoom range to 75mm focal length at f/2.8 with depth of field (DOF) equiv. to 75mm f/5.6 on a full frame camera)
electronic shutter mode may show rolling shutter artefacts
only 12.8mp sensor but this is perfectly adequate for most people
not quite as small or light, and no 120p 1080HD mode as the Sony RX100 but otherwise is more versatile and powerful

16mp multi-aspect sensor giving 12.7mp actual
11 fps (6.5 fps in C-AF) with 1/16,000th sec shutter
10.9-34mm (24-75mm f/3.4-5.6 equiv.) F1.7-2.8 POWER OIS ASPH Leica lens, close focus 3cm, 9 aperture blades, aperture dial and aspect ratio selector, focus mode selector, 43mm filter thread
- much more depth of field (DOF) control than smaller sensor cameras such as the Canon G7 X, G1 X II or Sony RX100
DFD AF technology to give faster AF
49 zone AF; eye detect AF; focus peaking
2764k dots XGA EVF with 60fps refresh rate
3“ 921k dot LCD but no touch
4K HD video (and 4K 8mp photo mode) at 24/30p, 1080 60/50/25/24p
electronic silent shutter mode to 1/16000th sec with burst rates up to 40fps at full resolution!
mechanic shutter inside the lens apparently allows flash sync at all mechanical shutter speeds (up to 1/4000th sec) !!!
HDR mode automatically takes and combines 3 shots;
panoramic sweep mode;
minimal noise up to ISO 3200
Intelligent Resolution feature
multiple exposure mode;
6 Photo Styles and 22 creative filters
bundled flash
WiFi with NFC and Geotagging
393g, 115 x 66 x 55mm, $US899

dpreview.com's preview
http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/panasonic_lumix_dmc_lx100_review/
ePhotozine review
imaging resource review
http://www.eoshd.com/2014/11/shooting-4k-pocket-camera-exceptional-panasonic-lx100/
- “The Sony RX100 and RX1 were wonderful but Panasonic have upped the game considerably. The Sony RX100 III previously a favourite of mine is innovative but the LX100 has a better sensor, larger sensor, better lens, cleaner low light performance, 4K video, much better EVF, nicer styling, handling, build quality and ergonomics…”
:X100 in the studio with manual flash and shutter speeds used up to 1/1000th sec
Luminous landscape review