Panasonic has come up with some of the most excellent cameras over the years. One such noteworthy product from the brand is Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100 4K camera. Technically, it holds a lot of tricks and features up its sleeves. The camera has got a lot of attention from the scuba divers as the camera can even be used efficiently underwater.
Unlike many cameras that come with a complete digital set up, Panasonic has taken an alternative approach. Almost everything in this camera has a physical button, which makes it effortless to use underwater. Also, shooting 4K videos underwater is now possible with this underwater dive camera. There are a lot more features that make them unique and adaptable as underwater cameras. Read the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100 review below to understand how they can be well-adapted for your purpose.
Table of Contents
Key Specifications
- Sensor Size: 17.3*13 mm
- Resolution: 12.8 MP
- Lens: 24-75 mm f/1.7-28
- Screen: 3-inch
- Burst Shooting: 30 FPS
- Video: 4K
- Aspect ratio: 4:3, 3:2, 16:9
- Dimensions: 114.8*66.2*55.0 mm
- Weight: 351 grams (without battery and memory card)
Pros
- Excellent manual controls
- Great image quality
- Great build
- Built-in Wi-Fi Connectivity with NFC
- Great performance
- Decent battery life
Cons
- Low resolution
- Large size
- Bumped aperture dial
- Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100 Review
If you want to know, have a quick review of Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100 4K camera, check out this video:
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100 Review
Design
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100 digital camera is one of the best 4K action cameras and suitable for photo enthusiasts and explorers. It is easy to handle because of the classic rangefinder-style body. It is solid and rigid but compact. The front panel has a grip molding, which provides stability. The rubber-like cladding gives efficient support with the generous thumb rest. Even at the rear panel, the cladding gives a smooth surface to handle the camera. Thus you do not feel any discomfort even if you are holding it longer for the expected shots. Even with the best snorkel set on, one can get handy with the camera.
The lens on the camera is 16 MP, but the effective pixel range is only between 11-13 MP. The microsensor on the camera is 4/3rds, making it relatively big for a camera of this size. Leica made the lens specifically for this camera, attributing its credibility.
Thanks to all the physical keys placed on the camera panel. There is no digital menu for the applications. All of the operations can be carried out manually only. The main menu button is available on the front side. Also, two other buttons are easily accessible for quick changing of the aperture and shutter speed.
It has three focus mode buttons for easy change between each photo style, especially when you are underwater. The ISO toggle is also on top, and there are no specific modes for various shoots on this controller. Even though there are too many twitches that can be worked on the camera, still it gives satisfaction. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100 review will further explore more about the accessories and the quality of the output below.
Auto-focus and Custom white balance
The range of the auto-focus feature on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100 digital camera is more than the cameras that are available in the same price range. It calculated between two images in different focal lengths and chose the best one. It results in stunning image quality, even underwater.
The custom white balance feature on the camera is one of the best features when compared to other Panasonic cameras. You can play with the customization options, and choose the best one for various depths underwater. It also has four slots to save the customized setting, making it easy for the diver to toggle between various white balances setting under different water depths at ease.
Image Quality
In this Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100 review, we are highlighting the capabilities of the camera in producing quality images even under low light. The sensor on the camera is quite big for the lens and the camera, making sure the camera picks up every small detail of the scene. One problem with underwater photos in the open water is that it picks up too much noise. As a result, the image is with too many grains making it seem like a poor-quality image. On the other hand, under a background like a reef or a wall, it produces stunning images even under low lighting conditions. The problem seems to appear only when the ISO setting is too high underwater, so ISO of 800/1600 must do the trick.
Video Quality
You are in for a treat if you are using this best budget underwater camera. The best feature of this camera is its ability to shoot 4K videos even underwater at its size. The real problem is with the frame rate. You can shoot either in 26 FPS or 30 FPS, depending on your liking. Since the camera is for underwater usage, Panasonic made sure the ISO is always under the user’s control. It makes sure that there are fewer grains on the video. You can shoot up to 60 FPS if you shoot the video under 1080p, which might result in losing the overall video quality. For that reason, it is wise to shoot in 4K so that you can make corrections post-shooting without losing the quality of the video.
Resolution
One more feature that the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100 review covers is the ability to take High-resolution images from 4K videos. So, instead of taking photos in the first mode, one can record a 4 K video and take out the best frame from the video as an image. The image taken out from the video is of 8MP, so the quality of the image is also high, making it easy to edit in post-shoot
Connectivity
Wi-Fi: The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100 supports built-in Wi-Fi that helps you to share the images on your mobile using the Panasonic Image App. It will also help you in setting the focus for the shoots remotely. Also, now you can upload and share all the images to social media sites with this option. One can also scan for QR code and sync with the monitor while performing edits.
GPS Enabled: The camera is also GPS enabled; hence one can use the Geo-tagging option to denote the places where the shoot is happening. Especially this much more helpful for the live shoots.
NCF Support: The Near Field Communication (NCF) helps wireless communication for sharing data between devices. In an island where there is no range or signal available, you can still avail of this option.
Now that you know all the vital aspects of this camera, if you are planning to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100 camera, click here.
Verdict
Even with so many benefits of using this camera, there is still one undeniable factor that makes it even more appealing for any traveler and scuba diver. It is the portability of this camera that makes it easy to have with you at all times. One need not carry a separate bag for the camera as it could fit inside your travel bag itself. Furthermore, it is lightweight and hence can be used for live shoots and more.
