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Point and shoot cameras have been popular for a very long time. Whether for film or digital photography, there have been models that stood out for their excellent features. However, we are not here to talk about film point and shoot cameras but rather digital cameras. Of the many designs, one that continues to be a favorite is a compact camera from Panasonic: the LX100. What makes this such a special device? Let’s find out.
The camera was unique for many reasons. It houses a 4/3-inch 13MP sensor and came with a Leica DC Vario-Summilux 24-75mm f1.7-2.8 lens. The point and shoot was also 40fps of burst rate with an electronic shutter, a 2.76M-dot EVF, and an LCD of 921k-dots. Launched in 2014, the LX100 could record 4K videos at 60fps, an electronic shutter up to 1/16,000 seconds, and measures just 115 x 66 x 55 mm.
While the specs were impressive, so was the feature of the aspect ratio dial. Readers must have seen something similar on the Fujifilm GFX100RF camera today; it was actually initially seen on the LX100. With the dial, users can choose between 4:3, 3:2, 16:9, and 1:1 ratios. In addition, it was also lightweight, had multiple manual controls, such as a great aperture ring and shutter speed dial. It also felt really nice in the hand. In fact, the LX100 was competing with the Fujifilm X100, and also inspired Leica’s own D-LUX series, which continues to be popular even today.
In addition to its excellent ergonomics, the camera excels in its performance just as much. This includes a really fast autofocus, a nice fast lens, and impressive images. During our metering test, the camera performed well. Similarly, there was smooth grain at high ISO, which gave the images great aesthetics. This works better in black-and-white images. Even the RAW files are versatile despite the smaller sensor. One can also recover highlights and shadows from the images. Plus, the price at the time was not too much, just $900.
“Despite its size for my mitts, the LX100 was a joy to use with superb image quality and manual controls that make it a strong contender in the premium compact space,” we said in our review. “The fast Leica glass lends itself to the strength of the LX100’s images. Its sturdiness means it can survive bumps and dings along the way. The LX100’s also a great travel camera, and it’ll easily fit in your jacket pocket in the cold winter months. For all of these reasons, we’re giving it our Editor’s Choice Award.”
Even today, the Panasonic LX100 is forced to reckon with. It is a camera that can compete with more modern devices, and continues to prove why it is called the best point and shoot of all time. Now you know it too; and you can still find it available.
