Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX7 10MP Digital Camera w/ 24mm F1.4 Lens & 1080p Video $289 + Free shipping (expired)

how is this compared to the s100? ive been wanting to get a p&s to go along with my dslr...mostly for indoor dinners/parties/etc...the s100 is a good deal smaller (which is better for me), but i heard that the lx7 has better low light performance?(also good for me). anyone here have any extra input this comparison?

Debating between this and the Canon G15. Anyone care to chime in on one over the other?

Quote from specsation : how is this compared to the s100? ive been wanting to get a p&s to go along with my dslr...mostly for indoor dinners/parties/etc...the s100 is a good deal smaller (which is better for me), but i heard that the lx7 has better low light performance?(also good for me). anyone here have any extra input this comparison?

I'd get the LX7 over the S100 assuming pocketability isn't a major concern.

I ordered the s100 deal a couple days back because I got tired of waiting for the LX7. However, I will be returning the s100 for sure.

The dealbreaker for me is how much slower the canon is at turning on and at focusing and taking shots, and how much of a delay there is between shots (at least what I could gather from online reviews). The LX7 is supposed to be super quick in that regard, and that has always been my biggest complaint about all the canon p&s I've had in the past.

The LX7 is not like other normal compacts - it's a high-end, larger-sensor compact, comparable to the Canon S100. It has a lot of nice manual controls, good control points, and I've found it's the best compact I've used. That said, it's A) Noticeably bigger than the Canon S90/95/100, which can fit in a pocket (this can't, unless you have GIANT pockets), and B) it's a compact (meaning image quality won't be up tot he standards of smaller mirror less interchangeables (Nikon 1 / Sony RX100), let alone APS-C dslrs (Canon Rebels, Nikon D3000-7000, Sony NEX, e.t.c.). This means that especially in low light, this camera will NOT do as well as a larger-sensor one. That said, I've found an earlier version (The LX-3) was excellent in every way as a compact. I sold it because it wasn't small enough - by the time I was carrying it, I might as well be carrying a NEX. But for most people, this would be better, and it's an AWESOME camera (at least, the 2 generation old one was).

It's also Panasonic's highest end compact, meaning finishing on it is (or at least, 2 generations old was) super nice. It's worth noting that Leica (which is a super luxe camera company) rebrands these as their compacts.

So, compared to a Canon S100 - this should take better pictures, and have better controls, but it's also harder to fit in a pocket by some margin.

Quote from MohF1 : Unless it's overly critical, harsh, or devolves into ad hominem attacks, I'm all for additional comments. OkinawaMatt clarified that these were other Panasonic models which did not deliver and meet his expectations. I don't think he's here to threadcrap and say "OMG what a shitty deal!" just offering his .02 on his experiences with Panasonic cameras. It does not in any way, shape, or form seem spiteful. While I definitely have had better luck with them, I respect and endorse his ability to offer his perspective.

He's still implying that ALL Panasonic cameras are of poor quality due to his experiences with 2 of them, which is still bad logic.

Quote from okinawanmatt : Blah blah blah

You posted all that dribble and you've never even used the camera this deal is about??? GTFOOH.

I actually own this camera and I love it.

http://youtu.be/Pe58W8qfqu4 <~This review sold me.

Quote from okinawanmatt : You're right. Posting about non-related cameras does seem spiteful. Now tell me more about that Sony NEX. I was looking into purchasing one myself, but saw a few bad reviews for the first generation of those alphas. What DSLRs have you owned, and how does it compare? My opinion on the Nikon P510 is that it's near the same quality as the Canon Rebel T2i I use at work, but the single lens it holds is incredibly versatile so it covers a range of interchangeable lenses I use for the Canon Rebel. In your experience, do you get the same feeling out of using the Sony Alphas?

Briefly as I don't want to highjack this thread (you can find my comments in a lot of NEX deal threads).

IMO, the initial NEX was a nice camera, but a flaw or two. Starting with the C3 they got rid of the flaws while maintaining the good stuff. I have the C3 (pretty much the lowest I would go right now if you can still find, tho the 5n is a super deal, those that are left).

The NEX line uses an APS-C sensor. The same in MOST (many) non-full frame DSLR. That with the good lenses and software enable to take pic's very much on par with DSLR's. This includes very low light and/or very high ISO (like a DSLR) and get excellent results.

It is a mirrorless camera, which has the effect of being smaller and lighter than a DSLR. This was important to me as I travel a lot. HOWEVER, even with the pancake lens it probably would not be considered a pocket camera. I can get it easily in a jacket pocket, but no way pants or jeans. Also some of the less expensive NEX do not have an optical viewfinder.

I love the camera, the line and their recent lenses released and soon to be make it a good choice. But I would ONLY get if size is important AND you don't need the ultimate in fast focus. If size is not an issue and/or super fast focus is needed, go entry DSLR.

As such, I'm always on the look out for something close to the quality but can fit in my jeans pocket. Even my current Canon, I'm dissapointed in the speed and low light efforts.

Quote from MohF1 : OkinawaMatt clarified that these were other Panasonic models which did not deliver and meet his expectations. I don't think he's here to threadcrap and say "OMG what a shitty deal!" just offering his .02 on his experiences with Panasonic cameras. It does not in any way, shape, or form seem spiteful. While I definitely have had better luck with them, I respect and endorse his ability to offer his perspective.

Thanks for that. I always enjoy reading the experience and opinions of others, even if it's only tangentially related to the post - that's why I keep coming back to SD.

Quote from GrimlockTF85 : He's still implying that ALL Panasonic cameras are of poor quality due to his experiences with 2 of them, which is still bad logic.

I would like to clarify that, as stated, the main argument of my post was that SDers have, in my experience, been incorrect with their notions about the Panasonic Lumix SZ and ZS series that have been posted/discussed in these forums, and therefore, I would beware of the advice of SD in general about Panasonic cameras. I personally purchased three different models (not "2"), with one of them being marked as a "higher-end point-and-shoot", and they all performed sub-par in my opinion.

Quote from sdallnct : Briefly as I don't want to highjack this thread (you can find my comments in a lot of NEX deal threads).

Thanks! I'll take a look at the NEX-5N, although I think I'll go with my gut and try out some Nikons for the next few years before I move on to Sonys. I appreciate the response!

Quote from okinawanmatt : You're right. Posting about non-related cameras does seem spiteful. Now tell me more about that Sony NEX. I was looking into purchasing one myself, but saw a few bad reviews for the first generation of those alphas. What DSLRs have you owned, and how does it compare? My opinion on the Nikon P510 is that it's near the same quality as the Canon Rebel T2i I use at work, but the single lens it holds is incredibly versatile so it covers a range of interchangeable lenses I use for the Canon Rebel. In your experience, do you get the same feeling out of using the Sony Alphas?

Different cameras have different purpose and limitation. i use Nikon D600 with manual prime lenses, but also love the Lumix LX7 because of its small size and manual control.

By image quality i guess that you are talking about the image color and noise at different iso. Yes, Canon and Nikon will give you accurate color almost all of the time. The Lumix LX7, on the other hand, is reputed on its f/1.4 lens -- so you can use lower ISO than other comparable camera. so it's quite flexible given its small size. nex is a great mix of the 2 worlds (small size + image quality). i would use it for street photography or for travel (my travel gear is a Panasonic Lumix GH1 with an old Leica 50 f/2, Nikon 105 f/2.5, and the cheap kit lens)

Quote from Bmr4life : You posted all that dribble and you've never even used the camera this deal is about??? GTFOOH. I actually own this camera and I love it.

Okinawanmatt said, "I figured it's my time to chime in and give useless camera advice". I don't think that he tried to mislead anyone on this camera. He basically said to take online advice with a grain of salt, and illustrated why he felt that way. He also gave his opinions on the cameras that he had owned and may have expressed some thoughts on brand quality. He did not portray his opinions as fact and I don't think that he set out to offend anyone. I think you take a few breaths and reread his post.

I have noticed several threads with pretty rude comments on SD in the last few days. I have been busy with other things and havent been frequenting SD forums for a while. In the past, I was amazed at how polite people were to each other, on huge site. I believe the level of civility has dropped on this site, in the past several years. That is unfortunate.

I'm not trying to single you out in this post, but I honestly had to look up GTFOOH. Not good.....If you own the LX7, you could easily post a more beneficial post.

Im camera dumb. I recently bought the S100 and I may consider trading for the LX7 at this price. The more compact size may be the factor that makes me stay with the S100, but Im eager to read more opinions on this camera.

Thanks

I purchased this camera during the BF deals, and I've been very happy with it. Even the auto mode takes very good pictures. Highly recommend, especially at this price.

Quote from okinawanmatt : The Panasonic ZS6 [amazon.com] has a street price of $350. This Panasonic LX7 [amazon.com] has a street price of $350. Are you comparing features or price points when discussing "low end" cameras? Perhaps the LX7 is a good camera, but after reading dozens upon dozens of recommendations from SDers for the ZS and SZ line from Panasonic, I've learned not to trust their judgement. I won't be giving the LX7 a shot, but I figured it's my time to chime in and give useless camera advice

I bought this camera 3 months ago, and while it is like any P&S in the sense that no amount of image stablization is going to help it in low light (yea not even in f 1.4) it's BY FAR the best P& S i have ever owned.

The bokeh of the background and sharpness of the focus area in this lens is STUNNING. even at f 1.4, and at all focal lengths. The color reproduction is amazing. The manual controls are all present and accounted for.

This is a P & S for those who know how to use a camera. Period.

the zs line is a travel zoom line, which almost by definition will have smaller sensors and therefore less picture to work with. additionally, its hard to stabilize at 1500 equivalent focal length any way you want to slice it

CNET Asia review [cnet.com]