Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100 II schwarz

The Panasonic Lumix LX100 II is a high-end compact aimed at enthusiasts. It inherits the controls, viewfinder, multi-aspect ratios and 24-75mm f1.7-2.8 lens of the original Mark I but upgrades the resolution to 17 Megapixels, adds a touchscreen, Bluetooth for easy wireless control, USB charging, and Panasonic’s latest 4K Photo modes and monochrome photo styles. While the screen is now touch-sensitive, it remains fixed in place which makes it less practical for shooting at high or low angles or vlogging compared to rivals like the Sony RX100 VA and Canon G1X Mark III, both of which have articulated screens (albeit not touch-sensitive on the Sony). The Canon and Sony also offer phase-detect autofocus systems which proved more confident for subjects in motion, as well as built-in ND filters and OLED viewfinders – the latter to my eyes, delivering a more stable image than the LX100 II’s field-sequential viewfinder panel. It's also worth remembering that while the LX100 II does have a Four Thirds sensor, the lens won’t exploit the full area - so while the active area still remains larger than a 1in sensor, it’s not by as much as you might think and makes little difference in practice beyond the ability to choose different aspect ratios without cropping. The 4k video quality is good, and while it incurs a tighter crop than the Sony RX100 VA, it can record clips three times longer and is less susceptible to overheating. The lens, now claiming better resistance against dust, is also comparable in range with the RX100 VA and G1X III, but focuses much closer and boasts superior rendering too, making it the preferred choice for macro shooters. Indeed the optics remain a highlight as does the chance to capture multiple aspect ratios without the usual cropping. It's also testament to the original design with its wealth of physical controls that the Mark II remains a very enjoyable camera to shoot with, so while it only represents a mild update, it remains a welcome one to bring the feature-set of this attractive compact up-to-date. If however you’re mostly interested in the lens and controls, consider the original Mark I which can be snapped-up for almost half the price.

The LX100 II is a small, engaging enthusiast compact. Its bright 24-75mm equivalent lens and multi-aspect design make it highly flexible. Only the cropped video and slightly basic viewfinder stop this lightly-refreshed camera reasserting itself as a clear leader in this class.