A fantastic point-and-shoot for a steep price

The Panasonic Lumix LX100 II may be the nicest camera you didn’t know you needed. It’s a point-and-shoot camera in an age where they’ve seemingly been replaced by smartphones. DSLRs are available for enthusiasts and pros who want more versatility. Mirrorless cameras are versatile without being bulky. But, point-and-shoot cameras still serve a purpose for enthusiasts seeking a fast and compact option.

You can get a good standalone camera for $999.99, which happens to be the price of the Panasonic Lumix LX100 II. Usually you can get a good body and maybe a zoom lens for that price. Faster prime lenses or an upgraded zoom drive the price up if you want to invest in your photography. 

Or, you can opt for a point-and-shoot camera with a 17-megapixel sensor, a fast Leica DC 24-75mm lens with an optical image stabilizer, and an electronic viewfinder in a compact body. That’s a compelling argument for any camera.

Compact and powerful

Right off the bat, the Panasonic Lumix LX100 II looks and feels the part. The classic styling and textured grip fits nicely in your hand. It’s a nice looking camera that will get plenty of compliments. The Lumix LX100 II is retro in looks only and boasts plenty of muscle to capture any image or video.

The 17-megapixel multi-aspect sensor lets you switch between 4:3, 3:2, and 16:9 ratios to frame your shot without changing the focal length. You can toggle between aspect ratios with a switch located above the lens. Coupled with the Venus Image Engine, the Lumix LX100 II promises crisp, accurate photos and reduced noise in low-light situations. 

Image: CHARLES POLADIAN/MASHABLE

Focus areas are what you would expect from a modern camera. You can choose between Face/Eye Detection, Tracking, 49-point area, custom focus area, single-area, and pinpoint focus that includes a magnifying option for more control. You can also adjust the focus after taking a photo by turning on the post-focus feature. It’s a handy to adjust depth or highlight an interesting area, but can be a bit awkward as you try to make edits in the camera. 

All the buttons feel nicely spaced on the Lumix LX100 II. The shutter button is underneath your right index finger, the exposure compensation dial is next to that, and you also have a shutter speed dial on the top of the camera. 

You can adjust the f-stop on the lens barrel. The Leica lens is nicely built with a f-stop range from 1.7 to 2.8. At f-1.7 you create great portraits and avoid cranking up the ISO in low-light situations. With a zoom range of 24-75mm, you can shoot from a distance without having to stand completely still. Another switch on the lens lets you switch between auto focus, manual focus, or auto focus with macro. 

One note about the f-stop range. It says f-1.7, but you can only drop it that low at 24mm. Even though you can “set” the f-stop, it will increase as you zoom out.

You’ll find the menu and quick control buttons next to the display. You can do a deeper dive into the camera’s settings, adjust the ISO, white balance, or focus area from here. 

Image: CHARLES POLADIAN/MASHABLE

The Lumix LX100 II has a three-inch touchscreen where you can adjust the autofocus and other features. It loses some versatility because it’s locked in place. If you want to take a low-angle image, you’ll either have to bend down or hold it by your knee and hope you get the image you want. 

Other features include 4K shooting for photos and videos, monochrome options for more stylish black-and-white photos, WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, USB charging, and a large electronic viewfinder. 

A compact point-and-shoot should be ready to capture any moment. The locked-in display is one strike against the Panasonic Lumix LX100 II and second strike is the camera itself. You have to switch on the camera using a lever, which leads to the lens physically deploying. You’ll experience a slight delay before being able to shoot, so you’ll either need to anticipate your shot or hope your subject stays in place. 

That aside, the real fun is when you start shooting.

Capturing the moment

I was rusty using a point-and-shoot in 2019. I was so used to switching lenses or lining up a photo with my phone that I wasn’t quite sure what to do with the Lumix LX100 II. The camera itself was intuitive and there wasn’t anything different from countless other cameras. I guess I expected to do more work, like change a lens, but I was more than happy to let the Lumix do the work for me. 

I started with some night shooting because it gives me a good sense of general limitations. Chances are you’re going to be fine shooting in the day. Colors may be a bit muted, or blown out, but you can adjust that easily within the camera or in post. A grainy photo lacking sharpness is harder to fix. 

New York at night, cliche line aside, is beautiful and difficult at the same time. Bright lights and black combine to give any camera fits. If it compensates too much, the light will obliterate any detail. I found the Lumix LX100 II to handle low-light shooting with relative ease. In one photo, the Empire State Building was brightly lit in the background and you can make out each window. The buildings in the foreground were also captured in great detail. 

There was some noticeable, but not distracting grain at ISO 1600. The black-and-purple sky was a bit spotty, but again it didn’t detract from the image itself. If I dropped the ISO down a bit, and maybe zoomed out to drop the f-stop to 1.7, those issues would have been reduced.

The built-in stabilization helps when you’re zoomed out to 75mm, but you’re not covering a lot of distance with the zoom. You’ll be a little closer to the subject, but it’s not a significant leap. Again, it’d probably be better to shoot at the optimal settings and crop it later.

Image: CHARLES POLADIAN/MASHABLE

Shooting in daylight produced true-to-life images. Colors were muted at times, but other times the colors popped. I’m more likely to blame the cloudy days than the Lumix LX100 II in these cases.

Enthusiasts will also enjoy the multiple shooting options. You can adjust the format using the switch on the barrel with a 16:9 ratio giving you a wide shot while a 3:2 is a little tighter and taller. A 4:3 ratio is narrower and taller than the other aspect ratios. There are also a range of color options, including three monochromatic options with additional ways to tweak the contrast, saturation, and grain level.

Throughout it all, the autofocus was fast and accurate. I could turn the camera on, point at a subject, and snap a picture quickly. Burst shooting also helps you capture faster moving subjects.

Last, but certainly not least, the Panasonic Lumix LX100 II has a robust suite of 4K photo and video options. The Lumix LX100 II combines a sequence of photos to create a 4K photo sequences. You can also shoot 4K video, but it’s slightly cropped compared to HD video.

Better than the rest?

The Panasonic Lumix LX100 II is a fun and powerful compact camera. You’re going to get great shots and have enough features to flex your artistic muscles. You’ll likely take more than a few photos that’ll impress viewers. However, it faces formidable competition in the point-and-shoot field. 

Image: CHARLES POLADIAN/MASHABLE

Canon has a formidable range of point-and-shoot cameras boasting big sensors and displays that can flip out. These cameras are also a bit cheaper, although the top-of-the line PowerShot G1 X Mark II retails at $300 higher than the Panasonic Lumix LX100. However, there are options out there where you’re trading image quality, lens speed, and low-light performance for a camera that’s $200 cheaper and a more versatile touchscreen. I wouldn’t make that trade, but it’s something consider if you want a camera upgrade and don’t shoot frequently enough to justify a $1,000 purchase.

Sony offers even stiffer competition with its RX line of compact point-and-shoot cameras. Again, the RX100 VI is $200 more than the Lumix LX100 II and boasts a formidable array of features that stack up to any point-and-shoot on the market. The RX100 V is the same price as the LX100 II and features a 20.1-megapixel CMOS sensor, 4K video capture, fast autofocus, and an adjustable display. It’s also smaller than the Lumix LX100 II, so it fits in your pocket whereas the Lumix is a tighter fit. Again, there are rivals from Sony that are $100 or $200 cheaper that are also compelling options. 

The Lumix LX100 II faces competition from other Panasonic point-and-shoot cameras. The Lumix ZS200 is a solid camera with a 20.1-megapixel sensor, 4K photo sequencing, and fast autofocus with the same non-tilting touchscreen. At $799.99, it’s also worth your consideration.

These comparisons aside, the Panasonic Lumix LX100 II is a great point-and-shoot camera. It loses points with its price and touchscreen, but it’s fun and fast. You have a robust range of shooting options, solid low-light performance, and you’ll take some very good photos. The question is, how much is that worth to you?