Panasonic Lumix LX10 / LX15 review

Verdict

Panasonic has a long and commendable history in the enthusiast compact market, and the LX10 / LX15 is another fine addition to the Lumix stable. 

Its snappy autofocus system and clear, responsive touchscreen make it a highly enjoyable camera to use, and the standard of its images and videos is reliably high. The fact that the camera is so diminutively proportioned also means you won't feel discouraged taking it out for the evening, but will still feel confident enough to use it in more demanding scenarios, where you might normally use an interchangeable-lens camera.  

It’s not, however, alone in managing to offer all this, and highly capable rivals from the likes of Sony and Canon mean it's worth thinking carefully about what you need, and what you’re happy to do without. The lack of a viewfinder and a proper grip alone, for example, will be enough to put off many, particularly those accustomed to interchangeable-lens systems. Those capturing seascapes or long exposures may also be irked by the omission of an ND filter, although this is a minor point and it won’t upset everyone.

If these things don’t put you off, the Panasonic LX10 / LX15 is worth a serious look, particularly if you’re lucky enough to own a 4K display of some kind and imagine you’ll call upon video recording with some frequency. True, it may not be significantly different to existing compact options, but it still manages to offer and excellent performance-to-size ratio – and that’s precisely the point of such a camera. 

Competition

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Sony Cyber-shot RX100 III

Sony’s massively popular RX100 line is now on its fifth iteration, but the Mark III option is perhaps the main rival to the LX10 / LX15 when prices and specs are considered. The LX10 has the advantage of a touchscreen and a lens that’s both slightly faster and marginally broader in focal range, although the RX100 III boasts an excellent built-in electronic viewfinder and an integrated ND filter, together with 16fps burst shooting and a slightly longer battery life than the LX15.

Read our in-depth Sony RX100 Mark III review

Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II

A slightly cheaper but still very capable alternative from Canon, the G7 X Mark II has a longer (but slightly slower) 24-100mm f/1.8-2.8 lens, a built-in ND filter and a more defined rubber grip that provides superior handling to the LX10 / LX15. On the other hand, its beefier size means it’s not quite as pocketable as the Panasonic, and it’s a shame that video recording tops out at Full HD. 

Read our in-depth Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II review

Panasonic Lumix ZS100 / TZ100

While the ZS100’s 25-250mm lens places it firmly in superzoom compact territory, it equals the LX10 in combining a 20MP 1.0-inch sensor and 4K video recording, and does so with a reasonably similar body size and at only a marginally cheaper asking price. Aside from its longer lens it also has a built-in electronic viewfinder to recommend it, although its screen can’t be tilted in any way, unlike the LX10’s. 

Read our in-depth Panasonic Lumix ZS100 / TZ100 review