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Panasonic LX15 Comparison Review

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX15 (called Panasonic LX10 in some regions) is a fixed lens compact camera that was revealed to the public in September 2016 and is equipped with an one-inch sensor. It offers a resolution of 20 megapixel.

camera

Is the Panasonic LX15 a good camera? The LX15 has a Camera Elo of 2288. This rating puts the LX15 among the top 20 percent of all travel zoom compact cameras. In terms of its sensor size category (one inch cameras), the LX15 ranks among the top 40 percent. Based on its within category standings, the camera earns a 4-star performance rating.

Headline Specifications
Panasonic LX15
Fixed lens compact camera
24-72mm f/1.4-2.8
20 MP, 1" Sensor
4K/30p Video
ISO 125 - 12 800 (80 - 25 600)
no viewfinder, LCD framing
3.0 LCD, 1040k dots
Tilting touchscreen
10 shutter flaps per second
In-body stabilization
260 shots per battery charge
106 x 60 x 42 mm, 310 g

Read on to find out more about the camera's size, sensor, features, reception by expert reviewers, and how it compares to other digital cameras.

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Body comparison with a credit card

The physical dimensions of the Panasonic LX15 relative to a credit card are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Panasonic LX15 vs credit card front
LX15 versus credit card top view
LX15 and credit card rear side

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the Panasonic LX15 alongside a set of similar cameras. If you want to review a particular camera pair side-by-side, just move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible comparisons there.

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Body Specifications
#   Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Panasonic LX15 106 mm 60 mm 42 mm 310 g 260 n Sep 2016 699 amazon.com
2.
 
Canon G7 X Mark II 106 mm 61 mm 42 mm 319 g 265 n Feb 2016 699ebay.com
3.
 
Canon G5 X 112 mm 76 mm 44 mm 353 g 210 n Oct 2015 799ebay.com
4.
 
Fujifilm X70 113 mm 64 mm 44 mm 340 g 330 n Jan 2016 799ebay.com
5.
 
Panasonic TZ200 111 mm 65 mm 45 mm 340 g 370 n Feb 2018 799 amazon.com
6.
 
Panasonic TZ90 112 mm 67 mm 41 mm 322 g 380 n Apr 2017 449ebay.com
7.
 
Panasonic FZ2000 138 mm 102 mm 135 mm 915 g 350 n Sep 2016 1,199 amazon.com
8.
 
Panasonic GX80 122 mm 71 mm 44 mm 426 g 290 n Apr 2016 799 amazon.com
9.
 
Panasonic TZ100 111 mm 65 mm 44 mm 312 g 300 n Jan 2016 699ebay.com
10.
 
Panasonic LX7 111 mm 68 mm 46 mm 298 g 330 n Jul 2012 499ebay.com
11.
 
Sony RX100 V 102 mm 58 mm 41 mm 299 g 220 n Oct 2016 999ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
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The listed prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The Panasonic LX15 was launched in the US market at a price of $699. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

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Check LX15 price at
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Sensor comparison with a 35mm slide

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

The Panasonic LX15 features an one-inch sensor and has a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 2.7. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the Panasonic LX15 among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability.

Panasonic LX15 sensor measures

For most cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

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Sensor Characteristics
#   Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Panasonic LX15 1-inch 20.0 5472 36484K/30p21.912.031562
2.
 
Canon G7 X Mark II 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p21.811.926062
3.
 
Canon G5 X 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p21.412.347162
4.
 
Fujifilm X70 APS-C 16.0 4896 32641080/60p23.713.0160880
5.
 
Panasonic TZ200 1-inch 20.0 5472 36484K/30p22.012.244964
6.
 
Panasonic TZ90 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38884K/30p19.110.610636
7.
 
Panasonic FZ2000 1-inch 20.0 5472 36484K/30p23.012.653870
8.
 
Panasonic GX80 Four Thirds 15.8 4592 34484K/30p22.912.666271
9.
 
Panasonic TZ100 1-inch 20.0 5472 36484K/30p22.812.555970
10.
 
Panasonic LX7 1/1.7 10.0 3648 27361080/60p20.711.714750
11.
 
Sony RX100 V 1-inch 20.0 5472 36484K/30p22.812.458670
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
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Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. The LX15 indeed provides movie recording capabilities. The highest resolution format that the LX15 can use is 4K/30p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The following tables report on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Panasonic LX15 and comparable cameras.

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Core Features
#   Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Panasonic LX15none n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 10.0/s Y Y
2.
 
Canon G7 X Mark IInone n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/2000s 8.0/s Y Y
3.
 
Canon G5 X2360 n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/2000s 5.9/s Y Y
4.
 
Fujifilm X70optional n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 8.0/s Y n
5.
 
Panasonic TZ2002330 n3.0 / 1240 fixed Y 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
6.
 
Panasonic TZ901166 n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
7.
 
Panasonic FZ20002360 n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 12.0/s Y Y
8.
 
Panasonic GX802765 n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 8.0/s Y Y
9.
 
Panasonic TZ1001166 n3.0 / 1040 fixed Y 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
10.
 
Panasonic LX7optional n3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/4000s 11.0/s Y Y
11.
 
Sony RX100 V2359 n3.0 / 1229 tilting n 1/2000s 24.0/s Y Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
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The LCD screen on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX15 is flexibly attached to the body. In particular, the LCD can be tilted vertically to facilitate odd-angle shots in landscape orientation. This tilting design is often preferred, for example, by street photographers to a fully articulated, swivel type of LCD attachment, as it is more unobtrusive during shooting than a screen that flips out to the side.

articulated screen
Flexible screen on the LX15

One convenient feature of the LX15 is the presence of an on-board flash. While this built-in flash is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light to brighten deep shadow areas.

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Connection comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX15 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
#   Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Panasonic LX15-stereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
2.
 
Canon G7 X Mark II-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
3.
 
Canon G5 XYstereo / mono--mini2.0YY-
4.
 
Fujifilm X70Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0Y--
5.
 
Panasonic TZ200-stereo / mono--micro2.0Y-Y
6.
 
Panasonic TZ90-stereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
7.
 
Panasonic FZ2000Ystereo / monoYYmicro2.0Y--
8.
 
Panasonic GX80Ystereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
9.
 
Panasonic TZ100-stereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
10.
 
Panasonic LX7Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
11.
 
Sony RX100 V-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
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It is notable that the LX15 offers wifi support. Wifi can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location.

The LX15 has a zoom lens built in (8.8-26.4mm f/1.4-2.8), which, in full frame equivalent terms, provides a focal length range from 24 to 72mm. The camera is, hence, ready to shoot, while remaining more compact in size than an interchangeable lens camera with an optic that offers similar focal length and aperture specifications.

Further information on the features and operation of the LX15 can be found in the free online Panasonic LX15 Manual or on the Panasonic support site.

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Expert reviews

While the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it says nothing about, for example, the handling, responsiveness, and overall imaging quality of the LX15 in practical situations. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate. This is why expert reviews are important. The adjacent table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]).

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Review Scores
#    Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Panasonic LX15..+ +4/581/1004/54.5/5 Sep 2016 699 amazon.com
2.
 
Canon G7 X Mark II4.5/5+ +..81/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2016 699ebay.com
3.
 
Canon G5 X5/5+ +..78/1004.5/54.5/5 Oct 2015 799ebay.com
4.
 
Fujifilm X704.5/5....76/1004.5/54.5/5 Jan 2016 799ebay.com
5.
 
Panasonic TZ200..+ +4.5/581/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2018 799 amazon.com
6.
 
Panasonic TZ90..+ +4/5..4/54/5 Apr 2017 449ebay.com
7.
 
Panasonic FZ2000..+..82/1004.5/55/5 Sep 2016 1,199 amazon.com
8.
 
Panasonic GX804.5/5+ +..82/1005/55/5 Apr 2016 799 amazon.com
9.
 
Panasonic TZ1004.5/5+ +..82/1004.5/54.5/5 Jan 2016 699ebay.com
10.
 
Panasonic LX73/5+ +..75/1004/54.5/5 Jul 2012 499ebay.com
11.
 
Sony RX100 V4.5/5+ +..83/1004/54.5/5 Oct 2016 999ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
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The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

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Check LX15 price at
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Panasonic LX15 FAQ

Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the LX15.

What technology is the imaging sensor in the Panasonic LX15 based on?

The camera is build around a BSI-CMOS (Backside Illuminated Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor.

Which image processing chip is used in the Panasonic LX15 to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?

Panasonic equipped the LX15 with the Venus image processor.

What is the ISO sensitivity range of the Panasonic LX15?

The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 125 to ISO 12800, which can be extended to ISO 80-25600.

Does the Panasonic LX15 have a selfie-friendly screen?

Yes, the LCD-screen of the LX15 is flexible and can be turned to be front-facing for capturing selfies.

Is completely silent shooting possible with the Panasonic LX15?

The camera has an electronic shutter option, so that it is indeed feasible to capture images without any shutter noise.

Do I need to purchase an external camera trigger to shoot time-lapse sequences with the Panasonic LX15?

No, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX15 has an intervalometer built-in, so that low frequency shooting (for example, flower blooming, sunset, moon rise) can be undertaken without the need to purchase a separate external intervalometer and related software.

Is it difficult to use manual focus lenses with the Panasonic LX15?

The LX15 offers focus peaking as a manual focus aid. This feature works by placing a colored highlight on in-focus zones within the image.

Does the Panasonic LX15 feature an autofocus assist light?

Yes, the camera has a lamp built-in that can illuminate the subject and improve autofocus in low-light settings.

Does the Panasonic LX15 support the Ultra High Speed (UHS) bus interface for SD cards?

Yes, the camera can indeed use UHS-I cards (data transfer speed of up to 104 MB/s).

Which battery does the Panasonic LX15 use?

The camera gets its power from the DMW-BLH7 (here at amazon), which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.

Camera to camera comparisons

In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities with other camera models, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. An an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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    Specifications Summary
    Camera Model Panasonic LX15
    Camera Type Fixed lens compact camera
    Camera Lens 24-72mm f/1.4-2.8
    Launch Date September 2016
    Launch Price USD 699
    Sensor Specs
    Sensor Technology BSI-CMOS
    Sensor Format 1" Sensor
    Sensor Size 13.2 x 8.8 mm
    Sensor Area 116 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 15.9 mm
    Crop Factor 2.7x
    Sensor Resolution 20 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 5 472 x 3 648 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 2.41 μm
    Pixel Density 17.18 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability 4K/30p Video
    ISO Setting 125 - 12 800 ISO
    ISO Boost 80 - 25 600 ISO
    Image Processor Venus
    Screen Specs
    Viewfinder Type No viewfinder
    Top-Level Screen no Top Display
    LCD Framing Live View
    LCD Size 3.0 inch
    LCD Resolution 1040k dots
    LCD Attachment Tilting screen
    V-logging Friendliness Front-flip possible
    Touch Input Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs
    Focus System Contrast-detect AF
    Manual Focusing AidFocus Peaking
    Maximum Shutter Speed 1/4000s
    Continuous Shooting 10 shutter flaps/s
    Silent ShootingElectronic Shutter
    Time Lapse PhotographyIntervalometer Built-in
    Image StabilizationIn-body stabilization
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot
    UHS card support UHS-I
    Connectivity Specs
    External Flash no Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0
    HDMI Port micro HDMI
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in
    Body Specs
    Battery Type DMW-BLH7 power pack
    Battery Life (CIPA)260 shots per charge
    In-Camera Charging USB charging
    Body Dimensions 106 x 60 x 42 mm
    (4.2 x 2.4 x 1.7 in)
    Camera Weight 310 g (10.9 oz)

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