Panasonic LX7 Comparison Review

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7 is a fixed lens compact camera that was revealed to the public in July 2012 and is equipped with a 1/1.7-inch sensor. It offers a resolution of 10 megapixel.

Is the Panasonic LX7 a good camera? The LX7 has a Camera Elo of 1599. This rating puts the LX7 below average of all travel zoom compact cameras. In terms of its sensor size category (small sensor cameras), the LX7 also ranks below average. – Well, the Panasonic LX7 is more than 9 years old, and there have been many other good digital cameras released since 2012.

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.

Body comparison with a credit card

The physical dimensions of the Panasonic LX7 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.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the Panasonic LX7 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.

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 LX7	111 mm	68 mm	46 mm	298 g	330	n	Jul 2012	499
2.		Canon G16	109 mm	76 mm	40 mm	356 g	360	n	Aug 2013	549
3.		Canon G15	107 mm	76 mm	40 mm	352 g	350	n	Sep 2012	499
4.		Fujifilm X20	117 mm	70 mm	57 mm	353 g	270	n	Jan 2013	599
5.		Fujifilm X10	117 mm	70 mm	57 mm	350 g	270	n	Sep 2011	599
6.		Panasonic LF1	103 mm	62 mm	28 mm	192 g	250	n	Apr 2013	499
7.		Panasonic FZ200	125 mm	87 mm	110 mm	588 g	540	n	Jul 2012	599
8.		Panasonic GF5	108 mm	67 mm	37 mm	267 g	360	n	Apr 2012	499
9.		Panasonic G3	115 mm	84 mm	47 mm	336 g	270	n	May 2011	599
10.		Panasonic GF3	108 mm	67 mm	32 mm	264 g	300	n	Jun 2011	549
11.		Panasonic LX5	110 mm	65 mm	43 mm	271 g	400	n	Jul 2010	499
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

The listed prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The Panasonic LX7 was launched in the US market at a price of $499. 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.

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. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tent to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

The Panasonic LX7 features a 1/1.7-inch sensor and has a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 4.65. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the Panasonic LX7 among the smaller-sensor digicams that favor affordability and compact design.

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for most cameras. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of alternatives.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Panasonic LX7	1/1.7	10.0	3648	2736	1080/60p	20.7	11.7	147	50
2.		Canon G16	1/1.7	12.0	4000	3000	1080/60p	21.0	11.7	230	54
3.		Canon G15	1/1.7	12.0	4000	3000	1080/24p	19.9	11.5	165	46
4.		Fujifilm X20	2/3	12.0	4000	3000	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
5.		Fujifilm X10	2/3	12.0	4000	3000	1080/30p	20.5	11.3	245	50
6.		Panasonic LF1	1/1.7	12.0	4000	3000	1080/60i	20.8	11.6	211	52
7.		Panasonic FZ200	1/2.3	12.0	4000	3000	1080/60p	19.1	10.8	114	37
8.		Panasonic GF5	Four Thirds	12.0	4000	3000	1080/60i	21.4	11.6	618	61
9.		Panasonic G3	Four Thirds	15.8	4592	3448	1080/60i	21.0	10.6	667	56
10.		Panasonic GF3	Four Thirds	12.0	4000	3000	1080/60i	20.6	10.0	458	49
11.		Panasonic LX5	1/1.7	10.0	3648	2736	720/60p	19.6	10.8	132	41

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. The LX7 indeed provides movie recording capabilities. The highest resolution format that the LX7 can use is 1080/60p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The following tables report on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Panasonic LX7 and comparable cameras.

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)	Mech Shutter Speed	Shutter Flaps (1/sec)	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Panasonic LX7	optional	n	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/4000s	11.0	Y	Y
2.		Canon G16	optical	n	3.0 / 922	fixed	n	1/4000s	2.2	Y	Y
3.		Canon G15	optical	n	3.0 / 922	fixed	n	1/4000s	2.1	Y	Y
4.		Fujifilm X20	optical	n	2.8 / 460	fixed	n	1/4000s	12.0	Y	Y
5.		Fujifilm X10	optical	n	2.8 / 460	fixed	n	1/4000s	10.0	Y	Y
6.		Panasonic LF1	200	n	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/4000s	10.0	Y	Y
7.		Panasonic FZ200	1312	n	3.0 / 460	swivel	n	1/4000s	12.0	Y	Y
8.		Panasonic GF5	none	n	3.0 / 920	fixed	Y	1/4000s	4.0	Y	n
9.		Panasonic G3	1440	n	3.0 / 460	swivel	Y	1/4000s	4.0	Y	n
10.		Panasonic GF3	none	n	3.0 / 460	fixed	Y	1/4000s	3.2	Y	n
11.		Panasonic LX5	optional	n	3.0 / 460	fixed	n	1/4000s	2.5	Y	Y

One convenient feature of the LX7 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.

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-LX7 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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 LX7	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
2.		Canon G16	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
3.		Canon G15	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
4.		Fujifilm X20	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	-	-	-
5.		Fujifilm X10	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
6.		Panasonic LF1	-	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
7.		Panasonic FZ200	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
8.		Panasonic GF5	-	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
9.		Panasonic G3	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
10.		Panasonic GF3	-	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
11.		Panasonic LX5	Y	mono / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-

The LX7 has a zoom lens built in (4.7-17.7mm f/1.4-2.3), which, in full frame equivalent terms, provides a focal length range from 24 to 90mm. 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.

Expert reviews

While the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the handling experience and imaging performance when actually working with the LX7. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable. This is where reviews by experts come in. The following table reports the overall rankings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]).

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 LX7	3/5	+ +	..	75/100	4/5	4.5/5	Jul 2012	499
2.		Canon G16	4/5	+	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2013	549
3.		Canon G15	4/5	+	..	76/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2012	499
4.		Fujifilm X20	4/5	+ +	..	77/100	4.5/5	5/5	Jan 2013	599
5.		Fujifilm X10	..	..	..	76/100	4/5	4.5/5	Sep 2011	599
6.		Panasonic LF1	3/5	+	..	..	4/5	4.5/5	Apr 2013	499
7.		Panasonic FZ200	3/5	+ +	..	80/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jul 2012	599
8.		Panasonic GF5	3/5	..	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Apr 2012	499
9.		Panasonic G3	3/5	+ +	..	75/100	4.5/5	5/5	May 2011	599
10.		Panasonic GF3	3/5	82/100	..	71/100	4.5/5	4/5	Jun 2011	549
11.		Panasonic LX5	4/5	+	..	73/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jul 2010	499
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

Camera to camera comparisons

In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities with other camera models, just make your choice using the following search menu. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

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