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Now reading: Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7 Review 19 comments

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7 Review

Published Oct 15, 2012 | Jeff Keller

15 Samples

Samples Gallery

There are 32 images in the LX7 review samples gallery and 33 images in the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7 preview samples gallery. Please do not reproduce any of these images on a website or any newsletter / magazine without prior permission (see our copyright page). We make the originals available for private users to download to their own machines for personal examination or printing (in conjunction with this review), we do so in good faith, please don't abuse it.

Unless otherwise noted images taken with no particular settings at full resolution. Because our review images are now hosted on the 'galleries' section of dpreview.com, you can enjoy all of the new galleries functionality when browsing these samples.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7 review samples gallery

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7 preview samples gallery

Tags: review, panasonic

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Comments

All (19)

Most popular (2)

Editors' picks (0)

DPR staff (0)

Oldest first

deluk

I have recently bought an LX7 with the add on viewfinder to use alongside my LX3. Very pleased so far. I note in the pros that it has "three types of bracketing". Can you tell me what they are. It does say no WB bracketing and HDR is a scene mode. Thanks.

5 months agopermalink

Miso Peru

Dissapointing image quality | Video realistic as a positive surprise.
Pros:
- excellent 1080p video
- large aperture 1.4-2.3 Carl Zeiss lens - advantage indoors/low light
- external flash hot-shoe - for me very important taking pictures at the party
- compact size
- quite intelligent camera...HDR

Cons:
- extremely low image quality when viewed 100%....though OK for web/email/social media
- aprox. 7mmx5mm small sensor, hence not surprised why low image quality and 1.4-2.3 aperture on the lens
- in video recording when turning the aperture ring or exposure dial the click are quite nosily recorded
-menu/set button would expect to get deeper inside of the menu instead menu/set takes you out of the menu....keep happening to me all the time.
- uncomfortable holding with right hand (I have a bit bulky hand)

Feb 12, 2015permalink

WACONimages

Pixel peeping at 100% isn't where this camera is made for. I'm a full-time pro photographer and almost always have an older LX3+wide angle converter attached on it with me. Gets me near 18mm at 16:9 and still have f2.0 I shoot raw and got several frontpages with this combo.

It is not perfect, but playing around with the settings and shooting jpg+raw, these camera's still have their place.

Mar 8, 2015permalink

Sir Corey of Deane

Miso Peru,

The first three words you wrote are rubbished by the review samples, and the fact that this is your only post on DPReview in three months, makes your screed pretty worthless.

The word "troll" springs to mind.

May 20, 2015permalink

Phily

It is quite true that, when pixel peeping, images from the LX7 are not squeaky clean say above ISO 200. Other than that it is a pleasure to use and images are often better than what they would have been with a camera with a bigger sensor, but with a slower lens and slower operation.

Jun 29, 2015permalink

St Evan

Miso Peru,

your review must have aimed at a different camera.
The LX7 does not have a Carl Zeiss lens, but a Leica lens instead.

Carl Zeiss lenses typically come with Sony cameras.

7 months agopermalink

BobFoster

Have this and other real slr's and this is fantastic camera bar none! 10 megapixel is fine to me. I can crop and always resize smaller anyway. Exceptional detail from that magic summicron leica lens. Really a great camera is all about the lens not the pixel count.

No regrets at all....

Dec 17, 2014permalink

kpaddler

This was a great line of cameras for light travel for serious people.
I have a feeling they will to the same with GX series. If so, I jump panasonic ship.
I don't have time for goofy cameras. Olympus has shown some convictions so far.

Panasonic should go back to make just microwave oven and kitchen appliances.

Sep 10, 2014permalink

wgerhartz

The LX7 offers a lot of camera for its money! I liked it from the very beginning.

However, my comment emphasizes its robustness. I was careless enough to let it drop from about 7 m unto a stone floor. It survived! It fell on the left upper edge (where the flash pops out).There is a dent, and the cover warps out by less than a mm. The flash needs fingernail assistance to pop out. Apart from that, there is not the slightest flaw in the optical quality of the photographs. I am amazed!

Jul 17, 2014permalink

johnhb1

My LX5 survived several bad incidents. I am sure my LX7 will do what it can to keep on ticking.

Nov 8, 2014permalink

mmartel

I've also got to give Panasonic some props. My LX7 also survived a nearly 2m fall onto a hardwood floor during a clumsy attempt to lift it from its shelf in a cabinet. I was horrified when it happened, certain that the camera was destroyed. But it powered right up and, aside from a slightly dented corner, hasn't skipped a beat. I've shot over 4000 images on it since the fall nearly a year ago with no problems. Credit the design, materials, and manufacturing.

As an aside, our Panasonic TS-5 rugged/waterproof camera also took a 1+m drop onto asphalt this past week when being passed between my wife and I. It also survived with just a couple scratches.

Jul 10, 2015permalink

disraeli demon

Just upgraded to this from an LX3 and I'm loving it. Snappier all round, better noise control, faster burst rate and the combination of step zoom plus lens resume (resets the lens to the focal length it was at when the camera powered down) means I'm shooting much more in the middle of the range instead of slamming from full wide to full tele all the time.

(Plus, high-speed video at 720p!!!)

I did quite a bit of research before this upgrade, and while I was tempted by the rangefinder-style layout of the Fuji X20 (but too big for my taste and limited video) and the flip-out touch-screen of the Olympus XZ-2 (but there are stories of focussing issues and it lacks that high-speed video option) in the end, this was the one for me.

Dec 14, 2013permalink

RP McMurphy

The door on my LX3 is long snapped off
v annoying

Dec 10, 2013permalink

Ikay

Dear Jeff Keller,
I really enjoy reading your reviews. BUT why do you keep harping on the allegedly 'flimsy' door of the battery/card compartment? I've been with the LX series since the LX3 and this door is totally adequate. Ok,when it's open it wobbles a bit,but it's normally closed and then it's perfectly ok.
Just treat it as you would treat the rest of the camera.
Of course,if you let your 5-year-old 'use' it,it will soon become flimsy...

Nov 24, 2013permalink

Death89

I have to agree on this point. I've never had any issues with the door on my Panasonic cameras.

I guess it could be down to the fact I'm pretty regimented in how I change batteries/cards (I open the door, pop out the battery/card and close it again - makes sense to me not to leave a door open no matter how solidly built it is) but really as long as you don't travel round with it open I can't see how it could be a problem

Jul 2, 2014permalink

Joseph Broz

The photo software that ships with the Lumix LX7 will not work with Windows 8. Does anyone know when Panasonic will fix this?

Aug 11, 2013permalink

Midwest

Unfortunately, Panasonic cannot fix the nightmare that is Windows 8.

May 18, 2014permalink

Victor Stan

Windows 7 works good, why do people rush so early to new OS? It's common sense that it takes a minimum of 6 months for any OS to be polished. Well in the case of Microsoft it takes forever since they only make a new OS because they aren't able to fix their current one. But always wait at least half a year to jump the bandwagon man!

Jun 15, 2014permalink

timlturner

The only way to tolerate Windows 8 is to use the free app Classic Shell. Makes windows 8 work like windows 7 but better.

Dec 21, 2014permalink


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Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7 Review

Samples Gallery

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7 review samples gallery

Panasonic Lumix DMC LX7 Review Samples

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7 preview samples gallery

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7 Preview Samples

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