Panasonic LX100 2

A WORTHWHILE UPDATE TO A DESERVEDLY POPULAR CAMERA.

IT’S FAIR TO say that the Panasonic Lumix LX100 II is more of a incremental update than a massive overhaul, hence why Panasonic probably felt it merited a ‘Mark II’ designation (a first for a Lumix camera) rather than a whole new model name (many people were expecting the Lumix LX200).

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it – the original Lumix LX100 was one of our favorite compact cameras, and while it’s been a little overshadowed in recent years, it’s still a nice camera to use.

The good news then is that the Lumix LX100 II feels just like its popular predecessor: a portable, responsive premium compact camera with a fast lens and appealing external controls. The new grip makes it better to hold, and the increased resolution is welcome.

While it’s not really designed as an action camera, the Lumix LX100 II can rattle off up to 11fps (in AF-S mode), though this drops down to 5.5fps with continuous focusing. If that’s not enough, you can take advantage of the Lumix LX100 II’s various 4K Photo modes, allowing you to shoot at up to 30fps and select a 8MP JPEG file from the sequence.

Panasonic hit something of a sweet spot with the first version of this camera, and although it’s complex and fiddly in some areas the Lumix LX100 II has lost none of the original’s appeal – and while it might not have the broadest appeal, the enthusiast photographer looking for a pocket-sized partner with plenty of tactile controls, you won’t be disappointed.