bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

"I would rate it as possibly the best digital camera I've owned."

I agree. Except for a camera I use with a very long telephoto for wildlife, the LX100 is my primary camera. That it can be so good goes very much counter to the DSLR culture, but it produces results I couldn't get with bulkier, heavier cameras.

TonyP Loc: New Zealand

Thats a nice coincidence Bill. Like you the LX100 has become my primary and like you my D7100 has a longer lens, a 70-300 permanently afixed.
My all time most used and favourite lens was the Nikkor 24-70 2.8 non VR, same range as the LX100. As I rarely print larger than 8 x 10 the Nikkor 24-70 is now pretty much redundant, dont think Ive used it since I got the LX100.

Straycat

I have had Panasonic Lumix cameras. Old ZS5 and ZS8. While I loved their size and ease of use, the sensors die quickly. I took one apart. It's layers of circuit boards. I am shopping for a compact bridge camera that functions in low light and can take the road and off road bumps on a bicycle.

Basil Loc: New Mexico

I found this thread in a search for LX100 topics. This is a camera I have lusted after for a few years now, but could not bring myself to pull the trigger on $600-$800 cost for new (I think they are now available new now for just a tad under $600). $600 is still hard for me to do as I have two Canon DSLRs already.

However, I just snagged a deal on a used LX100 in very good condition for about half the price of new. I anticipate using this primarily as a travel camera for trips where I really don't want to drag a log of equipment around. Really looking forward to getting out with this thing to see what it can do.

TonyP Loc: New Zealand

G'day Basil, Great camera in my opinion and as long as you spend a bit of time setting it up and getting to know your way the menu etc I am sure you will find it a great little asset. I think a lot of people who buy this camera then sell it on get confused with the controls and give up. I have a D7100 and it takes, I think, marginally better results, IQ wise. But as most of my pics are really only for my website, the difference is not concerning to me.
One tip, watch the Exposure Compensation dial, top right on the body. easy to turn accidentally. Another tip, I use the dial on the lens to zoom in/out rather than the fiddly little lever on top of the body. Just a personal preference of course.
An advantage to me, I haven't seen anyone mention before, is the ability to use the viewfinder, but, also, when you want to look like all the cellphone camera users rather than as a serious photographer, using the back screen is brilliant. To me anyway. The bottom right little button on the back is also useful for screen/viewfinder settings on the run. If you want to check horizon levels etc, a push or two on this button brings up the options, even blinkies. No having to go in to menu options.
Only one debit Ive found is be careful using the zoom in 'dusty' conditions. Ive taken thousands of pics now with mine but, once, somewhere, I sucked dust in around the zoom. A clean here in NZ cost $300! Worth it to me tho and its never happened again.

Enjoy

Basil Loc: New Mexico

Thanks for the tips, Tony! I've also read somewhere else to be careful about dusty conditions so I will sure try to heed that advice! $300 to clean - yikes! I have a Canon 7DII and 5DIV as well, but I'm hoping this will suffice for many travel situations when I don't want to haul the DSLRs and lenses around. I also plan to keep this with me (in a backpack or jacket pocket) most of the time.

TonyP Loc: New Zealand

Yes, the dust thing happened late last year. The three hundred dollars was because I was out of warranty but the good news was that now ‘fixed’, apparently it shouldn’t happen again. The guy I spoke to at the repair shop here said some had ‘imperfect seals’ fitted at manufacture. Whether that is true I don’t know. He’s just the repair agent for Panny here in NZ. He gave only a 12 month warranty on the repair. Go figure!
Prior to that I had the LX 7. A new ‘board’ for that also cost, wait for it $300! But it’s still going strong as I gave it to a grandson.
Good luck with yours.

Basil Loc: New Mexico

I sure hope I have better luck! By the way, I just did a quick conversion - $300 NZ dollars is just under $200 US - still a lot!

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

The LX-100 II is a better camera, but still has some annoyances. Read reviews of both models on http://www.dpreview.com.

TonyP Loc: New Zealand

Thanks for that link. All I can say is that the MarkII would be my perfect camera now, almost. I notice Panasonic has promised a more efficient dust limiting seal on the lens. This is interesting as the guy who repaired mine said the seal he put in was better than the original.. Wondering if he had access to the MkII seal as a replacement.

If the new one had a maneuverable screen this would be the perfect camera for my requirements. The new sensor it seems is a beauty from what I read on another site. Bluetooth. Great. The touch screen makes me a little nervous as I have to clean the existing one often, to get rid of my greasy nose marks.. The better jpg quality with the new sensor would be another plus, tho was happy with the Mk I version until I read you can get better in the same package. Maybe as an ex Leica M3 user the feel seems familiar but I do really enjoy using the LX100.
Only thing that puts it out of my reach is price. Mind you, if I sold my now unused Nikon gear?? Food for thought.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

I was a Canon and Nikon user for decades (1968 – 2012). In 2012, I was introduced to Lumix by Will Crockett, a well-known photo educator and commercial photographer here in the US. He loaned me a G3 to test. It had lots of promise, but I wanted better video.

I waited for the GH4 to be released in 2014, and bought one some time later that year. I've been so happy with it, we have two of them, now.

The lens on the LX100 is the same Leica zoom used in the LX100-II, with better dust seals. I would probably buy the LX100-II for travel if I had the disposable income (twins in college right now...). The GH4 setup is a bit big to carry for vacation, but the LX100 series is pocketable.

Lumix has made some amazing gear. I do wish the AF worked better, but I don't use AF for video, and I don't do sports and wildlife work. I LOVE Lumix menus and control layouts. They're so logical and well-placed.

Basil Loc: New Mexico

Yeah, I would probably rather have the version II but I'm pretty happy I found a decent version 1 for a very good price.

Basil Loc: New Mexico

The LX100 arrived today. Looks like a great, well-built little camera with lots of bells. I suspect a little bit of a learning curve.

TonyP Loc: New Zealand

Pleased for you Basil. Hope you make the time to learn the various aspects of operating the little beastie. As I think I said earlier, it appears to me many people dont realise that its not a straight out of the box go shooting, piece of kit.

I found that working my way through the menus first and setting it up to get the general results I wanted, for mainly landscapes, but a bit of everything really, the advantage of the controls on the camera body come in to their own with final tweaking.
Other than to format a card, I rarely have to go into the menus these days.

One auto accessory I would highly recommend is the auto lens cap. Takes the hassle out of pocketing the clip on version.
Another is change the noise reduction down to about 3, maybe 4.
Thats all that comes immediately to mind.
Enjoy.

Basil Loc: New Mexico

Thanks for the tips. As it happens, this camera came with the auto-lens car and the little (very little) external flash and also an after market "upstrap" strap (original strap is still in the plastic). I've been through the manes already and see that it does look like it will take some getting used to.