PERFORMANCE TEST : PANASONIC LUMIX DMC-LX7

These days, especially when the bright lens improved Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7 comes on the market, of which we were able to test a production-ready model. The Leica developed, with F1, 4 to F2, 3 fast lens with a small image equivalent focal length of 24-90 millimeters unmatched even. But under the hood should have improved a lot: about the new CMOS sensor that will not only provide better image quality, but also Full HD video at 50 frames per second can be recorded. We looked at the LX7 in the laboratory and in practical detail how to read in the following compact test.

Ergonomics and processing With the Lumix DMC-LX7 Panasonic remains the classic block-like design of the LX5 with concise protruding lens and a small handle. The housing is made of metal and is perfectly finished, the matte black finish does not show such a bit smooth and the handle of the little Gummibelederung not offer much support. On the back there is a thumb rest with recessed Click Wheel. The idea to give the wheel by pressing a new feature is very smart - but can turn the wheel a bit heavy and does not quite as high quality as the rest of the camera. New is a small lever below the Programmwahlrads that can be rocked not only left and right, but also pressed. This is useful if, for example, the swing in neutral density filter into the lens - in the face of light intensity a useful function, even when the sun to use large aperture design terms.

The metal tripod socket on the camera bottom is unfortunately outside the optical axis, but at least it is far enough from the battery and memory card compartment removed, so it is convenient when using tripod can be opened easily. The lithium-ion energy source will last for 330 shots by CIPA standard measurement method, a decent, though not Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7 record-breaking value that fails provide some 20 percent lower than at the LX5. The SD card slot is easily understood with SDHC and SDXC cards, here is the user that is not further restricted. Given the video function one should ever choose a bigger and faster model, the best Class 10

Turned on the LX7 is a small slide switch on top of the camera so that the camera is in the automatic can practically completely operated with one hand: power, zoom and trigger all goes with the index finger. Besides the large rear screen romp more keys. There are no new features compared to the LX5, but still small, the buttons are badly advised, especially since they are to be operated with the thumb of the right hand. The realization of some key labels by different surface structure looks classy but is difficult to read. Although the screen still has no touch operation, but longer stays free of fingerprints. An important detail was still improved: The monitor solves fine at 920,000 dots. Thus, Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7 [Photo: North Media] can barely make out the Bildschrimschriften podium training. The image is sufficiently bright and contrasty, and especially strong in color, so it is well suited as a viewfinder. Anyone who wants can join the optional electronic viewfinder DMW-LVF2 that it brings to 1.4 million pixels. To ensure that no incident sunlight disturbs the image composition.

The screen menus Panasonic has restyled what the Japanese were very successful. However, one must still much scrolling menu, which is sometimes a bit annoying. While it is difficult Menükatagorien directly jump, but not the menu pages. For this one would conveniently be able to use the operating control with the rocker, both scroll through the list, however, only stupid. With all the criticism one must also emphasize that the LX7 operate thanks to the many keys for direct functions and the Quick Menu can be very easily without having to frequently come in contact with the somewhat unfortunate menu. In addition, there is a programmable Fn button and two memory locations for individual preferences on the Programmwählrad.

Features Panasonic succeed in LX7 a balance between ease of use for beginners and full-featured advanced amateur photographers. In the Intelligent Auto, the user must specify practically only the shot and press the shutter button. However, he allowed the intelligent automatic certain Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7 [Photo: Media North] intervention, about the depth of field, white balance or exposure compensation. Panasonic confused help users with no technical terms, but represents with symbols is clearly the direction in which the impact of the need for scroll bars to move. Thus, the white balance warmer (red) or cooler (blue) can be set, sharper the image lighter or darker and the background compared to the foreground or fuzzier.

Conversely, those who prefer to lay your hands on the technical parameters of its LX7 come in to enjoy the new aperture ring, which is independent of the focal length with fixed preset values. That brings the disadvantage that a certain area of ​​the aperture ring at longer focal lengths always the same aperture value. It therefore represents one of F1, F2, or 4 and still is only F2, 3 are available, but this is shown on the screen. One innovation is the smart multi-frame sensor in the camera. It is slightly larger than the illuminated image of the lens group. The lens of the photographer selects a slide's aspect ratio from 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. At least in the latter three formats, the photographer's consistent image of the diagonal angle is always the set kleinbildäquivalenden focal length. At 16:9, the image is not cropped just about up and down, but it come left and right, add a few pixels. Only when you lose 1:1 aspect ratio, unfortunately, a little angle.

New to the LX7 is a HDR image program to combine several differently exposed images into one with a higher dynamic range. Unfortunately this HDR mode is a little too timid to work, so that one quickly reaches its limits and yet have to live with, for example, over-exposed windows with interior shots. The new rocker on the back comes complete with manual focusing advantage. The MF is also activated via a slide switch and lens provides a freely movable focus lens. The focus setting can now be easily set with the rocker playing, while the LX7 shows on the screen to not only the distance in a bar chart, but like the entire focus range or the depth of field. This makes it very easy to use for landscapes, for example, the Hyperfokaldistanz to about two meters to infinity to get everything sharp focus by the focus distance is set so precisely that the focal range extends to infinity zoom. What the LX7 sadly lacking is a focus peaking or edge enhancement function to find the sharpness even easier. The autofocus is pretty fast with around 0.3 seconds, which is very short shutter lag of only 0.01 to 0.02 seconds - that the snapshot LX7 absolutely fit.

With the DMC-LX7 is full HD video thanks to CMOS sensor can now also record 50p, so the videographer an even higher quality for rapid movements available. Is extremely rare to find a manual control of video functions in compact cameras that dominated LX7 it. Aperture, shutter speed and ISO sensitivity can be on Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7 [Photo: Media North] Set request. But also a time-or aperture priority mode are available. The focus will be tracked smoothly and silently (manual focus goes well) is, however, sometimes a little hesitant when major changes are necessary sharpness. The optical zoom remains active, but is much slower and can be heard still very quietly. The slow speed helps to better videos because jerky zooms and quick release of the viewer rather than expressions of discontent enthusiasm. Unfortunately, the LX7 a port for an external microphone, the built-in stereo microphone but works very well. What is missing here, however, are a meter and a manual over-modulation of the sound level. A digital wind filter can be added to turn. In addition to the AVCHD video format can also be set MP4 as well but are only 25 frames per second at full HD resolution available. Alternatively images at 100 frames per second are possible, then the resolution is still at an impressive 1,280 x 720 pixels, so HD.

Image quality expectations for the image quality of a noble compact camera like the LX7 are certainly not low. If only the Leica lens and a diagonal of 1/1, 7 inch slightly larger sensor than in 08/15-Digitalkameras suggest that Panasonic would have met these requirements. At least up to ISO 800, the images should be good and not be lost in the noise or mashed details. Given the larger sensors at Fujifilm (2/3 inch) or Sony (1 inch), the LX7 but certainly not as simple, but is a full stop brighter. Especially in our own test laboratory but also in practice, the LX7 had to put their picture quality to the test. The detailed laboratory test charts with text remarks as usual cost for a small fee (see related links), optionally available in an inexpensive PC to retrieve other laboratory tests of the archive, in particular the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7 [Photo: Media North] direct competition.

The sharpness of the Leica lens extends to all measured focal lengths and apertures for sufficiently sharp prints from 20 x 30 inches. The sharpest performance will be reached at F2, 8 and F4. Randabdunklung occurs on virtually not that Panasonic expects out excellently. Also, the distortion is corrected likely, but not to zero. Telephoto setting it's easy pincushion, with less than 0.5 percent, but negligible. At medium focal length of 50 mm according to the miniature lens to half image height recorded down only slightly cushion shaped, towards the edge on the other hand then slightly barrel-shaped. Generally speaking, therefore a wavy distortion, which remains low. Only in the wide-angle distortion is a little stronger. The only barrel expression achieved on the screen almost two percent, which is quite visible in images, especially when shooting architecture with a lot of lines in the image. Fringing also can make the images. Each at open aperture they are strongest. The average remains below 0.5 pixels wide indeed, but the more extreme manifestations reach a wide angle pixel and 50 millimeters. Telephoto setting of the chromatic aberrations overall slightly stronger and reach up to 1.5 pixels. Stopping down to one or two stages reduces the fringing: at any focal length is.

In the resolution measurements at 50 percent edge contrast it comes to the crunch. This shows that the lens is especially wide-angle is slightly softer at maximum aperture. Up to F2, 0 the resolution remains below 30 line pairs per millimeter (lp / mm), but at least the edge of the resolution does not drop too much, for a wide-angle is a good value. In F2, 8, the image resolution will jump above the mark of 40 lp / mm. However, draws the image with edge not quite, about 30 lp / mm mean a loss of 25 percent resolution. Stopping down further on the resolution in the center F4 increases minimally, not at the edge. At F5, 6 the resolution off above that due to diffraction effects at F8 is the Leica lens in the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7 [Photo: Media North] wide somewhat weaker than in F1, 4 The highest resolution is reached at 50 mm focal length, even at maximum aperture F1, 9 there are about 40 lp / mm at the center to the edge of the lens loses but also around 25 percent. Stopping down further brings the peak of 46 lp / mm at center at F2, 8, the edge of the image is here at 38 lp / mm. For ten megapixel resolution that is an outstanding value that speaks for the Leica lens and the image processing algorithms. Stopping down further slowly lowers the resolution. Telephoto setting of the lens triggers to total less, has at this focal length, but also the slightest edge drop. The maximum is also here at F2, 8, there are 36 lp / mm at center and 31 lp / mm reached at the edge.

Measured ISO sensitivity is very close to the set value. ISO 80-800 it is slightly higher, from ISO 1600 slightly lower. The signal to noise ratio is from ISO 80 to 1,600 in acceptable range of 35 to 40 dB. Only at ISO 80, the LX7 scratches at good range starting at 40 dB. Color noise Panasonic has perfect control, it does not at all practical. The luminance noise is unobtrusive to ISO 1,600, but then to take more. The character of the noise is medium-grained, up to ISO 800, the graininess is two pixels, then it rises. The increasing noise reduction can be discerned in the waning details, the Lumix is ​​very good up to ISO 400, ISO 800, and well up from 1,600 images are blurred or visible detail poorer. The input dynamic range is good up to ISO 1600 in the range of ten f-stops, even at ISO 3200, there are still 9.6, even the nine stops at ISO 6400 are not really bad. These measured values ​​are good but also due to a high shadow noise reduction. Levels the LX7 is here again contrasting, but finds a good balance, so that the images appear crisp, but not artificial. The Ausgangstonwertumfang is good up to ISO 800, it is always mapped less subtle gradations of brightness. The same goes for the color depth up to ISO 800, it is almost a constant level and begins Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7 battery and memory card compartment [Photo: Media North] to fall then, but even at ISO 1,600 to distinguish many subtle gradations between colors, until it goes to the value only in the acceptable range about. While the manual white balance works very precisely, the Lumix colors interpreted more freely. Especially less saturated green tends to yellow, red to Orange. Despite these outliers, the average color difference is small. Your best picture quality, the LX7 shows so clearly up to ISO 400, at ISO 800, it's still good, but then you have to also live with limitations. However, higher sensitivities are quite still for smaller expressions or the already low resolution web presentation.

Conclusion The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7 score with its fast lens and the slightly improved, low-noise CMOS image sensor. She also offers a reasonable price to the quality of workmanship and especially its many features. Panasonic manages to make the balance between ease of use for beginners with quality standards and advanced to configure happy with many switches and buttons themselves everything. The video function is impressive, with only the sound settings could still Panasonic draufpacken a level control and an external microphone jack. The image quality of the LX7 is up to ISO 800 for compact camera conditions very well, but lacks the excellence of zoom compact cameras with even larger sensors. The fast lens is especially at maximum aperture at wide angle a bit softer, but achieved an overall good to very good performance.