Panasonic Lumix LX100 II Review

The Panasonic Lumix LX100 II is a premium compact camera aimed squarely at enthusiast shooters who want manual control and image quality without the bulk of an interchangeable lens system. It retains the winning formula of the original: a Four Thirds sensor, a fast Leica-branded 24-75mm f/1.7-2.8 zoom lens, and a built-in electronic viewfinder with over 2.7 million dots. The camera adds welcome refinements like extra customizable buttons and maintains the multi-aspect ratio shooting that uses the full sensor width regardless of format.

Reviewers appreciate the solid feature set, including 4K video at 30p, focus stacking, 11 fps burst shooting, and optical image stabilization. The controls are well laid out and familiar to anyone who values tactile dials over touchscreen menus. At 349 grams, it remains genuinely pocketable for a large-sensor compact. The touchscreen LCD and modern connectivity (Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2) round out a package designed for shooters who know what they want.

The LX100 II launched at $1,000 in 2018, positioning it in the premium compact tier. It's an iterative update rather than a revolutionary one, but reviewers note it delivers on the core promise: a capable, well-built camera that doesn't sacrifice control or lens speed for portability.