27. In Practice

Undeniably, the LX1 is enjoyable to use. That's partly due to its very good LCD screen, but also to the good layout of the controls and clear menus.

The images we got were very high in quality. The lens provided good sharpness all over the image, despite the wide viewing angle, though of course, it's preferable to stop down a little for optimum results. The main criticism we would make of the LX1 is the noise level in the images, which was always a little higher than with the competition. That's relative though, and won't be a problem except with very big enlargements, but it's hard not to notice it. For high sensitivities, there is a noise-reduction function, which can improve the situation, and 16:9 images are very appealing for certain types of shots.

Despite the difficulty of this shot, the LX1 made a perfect exposure, and the resolution is very good.

In telephoto position, the zoom lens still performed very well.

At ISO 400 the image is affected by noise, but the results will be perfectly acceptable for a standard-size print.

In the Plus Column

Wide range of possibilities 16:9 sensor with wide angle Stabilizer Handsome and very compact

In the Minus Column

Slightly noisy images

A very handsome unit and a very fine camera, the Lumix LX1 will be attractive to those who like panoramic images without having to stitch multiple shots together. However its price may turn many potential buyers away.