Image: Panasonic
Panasonic is celebrating the 25th anniversary with the launch of a large sensor enthusiast zoom compact.
The L10 is essentially a fully modernized version of its LX100 camera, using the company's latest 26.5MP sensor and the processor used in the S1RII. It features a version of the 24-75mm equivalent F1.8-2.8 lens from the LX100, updated in an unspecified way.
While the new model clearly shares much of the LX100 series' heritage, Panasonic says the L10 represents a new premium compact camera line.
The use of that sensor means it offers phase detection autofocus and the dynamic range boost function from the GH7 and G9II, along with all the company's latest subject recognition algorithms.
As with the other LX100 cameras, the lens doesn't cover the whole sensor, instead delivering up to 20MP images. It takes a multi-aspect approach, giving a consistent angle of view whether you shoot 4:3, 3:2 or 16:9 aspect ratios. A dedicated switch on the lens barrel lets you directly select these ratios or 1:1.
The camera has a full-metal body and a fully articulated 1.84M dot rear display. It also gains a more modern 2.36M dot OLED viewfinder, rather than the field-sequential display used by the LX100 models.
This makes it a significantly different camera than the LX100-related Leica D-Lux 8, which persisted with the sensor and processor from the LX100 II and kept the fixed rear screen design of the older models. The L10 also switches to using the much larger BLK-22 battery from the GH series, which should significantly improve performance.
The Lumix L10 Titanium Gold edition will be available directly from Panasonic in most markets.
Image: Panasonic
The move to a modern AF system, the addition of an articulated rear screen, the switch to an OLED viewfinder and the adoption of a larger battery appear to directly address our biggest concerns about the LX100 II, making the L10 highly sought-after within the DPReview team.
Color changes
In addition to the major hardware changes, the camera gets several new image presets: L.Classic and L.Classic Gold, which give the look of historic film stocks. It also has the Leica Monochome look we've seen in recent Panasonics. On top of this, it has the LUT button on the back of the camera, first seen in the Lumix DC-S9. This accesses the camera's ability to upload, overlay and combine custom image styles using the movie industry standard Cube LUT format.
Custom look-up tables (LUTs) can be downloaded via the Lumix Lab app, which also lets you create your own custom LUTs or use the app's ability to generate 'Magic LUTs' that attempt to mimic the look of images you've uploaded to it. This system gives you a wide degree of control over your out-of-camera images. In addition, Lumix Lab will gain the ability to process Raw files both from the L10 and other recent Lumix cameras.
Panasonic says the L10 is primarily intended for stills, and it has neither a headphone nor HDMI socket. Despite this, it's capable of 10-bit log capture and 5.1K open-gate video recording, as well as 4K/120 capture.
The L10 will launch with a recommended price of $1499.99. The standard model will be available in black or black with silver-anodized aluminum top and baseplates.
There will also be a Titanium Gold special edition, with themed-color menus, a threaded shutter button, a leather strap and a matching auto lens cap. The Titanium Gold edition will retail for $1599.99 and will only be available via the Panasonic website and in limited numbers.
