Panasonic LX15 review: A compact camera that puts quality first

Panasonic LX15 review: Image quality

It’s harder to separate the Panasonic LX15, Sony RX100 V and Canon G7 X Mk II for photo quality. All three use one-inch, 20-megapixel sensors and have similarly specified lenses. Comparing their JPEG output in our studio scene, they all performed well at ISO 125. As the ISO speed increased, each camera exhibited its own approach to noise reduction but it’s a matter of taste which you prefer.

^ There’s not much to separate the Canon G7 X Mk II, Sony RX100 V and Panasonic LX15 for image quality at fast ISO speeds

Out in the wild, the lens performed well but not brilliantly. Details were razor sharp in the centre of the frame but slightly soft towards the edges. This isn’t the ideal camera for landscape photography, then, but I can’t imagine it detracting from most other subject matter.

The Panasonic’s secret weapon is its f/1.4 aperture for wide-angle shots. That’s a significant advantage for low-light shooting, delivering faster shutter speeds (to reduce blur) or slower ISO speeds (to reduce noise). The advantage is short-lived, though, with the maximum aperture quickly narrowing to f/2.8 by the time the lens reaches a 31mm (35mm equivalent) focal length. The Sony behaves similarly, but the G7 X II manages f/2.2 at 35mm. It’s swings and roundabouts, then, but along with its 25-100mm (4x) zoom, it’s fair to say that the Canon has the best lens.

Overall, though, The LX15’s image quality across my tests was excellent. Automatic settings were expertly chosen, with balanced exposures and sensible shutter speeds helping avoid blur in moving subjects. In very low light where the subject and camera were both still, the camera selected very slow shutter speeds to keep noise to a minimum and the optical stabilisation delivered the goods. With the help of that responsive, consistent autofocus, this little camera is able to deliver high-quality photos in challenging conditions with impressively reliable regularity.

^ Lots of fine detail in this wide-angle shot, but focus deteriorates slightly towards the edges of the frame (1/1,300s, f/2.8, ISO 125, 24mm equivalent)

^ This shot at the long end of the zoom tells a similar story (1/2,000s, f/2.8, ISO 125, 72mm equivalent)

^ The 1in sensor and wide-aperture lens help to deliver a shallow depth of field, throwing the background out of focus to draw attention to the main subject. Skin and hair textures are detailed and natural (1/250s, f/2.8, ISO 125, 62mm equivalent)

^ The f/1.4 aperture for wide-angle shots helps to keep the ISO speed down in low light. The result is superb image quality for indoor shots (1/60s, f/1.4, ISO 160, 24mm equivalent)

^ The camera has picked a slightly faster shutter speed here to avoid motion blur for these moving subjects taken in low light. The resulting ISO 1600 setting means increased noise, and noise reduction has removed some fine detail, too. It’s nevertheless a superb result in challenging conditions (1/80s, f/2.8, ISO 1600, 36mm equivalent)

^ The LX15 has taken this low-light scene in its stride. There’s a bit of noise but it’s not too intrusive. (1/40s, f/2.8, ISO 1600, 48mm equivalent)

^ This scene was taken in near total darkness — the only light comes from the LEDs on a child’s toy. The LX15 has picked an extremely slow 1/4s shutter speed, but the stabilisation has managed to keep the handheld shot steady. There’s a fair amount of noise at ISO 2500 but it’s far from being a write-off (1/4s, f/1.4, ISO 2500, 24mm equivalent)

Panasonic LX15 review: Verdict

The LX15 may be competitively priced, but £600 is still a lot to spend on a compact camera. After all, you can’t change lenses or attach a flashgun, so keen photographers might only consider this as a second camera for times when their main rig might prove too bulky. These people should also consider the Panasonic LX100, which now costs £500, includes a viewfinder, hotshoe and superior controls and has the edge for image quality with its larger sensor.

However, there are lots of people who don’t see photography as a hobby but are still willing to pay for high quality. The LX15’s small zoom isn’t ideal for sightseeing but it’s much better than a zoomless smartphone. Meanwhile, the camera’s superb low-light performance is just the thing for indoor portraits, particularly of children who never stay still, and for nights out on the tiles.

The Canon G7 X Mk II remains my top recommendation for people who aren’t too concerned about video. However, if you want a pocket-sized camera that does it all, the Panasonic LX15 is the camera for you.