(Credit: PCMag/Panasonic)
Panasonic's Lumix camera imprint turns 25 this year, and the company is marking the milestone by relaunching its flagship compact, the LX100, with a new name, the Lumix L10.
The L10 comes with a heap of upgrades, including a modern sensor with zippy phase-detection autofocus, a higher-capacity battery pack, support for custom LUT picture profiles, a flip-out rear display, and an OLED viewfinder. And the better aspects of the LX100 line continue, the L10 uses the same Leica Vario-Summilux 24-75mm F1.7-2.8 zoom lens as the LX100 II, works with external flashes, and is small enough to slide into a jacket pocket.
I haven't had a chance to try the camera yet, but I'm excited about the prospect of getting it in my hands. It addresses some of my gripes about the LX100 II (and its recent luxury refresh, the Leica D-Lux 8) head-on. I was a little down on both because of their dated contrast-detect autofocus systems and fixed rear LCDs, which made it harder to grab a quick snapshot or take a photo from a low or high angle.
(Credit: PCMag/Panasonic)I'm also happy to see Panasonic put its latest image processing and connectivity features in the L10. I was frustrated when trying to connect its recent ZS99 and ZS300 compact cameras to a legacy mobile app. The L10 works with Lumix Lab, which lets you just plug the camera into your phone with a USB-C cable instead of jumping through hoops to pair it with Wi-Fi. Lumix Lab does a lot, including Raw image and video editing, but its marquee feature is the ability to create and load custom image profiles (called LUTs) onto the camera, so you can capture photos with stylized color tones and simulated film grain.
The L10 also includes a couple of fresh profiles, L Classic with soft, filmic tones, and a warmer take called L Classic Gold. The LUT system is no doubt inspired by the Fujifilm Film Simulation engine that's made its X100VI a critical darling and a constant back-order item since its release. Don't get me wrong, I love the option to use a Raw format and edit pictures to taste in software like Lightroom, but I'll never complain about getting out-of-camera JPG results that look as good as a stylized edit. It's especially handy for travel, vacations, and other times when you want to share a few images from the road without spending your evening adjusting sliders in Adobe Lightroom.
I count the L10 as a timely update too, and not just because it's Lumix's quarter-century anniversary year. Just when it looked like smartphones and the Covid pandemic had completely killed the point-and-shoot market, compact cameras surged back into demand. Many pro photogs still want a small camera for everyday carry and travel, while Gen Z and older members of Gen Alpha are ditching phones for disconnected devices. Flash photography is also in vogue, and while the L10 doesn't have a built-in flash, it does include a hot shoe for an external unit and a leaf-shutter lens for high-speed sync. Small flashes like the Godox iT30Pro will pair well with the L10.
The Lumix L10 is pricey for a compact, however. Panasonic isn't trying to capture the same budget audience as some upstart brands like Camp Snap and Flashback are with their quirky, low-cost point-and-shoots. Instead, the Lumix is a shot across the bow that competes with premium options like the aforementioned Fuji X100VI, Ricoh GR IV, and even the bougie Sony RX1R III. The L10 starts at $1,499.99 in a black or silver finish, both of which will start shipping next month.
(Credit: PCMag/Panasonic)Panasonic is also putting out a limited-edition Titanium Gold model, timed for a late October on-sale date, Lumix's actual anniversary month. The Titanium edition swaps out the standard aluminum top and base plates for titanium, has a threaded shutter that works with soft release buttons, adds an engraved logo, and is bundled with a leather strap and a lens cap with automatic opening and closing barn doors. It's only $100 more than the standard version, $1,599.99, and will be sold exclusively through Panasonic.
I plan on reviewing the Lumix L10 as soon as I'm able to get it in my hands to see if it lives up to my expectations. In the meantime, if you're shopping for a small camera for snapshot and slice-of-life photography, make sure to check out our list of the best point-and-shoot cameras.