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Panasonic's Pocket-Sized 4K MFT Camera

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TaranItUp
Posts: 1313 - Karma: 802
http://nofilmschool.com/2014/11/panasonics-pocket-sized-4k-mft-camera-lx100-hit-stores



It's like having a GH4 that fits inside your pocket.
Earlier last month, Panasonic introduced two of their new compact 4K cameras, the LX100 and the CM1, and though the CM1 is still testing in Europe, the LX100 is now available and ready to purchase for $899.

Though this camera will probably not be the one you use to shoot your feature film, it's one very exciting little shooter thanks to its incredible image quality. It has a large micro 4/3 sensor, Leica DC Vario-Summilux f/1.7-2.8 Lens (35mm-equivalent focal length range of 24-75mm), and 4K video at 30 and 24 fps -- essentially making it, yes, for all intents and purposes, a pocket-sized GH4. It'd make a great travel camera, especially if you want better image control and image quality than, say, your smartphone can provide, but don't want to carry a heavy and expensive DSLR around your neck all day.

Here are a few videos to get you acquainted with the LX100:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=lLqeCaOMsiw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=5JmK5sCcqlo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=4DFv0Z7q1v0

And some Specs:
Technical Specifications
16.8MP 4/3" Multi-Aspect MOS Sensor
Leica DC Vario-Summilux 10.9-34 mm (35 mm equivalent: 24-75 mm) f/1.7-2.8 Lens
3840 x 2160: 30 fps, 24 fps
1920 x 1080: 60 fps, 30 fps
1280 x 720: 30 fps
640 x 480: 30 fps
24-75mm (35mm Equivalent)
2,764k-Dot EVF
3.0" 921k-Dot Rear LCD Screen
200-25600 (Extended Mode: 100-25600)
Manual Control Rings and Dials
Built-in Wi-Fi Connectivity with NFC
External Flash Included


Seems pretty sweet for a pocket camera with a fixed lens, thoughts?
Nov 7 2014 12:20PM
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boomie
Posts: 1638 - Karma: 3,165
Looks awesome. I think i'll always prefer a DSLR over something like this, but exciting for the future none the less
Nov 7 2014 12:50PM
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Laurent.
Posts: 10056 - Karma: 25,313
4K at this moment in time is overhyped.
Nov 7 2014 5:09PM
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dan_swagner
Posts: 351 - Karma: 680
I'm not sure what a large micro 4/3 sensor is? all micro 4/3 inch sensors are the same sizes roughly

I would consider micro 4/3" sensors on the small side when compared to most other sensors, unless you mean it has a larger sensor than most other compact point and shoot cameras.

not sure how the 4k will compare to the gh4 with more dynamic range.

Also looks like it may have a battery problem like that bmpcc. Panasonic's spec sheet say it only last for 350 photos, doesn't sound like it will last long shooting a lot of video.

still a pretty cool camera for the compact point and shoot market.
Nov 7 2014 5:26PM
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dan_swagner
Posts: 351 - Karma: 680
Dr.Laurent4K at this moment in time is overhyped.


I totally agree! companies are just throwing 4k on to every product but don't add or explain more important features like wider dynamic range, higher color bit depth and less compressed recording codecs. Things that improve image quality more than just adding resolution.
Nov 7 2014 5:37PM
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jKutcher
Posts: 3936 - Karma: 4,260
Rdwagner2I'm not sure what a large micro 4/3 sensor is? all micro 4/3 inch sensors are the same sizes roughly


I think they are just saying that a micro 4/3 sensor in this size camera is larger than the norm.
Nov 8 2014 1:15AM
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nutz.
Posts: 3150 - Karma: 6,712
Rdwagner2I'm not sure what a large micro 4/3 sensor is? all micro 4/3 inch sensors are the same sizes roughly

I would consider micro 4/3" sensors on the small side when compared to most other sensors, unless you mean it has a larger sensor than most other compact point and shoot cameras.

not sure how the 4k will compare to the gh4 with more dynamic range.

Also looks like it may have a battery problem like that bmpcc. Panasonic's spec sheet say it only last for 350 photos, doesn't sound like it will last long shooting a lot of video.

still a pretty cool camera for the compact point and shoot market.


if it's really 16.8 mp, that's a tad bit "bigger" than the gh series/omd series sensors haha, not a lot big difference by any means though
Nov 8 2014 2:27AM
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TaranItUp
Posts: 1313 - Karma: 802
Definitely wouldn't use it as a primary camera, but it would be a pretty sweet travel/pocket camera.
Nov 10 2014 7:20PM
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Laurent.
Posts: 10056 - Karma: 25,313
Stud_MuffinDefinitely wouldn't use it as a primary camera, but it would be a pretty sweet travel/pocket camera.


Too bad much better travel/pocket cameras already exist.
Nov 10 2014 7:27PM
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loganimlach
Posts: 5132 - Karma: 14,054
i know this isn't the right thread to post this in, but i'm so curious about sensor size. my current P&S has a 2/3" CMOS sensor that produces 12 MP effective size images (4000x3000). this has a 4/3" CMOS sensor (literally double, right?) but produces 12.8 MP effective size images (4112X3088). I'm just so stuck on the physical size of the sensor, why in the fuck isn't the image output proportional?
Nov 11 2014 8:40AM
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Laurent.
Posts: 10056 - Karma: 25,313
loganimlachi know this isn't the right thread to post this in, but i'm so curious about sensor size. my current P&S has a 2/3" CMOS sensor that produces 12 MP effective size images (4000x3000). this has a 4/3" CMOS sensor (literally double, right?) but produces 12.8 MP effective size images (4112X3088). I'm just so stuck on the physical size of the sensor, why in the fuck isn't the image output proportional?


Because magic!

Or science that requires a wall of text to be explained, i'll try it briefly

The size of the pixels > the amount of pixels.

Each pixel, is a semiconductor material that absorbs photons and generates electrons, the larger the pixel, the more photons that can be collected in a given amount of time. And therefore smaller pixels have lower dynamic range and the accuracy of the signal measured is directly proportional to the size of the signal. In the physics of photon counting, the noise in the signal is equal to the square root of the number of photons.Too few pixels are bad for image quality and too many pixels are bad for image quality. So there must be an optimum but there's also a minimum set by the consumer who wants at least 12MP.

Therefore the first thing a camera company will do when increasing sensor size is the size of the pixels, it's where you can get the most performance.

It's the reason why the D4S has a mere 16MP compared to the D810's 36MP, It's a press camera, you can't control the light at events so it better be able to shoot at ridiculous ISO's, 16MP is plenty for almost all editorial work, you trade-off a sharper image at low-iso's for a far lower noise at high iso's

And the light eating machine know as the A7S has a mere 12.2MP instead of the A7R's 36MP same deal, it's pixels are massive, so again you trade off that low-iso resolution for far lower noise at high ISO's.

this post is a bit of a mess.
Nov 11 2014 9:15AM
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loganimlach
Posts: 5132 - Karma: 14,054
Dr.LaurentBecause magic!

Or science that requires a wall of text to be explained, i'll try it briefly

The size of the pixels > the amount of pixels.

Each pixel, is a semiconductor material that absorbs photons and generates electrons, the larger the pixel, the more photons that can be collected in a given amount of time. And therefore smaller pixels have lower dynamic range and the accuracy of the signal measured is directly proportional to the size of the signal. In the physics of photon counting, the noise in the signal is equal to the square root of the number of photons.Too few pixels are bad for image quality and too many pixels are bad for image quality. So there must be an optimum but there's also a minimum set by the consumer who wants at least 12MP.

Therefore the first thing a camera company will do when increasing sensor size is the size of the pixels, it's where you can get the most performance.

It's the reason why the D4S has a mere 16MP compared to the D810's 36MP, It's a press camera, you can't control the light at events so it better be able to shoot at ridiculous ISO's, 16MP is plenty for almost all editorial work, you trade-off a sharper image at low-iso's for a far lower noise at high iso's

And the light eating machine know as the A7S has a mere 12.2MP instead of the A7R's 36MP same deal, it's pixels are massive, so again you trade off that low-iso resolution for far lower noise at high ISO's.

this post is a bit of a mess.


nope, that makes perfect sense. thanks a bunch lawrence!
Nov 11 2014 11:14AM
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