An imaginary fixed lens Panasonic large sensor compact.
Rumors are getting stronger around a new surprising camera from Panasonic. A fixed lens compact with Four Thirds sensor, fixed prime lens and 4K video recording. A cameras smaller than the GM1 and therefore pockeatable!
The camera would be of higher quality of the Sony RX100M3. It will be announced on July 16 already! Sounds great!
7 Responses
If it is a fixed prime and smaller than a GM1, I fear the lens won’t be that fast. Personally, I don’t find the GM1 that user friendly as the controls are a bit too mini. That said, I hope the rumor of a fixed prime lens m43 camera with 4k is true. Hopefully in the 30-35mm range.
The G1x shows it is not easy to make large sensor compact with zoom. Fixed lens is something different, however the market for such cameras is very small (see the sales of Ricoh GR or Nikon Coolpix A). So I hope the older rumors are true and it won´t be a M4/3 fixed lens compact, but a 1″ compact with zoom.
I think the GM1 has it’s place and I love this camera to bits. If I need more like an EVF or manual focus etc. I use the GX7. I find the two cameras, with almost identical functions go hand in hand.
If I had to choose only one, the GM1 would be my first choice by a long way. I don’t find the GM1 controls fiddly at all and the sophisticated stuff can be left to the First Main DSLR (or whatever).
But smaller than the GM1 with fixed lens? Excited and can’t wait. I keep looking at the Sony R100 M3 and liking the shape more and more but would like something similar in a GM1 size package (or smaller).
I love my GX7’s – but have been hesitant to get the GM1 due to it has no IBS – and if Panasonic will produce some more small lenses like the kit – if they would produce a smaller 12-35mm F2.8 and a 45mm F1.8 with IS I would get it in a heartbeat –
I do have the Sony RX100 and it is a nice camera for its size – so I have been wondering about the RX100m3 or this new Panasonic LXnn most likely LX8 – I like the fact it has 24-90mm F1.8-2.8 lens if I am correct so beats the Sony RX100m3 on focal length – 24-70 is just a bit to short sometimes –
I am not much of a video person so the 4K is not a huge selling point for me but nice it has it –
The other think I am wondering about is if the LX8 will have touch LCD – with Touch To Shoot – that would be a real winner as otherwise it will have an EVF and tilt LCD as the RX100m3 – I can live a bit larger body if it will have Touch LCD etc – then Fuji is rumored to have a X-30 coming out – I do also have the X-20 and really like it in many ways although it is not as compact and small but nice image quality for its size so a X-30 with a 1 inch sensor or larger as the rumor has it would also be interesting – but I do not expect Fuji will ever put Touch LCD on their cameras which is a shame –
If you use dpreview’s Comparometer ( http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sony-cybershot-dsc-rx100-m3/12 ) you can see that the GM1 starts to pull away from Sony’s RX100 III in terms of sharpness and noise at ISO 800, and the differences get much more obvious at higher ISOs.
A 1-inch sensor Panasonic will need to compare favorably to that Sony (in features, results, price) to get sales, but I think a m43 version, even if it were a bit bigger, would be a superior camera and would be a better choice for enthusiasts and pros. It would be a shame for Panny to abandon the m43 size and move down to the 1-inch sensors, but I fear that this is exactly what they are doing.
Speaking for myself, I don’t see cameras like this competing with my phone until they’re as connected as my phone. Yes, the image quality is better, but I simply don’t want to spend anymore time physically uploading and/or editing my daily pictures.
I don’t think it will be some stylish point n shoot camera like the GM1. There are several points suggesting it will be closer to the GX7 than the GM1. First, point and shoot user want zoom lenses, but this one is rumoured to be a fixed lens camera. Second, the LX7 was an enthusiast camera with lots of buttons.
So what do we know?
– Look and size of LX7 + 8% – that also suggests it retains LX7 style enthusiast controls, otherwise would have used GM1 as comparision. so more like GX7 than GM1
– Body Material: likely GF1/GF2/LX7 drawn Al sheet metal which is cheaper than GM1 and GX7 Diecast
– 4/3 Sensor -> GM1 /GX7 Quality and high ISO
– a fast fixed lens -> Pana 20mm 1.7 or Panaleica 15mm 1.7
– if a fixed lens it will be wider than normal – LX series always focused more on a good wide than tele
– builtin EVF – likely that of the GX7 which is pretty small buildwise
– likely with a GM1 shutter to save space
I think Panasonic already has the technology to build a really impressive camera with this one. Why develop a new fixed lens if you already have a compact, fast and incredibly sharp one with the 20mm F1.7? The Panasonic Sensor of the GM1 is very competitive with Sonys latest offerings, why use another? same for the EVF, the technology, it is there.