Based on the focal length printed on the lens just about the same size as the LX3 and LX5. So no, not a "big" sensor like the RX100.
I think that probably solidifies it for me, if I upgrade my LX3 it will be the RX100 and not the LX7.
Ken
P.S. Actually slightly smaller than the LX3 and LX5 (they start at 24mm equiv. as well but are a 5.1mm lens as opposed to the LX7 at 4.7mm). Looks like a 1/1.8" sensor this time around.
@Beni: It's a wash at the long end. Same physical aperture sizes 17.7/2.3= 7.7mm for the LX7 and 37.1/4.9 = 7.6mm for the Sony. What that means is independent of sensor size they are going to have the same noise performance at the long end for the same shutter speed (on the Sony you'll be using a higher ISO on a bigger sensor, on the LX7 a lower ISO on a smaller sensor). That leaves the distinction down to sensor technology and with nothing else to go on I'm going to guess the Sony sensor is going to have the advantage if there is an advantage to be had. On the short/wide end the Sony has a significant advantage over the Panasonic.
@FlyPenFly: Agreed. If it has faster handling (AF, RAW buffers, etc. etc.) then it could certainly be a worthwhile improvement of the LX5 but for me the RX100 stole the fire.
Is nice to have a faster lens on the long end, but realistically even a "fast" lens is still going to be like f11 equiv so hardly are you going to be doing portraits. I like to use the long end for landscapes and stitched panos so for me the slower long end on the Sony isn't a real issue.
On the wide end, 10mm f1.8 is going to give a bit more of a "non compact" look than 4.7mm f1.4. To me that's where the rx100 stands apart, on being a compact pocket cam but able to produce a look in many cases like a "real" camera
Sony is also native 3:2 as well, and unless the lx7 is multi aspect it's probably 4:3, which as a dslr shooter always feels a bit odd
FlyPenFly wrote:
It would be really nice to have 24mm on the Sony but losing on both body size, resolution, and sensor size, I hope its $300.
I'd bet $499, just like samsungs "fast" new small sensor compact. The LX line has always had a rather premium price with the several years old lx5 still at $429 until just recently
does look like it says aspect, I was thinking that was the af/mf switch. Impressive to be able to make a 24mm equiv f1.4 and also able to cover a multi aspect sensor
24mm equiv f2.0 and a 1" sensor would of been a real game changer
kwalsh wrote:
@Beni: It's a wash at the long end. Same physical aperture sizes 17.7/2.3= 7.7mm for the LX7 and 37.1/4.9 = 7.6mm for the Sony. What that means is independent of sensor size they are going to have the same noise performance at the long end for the same shutter speed (on the Sony you'll be using a higher ISO on a bigger sensor, on the LX7 a lower ISO on a smaller sensor). That leaves the distinction down to sensor technology and with nothing else to go on I'm going to guess the Sony sensor is going to have the advantage if there is an advantage to be had. On the short/wide end the Sony has a significant advantage over the Panasonic.
Ken...Show more →
Definitely.
I have an Olympus XZ-1 and from what I've seen from it, it's preference in low light situations is to rely on image stabilization to allow a low ISO, like around 200, and shoot wide open at a marginal shutter speed, unless I set it up manually. Initial RX100 high ISO samples indicate that ISO 3200 is very good for a P&S, probably in the ballpark of ISO 400 from the XZ-1, if not better, so while f/4.9 feels slow, as pointed out above, it's about a wash. Actually, just now comparing SOOC XZ-1 ISO400 files against an ISO3200 from the Sony, the XZ-1 shows much stronger NR smearing. Then there are all the times you'll use the camera at the longer end in good light and base ISO where an f/2ish lens doesn't really matter anyway, and where the better image quality from the larger sensor will be an advantage.
I also have an LX3 and thought the XZ-1 would replace it, but the lens in the LX3 is IMO much better (sharper). I also like certain aspects of the LX3 better, such as the multi-format sensor so I can shoot 3:2 without resolution penalty, and the focus set/lock button that was reconfigured to a movie button on the LX5. On the LX3 I'll leave it set to manual focus and will use the focus button to set a distance I figure I'll be working at, then just shoot without the refocus delay. It's great for quick shots on the street. It would be nice to see this back again on the 7, though in all honesty, if I decide to get another P&S, for the difference in price between a $500 LX7 or the Samsung, compared to spending a bit more for the Sony, I'll definitely pick the Sony.
I wonder how much the RX100 has caught the other manufacturers off guard? OK, Canon has the G1X, but it is not a 'compact' camera!
Why LX7? LX6 was next. Don't tell me "six" sounds vaguely like "death" in Urdu!
Looks like a MOS sensor of slightly smaller dimensions than the CCD in the LX3 and LX5. Hmm.
With the ND filter, AVCHD Progressive codec, and high video frame rate, this looks like it's pushing video pretty hard. That's not a good sign; as rscheffler mentioned, the LX5 was already somewhat compromised by video features in comparison to the LX3 (I had both, but sold the LX5 despite its much-improved lens compared to the LX3. I still use the LX3 a few times a week).
The front element of the LX7 is surprisingly small for its newfound speed, hinting at plenty of rectilinear distortion: not ideal when matched with a 10-megapixel sensor.
I've liked the LX-series cameras for a long time. They've been much copied, but the copies are often missing key features (e.g. 24 mm-e, native 3:2 aspect ratio), or have broken user interfaces (EX1/TL500), or suffer from bad ergonomics (XZ-1). Many people disagree with my feelings on those cameras, of course.
kwalsh wrote:
Based on the focal length printed on the lens just about the same size as the LX3 and LX5. So no, not a "big" sensor like the RX100.
I think that probably solidifies it for me, if I upgrade my LX3 it will be the RX100 and not the LX7.
Ken
P.S. Actually slightly smaller than the LX3 and LX5 (they start at 24mm equiv. as well but are a 5.1mm lens as opposed to the LX7 at 4.7mm). Looks like a 1/1.8" sensor this time around.
Unless to distinguish it self it's actually wider than 24mm. Not likely, so it would be disappointing to see them go down in sensor size.
I agree that the Sony RX100 has changed the game in the fixed lens compacts
Funny, I got an email from B&H before it's been posted on DPR, etc..
New 1/1.7" 10.1MP MOS Sensor
Venus Engine Image Processor
Leica DC Vario-Summilux 24mm Lens
3.8 Optical Zoom Lens
3.0" 920K-Dot LCD with Auto Brightness
Full HD 1080 Video Recording
RAW and RAW+JPEG Recording Options
