Thanks Mark, n
Any chance to watch this in 4k? :o

Yes. You can download the 4k original from the vimeo site.

Thanks Mark, n
Any chance to watch this in 4k? :o

Yes. You can download the 4k original from the vimeo site.

Panasonic LX100 4K Test Video: Bonn at Night on Vimeo

Panasonic LX100 4K Test Video: Bonn at Night on Vimeo

Actually, to me this one is (so far) the most impressive -- lowlight is the most challenging test there is. Thanks for posting.

-- peer

I agree with Peer. Just downloaded the original file and watched it on one of my 27-inch Dell U2713H monitors hooked up to my new Mac Pro. Whilst these monitors are sub 4K in resolution it sure looked very impressive for a camera of this price range to produce this kind of result :-)

The camera's image stabilisation seems really good too. Thanks again for posting/making the footage available Mark.

Can someone tell me if there is a remote control option on the LX100 or D-lux (leica version). I known there is a wifi possibillity, but is there some infrared of wired control (lanc) possibility. When there is, it is may be the perfect cam for my Octocopter.

Does this have clean HDMI out? Using the 1080p mode it might be a nice second or third camera for use as an establishing shot for broadcasting concerts if the 4k mode has limitations of run length.

Finally got to try the LX100 today although briefly. 2160/24p. Shutter was at 60, Aperture was at f/1.7 and ISO was set to 400. It was also on auto focusing but since the lens was set to f/1.7, you shouldn't expect it to be decent. As for white balance and anything else, I have no idea. Again, I only used it briefly at a show. Obvioustly the samples that Mark is giving is a better way to test the quality since he had far more time shooting than I did. I'll try to get this sample up on Vimeo possibly later today so people can download.

Panasonic LX100 4K sample file - YouTube

But it's still a good example how the autofocus performs and by the looks of it not good, not that I would expect it to perform flawless, especially at wide apertures but something to consider when you shoot this camera as focus might start to hunt when you least expect it.

Panasonic LX100 4K Video: Late Fall in the Garden on Vimeo

Panasonic LX100 4K Test Video: Grand Central Terminal on Vimeo

Panasonic LX100 4K Video: Inside an Art Museum on Vimeo

I like the color, the contrast, the tones, the balance, the highlight handling, don't like the sharpening. It doesn't need it, has enough resolution already. Edge enhancement draws false outlines, black and white around contrast edges. It's ugly, it's amateur, not film like, video-ish. I guess you can't win because some people will cry "soft."

Resolution and natural film like detail is beautiful, but we are still dealing with what appears to be 4:2:0, 8-bit 709 colors. When that gets combined with edge enhancement, 4k just becomes a sharper version of ordinary video.

I really want to like this camera for its portablility, stabilization, 9.5 stop dynamic range, clarity, built in 3:1 zoom Leica lens, but in the end, the GH4 ends up looking better to me in most respects, probably a lot owing to Cine-D/V gammas. I don't know why else it would.

I like the color, the contrast, the tones, the balance, the highlight handling, don't like the sharpening. It doesn't need it, has enough resolution already. Edge enhancement draws false outlines, black and white around contrast edges. It's ugly, it's amateur, not film like, video-ish. I guess you can't win because some people will cry "soft."

Resolution and natural film like detail is beautiful, but we are still dealing with what appears to be 4:2:0, 8-bit 709 colors. When that gets combined with edge enhancement, 4k just becomes a sharper version of ordinary video.

I really want to like this camera for its portablility, stabilization, 9.5 stop dynamic range, clarity, built in 3:1 zoom Leica lens, but in the end, the GH4 ends up looking better to me in most respects, probably a lot owing to Cine-D/V gammas. I don't know why else it would.

The video was shot using Standard mode and settings. You can knock down sharpening to -5, just like on the GH4. I suspect the default sharpening for the GH4 just happens to be less than for the LX100. But both have the ability to adjust it. The LX100 does not have the "Cine" modes; it is the only difference really in terms of video quality (leaving aside the what the HDMI outputs).

Did you view this on a 4K screen? If not, whatever you saw was affected by scaling, and that can produce some ugly results. But, in any case, "sharpness" is a setting that can be adjusted to taste, no matter how radical.

No, I viewed it from my monitor at work, a 32 inch desktop 1080p Sony Bravia. It looked clean and great overall. It didn't look like there were down conversion artifacts. Perhaps precisely because it is so clean, the edge enhancement is what catches my eye.

I acknowledge I am keen to EE.

It's just that with 4k it doesn't need edge enhancement, and in my opinion could look better if there was none at all. Would be interesting to see it dialed back to -5.

It is still very excellent video overall.

I do have a 55 inch Samsung UHDTV at home.

Did you view this on a 4K screen? If not, whatever you saw was affected by scaling, and that can produce some ugly results.

Upon reflection, edge enhancement does seem slightly more pronounced when downsampled to 1080p than when viewed natively at 2160p. With the Sony PMW-F55, I shoot with Cine-EI mode which has no sharpening applied, and then in post (DaVinci Resolve 11) I may add the slightest "unblur" which is hardly noticeable in 2160p but if I see it resemble an EE artifact at 1080p, I undo the setting.

One of the points I'm considering is how the 4k video will actually be viewed (often 1080p), not just how I am able to view it.

Upon reflection, edge enhancement does seem slightly more pronounced when downsampled to 1080p than when viewed natively at 2160p. With the Sony PMW-F55, I shoot with Cine-EI mode which has no sharpening applied, and then in post (DaVinci Resolve 11) I may add the slightest "unblur" which is hardly noticeable in 2160p but if I see it resemble an EE artifact at 1080p, I undo the setting.

One of the points I'm considering is how the 4k video will actually be viewed (often 1080p), not just how I am able to view it.

That's a very valid point. Thanks for looking. I have had some report they were seeing moire, that upon viewing at 4k disappeared. So, scaling is an issue, and might suggest never distributing 4K video (downscaling ourselves) until 4K viewing becomes more commonplace. Anyway, hopefully, simply turning down the sharpness control could do the trick on EE. I am not unsympathetic to your view on EE.

On the subject of moire, I think it appears extremely well controlled on the LX100. I do not think it a problem at all. Every cam I've had has a bit of it, more or less, visible under certain conditions, including the PMW-F55. Moire was a problem I complained about with the 5DMK2, and I think I was one of the first. But while I've seen mention of it with the LX100/GH4, it has no merit.

I see no artifacts of any kind to note with your art museum video, except the EE at 1080p. It's so detailed now, I can't imagine any need for it at 2160p, and I would want it muted enough where it wouldn't be visible at 1080p either, where it still is very detailed.

With 2160p, sharpening enhancement may still have its place with out of focus shots or those using low contrast lenses.

Tom, I too have viewed Mark's museum video @4K on a 28" 4K monitor and see no real signs of EE (nice job Mark). Having had the LX100 for the last few days, I concur with everything that Mark has said about the camera.

The range of adjustments it provides, should make most users quite happy. You can pretty much achieve most 'looks' that you are after. It's really a pretty amazing 4K shooter in such a small package. It's the first camera that's made me reach for something other than my trusty AX100.

Ken, the EE that you are not seeing on your 28 inch 4k monitor is hiding from you, in plain sight. I spotted it even before Mark acknowledged standard mode, and that there are 5 levels more of lesser EE that you also would not be seeing.

When you analyze it, the dot pitch of UHD is one half of HD. When you down sample UHD to HD in post, those EE outlines become coarse. If you watch in UHD, and don't see them in UHD then why have them?

The fact is they are visible, become even more apparent when video is down sampled to HD.

I appreciate Mark's objective approach. He's using excellent camera operator skills and technique to demonstrate in an unbiased manner, the image qualities using the standard settings, acknowledging that the tuning exists to adapt the image to what you like.

Tom, we may just have different tolerances for EE. Many videos that some rave about, look too soft to me. I know many of these folks claim the real detail is there, but when I look at some of those videos in 4K, I don't see the same level of real detail that I've seen in some other videos that those same folks claim look too 'videoish'. I don't recall who did a comparison here between the AX100 and some other 4K camera equipment, but even there, despite the fact that the AX100 looked less 'filmic' than the other camera, there was simply more detail in the AX100.

I myself, for the kind of shooting I do, enjoy the 'live' look of video. So we are after different looks and, not surprisingly, see things differently. We choose our tools and our looks. ;)

Sharpening is artificial because it doesn't add real detail. It exaggerates the perception by adding artifacts that didn't exist in the source. That's why my tolerance for it is practically nil. I think my opinion is shared by quite a few others. I've seen a lot of people complain about it, more so in cinema than in broadcast where there seems to be more of a tolerance of it. My $0.02

Tom, I obviously understand that, but I'm talking about the difference between lesser and more detail, not artificial sharpening which I agree adds no more detail and many times obscures real detail. That's why I have all my displays ISF'd. I don't like artificial intrusions into the picture.

I find the LX can be adjusted just fine to avoid this.

Are you saying that at "0" the image is not sharpened? If so then I disagree because there are outlines around contrast transitions. "0" is simply the default level of sharpening, not the point that above detail is enhanced nor below detail is suppressed.

In viewing the 4K output on a 4K display, I do not see EE at a setting of 0. No false outlines around thin tree branches against a clear sky (an easy way to see EE).

If you feel it necessary, it's easy enough to drop the sharpness to -5. I don't.

All the Panasonic 4K shooters (GH4, FZ1000, LX100) allow you to choose among a number of Photo Styles, or color profiles. Among the most popular are Standard and Natural. But which is best, for video?

I shot a variety of scenes - high contrast bright outdoors, low-light indoors with high and low contrast - alternating Standard and Natural Profiles. This video contains all the scenes, with Standard first and then Natural for each, using the LX100:

Panasonic LX100 4K Test Video: Comparing Standard to Natural Color Profiles on Vimeo

This video contains only the Natural mode shots from the above:

Panasonic LX100 4K Test Video: Video in Natural Mode on Vimeo

Wonder if the more upmarket Leica badged variant of this cam, the Leica-D-Lux (which will come with different firmware) will also have this limit?

So I just heard from B&H that the Leica is now shipping:
Leica D-LUX (Typ 109) Digital Camera 18471 B&H Photo Video (http://tinyurl.com/p33f9tz)

Hence, I'm eager to know what differences there are between the Panny and the Leica.

-- peer

I'm really liking this small fellow. My only concern was mounting it on a tripod and still being able to open the battery door. But for now a 15mm tube clamp does a perfect job to rigging it to my rods.

Tiny contribution to the world of the LX-100 users.

The LX100 in Hong Kong:

Panasonic LX100 4K Video: Kowloon Harbor and Park on Vimeo

Panasonic LX100 4K Video: Exploring a Hong Kong Lake on Vimeo

Are you on a world trip? :) Nice videos again.

Are you on a world trip? :) Nice videos again.

Thanks. No, just more travel for business. Separate trips. And now I have my favorite travel camera.

What do you answer each time you are visiting the country and customs asks you "business or pleasure?" :D
Looks like the lx100 is a great travelcompanion.

Thanks. No, just more travel for business. Separate trips. And now I have my favorite travel camera.

mark-

i remember when you said the canon eos-m was your favorite travel camera!

(frankly, i think you really really really LIKE cameras!)

:-)

ymmv

be well.

rob
smalltalk productions/nyc

mark-

i remember when you said the canon eos-m was your favorite travel camera!

(frankly, i think you really really really LIKE cameras!)

:-)

ymmv

be well.

rob
smalltalk productions/nyc

The Canon M was my favorite travel camera (not companion!). It was truly compact but has a big sensor (APS-C) so you could get great shallow dof shots just like those from big DSLRs, with nice bokeh. Full manual control of video and audio, including picture settings. Great Canon lenses. But, there was one big fault - low resolution, moire-filled video. Scenic shots with detail were obviously mushy. And the lack of a viewfinder meant it was difficult to hold steady while shooting.

The LX100 is equally compact with a largish sensor and full manual controls. But its 4K video is really high resolution, and it has a viewfinder. It is easier to use because of the multiple dials - no menu searching. I miss the touch screen of the EOS M a bit, but I am really using the viewfinder for all shots. And the stability is much better. It's a better travel camera.

Technology advances, except maybe for Canon...

Hi, I'm A DVI'er and I have a camera addiction... I REALLLY like cameras... and you can never have too many... said everyone here!

I'm really wishing that Sony would get on the stick and update firmware so the RX100 would shoot 4K, this LX100 looks mighty tempting! At least to my eye, this little beastie seems to produce better results than what I've seen from the other "consumer" Panasonics, with far less artifacting and odd blotches (though I saw some strangeness in a magenta region on the comparison of the LX, a GH and the AX100).

PS, is it "support" or enabling... eh, who cares?

I'm assuming this little beauty has no Image stabilization, I read the specs but could find no mention of this. Kinda defeats the purpose of walking around hand held....... is there something I don't know or is this not a concern?

It has "POWER O.I.S."

It has "POWER O.I.S."

Good to know.

Panasonic LX100 4K Test Video: Bokeh and Night Performance on Vimeo

Hi Mark -

Second time I've noticed some strange handling of "hot" magenta/pink color with clips you've posted from this camera (@35 and 40 seconds). The prior one was a comparison with the GH4 & AX100. Just curious if you've noticed it? Overall the camera seems to hold up fairly well, so the macroblocking with that color range really stuck out when I looked at the clips.

Hi Mark -

Second time I've noticed some strange handling of "hot" magenta/pink color with clips you've posted from this camera (@35 and 40 seconds). The prior one was a comparison with the GH4 & AX100. Just curious if you've noticed it? Overall the camera seems to hold up fairly well, so the macroblocking with that color range really stuck out when I looked at the clips.

It seems to me, that at that point is transitions inserted in editor, so i think that is th reason for that.

Hi Mark -

Second time I've noticed some strange handling of "hot" magenta/pink color with clips you've posted from this camera (@35 and 40 seconds). The prior one was a comparison with the GH4 & AX100. Just curious if you've noticed it? Overall the camera seems to hold up fairly well, so the macroblocking with that color range really stuck out when I looked at the clips.

Dave, I think what you're seeing is a bit of chroma noise in reds & magentas. I've seen this on both the GH4 and LX100. You really need to tame the color on these cameras, as sometimes the color looks excellent and at other times it looks a bit too saturated.

However the introduction of chroma noise in reds is something I haven't seen in the last several cameras I've owned. It used to be very common with tape-based video cameras. However, given the overall excellent PQ of the LX100 along with its diminutive size, it's just a minor annoyance. Taming the color saturation does minimize the issue.

I see it as a blotchy macroblocking area in the center screen portion of the flower in the clip @35, and the Subsequent clip @40 in the pinks on the bouncy seat to the left of the center of the screen - really only noticed because it showed up in one of Marks' other samples, there it was well off center, so not quite so obvious.

Actually I've seen reds behave similarly with tape Pannys, so I guess it brings back memories. Just haven't seen anything similar on any other clips from other cameras. Still looking for a "pocket" 4K since the RX100M3 is "just" 1080...

I've seen chroma noise in reds on lots of older tape-based cameras. It was an issue on my older Sonys too.

Dave, I don't see macroblocking in Mark's video or shots I've made with my LX (viewing the 4K download on a 4K monitor) in the reds & purples, just some chroma noise. I believe this behavior is more likely if the color saturation is set too high.

On the whole, the 4K PQ of this little camera is absolutely stunning. Stills are excellent too. Absent the long zoom of the AX100, I actually find myself preferring the 4K PQ of the LX over my AX. That's something I never thought I'd say. The adjustability of picture parameters far surpasses that of the AX100.

The biggest issue for me is acclimating to the 3X optical zoom, but I don't think they could have incorporated a much longer zoom in a body of this size.

Dynamic Auto White Balance 4K Test Video: Panasonic GH4 and LX100 Compared on Vimeo

Two clips for each camera. Both in auto white balance mode. First, going from 5600K (daylight) to 3500K (incandescent), then going from incandescent to daylight. The first camera for each sequence is the GH4.

You can see that the GH4 AWB never compensates fully under incandescent light. The LX100 nails it under both lighting conditions. The speed of adjustment is similar for the two cameras.

The GH4 uses the Lumix 12-35mm f2.8 lens. The LX100 lens is extended so that the f is 2.8. For both ev was set to -1/3.

Interesting test Mark, thanks.

Panasonic LX100 4K Video: Richmond in Winter on Vimeo

Plenty of reds...

Hello Mark. Could You tell me why all my video on LX100 looks so jerky, like the motion is stoped for a moment after every few (maybe 10 or so) frames. I record in 4k 25 frame per sec, and then downscale with Adobe Premiere Elements to 1080p/25/40Mbit/s. It is not matter where I play that file, on my laptop i7/8GB and Nvidea graphic card with 2GB ram, or on media player connect to panasonic FHD plasma. Thanks.

I forgot to mention, Recording mode is shutter priority set on 1/50 sec speed, and i am trying not panning with camera, or do it very slow.

Hello Mark. Could You tell me why all my video on LX100 looks so jerky, like the motion is stoped for a moment after every few (maybe 10 or so) frames. I record in 4k 25 frame per sec, and then downscale with Adobe Premiere Elements to 1080p/25/40Mbit/s. It is not matter where I play that file, on my laptop i7/8GB and Nvidea graphic card with 2GB ram, or on media player connect to panasonic FHD plasma. Thanks.

I forgot to mention, Recording mode is shutter priority set on 1/50 sec speed, and i am trying not panning with camera, or do it very slow.

First, play a 4K clip in the camera, looking at the lcd screen. Play ok?

Second, take a 4K clip straight from the camera and play it on your computer - do not convert it. Does the camera clip play without glitches? If yes to both, then it is your software/conversion that is mucking up your video. Your technique and hardware are fine. But, what is your operating system?

You could also download the original 4K video I uploaded from Vimeo and try playing that. Then convert it using your software.

Panasonic LX100 4K Video: Holiday Evening at Rockefeller Center on Vimeo

Do you guys have a preferred method to downconvert the 4K image to HD in order to preserve the best possible quality? What to and not to do? On either Premiere or FCPX.