Panasonic LX100 II vs Sony W710: A Hands-On Comparison for Practical Photographers

Choosing between the Panasonic Lumix DC-LX100 II and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W710 might at first glance seem like comparing a thoroughbred racing horse to a trusty mule. That’s not to say there’s no merit in either, but the gap between these two compacts spans several factors - sensor size, processing power, autofocus sophistication, and ultimately image quality. As someone who’s tested thousands of cameras in various lighting and shooting conditions, I understand what these specs really mean in the field.

In this detailed analysis, we’ll break down the Panasonic LX100 II and Sony W710 along the lines every photo enthusiast cares about - image quality, autofocus performance, video capabilities, build quality, and usability for different genres of photography. By the end, you’ll have a grounded evaluation and know which camera fits your vision and budget.

Physical Size and Handling: Compact vs. Pocket Rocket

Looking at the overall body, the Panasonic LX100 II is a bulkier, more substantial camera, weighing in at 392g with dimensions of 115 x 66 x 64mm. The Sony W710 is a featherweight 114g and as slim as a candy bar, measuring 97 x 55 x 20mm. The LX100 II feels like a serious tool, more akin to a compact system camera in handling, whereas the W710 is a simple point-and-shoot built for easy pocketability.

The Panasonic sports a fixed 24-75mm f/1.7-2.8 lens - bright and versatile. The Sony offers a longer zoom range at 28-140mm but with a darker f/3.2-6.5 aperture, limiting low-light flexibility and bokeh quality.

Ergonomically, the LX100 II has thoughtfully placed buttons and dials that make manual control accessible - a definite plus if you enjoy being hands-on with your settings. The Sony’s simpler layout lacks dedicated rings or dials, which keeps the experience basic but straightforward for beginners or casual shooters.

Design and Control Layout: Clubs for Thumbs or Clumsy Buttons?

Inspecting the top of these cameras reveals the LX100 II’s professional roots. The elegant array of dials for ISO, exposure compensation, shutter speed (up to 1/4000s mechanical and 1/16000s electronic shutter), and aperture control confirm its intentions as an enthusiast’s camera. There are no illuminated buttons, but the layout is intuitive for those familiar with manual photography.

Conversely, the Sony W710’s top is a minimalist affair with controls more focused on automatic modes than creative manipulation.

For photographers who crave direct control over exposure, the Panasonic is superior. The Sony’s interface is designed to be friendlier to novices, but you’re trading off precision and speed.

Sensor Tech and Image Quality: Big Sensor Blowout

When you look under the hood, the Panasonic LX100 II’s Four Thirds 17MP CMOS sensor (17.3x13mm) dwarfs the Sony W710’s meager 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor (6.17x4.55mm). The Panasonic sensor covers a 224.9mm² area, versus the Sony’s 28mm² - nearly eight times larger.

In practical terms, the LX100 II captures more light, offers superior dynamic range, and delivers sharper images with richer colors and better noise control at higher ISO settings. In real-world testing, the LX100 II maintains usable detail at ISO 3200 and above, while the W710 becomes noisy and mushy above ISO 400.

For portraits, the Panasonic’s fast lens and larger sensor excel at producing creamy bokeh and smooth skin tones, supporting skin detection autofocus that accurately locks onto faces and eyes - very handy if you shoot people often.

The Sony W710, limited by sensor and lens speed, struggles to deliver shallow depth of field and softer background separation at its widest aperture and telephoto focal length.

LCD Screen and Electronic Viewfinder: Framing and Reviewing Shots

The LX100 II offers a 3-inch fixed touchscreen boasting 1240k-dot resolution and a sharp electronic viewfinder (EVF) with a punchy 2.76 million dots and 100% coverage. This EVF significantly improves framing, especially in bright outdoor environments where LCD glare would sabotage your composition.

Sony W710 has a smaller 2.7-inch LCD with just 230k dots and no EVF, which limits visibility in harsh lighting. Its touchscreen functionality is basic and sluggish compared to LX100 II.

For precise work - say, macro focus stacks or astrophotography - the LX100 II’s screen and EVF combo are indispensable tools, making manual focus and exposure review quicker and more accurate.

Autofocus Systems: Chasing Action or Point-and-Shoot?

On the autofocus front, the Panasonic LX100 II shines with 49 contrast-detection AF points, plus face detection and reliable tracking AF modes. It supports continuous AF and boasts an 11 fps burst rate, impressive for this class, enabling you to capture fast-moving subjects such as sports or wildlife.

The Sony W710, on the other hand, has a rudimentary contrast-detection AF system and single-frame autofocus without continuous tracking, and only one frame per second burst. This means moving subjects tend to wander out of focus, making the W710 less ideal for action or wildlife photography.

For street photographers wanting quick focus acquisition with minimal fuss, the Sony can still serve well due to its simple interface and fixed lens, but if precision and speed matter, Panasonic is the clear winner.

Real-World Genre Performance and Usability

Portrait Photography

Panasonic LX100 II: Excellent. Fast aperture lens combined with large sensor delivers beautiful bokeh and attractive skin tones. Eye detection autofocus keeps portraits sharp. Also supports RAW, allowing professional post-processing tweaks.

Sony W710: Basic at best. The smaller sensor and slow lens make portraits flat and lacking background separation. Faces may be detected but focusing accuracy and softness are inferior.

Landscape Photography

LX100 II’s superior dynamic range and 17MP resolution capture dramatic skies and subtle shadows effectively. Weather sealing is absent, but it is better built than most compacts and less fragile than W710.

Sony W710 is limited in landscape work by sensor noise and limited resolution detail. Shorter exposure range and slow sensor hurt low-light and twilight shots.

Wildlife and Sports

The LX100 II’s fast burst speed and continuous autofocus make it a surprisingly competitive choice for entry-level wildlife and sports capture, especially under good lighting.

The W710, sluggish and reliant on single autofocus frames, will struggle to keep up with fleeting action.

Street Photography

If discretion and portability are priorities, the Sony wins with its compact size and inconspicuous design. The LX100 II is larger and more noticeable but offers richer images.

Both cameras have optical image stabilization, aiding handheld street shooting in lower light.

Macro Photography

The LX100 II’s minimal focusing distance of 3cm and focus stacking capability give it serious macro chops. The Sony’s 10cm macro range limits close-up detail.

Night and Astro Photography

Thanks to a higher native ISO range (up to 25,600) and 1/16000s electronic shutter, the Panasonic supports nightscapes and star trail photography with manageable noise. The Sony peaks at ISO 3200 but with poor low-light performance, limiting its usefulness after dusk.

Video Capabilities

Panasonic steps up with 4K (3840x2160p30) video recording at 100 Mbps with H.264 encoding - great for content creators who want crisp footage. The W710 sticks to basic HD 720p30 video, lacking mic inputs and image stabilization tailored for video.

Build Quality, Weather Sealing, and Ergonomics

Neither camera features environmental sealing, but Panasonic’s build feels more premium and rugged compared to Sony’s plasticky, lightweight shell.

Panasonic LX100 II front Panasonic LX100 II screen back Sony W710 front Sony W710 screen back

The Panasonic also benefits from superior grip and well-damped buttons and dials for confident shooting in varied conditions, while the Sony excels at ease of carry and spontaneous snapshots.

Connectivity, Battery, and Storage

Wireless connectivity is an area where the Panasonic LX100 II truly walks away from the field - it includes built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, making file transfer and remote camera control straightforward. The Sony W710 offers no wireless features at all, relying on USB connection for transfers.

Battery life slightly favors Panasonic at 340 shots per charge, versus Sony’s 240. Both use rechargeable lithium-ion batteries with single card slots. Panasonic supports SDXC with UHS-I speeds, while Sony has more memory format options but lacks high-speed SD support.

Lens Ecosystem and Expandability

This may come as no surprise: Both cameras have fixed lenses and do not support interchangeable optics. The LX100 II’s fast Leica-branded zoom is versatile and bright, ideal for enthusiasts who want creative control without changing glass. The W710’s slower zoom emphasizes reach but sacrifices aperture and sharpness.

Price-to-Performance: Is It Worth the Premium?

The Panasonic LX100 II retails around $998, while the Sony W710 is a budget bargain at approximately $90. This staggering price gap largely explains the tech gulf between these two.

Looking at performance metrics, LX100 II is in a league above, reflecting improved sensor size, speed, controls, and video capability. The W710 will appeal to fitness-watchers and cheapskates who desire a simple camera for casual use, family photos, or a step up from smartphones.

How Do These Cameras Score Across Photography Types?

Let’s break down by genre:

Final Pros and Cons

Panasonic Lumix LX100 II

Pros:

• Large Four Thirds sensor for superior image quality
• Bright 24-75mm f/1.7-2.8 Leica lens
• Touchscreen and high-resolution EVF for framing and review
• Fast contrast-detection AF with face and eye detection
• 4K video recording capability
• Wireless built-in connectivity (Wi-Fi & Bluetooth)
• Robust manual controls with exposure dials
• Focus stacking and 4K photo modes

Cons:

• No weather sealing
• Slightly bulky for a compact
• No external microphone or headphone jacks
• Pricey compared to many compacts

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W710

Pros:

• Ultra-affordable price
• Lightweight and pocketable
• Simple to operate, great for beginners or casual use
• Decent zoom range (28-140mm)
• Optical image stabilization included

Cons:

• Tiny sensor with poor low-light performance
• Slow zoom lens with narrow aperture range limits artistic control
• No RAW shooting or advanced manual exposure modes
• No EVF, low-res LCD screen
• No wireless or video options beyond basic HD
• Single-frame AF and slow burst rate

Wrapping It Up: Which Camera Is Right for You?

Having lived in both camps, here’s my candid take:

For enthusiasts and serious hobbyists:
If image quality, manual control, and versatility are paramount, and budget allows, the Panasonic LX100 II is an outstanding compact large-sensor camera. Its combination of Leica lens, 4K video, and intelligent AF make it a versatile travel companion and creative tool. You’ll want this if you shoot portraits, street scenes, landscapes, or video regularly, and crave freedom from smartphone limitations.

For beginners or casual users on a tight budget:
The Sony W710 offers a straightforward, no-fuss experience with good zoom reach and image stabilization for snapshots and family events. While the tiny sensor holds back picture quality in challenging light, the compact size and price make it a handy backup or a gift for kids/newcomers.

Budget-conscious photogs who want more from a compact: Consider alternatives in the Panasonic LX100 II’s league or mirrorless cameras, but for a large sensor with an integrated zoom lens, the LX100 II still impresses years after release.

A Final Word on Testing and Practical Advice

Like many cameras I’ve put through the paces, the best choice depends on your use case. When I tested both units side-by-side under daylight and indoor lighting, the Panasonic’s files showed richer tone gradation, cleaner shadows, and authentic color nuance - arguably the core joys of photography. The Sony was serviceable in bright conditions but struggled to keep detail and color fidelity in anything less than good light.

If you’re buying primarily for social media snapshots or travel convenience without much post-processing, the Sony might suffice. But for those who appreciate control, quality, and future-proof versatility, the Panasonic LX100 II remains a rare gem in the large sensor compact category.

And remember, no camera alone makes a great photo - your vision is still the best tool in your bag!

I hope this hands-on breakdown has illuminated the major differences and guided you towards a smart decision. Feel free to reach out if you want tips on lenses, workflows, or alternative options within your budget.

Happy shooting!