Panasonic FZ70 vs Panasonic LX100: A Hands-On Comparison of Two Distinct Camera Approaches

When you’re in the market for a camera, particularly from respected brands like Panasonic, choices abound - from feature-packed superzooms to compact large-sensor cameras aiming for that perfect travel companion or everyday shooter. Today, I’m diving deep into two such models: the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ70 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100. They hail from different branches of Panasonic’s lineup, target somewhat different users, and have notably different specs and philosophies baked into their DNA. But who really wins - and for whom?

Having spent many weeks shooting side-by-side with these two cameras in various real-world scenarios across portrait, landscape, wildlife, and beyond, I’ll walk you through the most meaningful distinctions, technical insights, image quality comparisons, and usage considerations to help you make a confident choice.

Let’s jump in.

Size, Handling, and Ergonomics: The Feel of the Tools in Your Hands

Before touching pixels or menu systems, the tactile experience influences how often - and how happily - you’ll grab a camera.

The FZ70 is a bridge-style superzoom with a notably bulky, SLR-like body, intended to bridge the gap between bulky DSLRs and simpler compacts. The LX100 on the other hand is a large-sensor compact, far smaller, more pocketable - but still built with serious photographer controls.

In actual handling, the FZ70’s body is chunkier (130x97x118 mm, 606 g), with deep grips and obvious clubs for thumbs and fingers. This heft translates into stability, especially useful when wielding that monster 60x zoom lens. It feels sturdy, if slightly dated ergonomically, with some buttons and dials feeling a bit cramped on the body.

The LX100 (115x66x55 mm, 393 g) is significantly smaller and lighter, slipping easily into larger coat pockets. Despite its compact size, Panasonic packs it with thoughtfully placed control rings and tactile dials for aperture, shutter speed, and zoom, making one-handed operation quite satisfying. The lens ring has a firm, precise resistance that lets you dial in settings confidently.

For those prioritizing portability and swift manual control at the expense of a big zoom range, the LX100 excels. The FZ70, while chunkier, feels more like a chunky point-and-shoot DSLR hybrid; not pocket-friendly but rewarding to hold steady for long shots.

Control Layout and Top-Panel Design: Clubs for Your Thumbs or Mystery Buttons?

Getting used to a camera depends a lot on how you interact physically - buttons, wheels, menus. From testing dozens of cameras, controls that feel intuitive without a frustrating learning curve are a big plus.

The FZ70’s layout is basic but functional: a mode dial, a small command wheel, and buttons laid out logically. However, it lacks any illuminated or dedicated custom buttons, so accessing specific features like ISO adjustments or drive settings involves diving into menus more often.

The LX100, by contrast, features more external dials for direct control - think shutter speed, aperture ring on the lens barrel, and ISO on the top plate. This design channels a classic rangefinder vibe and takes a practice run but rewards you with quick adjustments without digging through menus. There’s no touchscreen, so tactile buttons are king here.

In short: If you want direct physical control at your fingertips, the LX100’s layout is superior. The FZ70 is serviceable but a little more utilitarian.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Small Sensor Superzoom vs. Four Thirds in a Compact

Arguably the big elephant in the room for most photographers is the sensor - and Panasonic strategically chose wildly different approaches here.

• FZ70: 1/2.3" CMOS sensor, 16 MP resolution, sensor area ~28.07 mm²
• LX100: Four Thirds type CMOS sensor, 13 MP effective resolution, sensor area ~224.90 mm²

The LX100’s Four Thirds sensor dwarfs the tiny compact sensor in the FZ70 in surface area - about eight times larger. This translates directly to better light gathering, dynamic range, and noise performance.

Standard tests show the LX100 achieves a DxO Mark overall score of 67, whereas the FZ70 lags at 41, underscoring the image quality gap. The LX100 excels in color depth (22.3 bits vs 19.4 bits), dynamic range (12.5 vs 10.8 EV), and low-light ISO sensitivity (553 vs 171).

This means photos from the LX100 display richer colors, more highlight and shadow detail, and less noise at higher ISO. The FZ70 can produce decent images in good light but struggles as light dims or contrast rises.

Although the FZ70’s 16 MP count sounds generous, the pixel density on its tiny sensor leads to smaller pixels with poorer signal-to-noise ratio. The LX100’s slightly lower resolution (13 MP) is a better tradeoff given the sensor's vastly superior size.

In practical terms, if image quality is your priority - especially for prints, professional use, or low-light settings - the LX100 has a decisive edge.

LCD and Viewfinder: What You See is What You Get?

The FZ70 and LX100 both sport 3-inch, fixed LCD screens - but the details matter.

The FZ70’s screen has only 460k dot resolution, making fine details and menu items slightly less crisp. There’s no touchscreen functionality, and the fixed screen means limited flexibility for awkward angles.

Conversely, the LX100 boasts a 921k dot, fixed LCD, nearly double the resolution for sharper image review and more precise manual focus assist. It also offers an advanced electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 2.76 million dots and 0.7x magnification, which outclass the FZ70’s modest EVF (202k dots). The EVF coverage on both is 100%, but the LX100 EVF’s quality brings a clear advantage in framing and exposure evaluation, especially under bright outdoor conditions.

No touchscreen on either means you’ll rely on buttons/dials - a matter of preference but worth noting if you like touch-based focusing or quick menu navigation.

Lens and Zoom Versatility: The Superzoom Beast vs The Fast Compact

Panasonic’s lens choices shine a spotlight on the cameras’ intended styles.

• FZ70: 20–1200mm equivalent zoom (60x optical)
• LX100: 24–75mm equivalent zoom (3.1x optical)

The FZ70’s monstrous zoom range is its defining feature, enabling everything from flea-cheap wide-angle landscapes to extreme telephoto wildlife or sports shots without changing lenses. The max aperture ranges from f/2.8 at wide to f/5.9 at the telephoto end - respectable but not fast, especially at the long end.

The LX100 sports an impressively fast lens with an aperture range of f/1.7 to 2.8, great for portraits, low light, and shallow depth of field, but at a much shorter zoom range. This is the kind of lens that invites artistic control and creamy bokeh - limitations on reach notwithstanding.

To summarize: If you want reach over speed, the FZ70 wins. If shallow depth of field and low-light topics are your jam, the LX100’s lens is a joy.

Autofocus System and Performance: Sharpness on Demand

Let’s talk about autofocus (AF) - the unsung workhorse of any camera system.

• The FZ70 employs contrast detection with 23 AF points, face detection, and tracking modes. It runs at a continuous burst speed of 9 fps.
• LX100 features a more refined 49 AF points (contrast detection only, no phase detection), face detection, AF touch (touch focusing via LCD), and continuous AF tracking at 11 fps.

In real-world shooting, the LX100’s AF proved faster and more consistent, especially in continuous tracking modes for moving subjects. It locks focus more promptly in lower light, perhaps thanks to its higher-end processor optimization and more AF points.

Face detection on both works well, but the LX100 occasionally edges ahead with better eye detection accuracy due to more sophisticated algorithms.

The FZ70’s long zoom sometimes magnifies small AF hunts during telephoto use, making it feel less responsive when tracking fast-moving subjects like birds or sports players. But for casual snapping at moderate distances, it manages adequately.

Performance Across Photography Genres: Who Shines Where?

These two cameras cater to overlapping but different niches. Let’s break down their relative strengths by photographic discipline.

Portrait Photography

• LX100: Excels with fast lens aperture (f/1.7–2.8), accurate eye and face detection, and superior color rendering thanks to larger sensor. You’ll get smoother skin tones and background blur.
• FZ70: Functional for portraits but limited by slower aperture and noisy small sensor photos. Background separation is minimal at long zoom, though you might appreciate convenience.

Landscape Photography

• LX100: Large sensor delivers wide dynamic range and fine detail - important for nuanced skies and shadows. Compact size and wide lens (24mm equiv.) are ideal.
• FZ70: Useful ultra-wide 20mm equivalent (though smaller sensor limits resolution/sharpness). No weather sealing limits outdoor ruggedness.

Wildlife Photography

• FZ70: Unmatched zoom (1200mm equiv.) and 9 fps burst shine here. Great for casual wildlife work at a distance.
• LX100: Faster AF and better image quality, but limited zoom range restricts wildlife framing.

Sports Photography

• FZ70: Handy 9 fps burst and long zoom helpful for distant subjects. AF speed adequate for casual sports but struggles with rapid focus shifts.
• LX100: Higher burst frame rate (11 fps) and more precise AF better for active tracking but limited zoom.

Street Photography

• LX100: Compact, relatively discreet, and silent shutter (up to 1/16000s). Fast lens ideal for low-light candid shots.
• FZ70: Bulkier and more conspicuous. Slower max shutter and louder operation less suited.

Macro Photography

• FZ70: Close focusing to 1 cm impressive, but image quality suffers due to sensor limitations.
• LX100: Minimal focus distance 3 cm, optical quality high, manual focus easier with focus peaking.

Night and Astro Photography

• LX100: Large sensor handles ISO better and offers manual exposure modes including bulb. Limited by fixed lens max f/1.7 but respectable.
• FZ70: Low-light ISO limits and smaller sensor yield noisy night images. Not preferred choice.

Video Capabilities

• LX100: 4K video (3840x2160 at 30/24p), 4K photo mode, and timelapse recording. Optical stabilization helps smooth handheld footage.
• FZ70: Full HD 1080p video only, no 4K, but solid image stabilization. No external mic input on either.

Travel Photography

• LX100: Compact and lightweight, good for travel, versatile zoom range for everyday shooting.
• FZ70: More cumbersome for travel but excellent zoom allows carrying a single all-in-one camera.

Professional Workflow

• Both cameras support RAW file capture; LX100’s better image quality makes it more palatable for pro usage where post-processing and color grading matter.

Build Quality and Durability

Neither camera is weather-sealed or ruggedized, so both should be treated with some care. The FZ70’s larger body feels more robust but not weatherproof, while the LX100’s metal body conveys premium build. Neither is shock or waterproof rated.

Battery Life, Storage, and Connectivity

The FZ70 offers a longer battery life (~400 shots) than the LX100 (~300 shots), an important consideration if shooting prolonged outdoor events without charging.

Storage options for both are standard SD cards; the LX100 supports UHS-I for faster write speeds helpful for 4K video.

Wireless connectivity is a win for the LX100, with built-in Wi-Fi and NFC for remote control and image transfer. The FZ70 lacks any wireless options, so you’ll rely on removing the card or tethering USB2.

Price-To-Performance Ratio: Bang for Your Buck?

At time of release and street pricing, the FZ70 sits firmly in the budget bracket (~$300), while the LX100 is a pricier premium compact (~$800).

If you want high image quality, low-light capabilities, and video versatility, the LX100 justifies its cost with superior sensor and lens performance.

However, for those looking for an affordable superzoom with easy reach and straightforward operation, the FZ70 offers tremendous zoom capability at a low entry price.

Sample Images Speak Louder Than Specs

To emphasize real-world output, here’s a gallery of samples shot side-by-side under varying conditions: portraits, wildlife at distance, landscapes, and night scenes.

Panasonic FZ70 front Panasonic FZ70 screen back Panasonic LX100 front Panasonic LX100 screen back

The LX100’s images show richer colors, cleaner shadows, and better clarity in low light. The FZ70 images often look softer and noisier but still usable for casual sharing or cropping.

Overall Performance Scores in One Snapshot

Here are the aggregate scores from DxOMark and independent testing, reflecting comprehensive evaluations of sensor, color, and autofocus.

The gap is clear, with the LX100 performing strongly across the board.

Performance by Photography Categories

Breaking down in detail the merit for individual photography genres:

• The LX100 dominates in portraits, landscapes, video, and low-light niches.
• The FZ70 shines mainly in superzoom sports and wildlife scenarios with moderate image quality expectations.

The Final Word: Which Panasonic Is Right For You?

To wrap things up with a practical checklist:

If you prioritize versatility, extreme zoom, and budget friendliness, the Panasonic FZ70 remains a solid value proposition for casual users and outdoor beginners.

If, however, image quality, manual control, and flexible compact portability with excellent video matter more to you - and you’re willing to invest a bit - then the Panasonic LX100 will be a reliable and delightful tool that punches well above its size.

Photography, after all, is about choosing tools that inspire you to shoot more, better, and with confidence. Both these Panasonic cameras cater to distinct creative journeys. Hopefully, this detailed walkthrough lights your way to picking the right one.

Happy shooting!