Thread: Is Panasonic giving up on the LX7?

Originally Posted by Ray

From what I understand (just from reading on the forums), Panasonic had a hit with the LX3 (because what else was there in the premium compact world smaller than the Canon G series?) but was then bummed at the sales of the LX5. But there was a LOT of enthusiasm about the LX5 here and on DPR's Pany forum. The LX7 has barely gotten a mention anywhere despite some very real improvements over the LX5. My guess is its just not selling at all compared to the competition. Whether this is a change in pricing strategy or just a temporary attempt at jump starting the model I have no idea. I tried the camera and loved it, but ultimately settled on the X10 as the best compact for me of today's choices. I'm curious how the XZ2 will do in today's landscape. Looks like a well thought out camera, but with the X10 and now the RX100, I think the smaller sensor compacts are fighting over the scraps of a market that's not that huge to begin with. Until they all come out with RX100 competitors sometime in the next year or so, I think these models may just be placeholders.

-Ray

I thnk you have this right. These models - whether their makers like it or not - are now placeholders. The other manufacturers of compact enthusiast camera were caught out by the RX100 and its one-inch sensor. Despite the $600-plus pricetag of the Sony, cameras like the LX7 and XZ-2 simply can't command the prices their predecessors did. Cameras in the 1/1.7 sensor range, with some exceptions, will soon generally occupy the bottom of the dedicated camera market because smartphones will have killed off the traditional 3x zoom 1/2.3 sensor digicam market. Look for the Panasonic and Olympus to rush out cameras with one-inch sensors in 2013.

For me, the ace in the hole for the LX3/5/7 is the 24mm wide end, most of the competition doesn't have that. And, of course, the LX3/5 has a wide-angle adapter to go to 18mm, if the LX7 had that I might upgrade.

^ yeah, that's definitely the one feature that sets the Panasonic LX-series and the Samsung EX-series apart from the rest. And at the moment they have the two fastest lenses at wide angle...

It's an incredibly competitive segment right now, with the Canon G series now getting faster than before at tele (G15), Samsung, Olympus and Fuji re-entering this segment with (EX, XZ, X10), and pressure from nearby format 1" (RX100), and 4/3" (E-PM2) cameras. I don't think the Oly XZ2 will sell well at its current price either. Surprised to see the LX7 drop so soon though. $499 seemed like a very reasonable price for this camera.

It will be interesting to see if the price here in the UK drops to the equivalent of that in the USA.

Maybe Panasonic can't make up their mind about what to do next since the RX100 appeared on the market and has has an impact on advanced compact cameras generally.

The lower price seems to be more realistic to me, having just bought a LX5 with EVF and wide angle converter lens and adapter at £300.