Hello again

It's been a while
Around 5 years in fact since I received excellent help and information on the Serious Compacts forum, where does the time go! I see there's been some changes. I was seduced away from my lovely LX5 by the bigger is better idea of getting a M4/3 (GX1) and the kit that goes with it has just grown and grown. Not a good idea as my main hobby (Some might say obsession) is cycling. Anyway, the GX1 has developed some faults, hardly surprising as it's had a hard life, and it's time for a new camera. May stick with the Panasonic line and am tempted by the LX100, I'm reluctant to give up the 45 - 150 M4/3 zoom but like the idea of something more portable, the usual problem! I'll have a look what the folks on here are saying and maybe have a question or two to ask.
Paul, Derby, UK
Paul

Welcome back!

Sounds like a case for Panasonic's GM5, 12-32mm f/3.5-5.6 and 35-100mm f/4-5.6 - as a kit, the setup's not much bigger than a LX100, but can mount all glass. I personally prefer slightly bigger bodies, but I know from experience that when cycling, photography tends to take a back seat, so lugging around any unnecessary weight seems counter-productive. I've trekked with an Olympus E-PM1 plus Panasonic 12-32mm and 20mm lenses; on another journey, I took the E-PL7, Olympus 17mm f/1.8 and 14-150mm II. Both setups are (sufficiently, in the latter's case) compact and light, yet capable - the second one is also extremely versatile. The GM5 is even more compact and has an EVF, and when using the small zooms, you won't miss I.B.I.S.

That said, if you want to go for a compact camera, the LX100 is a very good choice - much better handling than most of the smaller 1" offerings (Sony, Canon, Nikon, Panasonic), very nice IQ thanks to the lens/sensor combo that really performs very well. But of course, others will tell you just how good the 1" cameras are, and I won't object (because it's mostly true). And there is actually a really interesting camera out now: the TZ101 (ZS100/TZ100) with its impressive zoom range in a very compact body, including an EVF!

M.

Thanks for that, I'll check out both those cameras. I haven't kept up with what's available, once I have something I like I tend to keep it, but then I can spend ages deciding on it's replacement. I quite like the discipline not having an interchangeable lens imposes. I've only ever had one camera at a time, I'm reluctant to move away from that, but there are times when I know I'm going to take photos and other times when I've carried a camera for days without using it., so maybe that's something I should look at.