Lumix LX-7 or Olympus XZ-2

[MysteryLemon]

I'm buying an enthusiast compact. I'm hovering over the purchase buttons right now, but I just can't decide.

I've whittled the competition down to either the Lumix LX-7 or the Olympus XZ-2. The pros and cons seem to outweigh each other and it's a clear draw in my eyes, but I can't buy both.

Any opinions on either of these cameras?

[strummerville]

Sony RX100. I've had mine a few weeks and am amazed by the quality. Really, really happy with it.

[MysteryLemon]

strummerville said:

Sony RX100. I've had mine a few weeks and am amazed by the quality. Really, really happy with it.

Not one of the options.

Plus, its about £100 out of my price range and not really the sort of camera I'm after. Seems much more aimed at being a decent quality compact for the general consumer rather than something aimed at people who know their way around a camera and aren't scared of buttons.

[strummerville]

Maybe, but it has full manual control as per my SLR, and the older (pre Mk2 models) are down in price.

I find the real test is zooming in on detail on a hand held night shot. Hyperbole aside, this is the best camera I have had. I was waiting for the iPhone 5S as it had a 'better camera'. In the end I've taken an older 5 which was cheaper as all camera phones are pathetic next to the RX.

[MysteryLemon]

Went for the XZ-2.

Nothing in it. May as well have picked the choice out of a hat.

Anyone want to buy the Nikon D80 it's replacing?

[strummerville]

I'll be interested how you get on with that. Post some pics up!

[MysteryLemon]

I will do!

Been having second thoughts that I should have gone for the LX-7 instead ... Would have been the opposite if I had gone for the LX-7

[rottie102]

MysteryLemon said:

I will do!

Been having second thoughts that I should have gone for the LX-7 instead ... Would have been the opposite if I had gone for the LX-7

MTFU

[MysteryLemon]

[creampuff]

Download some full size sample pics of dpreview or somewhere and pixel peep to work out which one you like.

The Oly XZ-1 had too much noise reduction for my tastes, but that was my taste, your taste may differ.

[MysteryLemon]

I've been doing that for moths haha. The xz-2 trumps the lx-7 in that respect. Keeps much more detail, even upto 800iso where it still looks good.

The noise reduction can be turned off so it doesn't bother me, although I agree, the default jpg setting does apply too much nr on higher ISO images compared to the lx-7, which definitely doesn't perform as we'll at higher ISO.

Swings and round abouts though. They both have pros and cons. Both the best in class IMO so can't really go wrong with either.

I bought the xz-2 though.