Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX100

Panasonic’s Lumix DMC-FX100 arrived in mid-2007 as the company’s first 12.2-megapixel compact and a significant step forward for the FX lineup. To fit all those pixels without shrinking individual pixel size, Panasonic increased the sensor to 1/1.72 inches — a meaningful engineering choice rather than a simple resolution bump. The Leica DC Vario-Elmarit 3.6× zoom starts at a proper 28mm wide angle, MEGA O.I.S. handles camera shake with the lens-shift system Panasonic had been refining for years, and the satisfying power-on slider is one of those tactile details that makes this camera feel considered even before you’ve taken a shot. These Leica-equipped Lumix models commanded serious money when new — and they’ve aged better than most.

NO FILTER: SHOT ON FX100

THE LOOKS

In black, the FX100 has a harder, more angular character than its FX siblings — bevelled edges and a two-tone design where the gunmetal grey lens surround contrasts against the body. The all-metal construction feels substantial at 148g, and at 96.7 × 54 × 24.5mm it sits properly in a hand without feeling fragile. The 2.5-inch LCD dominates the back panel and the rear controls stay clean and minimal. Also available in champagne and gunmetal silver, but black is the one that means business.

THE SPECS

12.2-megapixel 1/1.72-inch CCD sensor. Leica DC Vario-Elmarit 3.6× optical zoom, 28–100mm equivalent, f/2.8–5.6, MEGA O.I.S. optical stabilization. Venus Engine III processor. ISO 80–1600; High Sensitivity mode pushes to ISO 6400 at 3-megapixel. 2.5-inch LCD (207,000 pixels) with Power LCD mode (+40% brightness). 9-point TTL autofocus. 848×480 video at 30fps. 27MB internal memory plus SD/SDHC. 320 shots per charge.

DESIGN HIGHLIGHTS

• 1/1.72-inch sensor engineered for the pixel count: Rather than shrinking pixels to hit 12 megapixels, Panasonic increased the sensor size — keeping individual pixel area the same as their 7-megapixel models and holding noise at bay up to ISO 400.
• Leica 28mm wide-angle at f/2.8: When most competitors were starting at 35mm or narrower, the 28mm equivalent gave meaningfully more scene coverage — useful for architecture, interiors, and group shots where you can’t step back further.
• 8fps burst at 3-megapixel: Dropping to reduced resolution unlocked high-speed shooting that the full 12-megapixel files couldn’t support — a practical dual-mode approach that most compact shooters never needed but appreciated having.

THE VERDICT

The DMC-FX100 is Panasonic’s mid-2000s flagship compact at its most serious: Leica glass, a properly sized sensor, metal construction, and the kind of considered ergonomics that make you reach for it over more technically capable cameras from the same era. Image quality is excellent at base ISO and holds well to ISO 400. The 28mm wide angle and Leica branding are the headline features, but the build quality and that slider switch are what keep people holding onto these years later.