The Panasonic Lumix L10 is not a Fujifilm X100VI
A camera with compact dimensions and a fixed lens: The Panasonic Lumix L10 looks like an alternative to the Fujifilm X100VI. However, there are significant differences.
Theoretically, the Panasonic Lumix L10 has been available since June 2026, but quantities seem to be severely limited. I didn't receive my test unit until October. My first thought when unboxing: «This is no longer a compact camera.» The L10 is about the size of a small system camera or the Fujifilm X100VI. And significantly larger than the Ricoh GR IV. Even though it has a smaller sensor than both. To help you see the size differences immediately, I'll show you the comparison from Camerasize.com.
Source: camerasize.com
Comparison with predecessor and competition
It's not just the size and poor availability that the Panasonic Lumix L10 shares with the Fujifilm X100VI. Both cameras come with a fixed lens and a retro design. One important difference: the L10 has a zoom lens, while the Fujifilm X100VI uses a wide-angle prime lens. The zoom lens protrudes a bit further. However, since neither camera fits into a trouser pocket anyway, this is not a real disadvantage.
Source: camerasize.com
The lens has a 35mm equivalent focal length of 24 to 75 millimeters and was already used in the LX100 II from 2018. This can be seen as the predecessor model, even if it belongs to a different series by name.
However, calling the Panasonic Lumix L10 a Fujifilm X100VI with a zoom would be wrong. The effectively usable resolution is only half as high, the operating concept differs significantly, as do many details. The table provides an initial overview.
Operation: difficult at first, then okay
The Panasonic camera has many buttons, significantly more than the competition from Fujifilm. Perhaps even too many. The playback button is practically under the thumb – no wonder I press it accidentally every now and then.
The L10 has no control dial on the front, only on the back. The directional pad can also be rotated, which means you do have two dials available after all. You don't need a dial for the aperture; it can be set on the lens. However, you can also assign the setting to a dial.
For the latter, the lens must be set to «A». This is confusing at first, because «A» does not activate aperture priority (S or P mode). This is done via the mode dial. I find the operating concept of the Fujifilm X100VI much more intuitive in this regard. There is also a dial for the shutter speed, and both can be set to automatic. This results in the P, S, A, and M modes automatically; no mode dial is needed. With the Panasonic Lumix L10, however, it is.
The camera can be configured very freely. That's good – and in my opinion necessary, because the factory settings are not always particularly sensible. For example, at the beginning, I could only move the autofocus field via the touch screen; impractical when I'm looking through the viewfinder. However, it was no problem to assign the field selection to the left button of the directional pad.
The lens can only be zoomed electronically – via a rocker switch on the shutter button or via the zoom ring on the lens. Since I don't need two controls for exactly the same thing, I'm glad that I can assign the zoom ring differently. For example, I can make the ISO selection directly accessible. Or I can activate step-zoom on the ring and zoom continuously via the rocker. In manual focus, the ring becomes a focus ring.
Flexible aspect ratios
I enjoy the sliders directly on the lens, with which I can select the focus mode and the aspect ratio. That was already the case with my LX3 from the noughties; Panasonic has remained true to this concept. Associated with this is an unusual use of the sensor area.
The sensor is slightly larger than the image circle. Regardless of whether it's 4:3, 1:1, 16:9, or 3:2 – the entire sensor area is not used in any aspect ratio. The sensor has 26 megapixels, but only 20 are effectively usable. The advantage: there are several equivalent aspect ratios. Most cameras can only create alternative aspect ratios by cropping the original image. The Panasonic camera, on the other hand, is flexible. The old feature fits surprisingly well into today's media landscape.
Image quality: as always
In the past, image quality was the most important thing in a camera test; today, it's a point that falls under «oh yes, by the way». The sensors are rarely new, and if they are, they hardly bring any improvements in image noise and dynamic range. In short: you know it, and it's okay. But not a reason to buy a new device.
This is no different with the L10. The sensor was already used in the GH7 and G9II system cameras. For the relatively small MFT format, it is very good – little noise, lots of dynamic range.
The lens has a built-in image stabilizer. But the sensor does not. That is sufficient for exposure times of up to about 1/10 second handheld. On my unit, the edges are blurry in the wide-angle. Otherwise, it delivers the required sharpness. The exact sharpness performance of a lens can vary from device to device.
Autofocus without noticeable weaknesses
Not only the sensor but also the autofocus does its job well in low light. Even at night, the camera focuses without any problems. A red AF assist light is used for this. However, the autofocus is not necessarily dependent on this light, because it still works at distances of over three meters.
As is common today, the Panasonic Lumix L10 also recognizes subjects such as faces, eyes, animals, or vehicles. There is no automatic subject selection; but «animals» is very general. The camera recognizes dogs and cats well. The lens has too little focal length for birds, so I didn't test that at all.
The camera has an AF-On button, but no button that opens all autofocus options. However, that's not a problem because everything can be reprogrammed. For example, I can assign a function button to the AF mode. This allows not only the selection of the focus field but also subject recognition. Only switching between AF-S and AF-C is not accessible this way.
Close-ups are also possible in macro mode. In wide-angle, you can almost touch the subject and still focus. Unfortunately, I cannot achieve such magnification in telephoto. Furthermore, the autofocus gives incorrect feedback there: it signals to me that it has focused, even though that is not the case.
Speed and rolling shutter
The camera achieves a continuous shooting speed of 9 frames per second with the mechanical shutter. That is neither particularly fast nor particularly slow; it is sufficient for most purposes. With the electronic shutter, the camera manages 30 frames per second. Here, the question of the rolling shutter effect arises. With very fast movements, the lines deform with the mechanical shutter if the sensor cannot be read out fast enough.
The fan test shows that the electronic shutter is usable. The rotors deform visibly, but I have seen much worse in this regard.
Video: many formats, few connections
The camera has a huge selection of video quality settings. The highest of these is impressive: 5632×1976 at 60 frames per second (FPS). This corresponds to the 17:9 aspect ratio. In addition, there is something similar to Open Gate. True Open Gate would not make sense with this sensor usage, but in the 4:3 aspect ratio, the camera manages a video resolution of 5184×3888 – albeit only at 30 FPS. Of course, quite ordinary formats like 4K/UHD are also possible – in oversampling quality.
Despite these impressive specifications, the camera does not offer a top overall package for video. Firstly, important video connections are missing. Neither an HDMI nor a headphone output is present – unusual in this price range. Added to this are problems with overheating. In the test, the camera ran in the highest recording quality at room temperature for just 11 minutes before it switched off due to the risk of overheating. This is despite optimal heat dissipation: it was standing freely on a tripod and had the screen folded out. In another test with UHD resolution and 50 FPS, 25 minutes passed until the overheating end.
Strong battery, but also energy-hungry
There is room for a large battery in the relatively large housing. It holds 2200 mAh – that's more than twice as much as the LX100 II and significantly more than the Fujifilm X100VI. The effective battery life is not quite as impressive – apparently, the processor is energy-hungry. With the electronic viewfinder, the camera manages 410 photos in the CIPA test procedure, the Fuji 310. The Fujifilm camera also offers an optical viewfinder in addition to the electronic one, with which it manages 450 photos. With Panasonic, this option does not exist.
Panasonic does not supply a charger or a charging cable. Since most people already own a USB-C charging cable, this is not necessarily bad; it avoids electronic waste. But you have to know this when you order the camera.
In a nutshell
A flexible everyday camera
The Panasonic Lumix L10 is well-suited for street photography and travel. Furthermore, it is a good everyday camera for those who do not always want to snap photos with their smartphone. It is only very limitedly suitable for sports and wildlife photography due to its short focal length, even though the autofocus and speed would be up to the task. In comparison with the Fujifilm X100VI, the Panasonic Lumix L10 is the more flexible camera. On one hand, because of the zoom lens, and on the other, because of the free choice of aspect ratios. However, more flexible does not mean better. The effectively usable resolution is barely half as high, and the ports are meager. The lens is stabilized, but not the sensor (it is the other way around with Fujifilm). And the hybrid viewfinder of the X100VI remains a unique selling point of Fujifilm. The operating concept is also completely different. In my opinion, it is less cohesive than Fujifilm's, but after some individual adjustments, it is perfectly suitable for everyday use. The great strength here is also the flexibility: the configuration options are endless, and every button can be assigned any function. The video function is ambivalent: on one hand, it impresses with good image quality and an immense selection of formats. On the other hand, it disappoints due to missing ports and rapid overheating. The latter also negates the actually good battery life during video use. For photos, however, the powerful battery is a real plus.
Pro
- Objectively versatile
- usable in low light
- good video quality
- solid battery life
- flexible aspect ratios without loss
- freely configurable
Contra
- not really compact
- rather low resolution
- HDMI and headphone output are missing
- Playback button prone to accidental pressing
- not particularly well-thought-out factory settings
- no sensor image stabilization
David Lee
Senior Editor
David.Lee@digitecgalaxus.chMy interest in IT and writing landed me in tech journalism early on (2000). I want to know how we can use technology without being used. Outside of the office, I’m a keen musician who makes up for lacking talent with excessive enthusiasm.
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