LCD, viewfinder and video

In all but bright, direct sunlight, the Lumix DMC-LX7’s 3in TFT LCD screen offers a clear and easily viewable display. The resolution of the screen has been upped to 920,000 dots, but the screen remains a fixed type with no articulation. It almost comes as a surprise (and certainly a disappointment) to find that there is no touch functionality, especially given that the technology has been used in Panasonic’s own compact system cameras and its travel-zoom Lumix DMC-TZ30.

Given its size, there is no room for a built-in viewfinder. However, thanks to the accessory port by the hotshoe, there is the option to use an EVF. The LX7 is compatible with the company’s DMW-LVF2 EVF (£230.99), which has a crisp display and 1.44-million-dot resolution.

For a camera at this level, the 1080p progressive AVCHD video capture at 50fps is impressive. Furthermore, stereo sound is available, although the two microphones are crammed together on the top-plate.