Panasonic cameras have always been video-heavy and their compacts were no exception. They have since exited the segment, and now I'd say the crown is either held by Sony with their ZV-1[a] cameras, or Canon with their PowerShot G7 X Mark III[b]. But the LX-15 was, when I bought it in 2018, half the price of them both. For a measly $400, I got 4K video, a 1" sensor, an f/1.8 lens and raw capture. Those were the days.
Wanting to get into 4K video in 2025 but not willing to upgrade my Nikon D600 to a Nikon Z[1], I thought I'd kit out my old LX-15. And kit it out I did:
KentFaith 40.5mm ND2-ND400 (9 Stops) Variable ND Filter Neutral Density Adjustable Filter for Canon Nikon DSLR Cameras + Lens Cleaning Cloth[d]: $25.99
SmallRig Cold Shoe 1241[g]: $4.99 (I just super glued it on top of the pop-up flash that I never ever use.)
In total, $71. If you also want slow motion in 4K the price goes up substantially (I have the old version 5 from 2023, which sold for $149):
Topaz Video AI[h]: $299
What you don't have in hardware, you have to have in software, I guess. The advantage is that you get (AI upscaled) 4k at 100fps, for those slow motion shots, but it's up to you if it's worth the price. Together with a small tripod and an OM System LS-P5 for sound recording, this is quite a powerful system. I used it for Bumblebees at the Bergius Botanic Garden (although I used a Zoom H2 to record the sound of the raindrops).
