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Panasonic has recently announced the LUMIX L10, the successor to the near-cult-followed LUMIX LX100 and LX100 II. As has happened with quite a few cameras, mostly those that are somewhat hyped, it’s already backordered, and the company has issued a delivery notice regarding availability (it’s in Japanese, but your household translation app will handle it). While the camera has not reached the market yet and is due out on June 18, Panasonic has already received an unusually high number of reservations. Hence the notice, which lets pre-order customers know the camera may be a tad delayed.
This kind of notice has become somewhat mainstream in recent years, especially around aggressively hyped cameras. As the maker of many of those, it seems as if FUJIFILM takes it to the max, but to be honest, its hyped cameras are backordered long after the initial hype is long gone, so I tend to believe it’s not a promotional trick. Knowing the cult follow on the Panasonic LUMIX LX100, and taking the extremely long model cycle time, I think we’re looking at a similar plot line here.
Being a refined version of its predecessor, the LUMIX L10 seems to be ready for today’s crowded market of stylish premium compacts.
I haven’t yet had a chance to delve into Panasonic’s manufacturing strategy, nor into its marketing; however, I do have a bet: The premium compact market isn’t the most predictable one. Not every stylish, pseudo-analog-retro-designed camera succeeds here. It might be better to dip a toe first, before jumping head first. I’ll assume the L10 is here to stay, considering Panasonic’s rather long product cycle in this segment, so no rush.
All cameras attract some level of hype, but not all hype carries the same weight. The premium compact segment is especially hype driven, and to some extent, dependent on it. These cameras are often bought as a statement, as a fashion accessory, as a virtue-signaling item. In that case – scarcity is a bonus. So starting with a modest production volume is advantageous in two ways: Minimizing risks of lower-than-expected sales and manufacturing scarcity that helps the hype build up. There’s also a risk of taking this strategy too far, to a point where the clientelle loses interest and cancels their pre-order, but it’s probably easily zeroed out by the advantages.
There are quite a bunch of premium compact cameras out there, posing some rough competition. However, few are geared the same way as the LUMIX L10. A fast-aperture zoom lens is a rarity, especially when combined with a fully articulated screen and a large, multi-aspect sensor. Add that to the generous video feature-set bestowed upon this little beast, and you may start to see a dream camera for the fashion-conscious content creator, wanting both vertical and classic video capture. While this may sound like a niche, it actually covers quite a lot of users, so success is not a wild bet here.
Well, if this unique camera and its uncommon value proposition is exactly what you want, I’d say yes, wait a bit. There isn’t anything quite like it at the moment. However, if you want it for just one or two traits, the relatively vast premium compact market may have a worthy alternative in store for you (pun intended).
The Panasonic LUMIX L10 in Black and Silver will set you back $1,499 and is available for pre-order from B&H. The Titanium Gold Special Edition is listed at $1,599 and sold primarily through the official Panasonic store. Shipments are due by June 18th, but some will probably be delayed. Full product details are available on Panasonicβs North America site here.
Will you hold onto your preorder, knowing the camera may be delayed? Or would you preorder now anyway, hoping to shorten the wait for what could become a hard-to-find camera? Let us know in the comments.
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Omri Keren Lapidot started his way long ago, hauling massive SVHS cameras as a young local news assistant. Maybe it was the weight that pushed him towards photography, we'll never know. In recent years he became a content creator, teacher, visual literacy promoter, and above all - a father of (fantastic) four girls. Based in Amsterdam.