ND/Focus? Built-in ND filter?

Yep. Not something unusual on compacts.
Btw we have similar thing on G5 near shutter :-)

Finally 1080p60

And this had been known for long. Common feature for all cameras based on new LSI.

I updated first post.

There is an LX7 video on line now, it looks quite good, from a sensitivity point of view. Towards the end a hand is held in front of the camera, but it fails to fool the autofocus - impressive, IMO. The biggest problem with this camera for me is that all models, worldwide, are limited from recording more than 30 minutes in a single clip. If you want to leave a B-roll camera running, it seems that you need to use 720.60p, but that is still a little unclear. It is certain that the 1080p is crippled:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IswJvUq812U

Samples:

• http://www.photographyblog.com/previews/panasonic_lumix_dmc_lx7_photos/
• http://www.focus-numerique.com/test-1509/compact-panasonic-lx7-bruit-electronique-12.html

Two reviews:

• http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/panasonic/dmc_lx7-review
• http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/panasonic_lumix_dmc_lx7_review

Here is analysis of the ability of the video processor in the LX7 to keep up with the content, by comparison with the Rx100. The analyzer software is the GH13 project.

First is RX100 video using the MTS download from vimeo.com/46408110 The LX7 video is the DCresource SF Trolley video http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/panasonic/dmc_lx7-assets/00002.MTS

Notice the LX7 is (somewhat surprisingly) rock solid:

No manual mode during 120fps capture :-

• Picture quality of high-speed motion pictures 1280×720 pixels (Aspect ratio of 16:9) 100 pictures/sec. Recording format: MP4 (without audio)
• You can record a motion picture of up to 4 GB per recording session.
• When converted into playback time, motion pictures can be recorded for up to 29 minutes and 59 seconds.
• The shutter speed and aperture value are automatically adjusted.
• Press the shutter button to start and stop recording motion pictures.
• Still pictures cannot be recorded while motion pictures are being recorded.
• The settings for the focus, zoom, exposure and White Balance are fixed to the settings specified when recording was started.
• The Optical Image Stabiliser does not work.
• The [AF Mode] is set to (1-area-focusing).
• Flickering or horizontal stripes may appear while recording under fluorescent lighting.

That date is tomorrow. Please please do check the 120fps recording mode and post details. I feel cheated in a way - so close yet so far. The fluoro flicker indoors will kill this feature.

According to the manual - you can lock exposure but cannot adjust shutter and aperture.

Recording motion pictures with manual operation [Creative Video Mode]

You can record at high speed moving subjects during sporting events or other active scenes to record movements that cannot be seen with the naked eye.

When you select [    ] by rotating the mode dial, the menu appears automatically. • You can display the [Creative Video] menu by pressing [MENU/SET]. select HS [High Speed Video]

Feature crippling as usual...

Movie mode also sees an overhaul. 1080p50 capture is available in AVCHD (28Mbps) or 1080p25 is included for MP4 file recording (17Mbps at best).

Panasonic... Don't do that on Gh3. Keep the AVCHD 1080p30 and 1080p25 and 1080p24!!!

zcream, the first test I want to do is put the camera into manual mode, and check I can still get 1/15 and 1/30 shutters at both 720p and 1080p... Then repeat in shutter and aperture preferred Creative Video mode... Always the optimist, I...

Here are very good comparisons between LX7 vs RX100.

http://mokona25.blog.me/70145129798 LX7 has slightly deeper DOF at the wide end and shallower DOF at the tele end. I like it.

http://mokona25.blog.me/70145231025 The blogger fixed the shutter speed at 1/30. You can see that LX7 can keep the ISO much lower toward the tele end.

If I must pick, LX7 for sure. It has a macro feature, a built-in ND, and a hotshoe. LVF2 is a nice accessory, too.