Is the Panasonic Lumix LX10 still good for travel photos?

Yes, the Panasonic Lumix LX10 (also known as the LX15 in some regions) is still a very capable travel camera, especially if you can find it at a reasonable price on the used market.

While modern smartphones have closed the gap significantly with computational photography, the LX10 retains several physical advantages that make it great for travel:

• The f/1.4 Lens: At its widest setting (24mm equivalent), the lens opens up to f/1.4. This is incredibly bright for a compact camera, allowing for beautiful, natural background bokeh (blur) and excellent low-light performance without the artificial "paint-in" look of smartphone portrait modes.
• Physical 1-Inch Sensor: The sensor is roughly 4x larger than those found in standard smartphones. This yields better dynamic range and cleaner images when shooting high-contrast travel scenes like sunsets or cityscapes.
• Macro Capabilities: It can focus on subjects just 3cm away, which is fantastic for close-up travel details, food photography, and textures.

The Catch in 2026

Because the camera was released in 2016, you will have to tolerate some dated technology. It charges via Micro-USB rather than USB-C, its contrast-based autofocus can hunt in low light or during video tracking, and there is no viewfinder, meaning you must rely entirely on the tilting rear screen, which can be difficult to see in direct, bright sunlight.

If you prefer manual control dials, true optical zoom, and natural image depth, the LX10 remains a fantastic pocket companion. However, if you rely heavily on instant social sharing, weatherproofing, and effortless point-and-shoot night modes, a modern premium smartphone may serve you better.