The LX2 captured a wider 16:9 frame, but the focal length of each camera was adjusted to deliver the same vertical field of view. Since the LX2 crops below are taken from the same 4:3 area as the F30, it’s effectively being treated here as a 7.5 Megapixel 4:3 camera.

Viewed at 100%, the LX2 crops unsurprisingly show a slightly smaller area due to its effective 7.5 Megapixels across a 4:3 frame compared to the 6.3 Megapixels of the F30. The markings on the tennis courts in the third crops are arguably slightly clearer on the LX2 image, but overall there’s little difference in resolved real-life detail.

We’re not surprised by this result, but it does illustrate when comparing Megapixel ratings and resolvable detail, you must do so with the same shaped frame. In terms of marketing, the 10.2 Megapixel LX2 may sound considerably higher resolution than the 6.3 Megapixel F30, but it’s important to remember LX2’s pixels are spread over a much wider 16:9 frame. In terms of vertical resolution though, it’s little different from the 6.3 Megapixel F30. Of course to be fair, if the F30 images were cropped to deliver a wide 16:9 shape, the LX2’s images would have a considerable advantage.