Canon Powershot
S100
 vs
Panasonic Lumix
DMC-LX5

Updated (September, 2012): Compare the Canon Powershot S110 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7

Canon Powershot S100

64

  
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

51

  

Reasons to buy the Canon Powershot S100

Wide angle
 Wide angle lens
24 mm
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
11.6 EV
High-speed framerate
 High speed movies
240 fps
True resolution
 High true resolution
12 MP
Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
10 fps
 

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Wide angle
 Wide angle lens
24 mm
Battery life
 Great battery life
400 shots
Light sensitivity (boost)
 High ISO (boost)
12,800 ISO
External flash
 External flash
Better lighting
Fastest shutter speed
 Fast shutter speed
1/4000 of a second
Longest exposure
 Long exposures
60 seconds
 

differences

Advantages of the Canon S100
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 50.0 vs 41.0
Help
 More than 20% better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.6 EV vs 10.8 EV
Help
 0.8 f-stops more dynamic range
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 24fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video but at a lower frame rate
True resolution Much higher true resolution 12 MP vs 10 MP
Help
 Capture more than 20% more detail in your photos
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies 240 fps vs None
Help
 Capture events too fast for the naked eye and play them back in super-slow motion
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Color depth Better color depth 20.7 bits vs 19.6 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.1 more bits of color
GPS Has a GPS Yes vs No
Help
 Automatically geotags your photos when traveling
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 153 ISO vs 132 ISO
Help
 The S100 has a slight edge (0.2 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The S100's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 10 fps vs 6 fps
Help
 Around 70% faster continuous shooting
Size Smaller 99x60x28 mm vs 109x65x42 mm
Help
 Around 50% smaller
Thickness Thinner 1.1" vs 1.7"
Help
 More than 30% thinner
Weight Lighter 198 g vs 277 g
Help
 Around 30% lighter
Lowest price Cheaper $325.00 vs $454.89
Help
 The best price we've seen is $130 cheaper (around 30% less)
Canon Powershot S100 Learn more about
the Canon S100

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-LX5
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor 1/1.6" 8.3x6.2mm vs 1/1.8" 7.5x5.5mm
Help
 More than 20% larger sensor
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 400 shots vs 200 shots
Help
 2x more shots per battery charge
Focus points More focus points 23 vs 9
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
Help
 An external flash often produces better looking flash images
Macro focus Better macro capability 1 cm vs 3 cm
Help
 Focus on subjects 3x closer to the lens
Longest exposure Much longer exposures 60s vs 15s
Help
 4x longer exposures
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 2300 ms vs 2400 ms
Help
 Almost the same
Fastest shutter speed Significantly faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/2000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-LX5
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro digicams, and ignoring price

Canon Powershot S100 Canon Powershot S100
64 vs 51
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon Powershot S100.

similarities

Compared to recent digicams

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Aperture Very wide aperture Help
f/2.0
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
S100:1/1.8" 7.5x5.5mm
DMC-LX5:1/1.6" 8.3x6.2mm
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
Lens
Light sensitivity (boost) Very good boost ISO Help
12,800 ISO
Lowest price Very expensive Help
S100:$325.00
DMC-LX5:$454.89
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Startup delay Significant startup delay Help
S100:2400 ms
DMC-LX5:2300 ms
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
S100:153 ISO
DMC-LX5:132 ISO
Zoom Poor zoom Help
S100:5x
DMC-LX5:3.8x

Compared to recent pro digicams

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Wide angle Good wide angle Help
24 mm
Viewfinder No viewfinders Help
Can only preview photos on the screen
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
External mic jack Neither has an external mic jack Help
Limited to the in-camera mic
Screen type No OLED screens Help
LCD
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
S100:461k dots
DMC-LX5:460k dots
Focus points Few focus points Help
S100:9
DMC-LX5:23

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Powershot S110

Canon PowerShot S110

Pro digicam

$399
Light sensitivity Significantly higher maximum light sensitivity
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the PowerShot S110 vs the Powershot S100
Compare the PowerShot S110 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7

Pro digicam

$348
Aperture Has a slightly wider aperture
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX7 vs the Powershot S100
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX7 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5
Sony Cybershot DSC-RX100

Sony Cybershot DSC-RX100

Pro digicam

$648 - $760
Sensor size Has a much larger sensor
Low light performance Is much less noisy at high ISO
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is much more expensive
Compare the Cybershot DSC-RX100 vs the Powershot S100
Compare the Cybershot DSC-RX100 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5
Canon PowerShot S95

Canon PowerShot S95

Pro digicam

$461 - $602
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the PowerShot S95 vs the Powershot S100
Compare the PowerShot S95 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5
Nikon Coolpix P310

Nikon Coolpix P310

Pro digicam

$169 - $179
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Panorama Creates panoramas in-camera
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
Compare the Coolpix P310 vs the Powershot S100
Compare the Coolpix P310 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5
Olympus XZ-1

Olympus XZ-1

Pro digicam

$323
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Screen type Has an OLED screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Light sensitivity (boost) Lacks boost light sensitivity
Compare the XZ-1 vs the Powershot S100
Compare the XZ-1 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5
Canon PowerShot G15

Canon PowerShot G15

Pro digicam

$444 - $449
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Light sensitivity Significantly higher maximum light sensitivity
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the PowerShot G15 vs the Powershot S100
Compare the PowerShot G15 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5

Canon Powershot S100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon PowerShot SX260 HS

Canon PowerShot SX260 HS

Travel zoom

$245 - $269
Zoom More zoom
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera
Aperture Much narrower aperture
Supports RAW No RAW support
Compare the PowerShot SX260 HS vs the Powershot S100

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3

Pro digicam
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Size Smaller
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX3 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5
Leica D-LUX 5

Leica D-LUX 5

Pro digicam

$1,049
Size Smaller
Thickness Thinner
Lowest price Much more expensive
Continuous shooting Shoots slower
Compare the D-LUX 5 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5

appearance

Canon Powershot S100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
Canon Powershot S100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
Canon Powershot S100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

discussion

Showing 4 comments

Avatar for Tirah Misu Tirah Misu (8:38 AM, June 21, 2012)
i think even though S100 is more popular as it's a Canon and has those "advantages" listed here, the LX5 still ultimately has better IQ in terms of detail, sharpness, macro
 
Writemsg (10:00 AM, April 09, 2012)
Great site, You still need to add subjective comparison (and reference review) as life is not all about specs. Image quality is a major "numberless" spec.....
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (3:33 PM, March 07, 2012)
My mistake, it looks like commenting is working fine.  You're the first to comment on this comparison, congrats.
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (3:28 PM, March 07, 2012)
Hi Daniel, we're placing voting with a new feature in the next few days.  Hmm, comments seem to be broken, thanks for pointing that out, we'll get that fixed asap.