Nikon
D5100
 vs
Panasonic Lumix
DMC-LX3

Nikon D5100

100
Winner

Nikon D5100
"Sophisticated AF system for the price"
dpreview.com | talking about the D5100's auto-focus
"On the whole the D5100's movies are look great, with smooth motion and impressively low noise in dim light."
dpreview.com | talking about the D5100's video-quality

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5100

Overall image quality
 Great image quality
80.0
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13 EV
Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
1,183 ISO
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3

61

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3

Size
 Really small
Compact 109x60x27 mm
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Lens
Thickness
 Thin
1.1"
Weight
 Light-weight
265 g
Longest exposure
 Long exposures
60 seconds

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D5100
Overall image quality Much better image quality 80.0 vs 39.0
Help
 More than 2x better image quality
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 460k dots
Help
 2x higher resolution screen
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
 Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Color depth Better color depth 23.5 bits vs 19.6 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 3.9 more bits of color
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13 EV vs 10.8 EV
Help
 2.2 f-stops more dynamic range
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 16.1 MP vs 10 MP
Help
 Capture more than 60% more detail in your photos
Sensor size Much larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.6mm vs 1/1.7" 8.3x6.2mm
Help
 More than 7x larger sensor
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 1,183 ISO vs 94 ISO
Help
 The D5100 has excellent image quality 3.7 f-stops higher ISO than the DMC-LX3
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
 Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The D5100's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Pentamirror vs None
Help
 A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The D5100's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 4 fps vs 2.5 fps
Help
 60% faster continuous shooting
Fastest shutter speed Significantly faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/2000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Nikon D5100 Learn more about
the Nikon D5100

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-LX3
Size Much smaller 109x60x27 mm vs 127x96x78 mm
Help
 5.5x smaller
Image stabilization Image stabilization Lens vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Thickness Much thinner 1.1" vs 3.1"
Help
 2.9x thinner
Weight Significantly lighter 265 g vs 560 g
Help
 2.1x lighter
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
 2x longer exposures
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-LX3
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon D5100 Nikon D5100
100 vs 61
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D5100. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a entry-level DSLR with a pro digicam.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports 24p Both support 24p, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
For that film look
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
D5100:30s
DMC-LX3:60s
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon Coolpix P510

Nikon Coolpix P510

Super zoom

$397 - $400
Zoom Has way more more zoom
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Longest exposure Significantly shorter exposures
Compare the Coolpix P510 vs the D5100
Compare the Coolpix P510 vs the Lumix DMC-LX3

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen
Overall image quality Worse image quality
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D5100
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Weight Lighter
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Compare the D3200 vs the D5100
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens
Size Slightly smaller
Weight Slightly lighter
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Compare the D3100 vs the D5100
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder
Movie format Lower resolution movies
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Compare the D90 vs the D5100
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens
Weather sealed Weather sealed
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Compare the D7000 vs the D5100

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Pro digicam

$350
Continuous shooting Shoots faster
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality
Supports 24p No 24p support
Size Larger
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX5 vs the Lumix DMC-LX3
Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$356 - $430
Movie format Higher resolution movies
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Macro focus Worse macro capability
External flash No external flash support
Compare the Powershot S100 vs the Lumix DMC-LX3
Canon PowerShot S90

Canon PowerShot S90

Pro digicam
Overall image quality Better image quality
Color depth Better color depth
Wide angle Significantly worse wide angle
Supports 24p No 24p support
Compare the PowerShot S90 vs the Lumix DMC-LX3
Canon PowerShot S95

Canon PowerShot S95

Pro digicam

$340 - $389
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Overall image quality Better image quality
Wide angle Significantly worse wide angle
Macro focus Significantly worse macro capability
Compare the PowerShot S95 vs the Lumix DMC-LX3
Fujifilm Finepix X10

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Pro digicam

$599
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Overall image quality Better image quality
Wide angle Significantly worse wide angle
Supports 24p No 24p support
Compare the Finepix X10 vs the Lumix DMC-LX3

appearance

Nikon D5100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3
Nikon D5100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3
Nikon D5100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3

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