Nikon Coolpix
P300
 vs
Panasonic Lumix
DMC-LX5

Updated (February, 2012): Compare the Nikon Coolpix P310 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
"On the front the handgrip has been slightly enlarged and re-shaped, with a larger textured pad, making the camera easier to grip."
trustedreviews.com | talking about the DMC-LX5's feel
"The autofocus system appears to be exactly the same as that of the LX3, but since it's still one of the fastest on the market that's no bad thing. Its low-light performance is still just as outstanding."
trustedreviews.com | talking about the DMC-LX5's auto-focus

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Supports RAW
 Shoots RAW
Better editing
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
Nikon Coolpix P300
"The P300's BSI (back side illuminated) CMOS sensor does pretty well in most shooting conditions and in normal use, image quality compares well to those of its peers with similar-sized sensors."
dpreview.com | talking about the P300's image-quality
"Overall then, the P300 is a satisfying compact camera."
dpreview.com | talking about the P300's overall-performance

Reasons to buy the Nikon Coolpix P300

Aperture
 Wide aperture
f/1.8
Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Wide angle
 Wide angle lens
24 mm
Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
921k dots
Sensor type
 CMOS Sensor
Better in low light
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures

differences

Advantages of the Nikon P300
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 921k dots vs 460k dots
Help
 More than 2x higher resolution screen
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
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
 Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
Aperture Wider aperture f/1.8 vs f/2.0
Help
 At its widest zoom, the P300's lens captures marginally more light (0.3 f-stops)
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies 120 fps vs None
Help
 Capture events too fast for the naked eye and play them back in super-slow motion
Size Smaller 103x58x32 mm vs 109x65x42 mm
Help
 Around 40% smaller
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 8 fps vs 6 fps
Help
 More than 30% faster continuous shooting
Startup delay Less startup delay 1500 ms vs 2300 ms
Help
 More than 30% less delay when turning on
Weight Lighter 189 g vs 277 g
Help
 More than 30% lighter
Thickness Thinner 1.3" vs 1.7"
Help
 Around 30% thinner
Lowest price Cheaper $299.00 vs $349.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $51 cheaper (more than 10% less)
Nikon Coolpix P300 Learn more about
the Nikon P300

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-LX5
Sensor size Much larger sensor 1/1.7" 8.3x6.2mm vs 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm
Help
 More than 80% larger sensor
Supports RAW Shoots RAW Yes vs No
Help
 Digitally develop your own photos with precise image control
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 400 shots vs 240 shots
Help
 Around 70% more shots per battery charge
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
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
True resolution Higher true resolution 10 MP vs 9.7 MP
Help
 Almost the same
Longest exposure Much longer exposures 60s vs 8s
Help
 7.5x longer exposures
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

Snapsort can't make a recommendation (yet) because it doesn't have enough data yet about the Nikon P300.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent digicams

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Aperture Very wide aperture Help
P300:f/1.8
DMC-LX5:f/2.0
Wide angle Good wide angle Help
24 mm
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
P300:Lens, Sensor shift
DMC-LX5:Lens
Lowest price Very expensive Help
P300:$299.00
DMC-LX5:$349.95
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Zoom Poor zoom Help
P300:4.2x
DMC-LX5:3.8x

Compared to recent pro digicams

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Size Fairly small Help
P300:103x58x32 mm
DMC-LX5:109x65x42 mm
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
P300:$299.00
DMC-LX5:$349.95
Viewfinder No viewfinders Help
Can only preview photos on the screen
External mic jack Neither has an external mic jack Help
Limited to the in-camera mic
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
P300:9.7 MP
DMC-LX5:10 MP
Supports 24p No support for 24p Help
Missing that film look
Screen type No OLED screens Help
LCD

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$356 - $430
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Color depth Has significantly more color depth
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Focus points Has slightly fewer focus points
Compare the Powershot S100 vs the Coolpix P300
Compare the Powershot S100 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5
Nikon Coolpix P310

Nikon Coolpix P310

Pro digicam

$300 - $315
3D Captures 3D images
Focus points Has much more focus points
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Compare the Coolpix P310 vs the Coolpix P300
Compare the Coolpix P310 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5
Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$390 - $496
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Color depth Has slightly more color depth
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the PowerShot G12 vs the Coolpix P300
Compare the PowerShot G12 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5
Canon PowerShot S95

Canon PowerShot S95

Pro digicam

$340 - $389
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Color depth Has slightly more color depth
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Macro focus Significantly worse macro focusing
Compare the PowerShot S95 vs the Coolpix P300
Compare the PowerShot S95 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5
Olympus XZ-1

Olympus XZ-1

Pro digicam

$499 - $500
Light sensitivity Significantly higher maximum light sensitivity
Screen type Has an OLED screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Compare the XZ-1 vs the Coolpix P300
Compare the XZ-1 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5
Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9v

Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9v

Travel zoom

$319 - $330
Zoom Has slightly more zoom
3D Captures 3D images
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Macro focus Significantly worse macro focusing
Compare the Cybershot DSC-HX9v vs the Coolpix P300
Compare the Cybershot DSC-HX9v vs the Lumix DMC-LX5
Nikon Coolpix P7100

Nikon Coolpix P7100

Pro digicam

$450
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Coolpix P7100 vs the Coolpix P300
Compare the Coolpix P7100 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5

Nikon Coolpix P300 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon Coolpix S9100

Nikon Coolpix S9100

Travel zoom

$237 - $289
Zoom More zoom
High-speed framerate Higher speed movies
Aperture Much narrower aperture
Wide angle Worse wide angle
Compare the Coolpix S9100 vs the Coolpix P300
Canon ELPH 300 HS

Canon ELPH 300 HS

Compact

$148 - $179
Supports 24p Supports 24p
High-speed framerate Higher speed movies
Aperture Significantly narrower aperture
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Compare the ELPH 300 HS vs the Coolpix P300
Nikon Coolpix S8200

Nikon Coolpix S8200

Travel zoom

$229
Zoom More zoom
Macro focus Better macro capability
Aperture Much narrower aperture
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Compare the Coolpix S8200 vs the Coolpix P300

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Fujifilm Finepix X10

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Pro digicam

$599
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor
Wide angle Significantly worse wide angle
Screen size Smaller screen
Compare the Finepix X10 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5
Leica D-LUX 5

Leica D-LUX 5

Pro digicam

$799
Size Smaller
Thickness Thinner
Lowest price Much more expensive
Continuous shooting Shoots slower
Compare the D-LUX 5 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$433 body only
Sensor size Much larger sensor
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5

appearance

Nikon Coolpix P300 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
Nikon Coolpix P300 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
Nikon Coolpix P300 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

discussion

Showing 3 comments

TheGreat (1:30 PM, April 16, 2011)
The P300 is 'box' type, remind me of a ThinkPad. The dedicated record button reminds me of the thinkpad trackpoint. The LX5 looks rounded and thicker and rugged. Personally I will get the P300 due to its full HD capability and easy dial controls.
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (1:43 PM, February 22, 2011)
The Coolpix P300 is $329 and the Lumix DMC-LX5 is $380.00
 
sha (5:32 PM, February 20, 2011)
HOw much would Nikon Coolpix P300 cost compared to Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX?