Nikon Coolpix
P300
 vs
Panasonic Lumix
DMC-LX5

Updated (July, 2012): Compare the Nikon Coolpix P310 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
 
Nikon Coolpix P300
 

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Sensor size
 Large sensor
1/1.6" 8.3x6.2mm
Supports RAW
 Shoots RAW
Better editing
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
 

Reasons to buy the Nikon Coolpix P300

Aperture
 Wide aperture
f/1.8
Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
921k dots
Startup delay
 Almost no delay when powering up
1500 ms startup delay
Sensor type
 CMOS Sensor
Better in low light
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Panorama
 In-camera panoramas
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
 

differences

Advantages of the Nikon P300
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 921k dots vs 460k dots
Help
 More than 2x higher resolution screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
 Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
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
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
Startup delay Less startup delay 1500 ms vs 2300 ms
Help
 More than 30% less delay when turning on
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
Weight Lighter 189 g vs 277 g
Help
 More than 30% lighter
Thickness Thinner 1.3" vs 1.7"
Help
 Around 30% thinner
Nikon Coolpix P300 Learn more about
the Nikon P300

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-LX5
Sensor size Much larger sensor 1/1.6" 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
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
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 400 shots vs 240 shots
Help
 Around 70% more shots per battery charge
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 8s
Help
 7.5x longer exposures
True resolution Slightly higher true resolution 10 MP vs 9.7 MP
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

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

similarities

Compared to recent digicams

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Aperture Very wide aperture Help
P300:f/1.8
DMC-LX5:f/2.0
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
P300:Sensor shift, Lens
DMC-LX5:Lens
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Zoom Poor zoom Help
P300:4.2x
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
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
P300:9.7 MP
DMC-LX5:10 MP
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
3,200 ISO
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

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7

Pro digicam

$398
Aperture Has a slightly wider aperture
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Weight Is slightly heavier
Startup delay Has much more startup delay
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX7 vs the Coolpix P300
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX7 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5
Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$325 - $349
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Color depth Has slightly 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
Olympus XZ-1

Olympus XZ-1

Pro digicam

$333
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Screen type Has an OLED screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the XZ-1 vs the Coolpix P300
Compare the XZ-1 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5
Nikon Coolpix P310

Nikon Coolpix P310

Pro digicam

$159 - $179
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 S95

Canon PowerShot S95

Pro digicam

$461 - $602
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Color depth Has slightly more color depth
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the PowerShot S95 vs the Coolpix P300
Compare the PowerShot S95 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20

Panasonic Lumix ZS20

Travel zoom

$299 - $325
Zoom Has slightly more zoom
High-speed framerate Records even higher-speed movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Macro focus Slightly worse macro focusing
Compare the Lumix ZS20 vs the Coolpix P300
Compare the Lumix ZS20 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5
Canon Powershot S110

Canon PowerShot S110

Pro digicam

$399
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Macro focus Slightly worse macro focusing
Compare the PowerShot S110 vs the Coolpix P300
Compare the PowerShot S110 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5

Nikon Coolpix P300 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon Coolpix P330

Nikon Coolpix P330

Pro digicam

$359 - $377
Supports RAW Shoots RAW
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor
Panorama Lacks in-camera panoramic stitching
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Compare the Coolpix P330 vs the Coolpix P300
Canon PowerShot SX260 HS

Canon PowerShot SX260 HS

Travel zoom

$240 - $269
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Zoom More zoom
Aperture Much narrower aperture
Screen resolution Significantly lower resolution screen
Compare the PowerShot SX260 HS vs the Coolpix P300
Nikon Coolpix S9100

Nikon Coolpix S9100

Travel zoom

$235
Zoom More zoom
High-speed framerate Higher speed movies
Aperture Much narrower aperture
Image stabilization Worse image stabilization
Compare the Coolpix S9100 vs the Coolpix P300

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
Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$971
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Aperture Significantly narrower aperture
Sensor size Smaller sensor
Compare the PowerShot G12 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

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?