Olympus
XZ-1
 vs
Panasonic Lumix
DMC-LX5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

69
"In terms of image quality there's just no real advantage over the older LX3."
trustedreviews.com | talking about the DMC-LX5's image-quality
"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
Olympus XZ-1

60
Runner-up

Olympus XZ-1
"The XZ-1 combines simple direct controls with an excellent lens to create probably the best photographers' compact currently available."
dpreview.com | talking about the XZ-1's overall-performance
"Despite the lack of any protruding grip on the front of the camera, the XZ-1 still sits pretty comfortably in the hand."
dpreview.com | talking about the XZ-1's feel

Reasons to buy the Olympus XZ-1

Supports RAW
 Shoots RAW
Better editing
Aperture
 Wide aperture
f/1.8
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
6,400 ISO
Screen type
 OLED Screen
Bright and vivid
External flash
 External flash
Better lighting
Longest exposure
 Long exposures
60 seconds

differences

Advantages of the Olympus XZ-1
Screen type Has an OLED screen OLED vs LCD
Help
 OLED screens are often brighter and more vibrant than typical LCD screens
Aperture Wider aperture f/1.8 vs f/2.0
Help
 At its widest zoom, the XZ-1's lens captures marginally more light (0.3 f-stops)
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The XZ-1's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 614k dots vs 460k dots
Help
 More than 30% higher resolution screen
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 7 fps vs 6 fps
Help
 Around 20% faster continuous shooting
Olympus XZ-1 Learn more about
the Olympus XZ-1

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-LX5
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle 24 mm vs 28 mm
Help
 More than 10% better wide angle
Overall image quality Better image quality 41.0 vs 34.0
Help
 More than 20% better image quality
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
Color depth Better color depth 19.6 bits vs 18.8 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.8 more bits of color
Dynamic range More dynamic range 10.8 EV vs 10.4 EV
Help
 0.4 f-stops more dynamic range
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 132 ISO vs 117 ISO
Help
 The DMC-LX5 has a slight edge (0.2 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Image stabilization Better image stabilization Lens vs Sensor shift
Help
 Less risk of blur
Battery life Longer battery life 400 shots vs 320 shots
Help
 Around 30% more shots per battery charge
Lowest price Significantly cheaper $339.00 vs $499.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $160 cheaper (more than 30% less)
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

Olympus XZ-1 Olympus XZ-1
60 vs 69
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5.

advice

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!
I am considering either the Olympus XZ-1 or the Panasonic DMC-LX5,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

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similarities

Compared to recent digicams

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Aperture Very wide aperture Help
XZ-1:f/1.8
DMC-LX5:f/2.0
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
1/1.7" 8.3x6.2mm
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
Macro focus Good macro capabilities Help
1 cm
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Battery life Great battery life Help
XZ-1:320 shots
DMC-LX5:400 shots
Longest exposure Very long exposure times Help
60 seconds
Lowest price Very expensive Help
XZ-1:$499.00
DMC-LX5:$339.00
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Sensor type Lower-end sensor types Help
CCD
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Movie format Both shoot high resolution HD movies Help
720p @ 30fps
Zoom Poor zoom Help
XZ-1:4x
DMC-LX5:3.8x

Compared to recent pro digicams

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Size Fairly small Help
XZ-1:110x64x42 mm
DMC-LX5:109x65x42 mm
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
10 MP
Supports 24p No support for 24p Help
Missing that film look

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
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Longest exposure Much shorter exposures
Compare the Powershot S100 vs the XZ-1
Compare the Powershot S100 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
Longest exposure Much shorter exposures
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the PowerShot G12 vs the XZ-1
Compare the PowerShot G12 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5
Fujifilm Finepix X10

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Pro digicam

$599
Sensor size Has a significantly larger sensor
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Longest exposure Significantly shorter exposures
Lowest price Is much more expensive
Compare the Finepix X10 vs the XZ-1
Compare the Finepix X10 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
Longest exposure Much shorter exposures
Compare the PowerShot S95 vs the XZ-1
Compare the PowerShot S95 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$433 body only
Sensor size Has a much larger sensor
Low light performance Is much less noisy at high ISO
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Image stabilization Doesn't have image stabilization
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the XZ-1
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5
Nikon Coolpix P310

Nikon Coolpix P310

Pro digicam

$300 - $315
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Longest exposure Much shorter exposures
Compare the Coolpix P310 vs the XZ-1
Compare the Coolpix P310 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20

Panasonic Lumix ZS20

Travel zoom

$290 - $350
Zoom Has significantly more zoom
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Longest exposure Much shorter exposures
Compare the Lumix ZS20 vs the XZ-1
Compare the Lumix ZS20 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5

Olympus XZ-1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Olympus XZ-1.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Leica D-LUX 5

Leica D-LUX 5

Pro digicam

$789
Size Smaller
Thickness Thinner
Lowest price Much more expensive
Continuous shooting Shoots slower
Compare the D-LUX 5 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5

appearance

Olympus XZ-1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
Olympus XZ-1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
Olympus XZ-1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

discussion

Showing 11 comments

Arxin (2:56 PM, September 20, 2011)
Maybe xz-1 is more cheaper.
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (1:12 PM, July 04, 2011)
Hi Rostislav, thanks for the feedback!  You have some good points.
Snapsort uses image quality benchmarks from DxOMark, and these benchmarks are based on RAW image quality only, so perhaps that might account for the difference?   Good point also about the aperture at the telephoto end, you can compare these on the specs page.  I think we wanted to include this in our comparisons, but had not yet come up with a good way to compare them given huge the difference in telephoto focal lengths you'd often see.
 
Avatar for Rostislav Alexandrovich Rostislav Alexandrovich (8:27 AM, July 04, 2011)
Dear Snapsort,
I am puzzeld why you belive the LX-5 have better IQ then xz-1,
every review i've read puts it ahead of LX5, infact, pro photographers reviwers such steve huff and luminous landscape rate the XZ-1 as the best IQ in a compact, especiall if you consider the DOF ability.

Also you failed to mention the biggest asset of XZ-1 vs every other compact ever made,
its aperture advantage is at the long end f2.5, compared to lx5's 3.3, thats almost a stop faster&fastest there is today,
combine the longer reach of 112mm and the f2.5 aperture - you get same kind of bokeh (dof) as a mft or aps-c camera with a 18-55 f3.5/5.6 zoom kit!
as mentioned at page 8 dpreview xz-1 review.

Hope i've helped to make this site better.
 
Leo (3:22 AM, April 26, 2011)
I have both cameras, LX5 first and XZ1 later. Both lenses are excellent, but different. Regarding the specs list hereabove for you the LX5 is the winner. But for me, now after a month use of both, the Xz1 is a much better camera because of its faser lens, its more convenient zoom range, better focusing in macro mode, better screen and easier use.
I don't buy a camera like this for videos, so I only consider photographic application.
I did not use the 24mm wide angle with the lx5 as it deforms the persons too much, or it flattens the mountains, so you have to zoom in most cases loosing speed of the lens. If I need a wide angle panorama, I use the panorama option assembling 3 pictures of the xz1, which works perfectly.
I was desappointed by the LX5 colours especially in artificial light conditions: with usual white balance settings the pictures were too yellow. I had to test many adjustments before finding acceptable colours, so I missed a lot of shots. The xz1 colours are generally better.
The buttons of the LX5 on the lens ring are easy to unset without you remark it.
The xz1 was delivered with a separate charger, so you don't need a pc to charge the batterie. T charge the panasonic, you must take the battery out of the camera, I don't like that.
In conclusion I would say the LX5 has an intellectual approach, the Olympus XZ1 has an intelligent approach. In practice I have far the best pictures with the XZ1.
 
Leo (2:09 PM, April 12, 2011)
I have both now, LX5 and XZ1. The use of XZ1 is much easier. Its fast lens is excellent, the zoom range is very convenient, I did not use the 24mm angle of the LX5 so often, for me 28mm is wide enough. It is much easier to obtain sharp macro pictures with the XZ1. And the XZ1 colours especially with artificial light are better. Even if the LX5 has more dedicated buttons as for iso setting, their use is less friendly. It seems the image quality is better with LX5, but is it less easy to obtain nice pictures than with the XZ1.
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (3:40 PM, April 05, 2011)
The ZS7 generally takes great shots. Where you would see a difference I think is if you increase the ISO, which you'd need to do to shoot in lower light without a flash, then the image quality on the XZ-1 or LX5 would be much better than the ZS7.

For advanced users, the LX5 and XZ-1 also give you RAW capabilities to give you more editing control over your photo, wider apertures which get you more light and shallower depth of field, and more manual controls making it easier to get the photo you want.
 
Hello2me (8:06 AM, April 05, 2011)
I'm thinking about buying a new point and shoot soon but I wanted to know if I primarily take outdoor photos and just sometime indoor... will the photos really look different between these high end compact and say something like the zs7? I mean like when I take the same photos with the 2 different cameras in your opinion is there a difference enough to warrant the extra money?
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (1:17 PM, March 24, 2011)
Snapsort recommends the LX5, because is has better image quality, a wider angle lens, higher ISO, better image stabilizations and is $100 cheaper.
 
Grapekar (4:12 AM, March 24, 2011)
please give me some idea for this two camera.. which one better?
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (3:32 PM, March 23, 2011)
The DXOMark scores are fairly close. DXOMark also only tests the RAW capability of the camera, and their tests are designed to benchmark the sensor exclusively, but other components of the camera can influence image quality.

DXOMark is a good starting point, but if reviewers are rating the XZ1 as having better image quality than the LX5 they are probably right.
 
whatsup (5:42 AM, March 23, 2011)
So how come many test report says that xz1 picture quality is better than LX5, but according to the info on DXOMark the scores says 20% better image quality for the LX5? The scores and what people say are different... how come?