Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

66

"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

Wide angle
Wide angle lens
24 mm
Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Lens
External flash
External flash
Better lighting
Longest exposure
Long exposures
60 seconds
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

40

"For someone considering a camera to improve upon compact digital image quality, the mirrorless interchangeable lens genre is a slam dunk."
digitalcamerareview.com | talking about the DMC-G3's overall-performance
"Otherwise, control placement seems logical and Panasonic has arranged them so as to present little potential for inadvertent activations"
digitalcamerareview.com | talking about the DMC-G3's button-layout

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Movie format
Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
True resolution
High true resolution
15.8 MP
Touch screen
Touch screen
Less buttons
Low light performance
Low noise at high ISO
667 ISO
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Sensor size
Large sensor
Four thirds 17.3x13.0mm

differences

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-G3

Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
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
Overall image quality Better image quality 56.0 vs 41.0
Help
Around 40% better image quality
Touch screen Has a touch screen Yes vs No
Help
Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 15.8 MP vs 10 MP
Help
Capture around 60% more detail in your photos
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
Sensor size Larger sensor Four thirds 17.3x13.0mm vs 1/1.7" 8.3x6.2mm
Help
Around 4.5x larger sensor
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 667 ISO vs 132 ISO
Help
The DMC-G3 has excellent image quality 2.3 f-stops higher ISO than the DMC-LX5
Color depth Better color depth 21 bits vs 19.6 bits
Help
Distinguishes 1.4 more bits of color
Startup delay Less startup delay 1400 ms vs 2300 ms
Help
Around 40% less delay when turning on
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The DMC-G3's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Digital vs None
Help
A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-G3

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-LX5

Image stabilization Image stabilization Lens vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Size Smaller 109x65x42 mm vs 115x84x47 mm
Help
More than 30% smaller
Battery life Longer battery life 400 shots vs 270 shots
Help
Around 50% more shots per battery charge
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 6 fps vs 4 fps
Help
50% faster continuous shooting
Dynamic range More dynamic range 10.8 EV vs 10.6 EV
Help
0.2 f-stops more dynamic range
Weight Slightly lighter 277 g vs 336 g
Help
Around 20% lighter
Thickness Slightly thinner 1.7" vs 1.9"
Help
Around 10% thinner
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $339.00 vs $499.87
Help
The best price we've seen is $161 cheaper (more than 30% less)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-LX5
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3
40 vs 66
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a mirrorless interchangeable-lens with a pro digicam.

advice

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2
votes
by Brad-Jones this month
Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic DMC-G3

I am an expert beginner! I have been interested in photography all my life, with a parent who wo...

8 people recommend the Panasonic DMC-G3:

" Lumix its the best from those choice and U can get cheaper G1 or G2 "

" personally I have not been happy with the olympus's I have used.  I would check amazon or bhphot..."

One person recommends the Olympus E-PM1:

" GF1 or GX1 , because it is the best ;) I have one, beside of my 5D mkII."

1
votes
by jancasey last month
Nikon D3100 vs Panasonic DMC-G3

Total beginner.  Have only used "point and shoot" cameras before.  Looking for something that wi...

One person recommends the Nikon D3100:

" Without a doubt, the image quality of the Nikon, trumps the Panasonic to a point where the two a..."

0
votes
by psaria last month
Panasonic DMC-LX5 vs Sony DSC-HX9v

Scenery, family parties/gatherings, outdoor activities

One person recommends the Panasonic DMC-LX5:

"I'd recommend Panasonic LX5 for indoor shots because it has a larger sensor, a faster lens, and wi..."

1
votes
by Danette-Sumerford last month
Olympus XZ-1 vs Panasonic DMC-LX5

Amateur in charge of taking pics of my little one! I am improving my photography skills, but wo...

0
votes
by Marcia-Powdermaker last month
Nikon V1 vs Panasonic DMC-G3

I am not a beginner, I have used SLRs for years, but haven't had a DSLR camera. I have used the...

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Longest exposure Very long exposure times Help
60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/4000 of a second
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
DMC-G3:10.6 EV
DMC-LX5:10.8 EV
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Color depth Poor color depth Help
DMC-G3:21 bits
DMC-LX5:19.6 bits
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$390 - $496

Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Longest exposure Much shorter exposures
Weight Is slightly heavier
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$433 body only

External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$643 - $1,125 body only

$731 - $964 with 14-42mm lens

Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Longest exposure Significantly shorter exposures
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$376 with 14-42mm lens

Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens

High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Longest exposure Significantly shorter exposures
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150

Super zoom

$495 - $500

Zoom Has much more zoom
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Longest exposure Significantly shorter exposures

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$849 - $997 with 14-42mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Size Larger
Thickness Thicker
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$615 - $642 with 14-42mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Battery life Longer battery life
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Size Larger
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Built-in flash No built-in flash
Startup delay More startup delay
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Autofocus Faster autofocus
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Touch screen No touch screen

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$356 - $430

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Battery life Shorter battery life
Macro focus Worse macro capability
Olympus XZ-1

Olympus XZ-1

Pro digicam

$499 - $500

Screen type Has an OLED screen
Aperture Wider aperture
Wide angle Significantly worse wide angle
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Fujifilm Finepix X10

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Pro digicam

$599

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera
Wide angle Significantly worse wide angle
Screen size Smaller screen
Canon PowerShot S95

Canon PowerShot S95

Pro digicam

$340 - $389

Supports 24p Supports 24p
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Wide angle Significantly worse wide angle
Macro focus Significantly worse macro capability
Leica D-LUX 5

Leica D-LUX 5

Pro digicam

$789

Size Smaller
Thickness Thinner
Continuous shooting Shoots slower
Lowest price More expensive

appearance

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

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