recommendations

Relative to the best recent digicams, and ignoring price

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38
71 vs 87
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a super zoom with a pro digicam.

differences

Reasons to consider the Panasonic DMC-FZ38

Zoom Significantly more zoom 18x vs 2.5x
Help
Around 52x more zoom
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Digital vs None
Help
A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Lowest price Cheaper $315.40 vs $374.95
Help
The best price we've seen is $60 cheaper (around 20% less)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-FZ38

Reasons to consider the Panasonic DMC-LX3

Sensor size Much larger sensor 1/1.7" 8x6mm vs 1/2.5" 6x4mm
Help
More than 80% larger sensor
Aperture Significantly wider aperture f/2.0 vs f/2.8
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At its widest zoom, the DMC-LX3's lens captures slightly more light (1 f-stop)
Size Much smaller 109x60x27 mm vs 118x76x89 mm
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More than 4.5x smaller
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
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More than 10% larger screen
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 460k dots vs 230k dots
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2x higher resolution screen
Wide-angle Better wide-angle 24 mm vs 27 mm
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More than 10% better wide-angle
Thickness Much thinner 1.1" vs 3.5"
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Around 3.5x thinner
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
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Get that real film feel
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
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An external flash often produces better looking flash images
Weight Lighter 265 g vs 397 g
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Around 50% lighter
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
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The DMC-LX3's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
True resolution Higher resolution 10.1 MP vs 9.8 MP
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Almost the same
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-LX3
vs

similarities

Compared to recent digicams

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Aperture Wide aperture Help
DMC-FZ38:f/2.8
DMC-LX3:f/2.0
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
Wide-angle Good wide-angle Help
DMC-FZ38:27 mm
DMC-LX3:24 mm
Macro focus Good macro capabilities Help
1 cm
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
Lens
Light sensitivity (boost) Very good boost ISO Help
6,400 ISO
Longest exposure Very long exposure times Help
60 seconds
Lowest price Very expensive Help
DMC-FZ38:$315.40
DMC-LX3:$374.95
Weight Heavy Help
DMC-FZ38:397 g
DMC-LX3:265 g

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon Coolpix P100

Nikon Coolpix P100

Super zoom

$339 - $400

Zoom Has way more more zoom
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Longest exposure Much shorter exposures
Weight Is significantly heavier
Canon PowerShot S90

Canon PowerShot S90

Pro digicam

$340 - $391

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Longest exposure Much shorter exposures
Wide-angle Has a slightly narrower wide-angle lens
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ10

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ10

Travel zoom

$348 - $404

Size Is much smaller
GPS Has a built-in GPS
Supports RAW Doesn't shoot RAW
Macro focus Slightly worse macro focusing
Canon PowerShot G11

Canon PowerShot G11

Pro digicam

$447 - $520

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Size Is significantly smaller
Longest exposure Much shorter exposures
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7

Travel zoom

$368

Size Is much smaller
Thickness Is thinner
Supports RAW Doesn't shoot RAW
Macro focus Slightly worse macro focusing
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ8

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ8

Travel zoom

$279 - $310

Size Is much smaller
Weight Is significantly lighter
Supports RAW Doesn't shoot RAW
Macro focus Slightly worse macro focusing

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon PowerShot SX20 IS

Canon PowerShot SX20 IS

Super zoom

$369 - $413

Zoom More zoom
External flash Supports an external flash
Supports RAW No RAW support
Screen size Smaller screen
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100

Super zoom

$499

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Zoom Significantly more zoom
Size Larger
Weight Significantly heavier
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1

Super zoom

$350 - $380

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor
Supports RAW No RAW support
Sensor size Significantly smaller sensor
Fujifilm FinePix HS10

Fujifilm FinePix HS10

Super zoom

$410 - $430

Zoom Much more zoom
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Size Much larger
Weight Much heavier
Olympus SP-800 UZ

Olympus SP-800 UZ

Super zoom

$257 - $350

Zoom Much more zoom
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Supports RAW No RAW support

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Pro digicam

$499

Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO
Continuous shooting Shoots faster
Size Larger
Thickness Thicker
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$650 with 16mm lens

Sensor size Much larger sensor
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Supports 24p No 24p support
Samsung EX1

Samsung EX1

Pro digicam

$496 - $510

Screen type Has an OLED screen
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Sensor size Much smaller sensor
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$540 body only

$705 with 14-45mm lens

Sensor size Much larger sensor
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Supports 24p No 24p support

appearance

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3

Find similar cameras

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