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

Aperture
Wide aperture
f/2.0
Wide angle
Wide angle lens
24 mm
Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Lens
Battery life
Great battery life
400 shots
Light sensitivity (boost)
High ISO (boost)
12,800 ISO
External flash
External flash
Better lighting
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38

40

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38

Zoom
Great zoom
18x
Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Lens
External mic jack
External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Battery life
Great battery life
470 shots
Viewfinder
Great viewfinder
Digital
Longest exposure
Long exposures
60 seconds

differences

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-FZ38

External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Zoom More zoom 18x vs 3.8x
Help
More than 23x more zoom
Battery life Longer battery life 470 shots vs 400 shots
Help
Around 20% more shots per battery charge
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Digital vs None
Help
A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-FZ38

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-LX5

Sensor size Much larger sensor 1/1.7" 8.3x6.2mm vs 1/2.3" 6.1x4.6mm
Help
More than 80% larger sensor
Aperture Significantly wider aperture f/2.0 vs f/2.8
Help
At its widest zoom, the DMC-LX5's lens captures slightly more light (1 f-stop)
Size Significantly smaller 109x65x42 mm vs 118x76x89 mm
Help
2.6x smaller
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle 24 mm vs 27 mm
Help
More than 10% better wide angle
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
More than 10% larger screen
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 460k dots vs 230k dots
Help
2x higher resolution screen
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.7" vs 3.5"
Help
2.1x thinner
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
Help
An external flash often produces better looking flash images
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
The DMC-LX5's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 6 fps vs 2.3 fps
Help
More than 2.5x faster continuous shooting
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
The DMC-LX5's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
True resolution Higher true resolution 10 MP vs 9.8 MP
Help
Almost the same
Lowest price Significantly cheaper $339.00 vs $560.83
Help
The best price we've seen is $222 cheaper (around 40% less)
Weight Lighter 277 g vs 367 g
Help
More than 20% lighter
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 digicams, and ignoring price

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38
40 vs 69
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 super zoom with a pro digicam.

advice

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I am considering either the DMC-FZ38 or the DMC-LX5,
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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 Ayoungman-Wholikesavacadu 4 days ago
Canon G1X vs Panasonic DMC-LX5

hd video and travel needs to be portable, and good sound for HD video

0
votes
by Jonathan-Sweetman this month
Canon G12 vs Panasonic DMC-LX5

Beginner upgrading from Fuji finepix F100

0
votes
by Barry-Smith last month
Canon S100 vs Panasonic DMC-LX5

I want something light weight, but good for macro work and scenic photos

One person recommends the Panasonic DMC-LX5:

" I own both and, while the LX5 is better, both are quite bad for any macro photos. In all honesty..."

similarities

Compared to recent digicams

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Aperture Wide aperture Help
DMC-FZ38:f/2.8
DMC-LX5:f/2.0
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
Battery life Very long battery life Help
DMC-FZ38:470 shots
DMC-LX5:400 shots
Macro focus Good macro capabilities Help
1 cm
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
Lens
Longest exposure Very long exposure times Help
60 seconds
Lowest price Very expensive Help
DMC-FZ38:$560.83
DMC-LX5:$339.00
Weight Heavy Help
DMC-FZ38:367 g
DMC-LX5:277 g
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

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
Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$390 - $496

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Longest exposure Much shorter exposures
Light sensitivity (boost) Lacks boost light sensitivity
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$433 body only

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Battery life Has a slightly shorter battery life
Dynamic range Has slightly narrower dynamic range
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ30

Panasonic Lumix TZ30

Travel zoom

$434 - $474

Movie format Records higher quality movies
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Longest exposure Much shorter exposures
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150

Super zoom

$495 - $500

Zoom Has slightly more zoom
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Longest exposure Significantly shorter exposures

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ47

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ47

Super zoom

$285

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Autofocus Faster video autofocus
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Supports RAW No RAW support
Nikon Coolpix L120

Nikon Coolpix L120

Super zoom

$180 - $215

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Screen size Significantly larger screen
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Aperture Narrower aperture
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28

Super zoom

$136 - $151

Lowest price Much cheaper
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Weight Heavier
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ45

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ45

Super zoom

$366 - $450

Screen size Significantly larger screen
Zoom More zoom
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Size Slightly larger
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100

Super zoom

$611

Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Size Larger

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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
True resolution Much higher true resolution
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
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Leica D-LUX 5

Leica D-LUX 5

Pro digicam

$789

Size Smaller
Thickness Thinner
Lowest price Much more expensive
Continuous shooting Shoots slower

appearance

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

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