Updated (August, 2011): Compare the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 vs Sony NEX-5N

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3

61

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3

Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Lens
Supports 24p
24p movies
For that film look
Thickness
Thin
1.1"
Built-in flash
Built-in flash
Usually standard
Longest exposure
Long exposures
60 seconds
Sony Alpha NEX-5

54

Runner-up

Sony Alpha NEX-5

"The system for manually positioning AF points is quick and easy to use."
dpreview.com | talking about the NEX-5's auto-focus
"High quality video mode"
dpreview.com | talking about the NEX-5's video-quality

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha NEX-5

Movie format
Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Screen resolution
High resolution screen
920k dots
Color depth
Great color depth
22.2 bits
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
12.2 EV
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Sensor size
Large sensor
APS-C 23.4x15.6mm

differences

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-LX3

Image stabilization Image stabilization Lens vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
Get that real film feel
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Size Slightly smaller 109x60x27 mm vs 111x59x38 mm
Help
Around 30% smaller
Thickness Thinner 1.1" vs 1.5"
Help
Around 30% thinner
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
2x longer exposures
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 6,400 ISO vs None
Help
Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Weight Slightly lighter 265 g vs 287 g
Help
Around 10% lighter
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-LX3

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5

Overall image quality Much better image quality 69.0 vs 39.0
Help
Around 80% better image quality
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 460k dots
Help
2x higher resolution screen
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
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
Color depth Better color depth 22.2 bits vs 19.6 bits
Help
Distinguishes 2.6 more bits of color
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
Sensor size Much larger sensor APS-C 23.4x15.6mm vs 1/1.7" 8.3x6.2mm
Help
More than 7x larger sensor
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 10.8 EV
Help
1.4 f-stops more dynamic range
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The NEX-5's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 14 MP vs 10 MP
Help
Capture more than 40% more detail in your photos
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 796 ISO vs 94 ISO
Help
The NEX-5 has excellent image quality 3.1 f-stops higher ISO than the DMC-LX3
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 7 fps vs 2.5 fps
Help
Around 3x faster continuous shooting
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Fastest shutter speed Significantly faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/2000s
Help
2x faster max shutter speed
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3
61 vs 54
Explain scores
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Sony Alpha NEX-5
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 pro digicam with a mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

advice

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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 Long exposures Help
DMC-LX3:60s
NEX-5:30s

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting weaknesses shared by these two products.

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$433 body only

Touch screen Has a touch screen
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Pro digicam

$339

Thickness Is thicker
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$390 - $496

Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
Thickness Is thicker
Fujifilm Finepix X10

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Pro digicam

$599

Focus points Has slightly more focus points
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Thickness Is thicker
Screen size Has a slightly smaller screen
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$376 with 14-42mm lens

Touch screen Has a touch screen
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$643 - $1,125 body only

$731 - $964 with 14-42mm lens

True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Fujifilm FinePix X100

Fujifilm FinePix X100

Boutique

$1,199

Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$356 - $430

Movie format Higher resolution movies
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Macro focus Worse macro capability
External flash No external flash support
Canon PowerShot S95

Canon PowerShot S95

Pro digicam

$340 - $389

HDR Has in-camera HDR
Overall image quality Better image quality
Wide angle Significantly worse wide angle
Macro focus Significantly worse macro capability
Canon PowerShot S90

Canon PowerShot S90

Pro digicam

Overall image quality Better image quality
Color depth Better color depth
Wide angle Significantly worse wide angle
Supports 24p No 24p support
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
Supports 24p No 24p support

Sony Alpha NEX-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

Supports 24p Supports 24p
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Startup delay More startup delay
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens

High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster
Screen resolution Significantly lower resolution screen
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,200 body only

$1,350 - $1,499 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Much higher true resolution
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Startup delay Slightly more startup delay
Weight Heavier
Sony NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$600 with 18-55mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Continuous shooting Shoots slower
Size Slightly larger
Sony NEX C3

Sony NEX C3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$548 with 16mm lens

Overall image quality Slightly better image quality
True resolution Higher true resolution
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly slower

appearance

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 Sony Alpha NEX-5

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