Panasonic Lumix
DMC-LX3
 vs
Sony Alpha
NEX-5

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

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3

63

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3

Size
 Really small
Compact 109x60x27 mm
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Lens
Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
Thickness
 Thin
1.1"
Weight
 Light-weight
265 g
Built-in flash
 Built-in flash
Usually standard
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
Size
 Really small
Compact 111x59x38 mm
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
12,800 ISO
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.2 EV
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures

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 flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
 Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 460k dots
Help
 2x higher resolution screen
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
Low light performance Much 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
Color depth Better color depth 22.2 bits vs 19.6 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 2.6 more bits of color
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 10.8 EV
Help
 1.4 f-stops more dynamic range
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
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
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $569.00 vs $706.87
Help
 The best price we've seen is $138 cheaper (around 20% less)
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
63 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.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

PanasonicLumix DMC-LX3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 vs Sony Alpha NEX-5
SonyAlpha NEX-5
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
0
0
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
0
0
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
0
0
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
0
0
Vote Vote
Autofocus performance Video focusing
Speed and accuracy
0
0
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
0
0
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports RAW Supports RAW 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

$700 body only

$439 with 14-42mm lens
Touch screen Has a touch screen
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the Lumix DMC-LX3
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$389 - $500
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the PowerShot G12 vs the Lumix DMC-LX3
Compare the PowerShot G12 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Fujifilm Finepix X10

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Pro digicam

$583 - $600
Focus points Has slightly more focus points
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Thickness Is thicker
3D Doesn't take 3D photos
Compare the Finepix X10 vs the Lumix DMC-LX3
Compare the Finepix X10 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$329 - $379 with 14-42mm lens
Touch screen Has a touch screen
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Panorama Lacks a built in panoramas
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF2 vs the Lumix DMC-LX3
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF2 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$754 body only

$916 - $964 with 14-42mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Panorama Lacks a built in panoramas
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the Lumix DMC-LX3
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Fujifilm FinePix X100

Fujifilm FinePix X100

Boutique

$1,189 - $1,419
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the FinePix X100 vs the Lumix DMC-LX3
Compare the FinePix X100 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9v

Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9v

Travel zoom

$289 - $328
Zoom Has significantly more zoom
GPS Has a built-in GPS
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Compare the Cybershot DSC-HX9v vs the Lumix DMC-LX3
Compare the Cybershot DSC-HX9v vs the Alpha NEX-5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Pro digicam

$320 - $468
Continuous shooting Shoots faster
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality
Supports 24p No 24p support
Size Larger
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX5 vs the Lumix DMC-LX3
Canon PowerShot S95

Canon PowerShot S95

Pro digicam

$369
Overall image quality Better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range
Wide angle Significantly worse wide angle
Macro focus Significantly worse macro capability
Compare the PowerShot S95 vs the Lumix DMC-LX3
Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$414 - $430
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Overall image quality Better image quality
Macro focus Worse macro capability
External flash No external flash support
Compare the Powershot S100 vs the Lumix DMC-LX3
Nikon Coolpix P300

Nikon Coolpix P300

Pro digicam

$277
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Supports 24p No 24p support
Supports RAW No RAW support
Compare the Coolpix P300 vs the Lumix DMC-LX3
Olympus XZ-1

Olympus XZ-1

Pro digicam

$499 - $500
Screen type Has an OLED screen
Aperture Wider aperture
Supports 24p No 24p support
Wide angle Significantly worse wide angle
Compare the XZ-1 vs the Lumix DMC-LX3

Sony Alpha NEX-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$599 - $600 body only

$698 - $699 with 18-55mm lens
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Startup delay Significantly more startup delay
Compare the NEX-5N vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony NEX C3

Sony NEX C3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$499 - $550 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly slower
Compare the NEX C3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Lowest price Significantly more expensive
Weight Heavier
Compare the NEX-7 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony Alpha NEX-3

Sony Alpha NEX-3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$479 - $548 with 16mm lens
Storage slots Has more storage slots
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the Alpha NEX-3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$499 - $949 body only

$579 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
Autofocus Faster autofocus
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Size Significantly larger
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Alpha NEX-5

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

Find similar cameras

Here are some links to help you find other cameras with similar features to both of these:

discussion Which do you think is better?

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