Panasonic Lumix
DMC-LX5
 vs
Sony NEX
C3

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
Built-in flash
 Built-in flash
Usually standard
External flash
 External flash
Better lighting
Longest exposure
 Long exposures
60 seconds
Sony NEX C3

51
Runner-up

Sony NEX C3

Reasons to buy the Sony NEX C3

Overall image quality
 Great image quality
73.0
Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
921k dots
True resolution
 High true resolution
16 MP
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
12,800 ISO
Color depth
 Great color depth
22.7 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.2 EV

differences

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-LX5
Image stabilization Image stabilization Lens vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
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
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
 2x longer exposures
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 351 ms vs 430 ms
Help
 Around 20% less delay when taking photos
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $339.00 vs $548.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $209 cheaper (around 40% less)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-LX5

Advantages of the Sony C3
Overall image quality Much better image quality 73.0 vs 41.0
Help
 Around 80% better image quality
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 921k dots vs 460k dots
Help
 More than 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
Color depth Better color depth 22.7 bits vs 19.6 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 3.1 more bits of color
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 16 MP vs 10 MP
Help
 Capture more than 60% more detail in your photos
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 C3's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 1,083 ISO vs 132 ISO
Help
 The C3 has excellent image quality 3 f-stops higher ISO than the DMC-LX5
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
 Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
Startup delay Less startup delay 1200 ms vs 2300 ms
Help
 Around 50% less delay when turning on
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Size Slightly smaller 110x60x33 mm vs 109x65x42 mm
Help
 Around 30% smaller
Thickness Thinner 1.3" vs 1.7"
Help
 More than 20% thinner
Weight Slightly lighter 225 g vs 277 g
Help
 Around 20% lighter
Sony NEX C3 Learn more about
the Sony C3
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
66 vs 51
Explain scores
Sony NEX C3 Sony NEX C3
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 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
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/4000 of a second
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
DMC-LX5:60s
C3:30s
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
Movie format Records higher quality movies
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
Compare the Powershot S100 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5
Compare the Powershot S100 vs the NEX C3
Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$390 - $496
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the PowerShot G12 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5
Compare the PowerShot G12 vs the NEX C3
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the NEX C3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$433 body only
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Touch screen Has a touch screen
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the NEX C3
Fujifilm Finepix X10

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Pro digicam

$599
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Finepix X10 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5
Compare the Finepix X10 vs the NEX C3
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Battery life Has a slightly shorter battery life
Compare the 1 J1 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5
Compare the 1 J1 vs the NEX C3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$643 - $1,125 body only

$731 - $964 with 14-42mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the NEX C3

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
Compare the XZ-1 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5
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
Compare the PowerShot S95 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5
Leica D-LUX 5

Leica D-LUX 5

Pro digicam

$789
Size Smaller
Thickness Thinner
Continuous shooting Shoots slower
Lowest price More expensive
Compare the D-LUX 5 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5

Sony NEX C3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Startup delay More startup delay
Weight Slightly heavier
Compare the NEX-5N vs the NEX C3
Sony Alpha NEX-3

Sony Alpha NEX-3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$689 with 18-55mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Storage slots Has more storage slots
Overall image quality Worse image quality
True resolution Lower true resolution
Compare the Alpha NEX-3 vs the NEX C3
Sony NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$600 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Higher resolution movies
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Movie continuous focus Doesn't focus continuously recording movies
Size Slightly larger
Compare the NEX-F3 vs the NEX C3
Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 with 14-42mm lens
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Screen resolution Significantly lower resolution screen
Compare the PEN E-PM1 vs the NEX C3

appearance

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 Sony NEX C3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 Sony NEX C3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 Sony NEX C3

discussion

Showing 1 comments

Andrea_ss (11:12 PM, December 19, 2011)
lol...