Panasonic Lumix
DMC-LX5
 vs
Sony Alpha
NEX-5

Updated (August, 2011): Compare the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 vs Sony NEX-5N

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 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

Overall image quality
 Great image quality
69.0
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

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
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 400 shots vs 330 shots
Help
 More than 20% more shots per battery charge
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
 2x longer exposures
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 351 ms vs 441 ms
Help
 More than 20% less delay when taking photos
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $339.00 vs $569.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $230 cheaper (more than 40% less)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-LX5

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 69.0 vs 41.0
Help
 Around 70% better image quality
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
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 132 ISO
Help
 The NEX-5 has excellent image quality 2.6 f-stops higher ISO than the DMC-LX5
Startup delay Less startup delay 1000 ms vs 2300 ms
Help
 2.3x 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 111x59x38 mm vs 109x65x42 mm
Help
 Around 20% smaller
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 7 fps vs 6 fps
Help
 Around 20% faster continuous shooting
Thickness Slightly thinner 1.5" vs 1.7"
Help
 More than 10% thinner
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-LX5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
66 vs 54
Explain scores
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Sony Alpha NEX-5
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

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!
I am considering either the Panasonic DMC-LX5 or the Sony NEX-5,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

Select aspects that are most important to you: (max 3)

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1
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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
NEX-5:30s

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

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
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
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the PowerShot G12 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5
Compare the PowerShot G12 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Compare the 1 J1 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5
Compare the 1 J1 vs the Alpha NEX-5
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
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
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
Compare the Finepix X10 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5
Compare the Finepix X10 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$376 with 14-42mm lens
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF2 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF2 vs the Alpha NEX-5
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
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Canon PowerShot G1X

Canon PowerShot G1X

Boutique

$799 - $800
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the PowerShot G1X vs the Lumix DMC-LX5
Compare the PowerShot G1X vs the Alpha NEX-5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$356 - $430
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Battery life Shorter battery life
Macro focus Worse macro capability
Compare the Powershot S100 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5
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 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
Compare the NEX-5N vs the Alpha NEX-5
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
Compare the NEX-7 vs the Alpha NEX-5
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
Compare the NEX-F3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
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
Compare the NEX C3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
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
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the Alpha NEX-3 vs the Alpha NEX-5

appearance

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 Sony Alpha NEX-5

discussion

Showing 3 comments

johnmcrover (1:41 PM, December 08, 2011)
I had both the Sony NEX 5 and the Lumix LX3 (not the LX5 but pretty similar) and I was only using the NEX5 once I got that one. I have now sold the LX3, but it was reluctantly as it did give great results, but was limited in comparison.
John
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (11:09 PM, August 25, 2011)
The Nex-5 is an awesome camera, especially if you want low light image quality, interchangeable lenses, and it has some great features like panorama shots.   Our comparison is here is biased towards the LX5 because the LX5 has a built in lens, which is something we need to fix.  

So, if you're leaning towards the Nex-5, I'd go for it!  The LX5 is also a great camera, it has a much smaller sensor, and is less powerful, but, its much smaller and move convenient over all.  So if size/convenience is important, I'd recommend the LX5, otherwise the Nex-5.
 
raeraemcrae (10:47 PM, August 25, 2011)
Whew, I am so overwhelmed making the choice between these two. My friend has the NEX and loves it. I feels great in hand, and I love the articulating screen. But, this review places the LUMIX above the NEX, despite listing way way more advantages to the NEX! I don't understand that. I still feel stuck and like I can't make a decision. I had been set on the Lumix til I read this reveiw.