Canon SX160 IS vs Panasonic LX5

On this page, we are matching up the Canon SX160 IS versus Panasonic LX5, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Canon and Panasonic. There is a huge difference between the sensor resolutions of the SX160 IS (16MP) and LX5 (10MP) and the SX160 IS (1/2.3") and LX5 (1/1.63") provide different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The SX160 IS was brought out 19 months after the LX5 making them a generation away from each other. Both the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going into a full comparison, here is a brief summation of how the SX160 IS grades versus the LX5 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Canon PowerShot SX160 IS and Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5. The entire galleries are available at Canon SX160 IS Gallery and Panasonic LX5 Gallery.

If you're aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Canon SX160 IS comes with outer dimensions of 111mm x 73mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.9" x 1.7") along with a weight of 291 grams (0.64 lbs) whilst the Panasonic LX5 has measurements of 110mm x 65mm x 43mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.7") having a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs).

Look at the Canon SX160 IS versus Panasonic LX5 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. The following is a front view size comparison of the SX160 IS and the LX5.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the SX160 IS and LX5 is 86 and 88 respectively.

Oftentimes, it's hard to visualize the gap between sensor sizes purely by going over specifications. The picture here will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX160 IS and LX5.

Plainly, both of these cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SX160 IS due to its tinier sensor is going to make achieving bokeh more difficult and the Canon SX160 IS will deliver more detail having its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics more aggressively. The younger SX160 IS should have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.