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Canon SX260 HS vs Panasonic LX5

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
44
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX260 HS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 front
Portability
88
Imaging
35
Features
44
Overall
38

Canon SX260 HS vs Panasonic LX5 Key Specs

Canon SX260 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.5-6.8) lens
  • 231g - 106 x 61 x 33mm
  • Introduced June 2012
  • Previous Model is Canon SX240 HS
  • Successor is Canon SX270 HS
Panasonic LX5
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.63" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-90mm (F2.0-3.3) lens
  • 271g - 110 x 65 x 43mm
  • Revealed December 2011
  • Replaced the Panasonic LX3
  • Renewed by Panasonic LX7
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Canon SX260 HS vs Panasonic LX5 Overview

In this write-up, we will be comparing the Canon SX260 HS and Panasonic LX5, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Canon and Panasonic. The resolution of the SX260 HS (12MP) and the LX5 (10MP) is pretty well matched but the SX260 HS (1/2.3") and LX5 (1/1.63") enjoy totally different sensor sizes.

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The SX260 HS was announced 6 months later than the LX5 so they are both of a similar age. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the SX260 HS scores against the LX5 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX260 HS over the Panasonic LX5

 SX260 HS LX5 
Screen resolution461k460kClearer screen (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic LX5 over the Canon SX260 HS

 LX5 SX260 HS 

Common features in the Canon SX260 HS and Panasonic LX5

 SX260 HS LX5 
RevealedJune 2012December 2011Similar age
Manual focus Very precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Canon SX260 HS vs Panasonic LX5 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to lug around your camera often, you'll need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Canon SX260 HS has external measurements of 106mm x 61mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 231 grams (0.51 lbs) whilst the Panasonic LX5 has proportions of 110mm x 65mm x 43mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.7") along with a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs).

Contrast the Canon SX260 HS and Panasonic LX5 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you choose at that time. Below is the front view scale comparison of the SX260 HS compared to the LX5.

Canon SX260 HS vs Panasonic LX5 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the SX260 HS and LX5 is 91 and 88 respectively.

Canon SX260 HS vs Panasonic LX5 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX260 HS vs Panasonic LX5 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its tough to see the contrast between sensor measurements merely by reading through a spec sheet. The visual underneath may give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the SX260 HS and LX5.

Clearly, both of those cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The SX260 HS with its tinier sensor will make getting bokeh more challenging and the Canon SX260 HS will give more detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots a little more aggressively.

Canon SX260 HS vs Panasonic LX5 sensor size comparison

Canon SX260 HS vs Panasonic LX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX260 HS vs Panasonic LX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX260 HS Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic LX5 Portrait photography highlights
37
has manual focus
provides face detection autofocus
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
41
you can focus manually
supports RAW files
low megapixels (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/1.63")
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Street Comparison

Canon SX260 HS Street photography info
Panasonic LX5 Street photography info
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (231 grams)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
59
image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
screen is fixed
tiny sensor size (1/1.63")
heavier than competitors in class (271 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX260 HS Sports photography details
Panasonic LX5 Sports photography details
36
long zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (2.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery (230 per charge)
does not have phase detect autofocus
27
image stabilization (Optical)
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/1.63")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX260 HS as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic LX5 as a Travel photography camera
61
lighter than competitors in class (231 grams)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
great zoom (500mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
low battery (230 per charge)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
59
built-in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
heavier than competitors in class (271 grams)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Canon SX260 HS Landscape photography details
Panasonic LX5 Landscape photography details
41
has manual focus
really wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
low battery (230 shots)
lack of Timelapse recording
52
you can focus manually
relatively wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
low megapixels (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/1.63")
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX260 HS as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic LX5 as a Vlogging camera
34
really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors in class (231g)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of external microphone socket
29
relatively wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Optical)
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have mic port
heavier than competitors in class (271 grams)
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Canon SX260 HS vs Panasonic LX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX260 HS and Panasonic LX5
 Canon PowerShot SX260 HSPanasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
General Information
Brand Canon Panasonic
Model Canon PowerShot SX260 HS Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2012-06-04 2011-12-15
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 5 Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.63"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 8.07 x 5.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 44.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 23
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-500mm (20.0x) 24-90mm (3.8x)
Maximal aperture f/3.5-6.8 f/2.0-3.3
Macro focus distance 5cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 4.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 461 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology PureColor II TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Min shutter speed 15 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.50 m 7.20 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 240 (240 fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format H.264 AVCHD Lite
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 231 gr (0.51 lb) 271 gr (0.60 lb)
Dimensions 106 x 61 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.3") 110 x 65 x 43mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 41
DXO Color Depth score not tested 19.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 10.8
DXO Low light score not tested 132
Other
Battery life 230 photos -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery model NB-6L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail price $349 $294