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Nikon L120 vs Panasonic LX5

Portability
75
Imaging
37
Features
38
Overall
37
Nikon Coolpix L120 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 front
Portability
88
Imaging
35
Features
44
Overall
38

Nikon L120 vs Panasonic LX5 Key Specs

Nikon L120
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-525mm (F3.1-5.8) lens
  • 431g - 110 x 77 x 78mm
  • Introduced February 2011
  • Earlier Model is Nikon L110
Panasonic LX5
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.63" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-90mm (F2.0-3.3) lens
  • 271g - 110 x 65 x 43mm
  • Announced December 2011
  • Old Model is Panasonic LX3
  • Later Model is Panasonic LX7
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Nikon L120 vs Panasonic LX5 Overview

Here, we are reviewing the Nikon L120 and Panasonic LX5, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Nikon and Panasonic. There is a sizeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the L120 (14MP) and LX5 (10MP) and the L120 (1/2.3") and LX5 (1/1.63") posses totally different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The L120 was manufactured 10 months earlier than the LX5 and they are of a similar generation. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before diving right into a complete comparison, here is a brief summation of how the L120 matches up versus the LX5 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon L120 over the Panasonic LX5

 L120 LX5 
Display resolution921k460kSharper display (+461k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic LX5 over the Nikon L120

 LX5 L120 
AnnouncedDecember 2011February 2011More modern by 10 months
Focus manually Very accurate focusing

Common features in the Nikon L120 and Panasonic LX5

 L120 LX5 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Nikon L120 vs Panasonic LX5 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera regularly, you have to think about its weight and measurements. The Nikon L120 offers outside dimensions of 110mm x 77mm x 78mm (4.3" x 3.0" x 3.1") and a weight of 431 grams (0.95 lbs) while the Panasonic LX5 has proportions of 110mm x 65mm x 43mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.7") and a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs).

Take a look at the Nikon L120 and Panasonic LX5 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are employing at that time. The following is a front view size comparison of the L120 versus the LX5.

Nikon L120 vs Panasonic LX5 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the L120 and LX5 is 75 and 88 respectively.

Nikon L120 vs Panasonic LX5 top view buttons comparison

Nikon L120 vs Panasonic LX5 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's hard to see the gap between sensor sizes simply by reading through specs. The pic here will help give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the L120 and LX5.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The L120 featuring a tinier sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field more challenging and the Nikon L120 will give you extra detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images way more aggressively. The more aged L120 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Nikon L120 vs Panasonic LX5 sensor size comparison

Nikon L120 vs Panasonic LX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon L120 vs Panasonic LX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon L120 Portrait photography information
Panasonic LX5 Portrait photography information
33
good MP (14 megapixels)
offers face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
41
focusing manually
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution low (10MP)
small sensor (1/1.63")
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon L120
Street photography with Panasonic LX5
48
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
59
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/1.63")
heavier than competitors (271 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon L120
Sports photography with Panasonic LX5
43
great zoom range (25-525mm 21.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14MP)
offers tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/1.63")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon L120 Travel photography information
Panasonic LX5 Travel photography information
60
good MP (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
long reach (525mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
does not feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
59
built-in flash
quite wide (24mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
lack of Time Lapse recording
heavier than competitors (271g)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon L120 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic LX5 as a Landscape photography camera
40
decently wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14MP)
lack of manual focus
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse function
52
focusing manually
quite wide (24mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
small sensor (1/1.63")
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon L120 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic LX5 Vlogging highlights
27
decently wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focusing
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not feature selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone jack
29
quite wide (24mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic support
heavier than competitors (271g)
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Nikon L120 vs Panasonic LX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon L120 and Panasonic LX5
 Nikon Coolpix L120Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
General Information
Make Nikon Panasonic
Model type Nikon Coolpix L120 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2011-02-09 2011-12-15
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Expeed C2 Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CCD 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 14 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4320 x 3240 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 23
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-525mm (21.0x) 24-90mm (3.8x)
Max aperture f/3.1-5.8 f/2.0-3.3
Macro focusing range 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 4.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 921 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology TFT LCD with Anti-reflection coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.00 m 7.20 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720p (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps) 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)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG AVCHD Lite
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 431 gr (0.95 lb) 271 gr (0.60 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 77 x 78mm (4.3" x 3.0" x 3.1") 110 x 65 x 43mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 41
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 19.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 10.8
DXO Low light rating not tested 132
Other
Battery life 330 photos -
Type of battery AA -
Battery ID 4 x AA -
Self timer Yes (10 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $300 $294