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Nikon L20 vs Panasonic LX5

Portability
94
Imaging
32
Features
17
Overall
26
Nikon Coolpix L20 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 front
Portability
88
Imaging
35
Features
44
Overall
38

Nikon L20 vs Panasonic LX5 Key Specs

Nikon L20
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 38-136mm (F3.1-6.7) lens
  • 135g - 97 x 61 x 29mm
  • Revealed February 2009
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
  • Introduced December 2011
  • Succeeded the Panasonic LX3
  • Replacement is Panasonic LX7
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Nikon L20 vs Panasonic LX5 Overview

Here is a extended overview of the Nikon L20 vs Panasonic LX5, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by manufacturers Nikon and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the L20 (10MP) and the LX5 (10MP) is fairly well matched but the L20 (1/2.3") and LX5 (1/1.63") come with totally different sensor sizing.

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The L20 was launched 3 years earlier than the LX5 and that is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting in to a thorough comparison, below is a brief summary of how the L20 scores vs the LX5 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon L20 over the Panasonic LX5

 L20 LX5 

Reasons to pick Panasonic LX5 over the Nikon L20

 LX5 L20 
IntroducedDecember 2011February 2009Fresher by 34 months
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Nikon L20 and Panasonic LX5

 L20 LX5 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Nikon L20 vs Panasonic LX5 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry your camera often, you will want to take into account its weight and volume. The Nikon L20 comes with outside measurements of 97mm x 61mm x 29mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.1") and a weight of 135 grams (0.30 lbs) while the Panasonic LX5 has sizing of 110mm x 65mm x 43mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs).

Check out the Nikon L20 vs Panasonic LX5 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are employing at that moment. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the L20 and the LX5.

Nikon L20 vs Panasonic LX5 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the L20 and LX5 is 94 and 88 respectively.

Nikon L20 vs Panasonic LX5 top view buttons comparison

Nikon L20 vs Panasonic LX5 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's tough to envision the difference between sensor sizing only by checking specifications. The visual below should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the L20 and LX5.

To sum up, both the cameras have got the exact same megapixel count but not the same sensor sizing. The L20 has got the tinier sensor which should make getting shallower DOF trickier. The older L20 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Nikon L20 vs Panasonic LX5 sensor size comparison

Nikon L20 vs Panasonic LX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon L20 vs Panasonic LX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon L20 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic LX5 Portrait photography advice
19
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
41
you can focus manually
saves RAW files
low MP (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/1.63")
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Street Comparison

Nikon L20 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic LX5 as a Street photography camera
54
lighter than competition (135 grams)
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
59
image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/1.63")
more heavy than competition (271 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon L20 Sports photography advice
Panasonic LX5 Sports photography advice
16
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
27
image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second very slow (3.0 fps)
low MP (10MP)
small sensor size (1/1.63")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon L20
Travel photography with Panasonic LX5
55
lighter than competition (135g)
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly display
wide angle not good (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
59
has built in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
does not have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition (271g)
low MP (10MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon L20
Landscape photography with Panasonic LX5
26
screen is a good size (3")
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not available
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse recording
52
you can focus manually
relatively wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
low MP (10MP)
small sensor size (1/1.63")
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon L20
Vlogging with Panasonic LX5
24
lighter than competition (135 grams)
wide angle not good (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not feature selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
low res video (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have microphone port
29
relatively wide (24mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Optical)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external microphone jack
more heavy than competition (271 grams)
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Nikon L20 vs Panasonic LX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon L20 and Panasonic LX5
 Nikon Coolpix L20Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
General Information
Make Nikon Panasonic
Model Nikon Coolpix L20 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2009-02-03 2011-12-15
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.63"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 8.07 x 5.56mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 44.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Min native ISO 64 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 38-136mm (3.6x) 24-90mm (3.8x)
Largest aperture f/3.1-6.7 f/2.0-3.3
Macro focus range 5cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 4.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed - 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 7.20 m
Flash settings Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 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)
Max video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG AVCHD Lite
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 135 grams (0.30 pounds) 271 grams (0.60 pounds)
Dimensions 97 x 61 x 29mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.1") 110 x 65 x 43mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 model 2 x AA -
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $120 $294