Olympus E-450 vs Panasonic LX5

Let's look closer at the Olympus E-450 and Panasonic LX5, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-450 (10MP) and the LX5 (10MP) is very well matched but the E-450 (Four Thirds) and LX5 (1/1.63") feature different sensor sizes.

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The E-450 was introduced 3 years prior to the LX5 which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-450 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic LX5 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight into a in depth comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the E-450 scores versus the LX5 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus E-450 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5. The whole galleries are viewable at Olympus E-450 Gallery & Panasonic LX5 Gallery.

If you're planning to carry around your camera regularly, you need to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-450 comes with external measurements of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") accompanied by a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Panasonic LX5 has proportions of 110mm x 65mm x 43mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.7") having a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-450 and Panasonic LX5 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are using at that time. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the E-450 against the LX5.

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-450 and LX5 is 77 and 88 respectively.

Generally, it's difficult to visualize the gap between sensor sizes merely by looking at specifications. The pic below may give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the E-450 and LX5.

Plainly, both cameras posses the exact same MP but different sensor sizes. The E-450 features the larger sensor which will make getting shallow DOF simpler. The more aged E-450 is going to be behind in sensor tech.