Panasonic LX100 II vs Sony NEX-5

Here, we are analyzing the Panasonic LX100 II and Sony NEX-5, one being a Large Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Panasonic and Sony. There is a huge difference between the sensor resolutions of the LX100 II (17MP) and NEX-5 (14MP) and the LX100 II (Four Thirds) and NEX-5 (APS-C) have totally different sensor dimensions.

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The LX100 II was announced 8 years later than the NEX-5 and that is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic LX100 II being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving right into a in depth comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the LX100 II scores versus the NEX-5 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DC-LX100 II and Sony Alpha NEX-5. The whole galleries are available at Panasonic LX100 II Gallery and Sony NEX-5 Gallery.

When you are looking to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor in its weight and size. The Panasonic LX100 II provides exterior dimensions of 115mm x 66mm x 64mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 2.5") with a weight of 392 grams (0.86 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5 has specifications of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") having a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

See the Panasonic LX100 II and Sony NEX-5 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are using at that time. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the LX100 II compared to the NEX-5.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the LX100 II and NEX-5 is 81 and 89 respectively.

Oftentimes, it's hard to visualise the difference between sensor sizing simply by checking technical specs. The graphic below may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the LX100 II and NEX-5.

As you have seen, each of these cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The LX100 II with its tinier sensor will make getting shallower DOF harder and the Panasonic LX100 II will give you more detail with its extra 3MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The more recent LX100 II will have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.