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Panasonic LX100 vs Panasonic S3

Portability
83
Imaging
51
Features
73
Overall
59
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Panasonic LX100 vs Panasonic S3 Key Specs

Panasonic LX100
(Full Review)
  • 13MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-75mm (F1.7-2.8) lens
  • 393g - 115 x 66 x 55mm
  • Introduced September 2014
  • Replacement is Panasonic LX100 II
Panasonic S3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 117g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Announced January 2011
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Panasonic LX100 vs Panasonic S3 Overview

Its time to take a deeper look at the Panasonic LX100 and Panasonic S3, one being a Large Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both manufactured by Panasonic. The resolution of the LX100 (13MP) and the S3 (14MP) is pretty close but the LX100 (Four Thirds) and S3 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor sizes.

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The LX100 was launched 3 years later than the S3 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic LX100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Panasonic S3 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick summary of how the LX100 matches up vs the S3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic LX100 over the Panasonic S3

 LX100 S3 
AnnouncedSeptember 2014January 2011More recent by 45 months
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic S3 over the Panasonic LX100

 S3 LX100 

Common features in the Panasonic LX100 and Panasonic S3

 LX100 S3 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Panasonic LX100 vs Panasonic S3 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you will need to consider its weight and measurements. The Panasonic LX100 features physical measurements of 115mm x 66mm x 55mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 2.2") with a weight of 393 grams (0.87 lbs) while the Panasonic S3 has proportions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic LX100 and Panasonic S3 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are using at that time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the LX100 against the S3.

Panasonic LX100 vs Panasonic S3 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the LX100 and S3 is 83 and 96 respectively.

Panasonic LX100 vs Panasonic S3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic LX100 vs Panasonic S3 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very difficult to envision the contrast in sensor measurements purely by looking through a spec sheet. The photograph underneath will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the LX100 and S3.

As you can see, both of those cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The LX100 due to its bigger sensor will make getting shallower depth of field simpler and the Panasonic S3 will provide you with more detail utilizing its extra 1 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The more recent LX100 is going to have an advantage in sensor technology.

Panasonic LX100 vs Panasonic S3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic LX100 vs Panasonic S3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic LX100 vs Panasonic S3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic LX100 Portrait photography information
Panasonic S3 Portrait photography information
70
focusing manually
MP count good (13 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
28
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic LX100 Street photography info
Panasonic S3 Street photography info
76
built in image stabilization (Optical)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
provides focus by touch
above average ISO range (25,600)
screen does not articulate
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (117g)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic LX100 Sports photography factors
Panasonic S3 Sports photography factors
67
quiet shutter (1/16,000s)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (13MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
lacks phase detect autofocus
35
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic LX100 Travel photography info
Panasonic S3 Travel photography info
75
provides focus by touch
MP count good (13MP)
decently wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.7)
display isn't selfie friendly
68
lighter than others (117 grams)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic LX100 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic S3 as a Landscape photography camera
73
focusing manually
decently wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.7)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (13MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
38
rather wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.7 inch)
manual mode not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic LX100 Vlogging details
Panasonic S3 Vlogging details
35
decently wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.7)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect autofocus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
no mic socket
31
rather wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (117 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external mic port
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Panasonic LX100 vs Panasonic S3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic LX100 and Panasonic S3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
Class Large Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2014-09-15 2011-01-05
Body design Large Sensor Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine Venus Engine IV
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 13 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4112 x 3088 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 49 11
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-75mm (3.1x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/1.7-2.8 f/3.1-5.6
Macro focus range 3cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 921k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,764k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 8s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Maximum silent shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shooting speed 11.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.00 m (with included external flash at ISO 100) 3.30 m
Flash options Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, on, on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 393 grams (0.87 lbs) 117 grams (0.26 lbs)
Physical dimensions 115 x 66 x 55mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 2.2") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 67 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.3 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.5 not tested
DXO Low light score 553 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 images 250 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $800 $110