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Panasonic LX100 vs Panasonic SZ5

Portability
83
Imaging
51
Features
73
Overall
59
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 front
Portability
95
Imaging
38
Features
34
Overall
36

Panasonic LX100 vs Panasonic SZ5 Key Specs

Panasonic LX100
(Full Review)
  • 13MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-75mm (F1.7-2.8) lens
  • 393g - 115 x 66 x 55mm
  • Announced September 2014
  • Updated by Panasonic LX100 II
Panasonic SZ5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 104 x 58 x 21mm
  • Announced July 2012
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Panasonic LX100 vs Panasonic SZ5 Overview

On this page, we will be reviewing the Panasonic LX100 and Panasonic SZ5, former being a Large Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are created by Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the LX100 (13MP) and the SZ5 (14MP) is relatively close but the LX100 (Four Thirds) and SZ5 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor sizing.

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The LX100 was introduced 2 years later than the SZ5 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Panasonic LX100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Panasonic SZ5 being a Compact camera.

Before going into a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the LX100 scores against the SZ5 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic LX100 over the Panasonic SZ5

 LX100 SZ5 
AnnouncedSeptember 2014July 2012More recent by 27 months
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ5 over the Panasonic LX100

 SZ5 LX100 

Common features in the Panasonic LX100 and Panasonic SZ5

 LX100 SZ5 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Panasonic LX100 vs Panasonic SZ5 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to lug around your camera often, you're going to have to take into account its weight and size. The Panasonic LX100 comes with 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) whilst the Panasonic SZ5 has specifications of 104mm x 58mm x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") along with a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic LX100 and Panasonic SZ5 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you use at that moment. Here is a front view size comparison of the LX100 compared to the SZ5.

Panasonic LX100 vs Panasonic SZ5 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the LX100 and SZ5 is 83 and 95 respectively.

Panasonic LX100 vs Panasonic SZ5 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic LX100 vs Panasonic SZ5 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is difficult to visualise the difference in sensor measurements purely by researching specifications. The photograph underneath will help give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the LX100 and SZ5.

Plainly, both cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The LX100 using its bigger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field easier and the Panasonic SZ5 will result in extra detail using its extra 1MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The more recent LX100 will have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic LX100 vs Panasonic SZ5 sensor size comparison

Panasonic LX100 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic LX100 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic LX100
Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ5
70
you can focus manually
good resolution (13 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focusing
saves RAW files
34
megapixel count good (14MP)
comes with face detection focus
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic LX100 Street photography features
Panasonic SZ5 Street photography features
76
has image stabilization (Optical)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
comes with touch to focus
very good ISO range (25,600)
screen does not articulate
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (136 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic LX100 Sports photography factors
Panasonic SZ5 Sports photography factors
67
quiet shooting (1/16,000s)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (13MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
does not have phase detect AF
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic LX100 Travel photography info
Panasonic SZ5 Travel photography info
75
comes with touch to focus
good resolution (13 megapixels)
relatively wide (24mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.7)
display isn't selfie friendly
70
lighter than competition in class (136g)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
long reach (250mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic LX100 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic SZ5 Landscape photography advice
73
you can focus manually
relatively wide (24mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.7)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (13 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
42
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic LX100 Vlogging factors
Panasonic SZ5 Vlogging factors
35
relatively wide (24mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.7)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focusing
video res high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing external microphone port
32
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
lighter than competition in class (136 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external mic port
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Panasonic LX100 vs Panasonic SZ5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic LX100 and Panasonic SZ5
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
General Information
Make Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
Class Large Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2014-09-15 2012-07-18
Body design Large Sensor Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 13MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4112 x 3088 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 25600 1600
Highest boosted ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Min boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 49 23
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-75mm (3.1x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximal aperture f/1.7-2.8 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing range 3cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 921k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - TFT Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,764k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 8 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shooting speed 11.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (with included external flash at ISO 100) 5.60 m
Flash settings Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, on, on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 1280 x 720p ( 30,25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 393 grams (0.87 pounds) 136 grams (0.30 pounds)
Physical dimensions 115 x 66 x 55mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 2.2") 104 x 58 x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 67 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.3 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.5 not tested
DXO Low light rating 553 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 pictures 250 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I) SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $800 $195