Panasonic LX3 vs Sony H400

Let's look much closer at the Panasonic LX3 vs Sony H400, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Panasonic and Sony. There exists a significant gap between the image resolutions of the LX3 (10MP) and H400 (20MP) and the LX3 (1/1.63") and H400 (1/2.3") have different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The LX3 was brought out 6 years before the H400 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic LX3 being a Compact camera and the Sony H400 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go into a complete comparison, here is a brief view of how the LX3 grades vs the H400 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H400. The entire galleries are viewable at Panasonic LX3 Gallery and Sony H400 Gallery.

If you're aiming to carry your camera frequently, you need to factor in its weight and size. The Panasonic LX3 offers physical measurements of 109mm x 60mm x 27mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) whilst the Sony H400 has specifications of 130mm x 95mm x 122mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.8") along with a weight of 628 grams (1.38 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic LX3 vs Sony H400 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have attached during that time. The following is a front view scale comparison of the LX3 and the H400.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the LX3 and H400 is 91 and 62 respectively.

Sometimes, it's tough to visualize the gap between sensor sizing just by checking a spec sheet. The visual below might give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the LX3 and H400.

Clearly, both of these cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The LX3 featuring a larger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF easier and the Sony H400 will resolve greater detail having its extra 10MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images a bit more aggressively. The older LX3 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.