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Panasonic LX3 vs Sony HX30V

Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
40
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V front
Portability
90
Imaging
41
Features
50
Overall
44

Panasonic LX3 vs Sony HX30V Key Specs

Panasonic LX3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.63" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-60mm (F2.0-2.8) lens
  • 265g - 109 x 60 x 27mm
  • Released November 2008
  • New Model is Panasonic LX5
Sony HX30V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 254g - 107 x 62 x 35mm
  • Announced February 2012
  • Replaced the Sony HX20V
  • Renewed by Sony HX50V
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Panasonic LX3 vs Sony HX30V Overview

Let's look a bit more in depth at the Panasonic LX3 and Sony HX30V, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Panasonic and Sony. There exists a considerable gap among the resolutions of the LX3 (10MP) and HX30V (18MP) and the LX3 (1/1.63") and HX30V (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor dimensions.

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The LX3 was launched 4 years earlier than the HX30V which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving through a complete comparison, below is a short introduction of how the LX3 scores vs the HX30V with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic LX3 over the Sony HX30V

 LX3 HX30V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX30V over the Panasonic LX3

 HX30V LX3 
AnnouncedFebruary 2012November 2008Newer by 40 months
Screen resolution922k460kClearer screen (+462k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic LX3 and Sony HX30V

 LX3 HX30V 
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch screen Neither features Touch screen

Panasonic LX3 vs Sony HX30V Physical Comparison

In case you're going to travel with your camera frequently, you need to factor its weight and size. The Panasonic LX3 enjoys exterior measurements of 109mm x 60mm x 27mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.1") with a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) whilst the Sony HX30V has specifications of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") along with a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic LX3 and Sony HX30V in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are working with at that moment. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the LX3 compared to the HX30V.

Panasonic LX3 vs Sony HX30V size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the LX3 and HX30V is 91 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic LX3 vs Sony HX30V top view buttons comparison

Panasonic LX3 vs Sony HX30V Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very tough to envision the difference in sensor dimensions simply by looking through specifications. The image underneath will give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the LX3 and HX30V.

To sum up, both the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The LX3 due to its bigger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF less difficult and the Sony HX30V will provide you with extra detail utilizing its extra 8MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop photographs far more aggressively. The more aged LX3 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic LX3 vs Sony HX30V sensor size comparison

Panasonic LX3 vs Sony HX30V Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic LX3 vs Sony HX30V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic LX3 Portrait photography advice
Sony HX30V Portrait photography advice
39
has manual focus
delivers RAW formats
low megapixels (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.63")
44
manual focus
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
includes face detect focus
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic LX3 Street photography details
Sony HX30V Street photography details
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/1.63")
more heavy than competition (265g)
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (254 grams)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic LX3 Sports photography info
Sony HX30V Sports photography info
26
built in image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (3.0 fps)
low megapixels (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.63")
lacks phase detect auto focus
49
great zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic LX3 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX30V as a Travel photography camera
60
flash built-in
pretty wide (24mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
does not have Timelapse function
more heavy than competition (265g)
low megapixels (10MP)
does not have selfie friendly screen
69
lighter than others (254g)
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
long reach (500mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic LX3 Landscape photography information
Sony HX30V Landscape photography information
52
has manual focus
pretty wide (24mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
low megapixels (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.63")
does not have Timelapse function
50
manual focus
decently wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic LX3 Vlogging highlights
Sony HX30V Vlogging highlights
30
pretty wide (24mm)
very good maximum aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
does not have selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone port
more heavy than competition (265 grams)
34
decently wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others (254g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.2)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
does not have mic support
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Panasonic LX3 vs Sony HX30V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic LX3 and Sony HX30V
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2008-11-04 2012-02-28
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - BIONZ
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.63" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 8.07 x 5.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 44.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 18MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-60mm (2.5x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Max aperture f/2.0-2.8 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focusing distance 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 4.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology - XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 8.30 m 7.10 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (HD 24 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30fps), 320 x 240 (10fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 265 gr (0.58 lb) 254 gr (0.56 lb)
Dimensions 109 x 60 x 27mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.1") 107 x 62 x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 39 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 19.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.8 not tested
DXO Low light rating 94 not tested
Other
Battery life - 320 photographs
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $449 $420