Panasonic LX3 vs Sony W230

Its time to look closer at the Panasonic LX3 and Sony W230, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by companies Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the LX3 (10MP) and the W230 (12MP) is fairly similar but the LX3 (1/1.63") and W230 (1/2.3") come with different sensor sizes.

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The LX3 was announced 3 months before the W230 so they are of a similar age. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving through a complete comparison, below is a concise summation of how the LX3 scores versus the W230 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W230. The whole galleries are viewable at Panasonic LX3 Gallery & Sony W230 Gallery.

When you are going to travel with your camera frequently, you're going to have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Panasonic LX3 features exterior dimensions of 109mm x 60mm x 27mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.1") along with a weight of 265 grams (0.58 lbs) while the Sony W230 has proportions of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 156 grams (0.34 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic LX3 and Sony W230 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have attached at that moment. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the LX3 and the W230.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the LX3 and W230 is 91 and 95 respectively.

Sometimes, it can be hard to visualize the contrast between sensor dimensions only by going over specs. The picture below might offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the LX3 and W230.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The LX3 using its larger sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Sony W230 will offer extra detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics much more aggressively.