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Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax RZ18

Portability
88
Imaging
35
Features
44
Overall
38
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 front
 
Pentax Optio RZ18 front
Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax RZ18 Key Specs

Panasonic LX5
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.63" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-90mm (F2.0-3.3) lens
  • 271g - 110 x 65 x 43mm
  • Revealed December 2011
  • Replaced the Panasonic LX3
  • Updated by Panasonic LX7
Pentax RZ18
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-450mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 97 x 61 x 33mm
  • Released September 2011
Photography Glossary

Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax RZ18 Overview

The following is a in-depth comparison of the Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax RZ18, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There is a considerable difference between the resolutions of the LX5 (10MP) and RZ18 (16MP) and the LX5 (1/1.63") and RZ18 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor sizes.

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The LX5 was announced 4 months after the RZ18 so they are of a similar age. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving through a full comparison, below is a brief summation of how the LX5 matches up vs the RZ18 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic LX5 over the Pentax RZ18

 LX5 RZ18 

Reasons to pick Pentax RZ18 over the Panasonic LX5

 RZ18 LX5 

Common features in the Panasonic LX5 and Pentax RZ18

 LX5 RZ18 
ReleasedDecember 2011September 2011Similar age
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Display resolution460k460kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display No Touch display

Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax RZ18 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you will have to take into account its weight and size. The Panasonic LX5 has outer measurements of 110mm x 65mm x 43mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.7") with a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) and the Pentax RZ18 has specifications of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Check the Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax RZ18 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you select at that moment. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the LX5 versus the RZ18.

Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax RZ18 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the LX5 and RZ18 is 88 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax RZ18 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax RZ18 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is difficult to visualise the gap between sensor dimensions merely by going over technical specs. The image below should give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the LX5 and RZ18.

As you can tell, both of these cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The LX5 with its larger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF easier and the Pentax RZ18 will offer you extra detail with its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop images much more aggressively.

Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax RZ18 sensor size comparison

Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic LX5
Portrait photography with Pentax RZ18
41
has manual focus
supports RAW formats
low MP (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/1.63")
36
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
no manual control
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic LX5 as a Street photography camera
Pentax RZ18 as a Street photography camera
59
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/1.63")
more heavy than competitors (271 grams)
65
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
lighter than others (178g)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic LX5 Sports photography factors
Pentax RZ18 Sports photography factors
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames per second)
low MP (10MP)
small sensor (1/1.63")
does not have phase detect autofocus
47
amazing zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
comes with tracking focus
environment proof
low frames per second (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic LX5
Travel photography with Pentax RZ18
59
has built in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
does not have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competitors (271g)
low MP (10MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
71
lighter than others (178 grams)
environment proof
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
great zoom (450mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic LX5 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax RZ18 as a Landscape photography camera
52
has manual focus
reasonably wide (24mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
low MP (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/1.63")
does not have Timelapse mode
49
has manual focus
quite wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
environment proof
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic LX5 Vlogging information
Pentax RZ18 Vlogging information
29
reasonably wide (24mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have microphone support
more heavy than competitors (271g)
30
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (178 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of mic support
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Panasonic LX5 vs Pentax RZ18 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic LX5 and Pentax RZ18
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5Pentax Optio RZ18
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 Pentax Optio RZ18
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2011-12-15 2011-09-12
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/1.63" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 8.07 x 5.56mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 44.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-90mm (3.8x) 25-450mm (18.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.0-3.3 f/3.5-5.9
Macro focus range 1cm 4cm
Focal length multiplier 4.5 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.20 m 2.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format AVCHD Lite Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 271 grams (0.60 lb) 178 grams (0.39 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 65 x 43mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.7") 97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 41 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 19.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.8 not tested
DXO Low light score 132 not tested
Other
Battery model - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $294 $210