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Panasonic LX5 vs Sony A300

Portability
88
Imaging
35
Features
44
Overall
38
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A300 front
Portability
64
Imaging
49
Features
45
Overall
47

Panasonic LX5 vs Sony A300 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
  • Introduced December 2011
  • Superseded the Panasonic LX3
  • Later Model is Panasonic LX7
Sony A300
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 632g - 131 x 99 x 75mm
  • Introduced January 2008
  • Renewed by Sony A330
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Panasonic LX5 vs Sony A300 Overview

Here is a in depth review of the Panasonic LX5 and Sony A300, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the LX5 (10MP) and the A300 (10MP) is relatively well matched but the LX5 (1/1.63") and A300 (APS-C) use totally different sensor sizes.

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The LX5 was launched 3 years later than the A300 and that is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic LX5 being a Compact camera and the Sony A300 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go through a in depth comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the LX5 matches up vs the A300 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic LX5 over the Sony A300

 LX5 A300 
IntroducedDecember 2011January 2008Fresher by 48 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A300 over the Panasonic LX5

 A300 LX5 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Panasonic LX5 and Sony A300

 LX5 A300 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Panasonic LX5 vs Sony A300 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry your camera regularly, you have to factor its weight and size. The Panasonic LX5 enjoys outside dimensions of 110mm x 65mm x 43mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.7") along with a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) and the Sony A300 has specifications of 131mm x 99mm x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") having a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic LX5 and Sony A300 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are using at that moment. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the LX5 and the A300.

Panasonic LX5 vs Sony A300 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the LX5 and A300 is 88 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic LX5 vs Sony A300 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic LX5 vs Sony A300 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its tough to envision the difference between sensor sizing only by reading through a spec sheet. The photograph below will provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the LX5 and A300.

Clearly, the 2 cameras have got the exact same resolution albeit not the same sensor sizing. The LX5 includes the tinier sensor which will make achieving shallow DOF harder. The newer LX5 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic LX5 vs Sony A300 sensor size comparison

Panasonic LX5 vs Sony A300 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic LX5 vs Sony A300 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic LX5 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A300 as a Portrait photography camera
41
focusing manually
supports RAW files
resolution not great (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/1.63")
59
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
resolution not great (10MP)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic LX5
Street photography with Sony A300
59
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
screen is fixed
tiny sensor size (1/1.63")
heavier than average (271 grams)
74
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic LX5 Sports photography info
Sony A300 Sports photography info
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
low frames per second (3.0 fps)
resolution not great (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/1.63")
lacks phase detect AF
54
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic LX5 Travel photography highlights
Sony A300 Travel photography highlights
59
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
does not have Time Lapse function
heavier than average (271 grams)
resolution not great (10MP)
does not contain selfie friendly display
45
has built in flash
no Time Lapse mode
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic LX5 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A300 as a Landscape photography camera
52
focusing manually
fairly wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/1.63")
does not have Time Lapse function
57
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic LX5
Vlogging with Sony A300
29
fairly wide (24mm)
very good max aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
does not contain selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have mic port
heavier than average (271g)
9
can't record video
Photography Glossary

Panasonic LX5 vs Sony A300 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic LX5 and Sony A300
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5Sony Alpha DSLR-A300
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 Sony Alpha DSLR-A300
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2011-12-15 2008-01-30
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/1.63" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 8.07 x 5.56mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 44.9mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 3872 x 2592
Highest native ISO 12800 3200
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 24-90mm (3.8x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.0-3.3 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Crop factor 4.5 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.49x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.20 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain, wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance 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) -
Highest video resolution 1280x720 None
Video format AVCHD Lite -
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 271 grams (0.60 lbs) 632 grams (1.39 lbs)
Dimensions 110 x 65 x 43mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.7") 131 x 99 x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 41 64
DXO Color Depth rating 19.6 22.5
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.8 11.4
DXO Low light rating 132 538
Other
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Compact Flash
Storage slots One One
Price at release $294 $0