Panasonic LX5 vs Sony NEX-3

Following is a comprehensive assessment of the Panasonic LX5 vs Sony NEX-3, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Panasonic and Sony. There is a large difference among the resolutions of the LX5 (10MP) and NEX-3 (14MP) and the LX5 (1/1.63") and NEX-3 (APS-C) have different sensor sizes.

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The LX5 was released 19 months after the NEX-3 making them a generation away from each other. The two cameras have different body design with the Panasonic LX5 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before we go straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the LX5 scores vs the NEX-3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 & Sony Alpha NEX-3. The complete galleries are available at Panasonic LX5 Gallery & Sony NEX-3 Gallery.

In case you're going to carry around your camera frequently, you have to take into account its weight and size. The Panasonic LX5 has got outside dimensions 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 Sony NEX-3 has specifications of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic LX5 vs Sony NEX-3 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have at that time. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the LX5 vs the NEX-3.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the LX5 and NEX-3 is 88 and 89 respectively.

Oftentimes, it can be hard to picture the gap in sensor sizes only by researching specifications. The picture below will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the LX5 and NEX-3.

To sum up, both of those cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The LX5 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field tougher and the Sony NEX-3 will result in extra detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos more aggressively. The fresher LX5 provides an edge in sensor tech.