• 1/1.63 inch 46.2mm2
  • 10.1 megapixels
  • 24.00mm - 90.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • 1 inch 116.2mm2
  • 20.1 megapixels
  • 24.00mm - 70.00mm (35mm eq.)

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Differences

Panasonic LX5 advantages over Sony RX100 IV

  • Less expensive
    $500 vs $1000 (MSRP)
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • More telephoto lens reach
    90 mm vs 70 mm
    Capture objects farther away
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 400 vs 280 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Hot shoe
    Hot shoe vs None
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Longer exposure
    60 vs 30 sec
    Long exposures for night shots

Sony RX100 IV advantages over Panasonic LX5

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Larger sensor
    1 inch vs 1/1.63 inch
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Eye-level vs Rear display only
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 2.41 vs 1.98 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Shoot 4K video
    4K (UHD) vs 720p
    Make sure you have a fast computer
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Better color depth
    22.9 vs 19.6 bits
    Capture richer, more accurate colors
  • Higher effective ISO
    562 vs 132 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • More dynamic range
    12.6 vs 10.8 evs
    Retain detail in highlight and shadows
  • Integrated ND filter
    Yes vs No
    Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
  • Newer
    9 years vs 14 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • More dots on screen
    1229k vs 460k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • Shoots 1080p video
    Yes vs No
    You'll want this if you shoot video
  • Less shutter lag
    0.16 vs 0.35 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • More pixels
    20.1 vs 10.1 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Bulb shutter
    Bulb vs No bulb
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    16.0 fps vs 1.8 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    40 vs 3 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos
  • Faster shutter
    1/32000 vs 1/4000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • Higher extended ISO
    25600 vs 12800 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Both provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • RAW file ability
    Both provide
    Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Manual focus
    Both provide
    AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video

Common Weaknesses

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Touchscreen
    Neither provide
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • External Mic Jack
    Neither provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

User reviews

Buy From

Review Excerpt

  • Vastly improved burst speeds with deep buffer; Great performance with very fast autofocus; Very high resolution gives lots of detail in good light; High ISO noise levels much better than most pocket camera rivals; High-quality 4K video with uncompressed HDMI out; Super-fast High Frame Rate video; Same great pocket-friendly design.

  • Pricey for a compact camera; JPEGs can look over-processed at higher ISOs; Lens doesn't offer as much telephoto reach; Battery life not as good as predecessor; 24-70mm-equivalent lens can feel limiting.

The Competition

Compared to Panasonic DMC-LX3

Panasonic LX5
Panasonic DMC-LX3
  • $550
  • 1/1.63 inch
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • Higher effective ISO
  • $450
  • 1/1.63 inch
  • Thinner
  • Shoots 24p video
Sony RX100 IV
Panasonic DMC-LX3
  • $898
  • 1 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $450
  • 1/1.63 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Longer stills battery life

Compared to Leica D-LUX 5

Panasonic LX5
Leica D-LUX 5
  • $550
  • 1/1.63 inch
  • Less expensive
  • $700
  • 1/1.63 inch
Sony RX100 IV
Leica D-LUX 5
  • $898
  • 1 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $700
  • 1/1.63 inch
  • Less expensive
  • More telephoto lens reach

Compared to Olympus XZ-1

Panasonic LX5
Olympus XZ-1
  • $550
  • 1/1.63 inch
  • Higher effective ISO
  • Longer stills battery life
  • $500
  • 1/1.63 inch
  • Fast startup
  • More telephoto lens reach
Sony RX100 IV
Olympus XZ-1
  • $898
  • 1 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $500
  • 1/1.63 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Fast startup

Compared to Sony RX100 III

Panasonic LX5
Sony RX100 III
  • $550
  • 1/1.63 inch
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • Longer stills battery life
  • $748
  • 1 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
Sony RX100 IV
Sony RX100 III
  • $898
  • 1 inch
  • Slower slow-motion
  • Shoot 4K video
  • $748
  • 1 inch

Compared to Sony RX100 V

Panasonic LX5
Sony RX100 V
  • $550
  • 1/1.63 inch
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • Longer stills battery life
  • $998
  • 1 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
Sony RX100 IV
Sony RX100 V
  • $898
  • 1 inch
  • Longer stills battery life
  • $998
  • 1 inch
  • On-sensor phase detect
  • Faster JPEG shooting
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