Panasonic LX100 vs Nikon D5500

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Panasonic LX100 vs Nikon D5500

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4/3 224.9mm²
12.8 megapixels
24.00mm - 75.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Panasonic LX100 Review.
How does it shoot? Panasonic LX100 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the LX100.
Compare Panasonic LX100 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Panasonic LX100 conclusion.

APS-C 366.6mm²
24.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Nikon D5500 Review.
How does it shoot? Nikon D5500 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the D5500.
Compare Nikon D5500 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Nikon D5500 conclusion.

Succeeded by the Panasonic LX100 II
Compare LX100 vs LX100 II

Succeeded by the Nikon D5600
Compare D5500 vs D5600

Compare PANASONIC LX100 II vs NIKON D5600

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Differences

Panasonic LX100 advantages over Nikon D5500

Less expensive
$598* vs $697
Save money for lenses or accessories
Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Shoot 4K video
4K (UHD) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Higher max flash sync
1/4000 vs 1/200 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
More viewfinder magnification
0.70x vs 0.55x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Faster JPEG shooting
11.6 fps vs 4.9 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
11.3 fps vs 4.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
22 vs 7 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/16000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Nikon D5500 advantages over Panasonic LX100

Tilt-swivel screen
Tilt-swivel vs none
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Larger sensor
APS-C vs 4/3
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Fast startup
~0.40 vs 2.0 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
D5500 test data on DxO Mark LX100 test data on DxO Mark

1,438 vs 553 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
More dynamic range

More dynamic range

Cameras with more dynamic range allow you to take photos with dramatic differences in highlight and shadow areas while retaining detail in both.

Think of a brilliant sunset on a rocky beach: Bright sunset in the background, with dark rocks in the foreground. High dynamic range means more of the extremes will be faithfully reproduced.

Dynamic range test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
D5500 test data on DxO Mark LX100 test data on DxO Mark

14.0 vs 12.5 evs
Retain detail in highlight and shadows
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

820 vs 300 shots
Capture more photos
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
More pixels
24.2 vs 12.8 megapixels
Higher resolution photos

Similarities

Common Strengths

Rear display
Both provide
Review photos on the back of the camera
Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
RAW file ability
Both provide
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
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
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

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
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Integrated ND filter
Neither provide
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read LX100 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read D5500 User Reviews

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Body Only (Black)
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Kit with 18-140mm lens (Black)
Kit with 18-140mm lens (Red)
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Kit with 18-55mm lens (Red)

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Review Excerpt

Very good image quality; Great performance in most respects; Bright zoom lens with good macro performance; Photographer-friendly body easily fits in a coat pocket or small bag; Roomy, high-res built-in viewfinder; Decent battery life
Won't fit in a pants pocket; Relatively low resolution by modern standards; Zoom lens has only a modest telephoto; Soft corners at wide or tele positions; Aperture dial is too easily bumped; Bundled flash is fairly weak
Read our Panasonic LX100 Review

Amazingly small for a DSLR; Great image quality for its class, including superb low light and high ISO performance; Generous JPEG buffer depth; High resolution.
Buffer depths are shallow when shooting RAW; Lacks GPS from the predecessor; No AA filter means it's susceptible to aliasing artifacts.
Read our Nikon D5500 Review

The Competition

Compared to Sony RX100 III

Panasonic LX100

Sony RX100 III

$598
4/3

Less expensive
Larger sensor

$748
1 inch

Tiltable Screen
Internal flash

Compare Panasonic LX100 vs Sony RX100 III

Nikon D5500

Sony RX100 III

$797
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Larger sensor

$748
1 inch

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Sony RX100 III

Compared to Canon G7X

Panasonic LX100

Canon G7X

$598
4/3

Larger sensor
Eye-level viewfinder

$1239
1 inch

Touchscreen
Tiltable Screen

Compare Panasonic LX100 vs Canon G7X

Nikon D5500

Canon G7X

$797
APS-C

Larger sensor
Tilt-swivel screen

$1239
1 inch

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Canon G7X

Compared to Leica D-LUX (Typ 109)

Panasonic LX100

Leica D-LUX (Typ 109)

$598
4/3

Less expensive
Lacks anti-aliasing filter

$875
4/3

Has anti-aliasing filter

Compare Panasonic LX100 vs Leica D-LUX (Typ 109)

Nikon D5500

Leica D-LUX (Typ 109)

$797
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

$875
4/3

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Leica D-LUX (Typ 109)

Compared to Pentax K-3 II

Panasonic LX100

Pentax K-3 II

$598
4/3

Less expensive
Shoot 4K video

$830
APS-C

Larger sensor
High resolution composite

Compare Panasonic LX100 vs Pentax K-3 II

Nikon D5500

Pentax K-3 II

$797
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

$830
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Pentax K-3 II

Compared to Canon G5X

Panasonic LX100

Canon G5X

$598
4/3

Larger sensor
Less expensive

$700
1 inch

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

Compare Panasonic LX100 vs Canon G5X

Nikon D5500

Canon G5X

$797
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$700
1 inch

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Canon G5X

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