Panasonic LX100 vs Nikon J5

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Panasonic LX100 vs Nikon J5

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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.

1 inch 116.2mm²
20.8 megapixels
ISO 160 - 12,800

Go in depth with our full Nikon J5 Review.
How does it shoot? Nikon J5 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the J5.
Compare Nikon J5 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Nikon J5 conclusion.

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Differences

Panasonic LX100 advantages over Nikon J5

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Larger sensor
4/3 vs 1 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
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Bigger pixels
~ 3.77 vs 2.37 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
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.
LX100 test data on DxO Mark J5 test data on DxO Mark

553 vs 479 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
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

300 vs 250 shots
Capture more photos
Higher max flash sync
1/4000 vs 1/60 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Shoots 24p video
Yes vs No
Gives your movies a big-screen feel
Hot shoe
Hot shoe vs None
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Bigger JPEG buffer
130 vs 20 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
25600 vs 12800 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Nikon J5 advantages over Panasonic LX100

Less expensive
$497 vs $598*
Save money for lenses or accessories
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Thinner
31 mm vs 55 mm
Thinner
More pixels
20.8 vs 12.8 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Faster JPEG shooting
59.4 fps vs 11.6 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
59.4 fps vs 11.3 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos

Similarities

Common Strengths

Rear display
Both provide
Review photos on the back of the camera
Shoot 4K video
Both provide
Make sure you have a fast computer
In-camera panoramas
Both provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
RAW file ability
Both provide
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Both provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
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
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
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
External Mic Jack
Neither provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read LX100 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read J5 User Reviews

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Panasonic LX100 (Black)

Panasonic LX100 (Black)
Panasonic LX100 (Silver)

All LX100 Deals

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Buy the Nikon J5

Kit with 10-30mm lens (Black)

Kit with 10-30mm lens (Black)
Kit with 10-100mm lens (Silver)
Kit with 10-100mm lens (White)
Kit with 10-30mm & 30-110mm lenses (Silver)
Kit with 10-30mm & 30-110mm lenses (White)
Kit with 10-30mm lens (Silver)
Kit with 10-30mm lens (White)

All J5 Deals

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

Photographer-friendly controls; Impressive dynamic range for its class; Very fast hybrid autofocus; Fast high-speed shooting capabilities; Tilting touchscreen display.
No hot shoe or viewfinder; Aggressive noise reduction, even at base ISO; 4K video is limited to 15fps.
Read our Nikon J5 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 J5

Sony RX100 III

$497
1 inch

Less expensive
Slower slow-motion

$748
1 inch

Focus peaking
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Nikon J5 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 J5

Canon G7X

$497
1 inch

Shoot 4K video
In-camera panoramas

$1239
1 inch

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon J5 vs Canon G7X

Compared to Samsung NX Mini

Panasonic LX100

Samsung NX Mini

$598
4/3

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$600
1 inch

Touchscreen
Tiltable Screen

Compare Panasonic LX100 vs Samsung NX Mini

Nikon J5

Samsung NX Mini

$497
1 inch

Shoot 4K video
On-sensor phase detect

$600
1 inch

Longer stills battery life
Thinner

Compare Nikon J5 vs Samsung NX Mini

Compared to Nikon J4

Panasonic LX100

Nikon J4

$598
4/3

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$350
1 inch

Touchscreen
On-sensor phase detect

Compare Panasonic LX100 vs Nikon J4

Nikon J5

Nikon J4

$497
1 inch

Shoot 4K video
Tiltable Screen

$350
1 inch

Longer stills battery life

Compare Nikon J5 vs Nikon J4

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 J5

Leica D-LUX (Typ 109)

$497
1 inch

Less expensive
Touchscreen

$875
4/3

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Nikon J5 vs Leica D-LUX (Typ 109)

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