• 4/3 224.9mm2
  • 12.8 megapixels
  • 24.00mm - 75.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • 35mm 855.6mm2
  • 24.3 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600

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Differences

Panasonic LX100 advantages over Sony A7 II

  • Less expensive
    $598* vs $1598
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Shoot 4K video
    4K (UHD) vs 1080p
    Make sure you have a fast computer
  • Higher max flash sync
    1/4000 vs 1/250 sec
    Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
  • Lacks anti-aliasing filter
    No Filter vs Filter
    Enjoy sharper photos
  • Longer exposure
    60 vs 30 sec
    Long exposures for night shots
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    11.6 fps vs 5.0 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    130 vs 52 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    11.3 fps vs 5.0 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
  • Faster shutter
    1/16000 vs 1/8000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light

Sony A7 II advantages over Panasonic LX100

  • Larger sensor
    35mm vs 4/3
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 5.97 vs 3.77 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Better color depth
    24.9 vs 22.3 bits
    Capture richer, more accurate colors
  • Higher effective ISO
    2,449 vs 553 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Yes vs No
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • External Mic Jack
    Jack vs No jack
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • More pixels
    24.3 vs 12.8 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Headphone jack
    Yes vs No
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Has anti-aliasing filter
    Filter vs No Filter
    Reduces unsightly moiré in photos
  • Higher extended ISO
    51200 vs 25600 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Rear display
    Both provide
    Review photos on the back of the camera
  • Focus peaking
    Both provide
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Both provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Both provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • 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
  • Hot shoe
    Both provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • 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
  • 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
  • Internal flash
    Neither provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • 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
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Panasonic LX100

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

  • Excellent 5-axis sensor-shift image stabilization; Sensor-shift IS brings stabilization to nearly any lens; Much-improved ergonomics and top-deck control layout; 'Mark II' maintains same impressive image quality, dynamic range and high ISO performance; XAVC S 50Mbps video format; Faster start-up time; Hybrid AF performs well with good continuous AF.

  • (Similar to A7): Loud shutter (but electronic first-curtain helps); Battery life could be better; Low-light AF still not as good as most DSLRs; High ISO JPEGs look over-processed; Slow buffer clearing; Limited selection of native Sony FE lenses (but it's getting better).

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
Sony A7 II
Sony RX100 III
  • $1077
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels
  • $748
  • 1 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Internal flash

Compared to Canon G7X

Panasonic LX100
Canon G7X
  • $598
  • 4/3
  • Larger sensor
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • $1239
  • 1 inch
  • Touchscreen
  • Tiltable Screen
Sony A7 II
Canon G7X
  • $1077
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • $1239
  • 1 inch
  • Touchscreen
  • Internal flash

Compared to Sony A7

Panasonic LX100
Sony A7
  • $598
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $748
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels
Sony A7 II
Sony A7
  • $1077
  • 35mm
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $748
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive

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
Sony A7 II
Leica D-LUX (Typ 109)
  • $1077
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels
  • $875
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • Shoot 4K video

Compared to Canon G5X

Panasonic LX100
Canon G5X
  • $598
  • 4/3
  • Larger sensor
  • Less expensive
  • $700
  • 1 inch
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Touchscreen
Sony A7 II
Canon G5X
  • $1077
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels
  • $700
  • 1 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen
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