Sony NEX-5N vs Panasonic LX100

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Sony NEX-5N vs Panasonic LX100

Leave Feedback

APS-C 369.7mm²
16.1 megapixels

Go in depth with our full Sony NEX-5N Review.
See real-world photos taken with the NEX-5N.

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.

Succeeded by the Sony NEX-5R
Compare NEX-5N vs NEX-5R

Succeeded by the Panasonic LX100 II
Compare LX100 vs LX100 II

Compare SONY NEX-5R vs PANASONIC LX100 II

Buy From

Differences

Sony NEX-5N advantages over Panasonic LX100

Larger sensor
APS-C vs 4/3
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 4.82 vs 3.77 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
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.
NEX-5N test data on DxO Mark LX100 test data on DxO Mark

1,079 vs 553 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

430 vs 300 shots
Capture more photos
Thinner
38 mm vs 55 mm
Thinner
More pixels
16.1 vs 12.8 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Has anti-aliasing filter
Filter vs No Filter
Reduces unsightly moiré in photos

Panasonic LX100 advantages over Sony NEX-5N

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
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
Shoot 4K video
4K (UHD) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
Higher max flash sync
1/4000 vs 1/160 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 10.0 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
130 vs 7 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/16000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Similarities

Common Strengths

Rear display
Both provide
Review photos on the back of the camera
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
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

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
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
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
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read NEX-5N User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read LX100 User Reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony NEX-5N

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Panasonic LX100

Panasonic LX100 (Black)

Panasonic LX100 (Black)
Panasonic LX100 (Silver)

All LX100 Deals

Review Excerpt

Fast autofocus and prefocused shutter lag; Quieter shutter sound; Captures 10 frames per second; Supports AVCHD 2.0.
Limited first-party lens selection; Slow and confusing on-screen user interface; top-mounted, proprietary accessories are quite pricey.
Read our Sony NEX-5N Review

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

The Competition

Compared to Sony RX100 III

Sony NEX-5N

Sony RX100 III

$700
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$748
1 inch

Focus peaking
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Sony NEX-5N vs 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

Compared to Canon G7X

Sony NEX-5N

Canon G7X

$700
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$1239
1 inch

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Sony NEX-5N vs 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

Compared to Sony NEX-3

Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-3

$700
APS-C

Higher effective ISO
Longer stills battery life

$600
APS-C

Less expensive
Fast startup

Compare Sony NEX-5N vs Sony NEX-3

Panasonic LX100

Sony NEX-3

$598
4/3

Focus peaking
Eye-level viewfinder

$600
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Panasonic LX100 vs Sony NEX-3

Compared to Sony NEX-C3

Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-C3

$700
APS-C

Shoots 24p video
Shoots 1080p video

$559
APS-C

Less expensive
Fast startup

Compare Sony NEX-5N vs Sony NEX-C3

Panasonic LX100

Sony NEX-C3

$598
4/3

Focus peaking
Eye-level viewfinder

$559
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Panasonic LX100 vs Sony NEX-C3

Compared to Sony NEX-5R

Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5R

$700
APS-C

Higher effective ISO
Longer stills battery life

$499
APS-C

Focus peaking
Touchscreen

Compare Sony NEX-5N vs Sony NEX-5R

Panasonic LX100

Sony NEX-5R

$598
4/3

Eye-level viewfinder
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$499
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Panasonic LX100 vs Sony NEX-5R

Compare Other Cameras?