Sony NEX-7 vs Panasonic LX100

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Sony NEX-7 vs Panasonic LX100

Leave Feedback

APS-C 366.6mm²
24.3 megapixels
ISO 100 - 16,000

Go in depth with our full Sony NEX-7 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the NEX-7.

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 Panasonic LX100 II
Compare LX100 vs LX100 II
Compare Sony NEX-7 vs Panasonic LX100 II

Buy From

Differences

Sony NEX-7 advantages over Panasonic LX100

Larger sensor
APS-C vs 4/3
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Fast startup
~1.20 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.
NEX-7 test data on DxO Mark LX100 test data on DxO Mark

1,016 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
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
24.3 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-7

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
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
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 18 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
11.3 fps vs 10.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
22 vs 13 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/16000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
25600 vs 16000 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 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

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
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 NEX-7 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read LX100 User Reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony NEX-7

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 18-55mm Lens

All NEX-7 Deals

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Panasonic LX100

Panasonic LX100 (Black)

Panasonic LX100 (Black)
Panasonic LX100 (Silver)

All LX100 Deals

Review Excerpt

24.3-megapixel sensor with excellent image quality; Small body; Exceptional user interface; Full HD 60p video; Electronic viewfinder and flash are built-in.
No Mode dial; Flash sync is a touch slow; No UHS-I card support; Needs a better kit lens to match the sensor quality.
Read our Sony NEX-7 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-7

Sony RX100 III

$1248
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$748
1 inch

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Built-in Wi-Fi

Compare Sony NEX-7 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-7

Canon G7X

$1248
APS-C

Larger sensor
Eye-level viewfinder

$1239
1 inch

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Sony NEX-7 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 Samsung NX200

Sony NEX-7

Samsung NX200

$1248
APS-C

Lens selection
Focus peaking

$600
APS-C

Less expensive

Compare Sony NEX-7 vs Samsung NX200

Panasonic LX100

Samsung NX200

$598
4/3

Focus peaking
Eye-level viewfinder

$600
APS-C

Larger sensor
Higher effective ISO

Compare Panasonic LX100 vs Samsung NX200

Compared to Fujifilm X-E1

Sony NEX-7

Fujifilm X-E1

$1248
APS-C

Tiltable Screen
Fast startup

$899
APS-C

Bigger pixels
Doesn't require an AA filter

Compare Sony NEX-7 vs Fujifilm X-E1

Panasonic LX100

Fujifilm X-E1

$598
4/3

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Shoot 4K video

$899
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Panasonic LX100 vs Fujifilm X-E1

Compared to Samsung NX300

Sony NEX-7

Samsung NX300

$1248
APS-C

Lens selection
Eye-level viewfinder

$1200
APS-C

Less expensive
Touchscreen

Compare Sony NEX-7 vs Samsung NX300

Panasonic LX100

Samsung NX300

$598
4/3

Eye-level viewfinder
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$1200
APS-C

Larger sensor
Touchscreen

Compare Panasonic LX100 vs Samsung NX300

Compare Other Cameras?