LX-5 or S95

[rover]

OK, I don't like shopping and I hate waiting, cramming over details trying to make a decision. When I get home later tonight I am going to order one of these two devils and sell my E-P1.

As far as I can tell this is a decision between equally good choices. What would you do?

 

[adamli629]

I am more prefer the S95, because it is smaller than LX5 and have a better ISO performance.

 

[Don Parsons]

lx5, wider lens, less lag time

 

[rover]

lx5, wider lens, less lag time

I hadn't heard or read this before.

 

[Matus]

Out of 2 evils, you better choose the smaller one 😛

I would probably go with the wider lens of Panasonic, but the Canon fits easily in a pocket.

 

[bolohead]

I have an S95 and I used to have the D-Lux 4 (same as LX-3). I also was deciding between the S95 and LX-5. As stated above, the S95 is more pocketable and I'm blown away by the high ISO performance. I really like the layout of the S95 as compared to the D-lux in regards to form factor and placement of controls. The lens ring is great and I often switch the use of it between zooming, manual focus and aperture depending on what I am shooting. The only thing I wish it had was an accessory shoe for an external viewfinder.

 

[bolohead]

I've combined tests below to show the two side by side. Tests taken from imaging-resource.com.

S95 / LX5
Resolution: 10MP / 10.1MP
Lens: 28-105mm / 24-90mm
LCD: 3" / 3"
ISO: 80-12800 / 80-12800
Shutter: 16s-1/1600 / 60s-1/4000
Max Aperture: f2 / f2
Dimensions: 3.9 x 2.3 x 1.2 in. / 4.3 x 2.6 x 1.7 in.
Weight: 6.8 oz / 9.6 oz (incl batteries)
MSRP: $400 / $500
Power-on: 2.2 sec / 2.3 sec
Shutter Lag
Full Autofocus: 0.641 - 0.617 sec / 0.351 - 0.367 sec
Prefocus: 0.096 sec / 0.012 sec
Shot to Shot: 2.58 sec / 1.59 sec
Continuous: 1.87 (no limit) / 1.77 fps (3 shots)
Best Macro: 2.52x1.89 in / 1.18x0.87 in
Distortion
Wide Angle: 0.5% / 0.6%
Telephoto: 0.2% / 0.0%
Battery Life: 200 shots / 400 shots

 

[rover]

wow, thank you so much!!!

 

[ebino]

Buy the NEX 5, there is no reason you should buy a P&S at that price with NEX 5 around.

Just my 0.01 cc

 

[thegman]

I'd get the S95 out of those two choices, purely on size.

The NEX 5 is a lovely camera, which takes good photos, but it's not close to pocket-able with a zoom lens. Even with the pancake, it's not going in a jeans pockets without a struggle or fewer pies.

 

[ebino]

Thats true but honestly, why would you put a camera in your jeans. all the dust in your pocket will go inside it.

the sensor size of nex 5 and high iso performance, possibility of using his lenses, not mention its speed which is entry level dslr like and its price. i think the days of clunky expenisve p&s that takes 3 seconds between shots and a has a sensor the size of an ant's pool is finished.

 

[Don Parsons]

I hated the layout of the nex 5 when I tried it at the store. Also keep in mind that the zoom of the lx5 is wider, 2.0-3.3 whereas the Canon immediately drops off to end at 4.9 and you get twice the battery life out of the Panasonic. I love Canons but will probably get an Lx5 shortly after the holidays.

 

[Darkhorse]

Thats true but honestly, why would you put a camera in your jeans. all the dust in your pocket will go inside it.

My s90 goes in my shirt pocket, or breast pocket of a coat or jacket.

 

[Don Parsons]

I would go to a store and try both of them out. Pick the one that feels right to you.

 

[ebino]

My s90 goes in my shirt pocket, or breast pocket of a coat or jacket.

not a good idea. i don't even put my lens caps in the pocket. there is a lot of fine dust in pockets, detergent remains and so on.

 

[Yuphorix]

If you can get around the size of the LX5, it's pretty much a "does everything" camera. It's not as small as the S95, but I've fit the older LX3 into my jean pocket before, and I'm a relatively small guy. I think I'll list some things the LX5 does that makes it quite a special camera.

-F2-3.3 through the 24-90mm
-Step zoom allows you to step through 24-28-35-50-70-90mm focal lengths.
-Move your focus point around and adjust size of focus points (S95 surprisingly doesn't do).
-HD Video is 30fps and allows you to zoom and focus while shooting.
-Optional EVF attachment.
-On-sensor multi-aspect selection.
-Manual focus shows focus range (based on aperture and focal length) and allows you to easily find hyperfocal point.

The S95 is more compact, but the LX5 is a very very well thought-out camera. They've given you a lot of shooting options, via well written firmware/software. It's my choice of camera if I had to travel somewhere and pack light.

 

[Paddy C]

I've been looking at both and, from what I gather, the decision comes down to this:

LX5 - better performance in every area (as made obvious by the run-down above)
S95 - significantly smaller

Which is the priority?

And no I haven't been able to decide.

 

[rover]

I've combined tests below to show the two side by side. Tests taken from imaging-resource.com.

S95 / LX5
Resolution: 10MP / 10.1MP
Lens: 28-105mm / 24-90mm
LCD: 3" / 3"
ISO: 80-12800 / 80-12800
Shutter: 16s-1/1600 / 60s-1/4000
Max Aperture: f2 / f2
Dimensions: 3.9 x 2.3 x 1.2 in. / 4.3 x 2.6 x 1.7 in.
Weight: 6.8 oz / 9.6 oz (incl batteries)
MSRP: $400 / $500
Power-on: 2.2 sec / 2.3 sec
Shutter Lag
Full Autofocus: 0.641 - 0.617 sec / 0.351 - 0.367 sec
Prefocus: 0.096 sec / 0.012 sec
Shot to Shot: 2.58 sec / 1.59 sec
Continuous: 1.87 (no limit) / 1.77 fps (3 shots)
Best Macro: 2.52x1.89 in / 1.18x0.87 in
Distortion
Wide Angle: 0.5% / 0.6%
Telephoto: 0.2% / 0.0%
Battery Life: 200 shots / 400 shots

Bolo, one more time, thank you. This was way beyond the call of duty. I was stuck in a traffic jam before when I snuck on to look at RFF, yes very bad I know, but again... Thank you

 

[rover]

Buy the NEX 5, there is no reason you should buy a P&S at that price with NEX 5 around.

Just my 0.01 cc

Nex, nice, but too big, not what I am looking for. I have an E-P1 I would keep if I wasn't looking for something smaller. Keep in mind of course that perhaps the body is not huge, but the lenses add quite a bit to the size of the Nex or M43 cameras making them bigger than what I want.

 

[rover]

If you can get around the size of the LX5, it's pretty much a "does everything" camera. It's not as small as the S95, but I've fit the older LX3 into my jean pocket before, and I'm a relatively small guy. I think I'll list some things the LX5 does that makes it quite a special camera.

-F2-3.3 through the 24-90mm
-Step zoom allows you to step through 24-28-35-50-70-90mm focal lengths.
-Move your focus point around and adjust size of focus points (S95 surprisingly doesn't do).
-HD Video is 30fps and allows you to zoom and focus while shooting.
-Optional EVF attachment.
-On-sensor multi-aspect selection.
-Manual focus shows focus range (based on aperture and focal length) and allows you to easily find hyperfocal point.

The S95 is more compact, but the LX5 is a very very well thought-out camera. They've given you a lot of shooting options, via well written firmware/software. It's my choice of camera if I had to travel somewhere and pack light.

Can someone help me understand this compared to how the s95 changes aspect ratio?