Panasonic LX5 has a
10.0MP 1/1.63-inch (8.07 x 5.56 mm ) sized CCD sensor and features Venus Engine FHD processor. On the other hand, Canon G16 has a
12.0MP 1/1.7-inch (7.44 x 5.58 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features Digic 6 processor.
Below you can see the LX5 and G16 sensor size comparison.
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Panasonic LX5 and Canon G16 Cameras
Panasonic LX5 and Canon G16 have almost the same sensor size, so neither of them has any significant advantage over the other in terms of providing control over depth of field when used with the same focal length and aperture.
DxOMark Sensor Scores
DxOMark is a benchmark that scientifically assesses image quality of camera sensors. It scores camera sensors for color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape) and low-light sensitivity (DXO Sports), and also gives them an overall score. Panasonic LX5 and Canon G16 sensors have been tested by DxO and the results show that G16 has a better overall score of 54, 13 points higher compared to LX5's score of 41.
Model
Overall
Color Depth
Dynamic Range
Low-light ISO
Panasonic LX5
41
19.6 bits
10.8 Evs
132 ISO
Canon G16
54
21.0 bits
11.7 Evs
230 ISO
Sensor size sets the circle of confusion, so it drives how much depth of field each
of these bodies gives you at a given aperture. You can calculate it exactly for the
Panasonic LX5
or the
Canon G16 ,
including hyperfocal distance.
One thing to watch when comparing these two: they have different sensor sizes
(1/1.63-inch versus 1/1.7-inch),
so compare them at the same framing rather than the same focal length.
Put the same focal length on the smaller sensor and it will show less depth of
field, not more, because it also crops tighter. The calculator shows the
full frame equivalent focal length for each body so you can match the framing.