Nikon has decided to release an update to the Coolpix P5100. Like the Panasonic LX-2 the Nikon P5100 had near perfect specs but fell down on such a major feature that I deamed it unbuyable. It was so painfully slow that you'd be religated to only taking static shots. It's took 2 seconds between shots and in continuous mode it could only muster .3 frames per second. That is in comparison to the G7s 2fps. The Panasonic LX-2 on the other hand had perfect specs but the over diligent noise suppression turned photos taken ISO 400 or higher into Degas paintings.
Now Panasonic has released the LX-3 which according to them has much nicer photos and Nikon has released the P6000. Because there aren't currently any reviews for either we have to speculate on whether they improve apon their forbearers.I've included a chart here that compares the two of them to the Canon G7. I use the G7 here because that's what I have and there's very little reason to buy a G9 if you already have the G7. The only improvements were extra resolution that nobody needed, the ability shoot in raw and a larger LCD screen. The larger screen has the same pixels and cramped some of the buttons and with the CHDK firmware you can shoot in raw with the G7. I did not include every comparison item as many are identical between the cameras so I've included the points where the three differ.
Nikon Coolpix P6000 | Canon PowerShot G7 | Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 | |
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3648 x 2736 | 3648 x 2736 | 3648 x 2736 |
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3648 x 2432, 3584 x 2016, 3264 x 2448, 2592 x 1944, 2048 x 1536, 1600 x 1200, 1280 x 960, 1024 x 768, 640 x 480 | 2816 x 2112, 2272 x 1704, 1600 x 1200, 640 x 480 | 3968 x 2232, 3776 x 2520, 3328 x 1872, 3168 x 2112, 3072 x 2304, 2784 x 1568, 2656 x 1768, 2560 x 1920, 2208 x 1248, 2112 x 1408, 2048 x 1536, 2048 x 1360, 1920 x 1080, 1600 x 1200, 640 x 480 |
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4:3, 3:2, 16:9 | 4:3, 3:2 | 16:9, 4:3, 3:2 |
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13.5 million | 10.0 million | 10.1 million |
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13.93 million | 10.3 million | 11.3 million |
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1/1.72" (7.40 x 5.55 mm, 0.41 cm²) | 1/1.8 " (7.18 x 5.32 mm, 0.38 cm²) | 1/1.63 " |
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33 MP/cm² | 26 MP/cm² | 24 MP/cm² |
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Auto (64 - 800), Hi-Auto (64 - 1600), 64, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, (3200, 6400 at 3MP) | Auto, 80 ,100, 200, 400, 800, 1600 | Auto, Hi Auto (1600-6400), 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200 |
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28 mm | 35 mm | 24 mm |
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112 mm (4 x) | 210 mm (6 x) | 60 mm (2.5 x) |
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2 cm | 1 cm | 1 cm |
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5 positions, manual preset | 6 positions & manual preset | 5 positions, plus 2 manual |
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F2.7 - F5.9 | F2.8 - F4.8 | F2.0 - F2.8 |
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Unknown | 15 sec | 60 sec |
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Unknown | 1/2500 sec | 1/2000 sec |
Flash guide no. | 8.0 m (26.2 ft) | 4.0 m (13.1 ft) | 8.3 m (27.2 ft) (Auto ISO) |
External flash | Yes, hot shoe | Yes, hot-shoe | Yes |
Flash modes | Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow, Off | Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off | Auto, Red-Eye Auto, On, Red-Eye On, Red-Eye Slow Sync, Off, |
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Unknown | Evaluative, Center Weighted, Spot | Multi-segment, Center-weighted, Spot |
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Yes | Yes, 2.0 fps | Yes, 2.5 fps, max 8 images |
Movie Clips | Yes, 640 x 480, 15/30 fps, 320 x 240, 15 fps, 160 x 120, 15 fps | Yes, 1024 x 768 @ 15 fps, 640 x 480 @ 30/15 fps, 320 x 240 @ 30/15 fps, 160 x 120 @ 15 fps | Yes, 1280 x 720 @ 24 fps, 848 x 480, 640 x 480, 320 x 240 @ 30fps, 320 x 240 @ 10fps |
Self-timer | 3 or 10 sec | Yes | 2 or 10 sec |
Orientation sensor | No | Yes | Yes |
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Yes | No (yes with chdk firmware) |
RAW |
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High, Normal | Super-Fine Fine, Normal | Fine, Standard |
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Yes | Optical | No |
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2.7 " | 2.5 " | 3.0 " |
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230,000 | 207,000 | 460,000 |
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Yes | Yes | |
Weight (inc. batteries) | 280 g (9.9 oz) | 380 g (13.4 oz) | 265 g (9.3 oz) |
Dimensions | 107 x 65.2 x 42 mm (4.2 x 2.6 x 1.7 in) | 106 x 72 x 43 mm (4.2 x 2.8 x 1.7 in) | 109 x 60 x 27 mm (4.3 x 2.4 x 1.1 in) |
Notes | Built-in GPS receiver |