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Nikon D300S vs Panasonic FZ1000 II

The Nikon D300S and the Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000 II are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in July 2009 and February 2019. The D300S is a DSLR, while the FZ1000 II is a fixed lens compact. The cameras are based on an APS-C (D300S) and an one-inch (FZ1000 II) sensor. The Nikon has a resolution of 12.2 megapixels, whereas the Panasonic provides 20 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Nikon D300S
versus
Panasonic FZ1000 II
Nikon D300S   Panasonic FZ1000 II
Digital single lens reflex Fixed lens compact camera
Nikon F mount lenses 25-400mm f/2.8-4.0
12.2 MP – APS-C sensor 20 MP – 1" sensor
720/24p Video 4K/30p Video
ISO 200-3,200 (100 - 6,400) ISO 125-12,800 (80 - 25,600)
Optical viewfinder Electronic viewfinder (2360k dots)
3.0" LCD – 920k dots 3.0" LCD – 1240k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive) Swivel touchscreen
7 shutter flaps per second 12 shutter flaps per second
Weathersealed bodynot weather sealed
950 shots per battery charge350 shots per battery charge
147 x 115 x 81 mm, 938 g 136 x 97 x 131 mm, 810 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Nikon D300S and the Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000 II? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

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Body comparison

The physical size and weight of the Nikon D300S and the Panasonic FZ1000 II are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Size Nikon D300S vs Panasonic FZ1000 II
Compare D300S versus FZ1000 II top
Comparison D300S or FZ1000 II rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Panasonic FZ1000 II is notably smaller (22 percent) than the Nikon D300S. It is worth mentioning in this context that the D300S is splash and dust resistant, while the FZ1000 II does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the FZ1000 II has a lens built in, whereas the D300S is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup. You can compare the optics available for the D300S and their specifications in the Nikon Lens Catalog.

Concerning battery life, the D300S gets 950 shots out of its Nikon EN-EL3e battery, while the FZ1000 II can take 350 images on a single charge of its Panasonic DMW-BLC12 power pack. The power pack in the FZ1000 II can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

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Body Specifications
  empty Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Nikon D300S 147 mm 115 mm 81 mm 938 g 950 Y Jul 2009 1,799ebay.com
2.
 
Panasonic FZ1000 II 136 mm 97 mm 131 mm 810 g 350 n Feb 2019 899 amazon.com
3.
 
Leica C-LUX 113 mm 67 mm 46 mm 340 g 370 n Jun 2018 1,049ebay.com
4.
 
Nikon D2X 158 mm 150 mm 86 mm 1252 g 3800 Y Sep 2004 4,999ebay.com
5.
 
Nikon D2Xs 158 mm 150 mm 86 mm 1252 g 3800 Y Jun 2006 4,699ebay.com
6.
 
Nikon D60 126 mm 94 mm 64 mm 522 g 500 n Jan 2008 629ebay.com
7.
 
Nikon D200 147 mm 113 mm 74 mm 920 g 400 Y Nov 2005 1,699ebay.com
8.
 
Nikon D300 147 mm 114 mm 74 mm 925 g 1000 Y Aug 2007 1,799ebay.com
9.
 
Nikon D500 147 mm 115 mm 81 mm 860 g 1240 Y Jan 2016 1,999ebay.com
10.
 
Nikon D700 147 mm 123 mm 77 mm 1074 g 1000 Y Jul 2008 2,999ebay.com
11.
 
Nikon D3100 124 mm 96 mm 75 mm 505 g 550 n Aug 2010 599ebay.com
12.
 
Nikon D5000 127 mm 104 mm 80 mm 590 g 510 n Apr 2009 749ebay.com
13.
 
Nikon D7000 132 mm 105 mm 77 mm 780 g 1050 Y Sep 2010 1,499ebay.com
14.
 
Panasonic FZ1000 137 mm 99 mm 131 mm 831 g 360 n Jun 2014 899ebay.com
15.
 
Panasonic FZ2500 138 mm 102 mm 135 mm 915 g 350 n Sep 2016 1,199 amazon.com
16.
 
Panasonic LX100 II 115 mm 66 mm 65 mm 392 g 300 n Aug 2018 999ebay.com
17.
 
Panasonic ZS200 111 mm 65 mm 45 mm 340 g 370 n Feb 2018 799 amazon.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The FZ1000 II was launched at a lower price than the D300S, despite having a lens built in. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Nikon D300S features an APS-C sensor and the Panasonic FZ1000 II an one-inch sensor. The sensor area in the FZ1000 II is 69 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.5 and 2.7. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Nikon D300S and Panasonic FZ1000 II sensor measures

Despite having a smaller sensor, the FZ1000 II offers a higher resolution of 20 megapixels, compared with 12.2 MP of the D300S. This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 2.41μm versus 5.53μm for the D300S). However, it should be noted that the FZ1000 II is much more recent (by 9 years and 6 months) than the D300S, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that make it possible to gather light more efficiently.

The resolution advantage of the Panasonic FZ1000 II implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the FZ1000 II for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 27.4 x 18.2 inches or 69.5 x 46.3 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 21.9 x 14.6 inches or 55.6 x 37.1 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 18.2 x 12.2 inches or 46.3 x 30.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Nikon D300S are 21.4 x 14.2 inches or 54.5 x 36.2 cm for good quality, 17.2 x 11.4 inches or 43.6 x 28.9 cm for very good quality, and 14.3 x 9.5 inches or 36.3 x 24.1 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Nikon D300S has a native sensitivity range from ISO 200 to ISO 3200, which can be extended to ISO 100-6400. The corresponding ISO settings for the Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000 II are ISO 125 to ISO 12800, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 80-25600.

In terms of underlying technology, the D300S is build around a CMOS sensor, while the FZ1000 II uses a BSI-CMOS imager. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

D300S versus FZ1000 II MP

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

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Sensor Characteristics
  empty Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Nikon D300S APS-C 12.2 4288 2848720/24p22.512.278770
2.
 
Panasonic FZ1000 II 1-inch 20.0 5472 36484K/30p22.112.454665
3.
 
Leica C-LUX 1-inch 20.0 5472 36484K/30p22.112.348164
4.
 
Nikon D2X APS-C 12.2 4288 2848none22.110.947659
5.
 
Nikon D2Xs APS-C 12.2 4288 2848none22.210.948959
6.
 
Nikon D60 APS-C 10.0 3872 2592none22.511.456265
7.
 
Nikon D200 APS-C 10.0 3872 2592none22.311.558364
8.
 
Nikon D300 APS-C 12.2 4288 2848none22.112.067967
9.
 
Nikon D500 APS-C 20.7 5568 37124K/30p24.014.0132483
10.
 
Nikon D700 Full Frame 12.1 4256 2832none23.512.2230380
11.
 
Nikon D3100 APS-C 14.2 4608 30721080/24p22.511.391967
12.
 
Nikon D5000 APS-C 12.2 4288 2848720/24p22.712.586872
13.
 
Nikon D7000 APS-C 16.1 4928 32641080/24p23.513.9116780
14.
 
Panasonic FZ1000 1-inch 20.0 5472 36484K/30p22.111.751764
15.
 
Panasonic FZ2500 1-inch 20.0 5472 36484K/30p23.012.653870
16.
 
Panasonic LX100 II Four Thirds 16.8 4736 35524K/30p22.812.797972
17.
 
Panasonic ZS200 1-inch 20.0 5472 36484K/30p22.012.244964
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the FZ1000 II provides a better video resolution than the D300S. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/30p, while the Nikon is limited to 720/24p.

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Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. For example, the FZ1000 II has an electronic viewfinder (2360k dots), while the D300S has an optical one. Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The viewfinders of both cameras offer the same field of view (100%), but the viewfinder of the FZ1000 II has a higher magnification than the one of the D300S (0.70x vs 0.63x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Nikon D300S and Panasonic FZ1000 II in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

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Core Features
  empty Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Nikon D300Soptical Y3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/8000s 7.0/s Y n
2.
 
Panasonic FZ1000 II2360 n3.0 / 1240 swivel Y 1/4000s 12.0/s Y Y
3.
 
Leica C-LUX2330 n3.0 / 1240 fixed Y 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
4.
 
Nikon D2Xoptical Y2.5 / 235 fixed n 1/8000s 5.0/s n n
5.
 
Nikon D2Xsoptical Y2.5 / 230 fixed n 1/8000s 5.0/s n n
6.
 
Nikon D60optical n2.5 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
7.
 
Nikon D200optical Y2.5 / 230 fixed n 1/8000s 5.0/s Y n
8.
 
Nikon D300optical Y3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/8000s 6.0/s Y n
9.
 
Nikon D500optical Y3.2 / 2359 tilting Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n n
10.
 
Nikon D700optical Y3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/8000s 8.0/s Y n
11.
 
Nikon D3100optical n3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
12.
 
Nikon D5000optical n2.7 / 230 full-flex n 1/4000s 4.0/s Y n
13.
 
Nikon D7000optical Y3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/8000s 6.0/s Y n
14.
 
Panasonic FZ10002359 n3.0 / 921 swivel n 1/4000s 12.0/s Y Y
15.
 
Panasonic FZ25002360 n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 12.0/s Y Y
16.
 
Panasonic LX100 II2764 n3.0 / 1240 fixed Y 1/4000s 11.0/s n Y
17.
 
Panasonic ZS2002330 n3.0 / 1240 fixed Y 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

One feature that is present on the D300S, but is missing on the FZ1000 II is a top-level LCD. While being, of course, smaller than the rear screen, the control panel conveys some of the essential shooting information and can be convenient for quick and easy settings verification.

The FZ1000 II has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing. This characteristic will be appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in taking selfies. In contrast, the D300S does not have a selfie-screen.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the FZ1000 II is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Nikon D300S and the Panasonic FZ1000 II both have an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

The D300S writes its imaging data to Compact Flash or SDXC cards, while the FZ1000 II uses SDXC cards. The D300S features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the FZ1000 II only has one slot. The FZ1000 II supports UHS-I cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s), while the D300S cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.

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Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Nikon D300S and Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000 II and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
  empty Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Nikon D300SYstereo / monoY-mini2.0---
2.
 
Panasonic FZ1000 IIYstereo / monoY-micro2.0Y-Y
3.
 
Leica C-LUX-stereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
4.
 
Nikon D2XY- / ----2.0---
5.
 
Nikon D2XsY- / ----2.0---
6.
 
Nikon D60Y- / ----2.0---
7.
 
Nikon D200Y- / ----2.0---
8.
 
Nikon D300Y- / ---mini2.0---
9.
 
Nikon D500Ystereo / monoYYmini3.0YYY
10.
 
Nikon D700Y- / ---mini2.0---
11.
 
Nikon D3100Ymono / mono--mini2.0---
12.
 
Nikon D5000Ymono / mono--mini2.0---
13.
 
Nikon D7000Ymono / monoY-mini2.0---
14.
 
Panasonic FZ1000Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0YY-
15.
 
Panasonic FZ2500Ystereo / monoYYmicro2.0Y--
16.
 
Panasonic LX100 IIYstereo / mono--micro2.0Y-Y
17.
 
Panasonic ZS200-stereo / mono--micro2.0Y-Y

It is notable that the FZ1000 II offers wifi support, which can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location. In contrast, the D300S does not provide wifi capability.

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Nikon D300S (unlike the FZ1000 II) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

The FZ1000 II is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Panasonic. In contrast, the D300S has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on ebay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the D300S was succeeded by the Nikon D500. Further information on the features and operation of the D300S and FZ1000 II can be found, respectively, in the Nikon D300S Manual (free pdf) or the online Panasonic FZ1000 II Manual.

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Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Which of the two cameras – the Nikon D300S or the Panasonic FZ1000 II – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

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Advantages of the Nikon D300S:

  • Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
  • Easier setting verification: Features an LCD display on top to control shooting parameters.
  • Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
  • More flexible: Can take a variety of interchangeable lenses, including specialty optics.
  • Longer lasting: Can take more shots (950 versus 350) on a single battery charge.
  • Better sealing: Is weather sealed to enable shooting in dusty or wet environments.
  • Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
  • Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
  • More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in July 2009).

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Reasons to prefer the Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000 II:

  • More detail: Has more megapixels (20 vs 12.2MP), which boosts linear resolution by 28%.
  • Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/30p vs 720/24p).
  • More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
  • Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.70x vs 0.63x).
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1240k vs 920k dots).
  • More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
  • Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
  • More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (12 vs 7 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
  • Ready to shoot: Comes with an integrated lens, while the D300S requires a separate lens.
  • More compact: Is smaller (136x97mm vs 147x115mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
  • Less heavy: Has a lower weight even though it has a lens built in (unlike the D300S).
  • Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
  • Sharper images: Has stabilization technology built-in to reduce the impact of hand-shake.
  • Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
  • Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
  • Faster buffer clearing: Has an SD card interface that supports the UHS-I standard.
  • More affordable: Was introduced at a lower price, despite coming with a built-in lens.
  • More modern: Reflects 9 years and 6 months of technical progress since the D300S launch.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the FZ1000 II is the clear winner of the contest (20 : 9 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional sports photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a street photog, and a person interested in family portraits has distinct needs from a landscape shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

D300S 09:20 FZ1000 II

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Nikon D300S and the Panasonic FZ1000 II place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera and Best Superzoom Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the D300S or the FZ1000 II. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

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Expert Camera Reviews
  empty  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Nikon D300S5/5+ +..82/1004/54.5/5 Jul 2009 1,799ebay.com
2.
 
Panasonic FZ1000 II......83/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2019 899 amazon.com
3.
 
Leica C-LUX....3.5/5..4.5/54/5 Jun 2018 1,049ebay.com
4.
 
Nikon D2X......+ +.... Sep 2004 4,999ebay.com
5.
 
Nikon D2Xs............ Jun 2006 4,699ebay.com
6.
 
Nikon D60..80/100..+ +4/54.5/5 Jan 2008 629ebay.com
7.
 
Nikon D200..+ +..+ +o.. Nov 2005 1,699ebay.com
8.
 
Nikon D300..+ +..+ +5/54.5/5 Aug 2007 1,799ebay.com
9.
 
Nikon D5005/5+ +4.7/591/1004.5/55/5 Jan 2016 1,999ebay.com
10.
 
Nikon D700..89/100..+ +4.5/54.5/5 Jul 2008 2,999ebay.com
11.
 
Nikon D31005/5+ +..72/1004.5/54.5/5 Aug 2010 599ebay.com
12.
 
Nikon D5000..+ +..75/1004/54.5/5 Apr 2009 749ebay.com
13.
 
Nikon D70004/5....80/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2010 1,499ebay.com
14.
 
Panasonic FZ10004/5+ +..82/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2014 899ebay.com
15.
 
Panasonic FZ2500..+..82/1004.5/55/5 Sep 2016 1,199 amazon.com
16.
 
Panasonic LX100 II4.5/5+4.2/582/1004.5/54.5/5 Aug 2018 999ebay.com
17.
 
Panasonic ZS200..+ +4.5/581/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2018 799 amazon.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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    Specifications: Nikon D300S vs Panasonic FZ1000 II

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Nikon D300S Panasonic FZ1000 II
    Camera Type Digital single lens reflex Fixed lens compact camera
    Camera Lens Nikon F mount lenses 25-400mm f/2.8-4.0
    Launch Date July 2009 February 2019
    Launch Price USD 1,799 USD 899
    Sensor Specs Nikon D300S Panasonic FZ1000 II
    Sensor Technology CMOS BSI-CMOS
    Sensor Format APS-C Sensor 1" Sensor
    Sensor Size 23.6 x 15.8 mm 13.2 x 8.8 mm
    Sensor Area 372.88 mm2 116.16 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 28.4 mm 15.9 mm
    Crop Factor 1.5x 2.7x
    Sensor Resolution 12.2 Megapixels 20 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 4288 x 2848 pixels 5472 x 3648 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 5.53 μm 2.41 μm
    Pixel Density 3.28 MP/cm2 17.18 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability 720/24p Video 4K/30p Video
    ISO Setting 200 - 3,200 ISO 125 - 12,800 ISO
    ISO Boost 100 - 6,400 ISO 80 - 25,600 ISO
    Image Processor EXPEED Venus
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 70 ..
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 22.5 ..
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 12.2 ..
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 787 ..
    Screen Specs Nikon D300S Panasonic FZ1000 II
    Viewfinder Type Optical viewfinder Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100% 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.63x 0.70x
    Viewfinder Resolution 2360k dots
    Top-Level Screen Control Panel no Top Display
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 920k dots 1240k dots
    LCD Attachment Fixed screen Swivel screen
    Touch Input no Touchscreen Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs Nikon D300S Panasonic FZ1000 II
    Focus System Phase-detect AF Contrast-detect AF
    Manual Focusing Aidno Peaking FeatureFocus Peaking
    Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/8000s 1/4000s
    Continuous Shooting 7 shutter flaps/s 12 shutter flaps/s
    Electronic Shutterno E-Shutterup to 1/16000s
    Time-Lapse PhotographyIntervalometer built-inIntervalometer built-in
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium CF or SDXC cards SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Dual card slots Single card slot
    UHS card support no UHS-I
    Connectivity Specs Nikon D300S Panasonic FZ1000 II
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    Studio Flash PC Sync socket no PC Sync
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port mini HDMI micro HDMI
    Microphone Port External MIC port External MIC port
    Wifi Support no Wifi Wifi built-in
    Bluetooth Support no Bluetooth Bluetooth built-in
    Body Specs Nikon D300S Panasonic FZ1000 II
    Environmental SealingWeathersealed bodynot weather sealed
    Battery Type Nikon EN-EL3e Panasonic DMW-BLC12
    Battery Life (CIPA)950 shots per charge350 shots per charge
    In-Camera Charging no USB charging USB charging
    Body Dimensions 147 x 115 x 81 mm
    (5.8 x 4.5 x 3.2 in)
    136 x 97 x 131 mm
    (5.4 x 3.8 x 5.2 in)
    Camera Weight 938 g (33.1 oz) 810 g (28.6 oz)
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