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Nikon D300S vs Panasonic GX9

The Nikon D300S and the Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9 are two enthusiast cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in July 2009 and February 2018. The D300S is a DSLR, while the GX9 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. The cameras are based on an APS-C (D300S) and a Four Thirds (GX9) sensor. The Nikon has a resolution of 12.2 megapixels, whereas the Panasonic provides 20.2 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 GX9
Nikon D300S   Panasonic GX9
Digital single lens reflex Mirrorless system camera
Nikon F mount lenses Micro Four Thirds lenses
12.2 MP – APS-C sensor 20.2 MP – Four Thirds sensor
720/24p Video 4K/30p Video
ISO 200-3,200 (100 - 6,400) ISO 200-25,600
Optical viewfinder Electronic viewfinder (2760k dots)
3.0" LCD – 920k dots 3.0" LCD – 1240k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive) Tilting touchscreen
7 shutter flaps per second 9 shutter flaps per second
Lens stabilization onlyIn-body stabilization
Weathersealed bodynot weather sealed
950 shots per battery charge260 shots per battery charge
147 x 115 x 81 mm, 938 g 124 x 72 x 47 mm, 407 g
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Check D300S offers at
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Check GX9 offers at
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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-GX9? 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 side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Nikon D300S and the Panasonic GX9. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The GX9 can be obtained in two different colors (black, silver), while the D300S is only available in black.

Size Nikon D300S vs Panasonic GX9
Compare D300S versus GX9 top
Comparison D300S or GX9 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Panasonic GX9 is considerably smaller (47 percent) than the Nikon D300S. Moreover, the GX9 is substantially lighter (57 percent) than the D300S. It is worth mentioning in this context that the D300S is splash and dust resistant, while the GX9 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. A larger imaging sensor will tend to go along with bigger and heavier lenses, although exceptions exist. You can compare the optics available for the two cameras in the Nikon Lens Catalog (D300S) and the Micro Four Thirds Lens Catalog (GX9). Mirrorless cameras, such as the GX9, have moreover the advantage that they can use many lenses from other systems via adapters, as they have a relatively short flange to focal plane distance.

Concerning battery life, the D300S gets 950 shots out of its Nikon EN-EL3e battery, while the GX9 can take 260 images on a single charge of its Panasonic DMW-BLG10 power pack. The power pack in the GX9 can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

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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
Street
Price
1.
 
Nikon D300S 147 mm 115 mm 81 mm 938 g 950 Y Jul 2009 US$ 1 799ebay.com
2.
 
Panasonic GX9 124 mm 72 mm 47 mm 407 g 260 n Feb 2018 US$ 849ebay.com
3.
 
Nikon D2X 158 mm 150 mm 86 mm 1252 g 3800 Y Sep 2004 US$ 4 999ebay.com
4.
 
Nikon D2Xs 158 mm 150 mm 86 mm 1252 g 3800 Y Jun 2006 US$ 4 699ebay.com
5.
 
Nikon D60 126 mm 94 mm 64 mm 522 g 500 n Jan 2008 US$ 629ebay.com
6.
 
Nikon D200 147 mm 113 mm 74 mm 920 g 400 Y Nov 2005 US$ 1 699ebay.com
7.
 
Nikon D300 147 mm 114 mm 74 mm 925 g 1000 Y Aug 2007 US$ 1 799ebay.com
8.
 
Nikon D500 147 mm 115 mm 81 mm 860 g 1240 Y Jan 2016 US$ 1 999ebay.com
9.
 
Nikon D700 147 mm 123 mm 77 mm 1074 g 1000 Y Jul 2008 US$ 2 999ebay.com
10.
 
Nikon D3100 124 mm 96 mm 75 mm 505 g 550 n Aug 2010 US$ 599ebay.com
11.
 
Nikon D5000 127 mm 104 mm 80 mm 590 g 510 n Apr 2009 US$ 749ebay.com
12.
 
Nikon D7000 132 mm 105 mm 77 mm 780 g 1050 Y Sep 2010 US$ 1 499ebay.com
13.
 
Panasonic GX7 123 mm 71 mm 55 mm 402 g 350 n Aug 2013 US$ 999ebay.com
14.
 
Panasonic GX8 133 mm 78 mm 63 mm 487 g 330 Y Jul 2015 US$ 1 199ebay.com
15.
 
Panasonic GX85 122 mm 71 mm 44 mm 426 g 290 n Apr 2016 US$ 799 amazon.com
16.
 
Panasonic LX100 II 115 mm 66 mm 65 mm 392 g 300 n Aug 2018 US$ 999ebay.com
17.
 
Panasonic ZS200 111 mm 65 mm 45 mm 340 g 370 n Feb 2018 US$ 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 GX9 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 53 percent) than the D300S, which puts it into a different market segment. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. 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 tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to 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 GX9 a Four Thirds sensor. The sensor area in the GX9 is 40 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.5 and 2.0. The sensor in the D300S has a native 3:2 aspect ratio, while the one in the GX9 offers a 4:3 aspect.

Nikon D300S and Panasonic GX9 sensor measures

Despite having a smaller sensor, the GX9 offers a higher resolution of 20.2 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 3.34μm versus 5.53μm for the D300S). However, it should be noted that the GX9 is much more recent (by 8 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. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the GX9 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Panasonic GX9 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the GX9 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 25.9 x 19.4 inches or 65.8 x 49.4 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 20.7 x 15.6 inches or 52.7 x 39.5 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 17.3 x 13 inches or 43.9 x 32.9 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-GX9 are ISO 200 to ISO 25600, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 100-25600.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. 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 GX9 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 adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-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 GX9 Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38884K/30p23.112.8116374
3.
 
Nikon D2X APS-C 12.2 4288 2848none22.110.947659
4.
 
Nikon D2Xs APS-C 12.2 4288 2848none22.210.948959
5.
 
Nikon D60 APS-C 10.0 3872 2592none22.511.456265
6.
 
Nikon D200 APS-C 10.0 3872 2592none22.311.558364
7.
 
Nikon D300 APS-C 12.2 4288 2848none22.112.067967
8.
 
Nikon D500 APS-C 20.7 5568 37124K/30p24.014.0132483
9.
 
Nikon D700 Full Frame 12.1 4256 2832none23.512.2230380
10.
 
Nikon D3100 APS-C 14.2 4608 30721080/24p22.511.391967
11.
 
Nikon D5000 APS-C 12.2 4288 2848720/24p22.712.586872
12.
 
Nikon D7000 APS-C 16.1 4928 32641080/24p23.513.9116780
13.
 
Panasonic GX7 Four Thirds 15.8 4592 34481080/60p22.612.271870
14.
 
Panasonic GX8 Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38884K/30p23.512.680675
15.
 
Panasonic GX85 Four Thirds 15.8 4592 34484K/30p22.912.666271
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. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, but the GX9 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 range of features. For example, the GX9 has an electronic viewfinder (2760k 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 GX9 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 adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Nikon D300S and Panasonic GX9 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

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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 GX92760 n3.0 / 1240 tilting Y 1/4000s 9.0/s Y Y
3.
 
Nikon D2Xoptical Y2.5 / 235 fixed n 1/8000s 5.0/s n n
4.
 
Nikon D2Xsoptical Y2.5 / 230 fixed n 1/8000s 5.0/s n n
5.
 
Nikon D60optical n2.5 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
6.
 
Nikon D200optical Y2.5 / 230 fixed n 1/8000s 5.0/s Y n
7.
 
Nikon D300optical Y3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/8000s 6.0/s Y n
8.
 
Nikon D500optical Y3.2 / 2359 tilting Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n n
9.
 
Nikon D700optical Y3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/8000s 8.0/s Y n
10.
 
Nikon D3100optical n3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
11.
 
Nikon D5000optical n2.7 / 230 full-flex n 1/4000s 4.0/s Y n
12.
 
Nikon D7000optical Y3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/8000s 6.0/s Y n
13.
 
Panasonic GX72760 n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/8000s 5.0/s Y Y
14.
 
Panasonic GX82360 n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
15.
 
Panasonic GX852765 n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 8.0/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 GX9 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 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 GX9 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 GX9 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 GX9 uses SDXC cards. The D300S features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the GX9 only has one slot. The GX9 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-GX9 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 GX9Ystereo / mono--micro2.0Y-Y
3.
 
Nikon D2XY- / ----2.0---
4.
 
Nikon D2XsY- / ----2.0---
5.
 
Nikon D60Y- / ----2.0---
6.
 
Nikon D200Y- / ----2.0---
7.
 
Nikon D300Y- / ---mini2.0---
8.
 
Nikon D500Ystereo / monoYYmini3.0YYY
9.
 
Nikon D700Y- / ---mini2.0---
10.
 
Nikon D3100Ymono / mono--mini2.0---
11.
 
Nikon D5000Ymono / mono--mini2.0---
12.
 
Nikon D7000Ymono / monoY-mini2.0---
13.
 
Panasonic GX7Ystereo / mono--mini2.0YY-
14.
 
Panasonic GX8Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0YY-
15.
 
Panasonic GX85Ystereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
16.
 
Panasonic LX100 IIYstereo / mono--micro2.0Y-Y
17.
 
Panasonic ZS200-stereo / mono--micro2.0Y-Y

It is notable that the D300S has a microphone port, which is missing on the GX9. Such an external microphone input can help to substantially improve the quality of audio recordings when a good external microphone is used.

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Nikon D300S (unlike the GX9) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

Both the D300S and the GX9 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The D300S was replaced by the Nikon D500, while the GX9 does not have a direct successor. Further information on the features and operation of the D300S and GX9 can be found, respectively, in the Nikon D300S Manual (free pdf) or the online Panasonic GX9 Manual.

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Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is there a clear favorite between the Nikon D300S and the Panasonic GX9? Which camera is better? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

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Advantages of the Nikon D300S:

  • Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
  • Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
  • 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.
  • Longer lasting: Can take more shots (950 versus 260) 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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Arguments in favor of the Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9:

  • More detail: Has more megapixels (20.2 vs 12.2MP), which boosts linear resolution by 26%.
  • Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
  • 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 tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
  • Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (9 vs 7 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
  • More compact: Is smaller (124x72mm vs 147x115mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
  • Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 531g or 57 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
  • 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.
  • More legacy lens friendly: Can use many non-native lenses via adapters.
  • 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 into a lower priced category (53 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More modern: Reflects 8 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 GX9 is the clear winner of the contest (20 : 10 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

D300S 10:20 GX9

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Nikon D300S and the Panasonic GX9 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera and Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the D300S or the GX9 perform in practice. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. 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
Street
Price
1.
 
Nikon D300S5/5+ +..82/1004/54.5/5 Jul 2009 US$ 1 799ebay.com
2.
 
Panasonic GX94/5+4/584/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2018 US$ 849ebay.com
3.
 
Nikon D2X......+ +.... Sep 2004 US$ 4 999ebay.com
4.
 
Nikon D2Xs............ Jun 2006 US$ 4 699ebay.com
5.
 
Nikon D60..80/100..+ +4/54.5/5 Jan 2008 US$ 629ebay.com
6.
 
Nikon D200..+ +..+ +o.. Nov 2005 US$ 1 699ebay.com
7.
 
Nikon D300..+ +..+ +5/54.5/5 Aug 2007 US$ 1 799ebay.com
8.
 
Nikon D5005/5+ +4.7/591/1004.5/55/5 Jan 2016 US$ 1 999ebay.com
9.
 
Nikon D700..89/100..+ +4.5/54.5/5 Jul 2008 US$ 2 999ebay.com
10.
 
Nikon D31005/5+ +..72/1004.5/54.5/5 Aug 2010 US$ 599ebay.com
11.
 
Nikon D5000..+ +..75/1004/54.5/5 Apr 2009 US$ 749ebay.com
12.
 
Nikon D70004/5....80/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2010 US$ 1 499ebay.com
13.
 
Panasonic GX74/5+..79/1005/55/5 Aug 2013 US$ 999ebay.com
14.
 
Panasonic GX85/5+..82/1004.5/54.5/5 Jul 2015 US$ 1 199ebay.com
15.
 
Panasonic GX854.5/5+ +..82/1005/55/5 Apr 2016 US$ 799 amazon.com
16.
 
Panasonic LX100 II4.5/5+4.2/582/1004.5/54.5/5 Aug 2018 US$ 999ebay.com
17.
 
Panasonic ZS200..+ +4.5/581/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2018 US$ 799 amazon.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The review scores listed above should be treated 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 rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just make your choice using the following search menu. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

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    Specifications: Nikon D300S vs Panasonic GX9

    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 GX9
    Camera Type Digital single lens reflex Mirrorless system camera
    Camera Lens Nikon F mount lenses Micro Four Thirds lenses
    Launch Date July 2009 February 2018
    Launch Price USD 1,799 USD 849
    Sensor Specs Nikon D300S Panasonic GX9
    Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format APS-C Sensor Four Thirds Sensor
    Sensor Size 23.6 x 15.8 mm 17.3 x 13.0 mm
    Sensor Area 372.88 mm2 224.9 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 28.4 mm 21.6 mm
    Crop Factor 1.5x 2.0x
    Sensor Resolution 12.2 Megapixels 20.2 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 4288 x 2848 pixels 5184 x 3888 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 5.53 μm 3.34 μm
    Pixel Density 3.28 MP/cm2 8.96 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter no AA filter
    Movie Capability 720/24p Video 4K/30p Video
    ISO Setting 200 - 3,200 ISO 200 - 25,600 ISO
    ISO Boost 100 - 6,400 ISO 100 - 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 GX9
    Viewfinder Type Optical viewfinder Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100% 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.63x 0.70x
    Viewfinder Resolution 2760k 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 Tilting screen
    Touch Input no Touchscreen Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs Nikon D300S Panasonic GX9
    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 9 shutter flaps/s
    Electronic Shutterno E-Shutterup to 1/16000s
    Time-Lapse PhotographyIntervalometer built-inIntervalometer built-in
    Image StabilizationLens stabilization onlyIn-body stabilization
    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 GX9
    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 no MIC socket
    Wifi Support no Wifi Wifi built-in
    Bluetooth Support no Bluetooth Bluetooth built-in
    Body Specs Nikon D300S Panasonic GX9
    Environmental SealingWeathersealed bodynot weather sealed
    Battery Type Nikon EN-EL3e Panasonic DMW-BLG10
    Battery Life (CIPA)950 shots per charge260 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)
    124 x 72 x 47 mm
    (4.9 x 2.8 x 1.9 in)
    Camera Weight 938 g (33.1 oz) 407 g (14.4 oz)
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