Nikon D5500 vs Panasonic GF7

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Nikon D5500 vs Panasonic GF7

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APS-C 366.6mm²
24.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Nikon D5500 Review.
How does it shoot? Nikon D5500 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the D5500.
Compare Nikon D5500 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Nikon D5500 conclusion.

4/3 224.9mm²
16.0 megapixels
ISO 200 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Panasonic GF7 Review.
How does it shoot? Panasonic GF7 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the GF7.
Compare Panasonic GF7 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Panasonic GF7 conclusion.

Succeeded by the Nikon D5600
Compare D5500 vs D5600

Succeeded by the Panasonic GX850
Compare GF7 vs GX850

Compare NIKON D5600 vs PANASONIC GX850

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Differences

Nikon D5500 advantages over Panasonic GF7

Larger sensor
APS-C vs 4/3
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Tilt-swivel screen
Tilt-swivel vs tilt-only
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Eye-level viewfinder
Eye-level vs Rear display only
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Fast startup
~0.40 vs 1.1 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

820 vs 230 shots
Capture more photos
More telephoto lens reach
83 mm vs 64 mm
Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Higher max flash sync
1/200 vs 1/50 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Hot shoe
Hot shoe vs None
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
More pixels
24.2 vs 16.0 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Lacks anti-aliasing filter
No Filter vs Filter
Enjoy sharper photos
Bigger JPEG buffer
100 vs 7 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Panasonic GF7 advantages over Nikon D5500

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Thinner
33 mm vs 70 mm
Thinner
Lighter weight
342g vs 668g
Lighter weight
Has anti-aliasing filter
Filter vs No Filter
Reduces unsightly moiré in photos
Wider angle kit lens
24 mm vs 27 mm
Capture more of the scene with the included lens
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Faster JPEG shooting
11.1 fps vs 4.9 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/16000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Similarities

Common Strengths

Touchscreen
Both provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Neither provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
NFC
Neither provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

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Adorama
Read D5500 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read GF7 User Reviews

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Buy the Nikon D5500

Body Only (Black)

Body Only (Black)
Body Only (Red)
Kit with 18-140mm lens (Black)
Kit with 18-140mm lens (Red)
Kit with 18-55mm lens (Black)
Kit with 18-55mm lens (Red)

All D5500 Deals

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Buy the Panasonic GF7

Kit with 12-32mm lens (Black)

Kit with 12-32mm lens (Black)
Kit with 12-32mm lens (Pink)

All GF7 Deals

Review Excerpt

Amazingly small for a DSLR; Great image quality for its class, including superb low light and high ISO performance; Generous JPEG buffer depth; High resolution.
Buffer depths are shallow when shooting RAW; Lacks GPS from the predecessor; No AA filter means it's susceptible to aliasing artifacts.
Read our Nikon D5500 Review

Very good image quality for its size; Fast AF for its class; 10fps burst mode with electronic shutter; Lightweight, yet well-built, compact design; Great value for the money.
Continuous AF is not reliable; Shallow buffer with RAW; Below average battery life; No EVF; Maximum mechanical shutter speed of only 1/500s.
Read our Panasonic GF7 Review

The Competition

Compared to Pentax K-S1

Nikon D5500

Pentax K-S1

$697
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

$502
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Pentax K-S1

Panasonic GF7

Pentax K-S1

$590
4/3

Less expensive
Touchscreen

$502
APS-C

Larger sensor
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Panasonic GF7 vs Pentax K-S1

Compared to Panasonic GM5

Nikon D5500

Panasonic GM5

$697
APS-C

Larger sensor
Tilt-swivel screen

$898
4/3

Focus peaking
In-camera panoramas

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Panasonic GM5

Panasonic GF7

Panasonic GM5

$590
4/3

Less expensive
Tiltable Screen

$898
4/3

Eye-level viewfinder
Hot shoe

Compare Panasonic GF7 vs Panasonic GM5

Compared to Nikon D3400

Nikon D5500

Nikon D3400

$697
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

$497
APS-C

Less expensive
Built-in Bluetooth

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Nikon D3400

Panasonic GF7

Nikon D3400

$590
4/3

Focus peaking
Touchscreen

$497
APS-C

Larger sensor
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Panasonic GF7 vs Nikon D3400

Compared to Nikon D5600

Nikon D5500

Nikon D5600

$697
APS-C

Less expensive
Higher effective ISO

$898
APS-C

Fast startup
NFC

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Nikon D5600

Panasonic GF7

Nikon D5600

$590
4/3

Focus peaking
In-camera panoramas

$898
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Larger sensor

Compare Panasonic GF7 vs Nikon D5600

Compared to Panasonic GX850

Nikon D5500

Panasonic GX850

$697
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Larger sensor

$548
4/3

Focus peaking
Shoot 4K video

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Panasonic GX850

Panasonic GF7

Panasonic GX850

$590
4/3

Fast startup
Has anti-aliasing filter

$548
4/3

Shoot 4K video
Lacks anti-aliasing filter

Compare Panasonic GF7 vs Panasonic GX850

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