Nikon D5500 vs Panasonic GX9

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Nikon D5500 vs Panasonic GX9

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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
20.3 megapixels
ISO 200 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Panasonic GX9 Review.
How does it shoot? Panasonic GX9 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the GX9.
Compare Panasonic GX9 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Panasonic GX9 conclusion.

Succeeded by the Nikon D5600
Compare D5500 vs D5600
Compare Nikon D5600 vs Panasonic GX9

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Differences

Nikon D5500 advantages over Panasonic GX9

Tilt-swivel screen
Tilt-swivel vs tilt-only
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Larger sensor
APS-C vs 4/3
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 3.92 vs 3.34 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Fast startup
~0.40 vs 1.0 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 260 shots
Capture more photos
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
More pixels
24.2 vs 20.3 megapixels
Higher resolution photos

Panasonic GX9 advantages over Nikon D5500

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Shoot 4K video
4K (UHD) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in Bluetooth
Yes vs No
Always-on wireless connectivity
More telephoto lens reach
120 mm vs 83 mm
Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
Thinner
46 mm vs 70 mm
Thinner
Newer
7 years vs 10 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
More viewfinder magnification
0.70x vs 0.55x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
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
9.2 fps vs 4.9 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
9.1 fps vs 4.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
32 vs 7 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/16000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
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
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

NFC
Neither provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
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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Read D5500 User Reviews

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Adorama
Read GX9 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)

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Buy the Panasonic GX9

Kit with 12-60mm lens (Black)

Kit with 12-60mm lens (Black)
Kit with 12-60mm lens (Silver)

All GX9 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

Great image quality; Good high ISO performance for its class; Improved JPEG processing; Fast autofocus; Fast ~9fps burst mode.
Smallish field-sequential EVF; Below average battery life; No mic/headphone jacks; Noticeable crop on 4K video.
Read our Panasonic GX9 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 GX9

Pentax K-S1

$898
4/3

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$502
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Panasonic GX9 vs Pentax K-S1

Compared to Panasonic GX85

Nikon D5500

Panasonic GX85

$697
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Larger sensor

$598
4/3

Focus peaking
Less expensive

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Panasonic GX85

Panasonic GX9

Panasonic GX85

$898
4/3

Built-in Bluetooth
More telephoto lens reach

$598
4/3

Less expensive
Lighter weight

Compare Panasonic GX9 vs Panasonic GX85

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 GX9

Nikon D3400

$898
4/3

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$497
APS-C

Less expensive
Larger sensor

Compare Panasonic GX9 vs Nikon D3400

Compared to Nikon D5600

Nikon D5500

Nikon D5600

$697
APS-C

Less expensive
Higher effective ISO

$1032
APS-C

Fast startup
NFC

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Nikon D5600

Panasonic GX9

Nikon D5600

$898
4/3

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$1032
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Larger sensor

Compare Panasonic GX9 vs Nikon D5600

Compared to Olympus E-M10 III

Nikon D5500

Olympus E-M10 III

$697
APS-C

Larger sensor
Tilt-swivel screen

$549
4/3

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D5500 vs Olympus E-M10 III

Panasonic GX9

Olympus E-M10 III

$898
4/3

In-camera panoramas
Built-in Bluetooth

$549
4/3

Longer stills battery life
Lighter weight

Compare Panasonic GX9 vs Olympus E-M10 III

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