Updated (January, 2012): Compare the Nikon D4 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2

Nikon D3S

67

Winner

Nikon D3S

"The D3's proportions make it almost square, and thanks to a magnesium shell it is literally as solid as a brick."
dpreview.com | talking about the D3S's build-quality
"Class-leading high ISO performance and incredibly versatile ISO 100-12,800 sensitivity range"
dpreview.com | talking about the D3S's iso-noise

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3S

Light sensitivity
High ISO
12,800 ISO
Weather sealed
Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Supports 24p
24p movies
For that film look
Low light performance
Low noise at high ISO
3,253 ISO
Sensor size
Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x23.9mm
External mic jack
External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2

39

"The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 produced images of excellent quality."
photographyblog.com | talking about the DMC-GH2's image-quality
"It produces noise-free images at ISO 100 to 400, with limited noise starting to appear at ISO 800."
photographyblog.com | talking about the DMC-GH2's iso-noise

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2

Movie format
Full HD
1080p @ 60fps
Size
Really small
Prosumer size 124x90x76 mm
Touch screen
Touch screen
Less buttons
Supports 24p
24p movies
For that film look
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
3D
Takes 3D photos
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3S

Battery life Much longer battery life 4400 shots vs 330 shots
Help
Around 13.5x more shots per battery charge
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
Sealed to shoot in the rain
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO 3,253 ISO vs 655 ISO
Help
The D3S has excellent image quality 2.3 f-stops higher ISO than the DMC-GH2
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 82.0 vs 60.0
Help
Around 40% better image quality
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 36.0x23.9mm vs Four thirds 17.3x13.0mm
Help
Around 4x larger sensor
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
Catch candid moments easily
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 921k dots vs 460k dots
Help
More than 2x higher resolution screen
Color depth Better color depth 23.5 bits vs 21.2 bits
Help
Distinguishes 2.3 more bits of color
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 121 lenses vs 26 lenses
Help
More than 4.5x more lenses available
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 102,400 ISO vs 12,800 ISO
Help
The D3S's boost ISO is 3 f-stops better
Cross type focus points Significantly more cross-type focus points 15 vs 0
Help
Grab focus in difficult situations
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
The D3S's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12 EV vs 11.3 EV
Help
0.7 f-stops more dynamic range
Focus points More focus points 51 vs 23
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Startup delay Less startup delay 300 ms vs 1100 ms
Help
3.7x less delay when turning on
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 9 fps vs 5 fps
Help
80% faster continuous shooting
Viewfinder Has an optical viewfinder Pentaprism vs Digital
Help
Optical viewfinders save battery life and are more detailed
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 197 ms vs 273 ms
Help
Around 30% less delay when taking photos
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
2x faster max shutter speed
Nikon D3S Learn more about
the Nikon D3S

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-GH2

Size Much smaller 124x90x76 mm vs 160x157x88 mm
Help
2.6x smaller
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 60fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Touch screen Has a touch screen Yes vs No
Help
Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
Automatically focuses shooting video
Weight Much lighter 444 g vs 1,240 g
Help
2.8x lighter
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 15.9 MP vs 12.1 MP
Help
Capture more than 30% more detail in your photos
Lowest price Much cheaper $849.00 vs $5,196.95
Help
The best price we've seen is $4,348 cheaper (6.1x less)
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Thickness Thinner 3" vs 3.5"
Help
More than 10% thinner
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
2x longer exposures
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-GH2
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon D3S Nikon D3S
67 vs 39
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3S. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a pro DSLR with a mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
External mic jack You can plug a microphone into both of these Help
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Supports 24p Both support 24p, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
For that film look
Interchangeable lenses Both support interchangeable lenses, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
Many lenses to choose from
Sensor size Large sensors Help
D3S:Full frame 36.0x23.9mm
DMC-GH2:Four thirds 17.3x13.0mm
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Sensor cleaning Self cleaning sensors Help
Avoids dust in your photos
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
D3S:Pentaprism
DMC-GH2:Digital
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
D3S:1/8000s
DMC-GH2:1/4000s
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
D3S:30s
DMC-GH2:60s
Thickness Quite thick Help
D3S:3.5"
DMC-GH2:3"
Weight Heavy Help
D3S:1,240 g
DMC-GH2:444 g
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Size Large Help
D3S:160x157x88 mm
DMC-GH2:124x90x76 mm
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,999 - $3,000 body only

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Screen size Has a slightly larger screen
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Weight Is much heavier
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Weight Is significantly heavier
Viewfinder size Slightly smaller viewfinder
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,130 body only

$2,875 - $2,999 with 24-105mm lens

True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is significantly heavier
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

HDR Has in-camera HDR
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Weight Is slightly heavier
Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Pro DSLR

$3,499 - $3,500 body only

$4,299 - $4,300 with 24-105mm lens

Screen size Has a slightly larger screen
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is much more expensive
Weight Is much heavier
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,620 - $1,849 with 18-135mm lens

True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is much heavier
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder size Significantly smaller viewfinder

Nikon D3S Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,999 - $6,000 body only

Movie format Higher resolution movies
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,649 body only

Size Much smaller
Built-in flash Built-in flash
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Movie format Does not take movies
Nikon D3X

Nikon D3X

Pro DSLR

$7,997 - $8,000 body only

True resolution Much higher true resolution
Overall image quality Better image quality
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Low light performance Much more noise at high ISO
Nikon D3

Nikon D3

Pro DSLR

Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag
Dynamic range More dynamic range
Movie format Does not take movies
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 body only

$700 with 14-42mm lens

Size Smaller
Thickness Thinner
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Supports 24p No 24p support
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Autofocus Faster autofocus
Touch screen No touch screen
3D Doesn't take 3D photos
Olympus OM-D E-M5

Olympus OM-D E-M5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,000 - $1,299 body only

$1,100 with 14-42mm lens

Screen type Has an OLED screen
Weather sealed Weather sealed
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Supports 24p No 24p support
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$643 - $1,125 body only

$731 - $964 with 14-42mm lens

Size Significantly smaller
HDR Has in-camera HDR
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,000 body only

Overall image quality Slightly better image quality
Color depth Better color depth
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Touch screen No touch screen

appearance

Nikon D3S Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2
Nikon D3S Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2
Nikon D3S Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2

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