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Nikon D300S vs Panasonic FP8

Portability
55
Imaging
52
Features
65
Overall
57
Nikon D300S front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
20
Overall
29

Nikon D300S vs Panasonic FP8 Key Specs

Nikon D300S
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Push to 6400)
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 938g - 147 x 114 x 74mm
  • Announced November 2009
  • Superseded the Nikon D300
  • Later Model is Nikon D600
Panasonic FP8
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-128mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 151g - 96 x 60 x 20mm
  • Launched July 2009
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Nikon D300S vs Panasonic FP8 Overview

Lets look much closer at the Nikon D300S versus Panasonic FP8, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Ultracompact by rivals Nikon and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the D300S (12MP) and the FP8 (12MP) is very similar but the D300S (APS-C) and FP8 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor size.

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The D300S was brought out 4 months later than the FP8 so they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Nikon D300S being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic FP8 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go into a in-depth comparison, here is a quick summation of how the D300S scores vs the FP8 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D300S over the Panasonic FP8

 D300S FP8 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FP8 over the Nikon D300S

 FP8 D300S 

Common features in the Nikon D300S and Panasonic FP8

 D300S FP8 
LaunchedNovember 2009July 2009Similar age
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Nikon D300S vs Panasonic FP8 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to lug around your camera often, you will need to consider its weight and size. The Nikon D300S comes with outside measurements of 147mm x 114mm x 74mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 2.9") having a weight of 938 grams (2.07 lbs) while the Panasonic FP8 has specifications of 96mm x 60mm x 20mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 0.8") along with a weight of 151 grams (0.33 lbs).

Check the Nikon D300S versus Panasonic FP8 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have attached at the time. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the D300S vs the FP8.

Nikon D300S vs Panasonic FP8 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the D300S and FP8 is 55 and 95 respectively.

Nikon D300S vs Panasonic FP8 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D300S vs Panasonic FP8 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very hard to see the difference between sensor measurements only by going over specs. The graphic here will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the D300S and FP8.

All in all, both of these cameras feature the identical MP but not the same sensor measurements. The D300S has the larger sensor which should make obtaining shallow depth of field less difficult.

Nikon D300S vs Panasonic FP8 sensor size comparison

Nikon D300S vs Panasonic FP8 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D300S vs Panasonic FP8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D300S Portrait photography info
Panasonic FP8 Portrait photography info
63
focusing manually
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focus
supports RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
21
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Nikon D300S Street photography highlights
Panasonic FP8 Street photography highlights
52
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
environment proofing
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
more heavy than average (938g)
55
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
more heavy than others (151 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D300S Sports photography highlights
Panasonic FP8 Sports photography highlights
59
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
environment proofing
supports phase detect auto focus
no image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
24
has image stabilization (Optical)
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,300s)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D300S Travel photography highlights
Panasonic FP8 Travel photography highlights
48
environment proofing
built-in flash
more heavy than average (938g)
low megapixels (12MP)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
56
has built in flash
quite wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse function
more heavy than others (151 grams)
low megapixels (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon D300S
Landscape photography with Panasonic FP8
65
focusing manually
change lenses (Nikon F mount)
decent sized screen (3")
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
environment proofing
2 card slots
no image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
32
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
no manual exposure
low megapixels (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D300S Vlogging highlights
Panasonic FP8 Vlogging highlights
22
features face detection focus
comes with external microphone support
does not posses selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
more heavy than average (938 grams)
28
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external microphone support
more heavy than others (151 grams)
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Nikon D300S vs Panasonic FP8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D300S and Panasonic FP8
 Nikon D300SPanasonic Lumix DMC-FP8
General Information
Company Nikon Panasonic
Model Nikon D300S Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8
Category Advanced DSLR Ultracompact
Announced 2009-11-16 2009-07-27
Physical type Mid-size SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Chip Expeed Venus Engine V
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.6 x 15.8mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 372.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4288 x 2848 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Highest enhanced ISO 6400 -
Min native ISO 200 80
RAW photos
Min enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 51 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Nikon F fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-128mm (4.6x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Amount of lenses 309 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 920 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech Super Density TFT color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.63x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/1300 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 7.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 5.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 480 (24 fps), 320 x 240 (24 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 938 grams (2.07 pounds) 151 grams (0.33 pounds)
Physical dimensions 147 x 114 x 74mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 2.9") 96 x 60 x 20mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 70 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.2 not tested
DXO Low light score 787 not tested
Other
Battery life 950 shots -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model EN-EL3e -
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Compact Flash Type I/SD/SDHC SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots Two Single
Retail price $1,630 $300