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Panasonic GX9 vs Sony RX100 IV

Portability
82
Imaging
61
Features
80
Overall
68
Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV front
Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
79
Overall
62

Panasonic GX9 vs Sony RX100 IV Key Specs

Panasonic GX9
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 407g - 124 x 72 x 47mm
  • Announced February 2018
Sony RX100 IV
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 298g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Released June 2015
  • Earlier Model is Sony RX100 III
  • Replacement is Sony RX100 V
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Panasonic GX9 vs Sony RX100 IV Overview

On this page, we will be evaluating the Panasonic GX9 and Sony RX100 IV, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by rivals Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the GX9 (20MP) and the RX100 IV (20MP) is pretty close but the GX9 (Four Thirds) and RX100 IV (1") offer totally different sensor sizes.

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The GX9 was introduced 2 years later than the RX100 IV and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GX9 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX100 IV being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before we go into a complete comparison, here is a simple summation of how the GX9 grades versus the RX100 IV for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic GX9 over the Sony RX100 IV

 GX9 RX100 IV 
ReleasedFebruary 2018June 2015More recent by 33 months
Screen resolution1240k1229kCrisper screen (+11k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 IV over the Panasonic GX9

 RX100 IV GX9 
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Panasonic GX9 and Sony RX100 IV

 GX9 RX100 IV 
Focus manually More precise focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions

Panasonic GX9 vs Sony RX100 IV Physical Comparison

If you're looking to lug around your camera, you will have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic GX9 offers external dimensions of 124mm x 72mm x 47mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.9") having a weight of 407 grams (0.90 lbs) whilst the Sony RX100 IV has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") having a weight of 298 grams (0.66 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic GX9 and Sony RX100 IV in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are employing at that moment. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the GX9 vs the RX100 IV.

Panasonic GX9 vs Sony RX100 IV size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the GX9 and RX100 IV is 82 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic GX9 vs Sony RX100 IV top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GX9 vs Sony RX100 IV Sensor Comparison

Often, its hard to envision the gap in sensor measurements purely by viewing a spec sheet. The photograph below should give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the GX9 and RX100 IV.

As you can see, both of the cameras provide the same MP albeit not the same sensor measurements. The GX9 contains the bigger sensor which should make obtaining shallower DOF less difficult. The fresher GX9 will have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic GX9 vs Sony RX100 IV sensor size comparison

Panasonic GX9 vs Sony RX100 IV Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GX9 vs Sony RX100 IV Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GX9 Portrait photography details
Sony RX100 IV Portrait photography details
76
has manual focus
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
65
has manual focus
above average flash sync (1/2,000 seconds)
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
includes face detect focus
exports RAW files
cannot use external flash
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GX9 Street photography features
Sony RX100 IV Street photography features
84
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
features touch to focus
very good high ISO (25,600)
85
tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is nice (1")
exports RAW files
lighter than others (298 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GX9 as a Sports photography camera
Sony RX100 IV as a Sports photography camera
73
quiet shooting (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (20MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
supports phase detect autofocus
low battery life (260 shots)
68
quiet shooting (1/32,000s)
fast continuous shooting (16.0 frames/s)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
includes tracking focus
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GX9 Travel photography highlights
Sony RX100 IV Travel photography highlights
71
supports bluetooth
features touch to focus
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
low battery life (260 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
86
lighter than others (298g)
good MP (20MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
decently wide (24mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GX9 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony RX100 IV as a Landscape photography camera
77
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
does not have low pass filter
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
low battery life (260 per charge)
74
has manual focus
decently wide (24mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
good sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
exports RAW files
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic GX9
Vlogging with Sony RX100 IV
35
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect autofocus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of microphone port
81
decently wide (24mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
selfie friendly screen
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
lighter than others (298g)
lack of mic support
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Panasonic GX9 vs Sony RX100 IV Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GX9 and Sony RX100 IV
 Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV
Type Advanced Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Announced 2018-02-13 2015-06-10
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 5184 x 3888 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 25600 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 200 125
RAW format
Lowest boosted ISO 100 80
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 49 25
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-70mm (2.9x)
Maximal aperture - f/1.8-2.8
Macro focus range - 5cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 2.7
Screen
Type of display Tilting Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,240 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,760 thousand dots 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x 0.59x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs 1/32000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 9.0fps 16.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.00 m (at ISO 200) -
Flash modes Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, forced off -
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/2000 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/24p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p/24p/120p), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 3840x2160
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB Yes USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 407g (0.90 lb) 298g (0.66 lb)
Physical dimensions 124 x 72 x 47mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.9") 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 70
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.9
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.6
DXO Low light score not tested 562
Other
Battery life 260 photographs 280 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3 photos over 10 secs) Yes
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I supported) SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $1,000 $898