Fujifilm X-T3 vs Panasonic S9

The Fujifilm X-T3 and the Panasonic Lumix DC-S9 are two enthusiast cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in September 2018 and May 2024. Both the X-T3 and the S9 are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are based on an APS-C (X-T3) and a full frame (S9) sensor. The Fujifilm has a resolution of 26 megapixels, whereas the Panasonic provides 24 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Fujifilm X-T3		Panasonic S9
Mirrorless system camera		Mirrorless system camera
Fujifilm X mount lenses		Leica L mount lenses
26 MP – APS-C sensor		24 MP – Full Frame sensor
4K/60p Video		6K/30p Video
ISO 160-12,800 (80 - 51,200)		ISO 100-51,200 (50 - 204,800)
Electronic viewfinder (3690k dots)		No viewfinder, LCD framing
3.0" LCD – 1040k dots		3.0" LCD – 1840k dots
Fully flexible touchscreen		Swivel touchscreen
11 shutter flaps per second		30 shutter flaps per second
Lens stabilization only		In-body stabilization
Weathersealed body		not weather sealed
390 shots per battery charge		470 shots per battery charge
133 x 93 x 59 mm, 539 g		126 x 74 x 47 mm, 486 g

Check X-T3 offers at
ebay.com
Check S9 price at
amazon.com

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Fujifilm X-T3 and the Panasonic Lumix DC-S9? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Fujifilm X-T3 and the Panasonic S9. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The X-T3 can be obtained in two different colors (black, silver), while the S9 is available in four color-versions (black, blue, red, green).

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Panasonic S9 is notably smaller (25 percent) than the Fujifilm X-T3. Moreover, the S9 is markedly lighter (10 percent) than the X-T3. It is worth mentioning in this context that the X-T3 is splash and dust resistant, while the S9 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. Hence, you might want to study and compare the specifications of available lenses in order to get the full picture of the size and weight of the two camera systems.

Concerning battery life, the X-T3 gets 390 shots out of its Fujifilm NP-W126S battery, while the S9 can take 470 images on a single charge of its Panasonic DMW-BLK22 power pack. The battery packs of both cameras can be charged via USB, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Fujifilm X-T3	133 mm	93 mm	59 mm	539 g	390	Y	Sep 2018	EUR 1 499	ebay.com
2.		Panasonic S9	126 mm	74 mm	47 mm	486 g	470	n	May 2024	EUR 1 699	amazon.com
3.		Canon R8	133 mm	86 mm	70 mm	461 g	220	n	Feb 2023	EUR 1 799	amazon.com
4.		Fujifilm X-E3	121 mm	74 mm	43 mm	337 g	350	n	Sep 2017	EUR 899	ebay.com
5.		Fujifilm X-Pro2	141 mm	83 mm	46 mm	495 g	350	Y	Jan 2016	EUR 1 799	ebay.com
6.		Fujifilm X-Pro3	141 mm	83 mm	46 mm	497 g	440	Y	Oct 2019	EUR 1 899	amazon.com
7.		Fujifilm X-S20	128 mm	85 mm	65 mm	491 g	750	n	May 2023	EUR 1 399	amazon.com
8.		Fujifilm X-T1	129 mm	90 mm	47 mm	440 g	350	Y	Jan 2014	EUR 1 199	ebay.com
9.		Fujifilm X-T2	133 mm	92 mm	49 mm	507 g	340	Y	Jul 2016	EUR 1 699	ebay.com
10.		Fujifilm X-T4	135 mm	93 mm	64 mm	607 g	500	Y	Feb 2020	EUR 1 799	ebay.com
11.		Fujifilm X-T20	118 mm	83 mm	41 mm	383 g	350	n	Jan 2017	EUR 799	ebay.com
12.		Fujifilm X-T100	121 mm	83 mm	47 mm	448 g	430	n	May 2018	EUR 599	ebay.com
13.		Fujifilm X100F	127 mm	75 mm	52 mm	469 g	390	n	Jan 2017	EUR 1 399	ebay.com
14.		Fujifilm X100V	128 mm	75 mm	53 mm	478 g	420	Y	Feb 2020	EUR 1 499	ebay.com
15.		Panasonic GX9	124 mm	72 mm	47 mm	407 g	260	n	Feb 2018	EUR 799	ebay.com
16.		Panasonic S5 II	134 mm	102 mm	90 mm	740 g	370	Y	Jan 2023	EUR 2 199	amazon.com
17.		Sony A6700	122 mm	69 mm	64 mm	493 g	570	Y	Jul 2023	EUR 1 699	amazon.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The two cameras under review were launched at the same price and fall into the same market segment. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Fujifilm X-T3 features an APS-C sensor and the Panasonic S9 a full frame sensor. The sensor area in the S9 is 131 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.5 and 1.0. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Despite having a smaller sensor, the Fujifilm X-T3 offers a higher resolution of 26 megapixels, compared with 24 MP of the Panasonic S9. This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 3.76μm versus 5.94μm for the S9). Moreover, it should be noted that the S9 is much more recent (by 5 years and 8 months) than the X-T3, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that neither of the two cameras has an anti-alias filter installed, so they are able to capture all the detail the sensor resolves.

The Fujifilm X-T3 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 160 to ISO 12800, which can be extended to ISO 80-51200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Panasonic Lumix DC-S9 are ISO 100 to ISO 51200, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 50-204800.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with BSI-CMOS (Backside Illuminated Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. The X-T3 uses Fujifilm's X-Trans layout of photosites, while the S9 employs the more common Bayer array.

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Fujifilm X-T3	APS-C	26.0	6240	4160	4K/60p	24.0	13.4	1853	83
2.		Panasonic S9	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	6K/30p	25.4	14.8	3297	96
3.		Canon R8	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	4k/60p	24.5	14.7	3295	93
4.		Fujifilm X-E3	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4K/30p	23.9	13.3	1764	82
5.		Fujifilm X-Pro2	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	23.7	13.0	1608	80
6.		Fujifilm X-Pro3	APS-C	26.0	6240	4160	4K/30p	24.1	13.6	1968	84
7.		Fujifilm X-S20	APS-C	26.0	6240	4160	4K/60p	24.3	14.0	2315	86
8.		Fujifilm X-T1	APS-C	16.0	4896	3264	1080/60p	23.5	12.7	1426	77
9.		Fujifilm X-T2	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4K/30p	23.8	13.1	1653	81
10.		Fujifilm X-T4	APS-C	26.0	6240	4160	4K/60p	24.1	13.6	1995	84
11.		Fujifilm X-T20	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4K/30p	23.9	13.2	1704	81
12.		Fujifilm X-T100	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4K/15p	24.0	13.4	1829	83
13.		Fujifilm X100F	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	23.9	13.2	1704	81
14.		Fujifilm X100V	APS-C	26.0	6240	4160	4K/30p	24.2	13.6	1996	84
15.		Panasonic GX9	Four Thirds	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	23.1	12.8	1163	74
16.		Panasonic S5 II	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	6K/30p	25.4	14.6	3158	96
17.		Sony A6700	APS-C	25.6	6192	4128	4K/120p	24.3	14.0	2329	86
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the S9 provides a better video resolution than the X-T3. It can shoot movie footage at 6K/30p, while the Fujifilm is limited to 4K/60p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the X-T3 has an electronic viewfinder (3690k dots), which can be very helpful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the S9 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Fujifilm X-T3 and Panasonic S9 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Max Shutter Speed *	Max Shutter Flaps *	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Fujifilm X-T3	3690	n	3.0 / 1040	full-flex	Y	1/8000s	11.0/s	n	n
2.		Panasonic S9	none	n	3.0 / 1840	swivel	Y	1/8000s	30.0/s	n	Y
3.		Canon R8	2360	n	3.0 / 1620	swivel	Y	1/4000s	6.0/s	n	n
4.		Fujifilm X-E3	2360	n	3.0 / 1040	fixed	Y	1/4000s	8.0/s	n	n
5.		Fujifilm X-Pro2	2360	n	3.0 / 1620	fixed	n	1/8000s	8.0/s	n	n
6.		Fujifilm X-Pro3	3690	n	3.0 / 1620	tilting	Y	1/8000s	8.0/s	n	n
7.		Fujifilm X-S20	2360	n	3.0 / 1840	swivel	Y	1/4000s	8.0/s	Y	Y
8.		Fujifilm X-T1	2360	n	3.0 / 1040	tilting	n	1/4000s	8.0/s	n	n
9.		Fujifilm X-T2	2360	n	3.0 / 1040	full-flex	n	1/8000s	8.0/s	n	n
10.		Fujifilm X-T4	3690	n	3.0 / 1620	swivel	Y	1/8000s	15.0/s	n	Y
11.		Fujifilm X-T20	2360	n	3.0 / 1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	8.0/s	Y	n
12.		Fujifilm X-T100	2360	n	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	6.0/s	Y	n
13.		Fujifilm X100F	2360	n	3.0 / 1040	fixed	n	1/4000s	8.0/s	Y	n
14.		Fujifilm X100V	3690	n	3.0 / 1620	tilting	Y	1/4000s	11.0/s	n	n
15.		Panasonic GX9	2760	n	3.0 / 1240	tilting	Y	1/4000s	9.0/s	Y	Y
16.		Panasonic S5 II	3680	n	3.0 / 1840	swivel	Y	1/8000s	9.0/s	n	Y
17.		Sony A6700	2360	n	3.0 / 1037	swivel	Y	1/4000s	11.0/s	n	Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

One feature that differentiates the S9 and the X-T3 is in-body image stabilization (IBIS). The S9 reduces the risk of handshake-induced blur with all attached lenses, while the X-T3 offers no blur reduction with lenses that themselves do not provide optical image stabilization.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, both cameras under consideration feature an electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Fujifilm X-T3 and the Panasonic S9 both have an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the X-T3 and the S9 write their files to SDXC cards. The X-T3 features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the S9 only has one slot. Both cameras support UHS-II cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 312 MB/s.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Fujifilm X-T3 and Panasonic Lumix DC-S9 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Mic / Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Fujifilm X-T3	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	micro	3.1	Y	-	Y
2.		Panasonic S9	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	3.2	Y	-	Y
3.		Canon R8	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	micro	3.2	Y	-	Y
4.		Fujifilm X-E3	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
5.		Fujifilm X-Pro2	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
6.		Fujifilm X-Pro3	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	-	3.1	Y	-	Y
7.		Fujifilm X-S20	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	micro	3.2	Y	-	Y
8.		Fujifilm X-T1	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
9.		Fujifilm X-T2	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	3.0	Y	-	-
10.		Fujifilm X-T4	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	3.1	Y	-	Y
11.		Fujifilm X-T20	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
12.		Fujifilm X-T100	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
13.		Fujifilm X100F	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
14.		Fujifilm X100V	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	3.1	Y	-	Y
15.		Panasonic GX9	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
16.		Panasonic S5 II	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	full	3.2	Y	-	Y
17.		Sony A6700	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	YES	3.2	Y	Y	Y

It is notable that the X-T3 has a headphone jack, which is not present on the S9 This port makes it possible to attach external headphones and monitor the quality of sound during the recording process.

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Fujifilm X-T3 (unlike the S9) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

The S9 is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Panasonic. In contrast, the X-T3 has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on ebay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the X-T3 was succeeded by the Fujifilm X-T4. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Fujifilm and Panasonic websites.

Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Is there a clear favorite between the Fujifilm X-T3 and the Panasonic S9? Which camera is better? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

Reasons to prefer the Fujifilm X-T3:

• Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
• Easier framing: Has an electronic viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
• Better sealing: Is weather sealed to enable shooting in dusty or wet environments.
• Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
• Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in September 2018).

Advantages of the Panasonic Lumix DC-S9:

• Better image quality: Is equipped with a larger and more technologically advanced sensor.
• Richer colors: The sensor size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
• More dynamic range: Larger sensor captures a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
• Better low-light sensitivity: Larger sensor produces good images even in poorly lit environments.
• Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (6K/30p vs 4K/60p).
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1840k vs 1040k dots).
• More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (30 vs 11 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• More compact: Is smaller (126x74mm vs 133x93mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Longer lasting: Gets more shots (470 versus 390) out of a single battery charge.
• Sharper images: Has stabilization technology built-in to reduce the impact of hand-shake.
• Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.2 vs 3.1).
• More modern: Reflects 5 years and 8 months of technical progress since the X-T3 launch.

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the S9 is the clear winner of the contest (13 : 6 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Fujifilm X-T3 and the Panasonic S9 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the X-T3 and the S9 in practical situations. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DCW   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Fujifilm X-T3	5/5	+ +	4.5/5	88/100	5/5	5/5	Sep 2018	EUR 1 499	ebay.com
2.		Panasonic S9	..	..	..	..	..	..	May 2024	EUR 1 699	amazon.com
3.		Canon R8	4.5/5	+ +	4.5/5	87/100	4/5	4.5/5	Feb 2023	EUR 1 799	amazon.com
4.		Fujifilm X-E3	4.5/5	+	4.5/5	84/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2017	EUR 899	ebay.com
5.		Fujifilm X-Pro2	..	+	..	83/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2016	EUR 1 799	ebay.com
6.		Fujifilm X-Pro3	4/5	+	4/5	85/100	4/5	..	Oct 2019	EUR 1 899	amazon.com
7.		Fujifilm X-S20	5/5	+ +	5/5	86/100	..	4.5/5	May 2023	EUR 1 399	amazon.com
8.		Fujifilm X-T1	5/5	+ +	..	84/100	5/5	5/5	Jan 2014	EUR 1 199	ebay.com
9.		Fujifilm X-T2	5/5	+ +	..	86/100	4.5/5	5/5	Jul 2016	EUR 1 699	ebay.com
10.		Fujifilm X-T4	5/5	+ +	5/5	88/100	5/5	5/5	Feb 2020	EUR 1 799	ebay.com
11.		Fujifilm X-T20	5/5	+ +	5/5	82/100	5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2017	EUR 799	ebay.com
12.		Fujifilm X-T100	4/5	+	4.5/5	79/100	4/5	4.5/5	May 2018	EUR 599	ebay.com
13.		Fujifilm X100F	5/5	+	3.9/5	83/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2017	EUR 1 399	ebay.com
14.		Fujifilm X100V	5/5	+ +	4.5/5	86/100	5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2020	EUR 1 499	ebay.com
15.		Panasonic GX9	4/5	+	4/5	84/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2018	EUR 799	ebay.com
16.		Panasonic S5 II	4.5/5	+ +	5/5	90/100	4.5/5	5/5	Jan 2023	EUR 2 199	amazon.com
17.		Sony A6700	4.5/5	+	4.5/5	88/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jul 2023	EUR 1 699	amazon.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

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Check S9 price at
amazon.com

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make your choice using the following search menu. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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