Clicky

Leica SL vs Panasonic GH3

Portability
67
Imaging
72
Features
78
Overall
74
Leica SL front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 front
Portability
66
Imaging
52
Features
80
Overall
63

Leica SL vs Panasonic GH3 Key Specs

Leica SL
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 50 - 50000
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Leica L Mount
  • 847g - 147 x 104 x 39mm
  • Released October 2015
  • Additionally Known as Typ 601
  • Successor is Leica SL2
Panasonic GH3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 550g - 133 x 93 x 82mm
  • Released September 2012
  • Superseded the Panasonic GH2
  • Updated by Panasonic GH4
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Leica SL vs Panasonic GH3 Overview

Here, we are matching up the Leica SL versus Panasonic GH3, former is a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by brands Leica and Panasonic. There exists a large gap between the resolutions of the SL (24MP) and GH3 (16MP) and the SL (Full frame) and GH3 (Four Thirds) offer totally different sensor measurements.

Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

The SL was manufactured 3 years after the GH3 which is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before diving right into a full comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the SL scores against the GH3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide
	
	

Reasons to pick Leica SL over the Panasonic GH3

 SL GH3 
ReleasedOctober 2015September 2012More modern by 38 months
Display resolution1040k614kSharper display (+426k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic GH3 over the Leica SL

 GH3 SL 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Leica SL and Panasonic GH3

 SL GH3 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Display size3"3"Same display measurements
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Leica SL vs Panasonic GH3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry around your camera, you should factor in its weight and volume. The Leica SL comes with physical dimensions of 147mm x 104mm x 39mm (5.8" x 4.1" x 1.5") and a weight of 847 grams (1.87 lbs) while the Panasonic GH3 has sizing of 133mm x 93mm x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2") along with a weight of 550 grams (1.21 lbs).

See the Leica SL versus Panasonic GH3 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you use at that time. Below is a front view physical size comparison of the SL vs the GH3.

Leica SL vs Panasonic GH3 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SL and GH3 is 67 and 66 respectively.

Leica SL vs Panasonic GH3 top view buttons comparison

Leica SL vs Panasonic GH3 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very tough to visualise the contrast between sensor sizes simply by reviewing specs. The pic here should provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the SL and GH3.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SL due to its larger sensor will make shooting bokeh simpler and the Leica SL will offer you greater detail due to its extra 8MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop images a good deal more aggressively. The newer SL is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Leica SL vs Panasonic GH3 sensor size comparison

Leica SL vs Panasonic GH3 Screen and ViewFinder

Leica SL vs Panasonic GH3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica SL Portrait photography factors
Panasonic GH3 Portrait photography factors
83
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
offers face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
71
focusing manually
good resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Street Comparison

Leica SL as a Street photography camera
Panasonic GH3 as a Street photography camera
69
large sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW files
boasts touch to focus
environment sealing
great ISO range (50,000)
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
65
screen articulates fully
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
has touch to focus
environment proof
no image stabilization
more heavy than average in class (550 grams)
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Sports Comparison

Leica SL as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic GH3 as a Sports photography camera
67
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
offers tracking autofocus
environment sealing
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery power (400 CIPA)
no phase detect autofocus
63
fast shooting (20.0 frames per second)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
environment proof
good battery power (540 CIPA)
no image stabilization
lack of phase detect autofocus
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Leica SL
Travel photography with Panasonic GH3
65
environment sealing
boasts touch to focus
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
terrible battery power (400 per charge)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
71
good battery power (540 CIPA)
environment proof
has touch to focus
good resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
more heavy than average in class (550g)
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Landscape Comparison

Leica SL Landscape photography factors
Panasonic GH3 Landscape photography factors
77
has manual focus
swap lenses (Leica L mount)
nice screen size (3")
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
no anti-alias filter
great ISO range (50,000)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
2 card slots
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery power (400 CIPA)
71
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3")
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
good battery power (540 per charge)
no image stabilization
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Vlogging Comparison

Leica SL Vlogging features
Panasonic GH3 Vlogging features
33
touchscreen capability
offers face detection autofocus
video res high (4096 x 2160 pixels)
includes external mic support
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
65
display is selfie friendly
touch screen
provides face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has microphone socket
no image stabilization
more heavy than average in class (550g)
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Leica SL vs Panasonic GH3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica SL and Panasonic GH3
 Leica SLPanasonic Lumix DMC-GH3
General Information
Brand Leica Panasonic
Model type Leica SL Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3
Also called as Typ 601 -
Class Pro Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Released 2015-10-21 2012-09-17
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Maestro II Venus Engine VII FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 36 x 24mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 864.0mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 24MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 6000 x 4000 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 50000 12800
Lowest native ISO 50 200
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 49 23
Lens
Lens mount type Leica L Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 30 107
Focal length multiplier 1 2.1
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 1,040k dots 614k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech - OLED Monitor with static touch control
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 4,400k dots 1,744k dots
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.8x 0.67x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 11.0 frames/s 20.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash modes no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 4096 x 2160 (24p), 3840 x 2160 (30p), 1920 x 1080 (120p, 60p, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (120p, 60p, 30p, 24p) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25 24 fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25fps
Maximum video resolution 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 847g (1.87 pounds) 550g (1.21 pounds)
Physical dimensions 147 x 104 x 39mm (5.8" x 4.1" x 1.5") 133 x 93 x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 88 71
DXO Color Depth rating 25.0 22.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.4 12.4
DXO Low light rating 1821 812
Other
Battery life 400 photos 540 photos
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BP-SCL4 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Storage type Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-II supported on slot 1) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Dual 1
Retail price $7,450 $799