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Olympus SH-1 vs Panasonic GF3

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
53
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 front
Portability
90
Imaging
48
Features
48
Overall
48

Olympus SH-1 vs Panasonic GF3 Key Specs

Olympus SH-1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 271g - 109 x 63 x 42mm
  • Launched March 2014
  • Renewed by Olympus SH-2
Panasonic GF3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 264g - 108 x 67 x 32mm
  • Revealed August 2011
  • Superseded the Panasonic GF2
  • Renewed by Panasonic GF5
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Olympus SH-1 vs Panasonic GF3 Overview

Below, we will be reviewing the Olympus SH-1 and Panasonic GF3, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a considerable gap among the resolutions of the SH-1 (16MP) and GF3 (12MP) and the SH-1 (1/2.3") and GF3 (Four Thirds) use different sensor measurements.

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The SH-1 was unveiled 2 years later than the GF3 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SH-1 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GF3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting through a complete comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the SH-1 matches up versus the GF3 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-1 over the Panasonic GF3

 SH-1 GF3 
RevealedMarch 2014August 2011Fresher by 33 months

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF3 over the Olympus SH-1

 GF3 SH-1 
Focus manually More exact focus

Common features in the Olympus SH-1 and Panasonic GF3

 SH-1 GF3 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Screen resolution460k460kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Olympus SH-1 vs Panasonic GF3 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry your camera, you will have to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus SH-1 offers outside measurements of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) while the Panasonic GF3 has measurements of 108mm x 67mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") having a weight of 264 grams (0.58 lbs).

Check out the Olympus SH-1 and Panasonic GF3 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are using at the time. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the SH-1 vs the GF3.

Olympus SH-1 vs Panasonic GF3 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SH-1 and GF3 is 88 and 90 respectively.

Olympus SH-1 vs Panasonic GF3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-1 vs Panasonic GF3 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very tough to visualize the contrast in sensor sizing just by checking out specs. The visual underneath will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the SH-1 and GF3.

All in all, each of the cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The SH-1 with its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field harder and the Olympus SH-1 will provide extra detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures much more aggressively. The more recent SH-1 should have a benefit in sensor technology.

Olympus SH-1 vs Panasonic GF3 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-1 vs Panasonic GF3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-1 vs Panasonic GF3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-1 Portrait photography information
Panasonic GF3 Portrait photography information
37
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
features face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
55
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
no external flash support
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-1 Street photography advice
Panasonic GF3 Street photography advice
64
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
boasts touch focus
lighter than competition (271g)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
70
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
comes with focus by touch
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus SH-1
Sports photography with Panasonic GF3
51
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
good battery (380 per charge)
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
38
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
not so great battery life (300 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SH-1
Travel photography with Panasonic GF3
74
good battery (380 CIPA)
lighter than competition (271g)
boasts touch focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
58
comes with focus by touch
flash built-in
no Timelapse mode
not so great battery life (300 CIPA)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Olympus SH-1
Landscape photography with Panasonic GF3
49
pretty wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
good battery (380 CIPA)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
55
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3")
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
not so great battery life (300 shots)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SH-1
Vlogging with Panasonic GF3
37
pretty wide (25mm)
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external mic socket
lighter than competition (271 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
32
touch screen
offers face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
no external microphone socket
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Olympus SH-1 vs Panasonic GF3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-1 and Panasonic GF3
 Olympus Stylus SH-1Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus Stylus SH-1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2014-03-31 2011-08-11
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 160
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 23
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Amount of lenses - 107
Focal length multiplier 5.8 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 12.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 6.30 m
Flash modes - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264 AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 271 gr (0.60 lbs) 264 gr (0.58 lbs)
Dimensions 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") 108 x 67 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 50
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 20.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 10.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 459
Other
Battery life 380 photos 300 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-92B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $349 $360