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Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic GF8

Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 front
Portability
90
Imaging
54
Features
62
Overall
57

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic GF8 Key Specs

Olympus SH-3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 271g - 109 x 63 x 42mm
  • Released February 2016
  • Succeeded the Olympus SH-2
Panasonic GF8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 266g - 107 x 65 x 33mm
  • Introduced February 2016
  • Previous Model is Panasonic GF7
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Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic GF8 Overview

On this page, we will be contrasting the Olympus SH-3 and Panasonic GF8, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the SH-3 (16MP) and the GF8 (16MP) is relatively similar but the SH-3 (1/2.3") and GF8 (Four Thirds) have totally different sensor sizes.

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The SH-3 was launched about the same time to the GF8 and they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus SH-3 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GF8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting right into a complete comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the SH-3 grades versus the GF8 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-3 over the Panasonic GF8

 SH-3 GF8 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF8 over the Olympus SH-3

 GF8 SH-3 
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1040k460kSharper screen (+580k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SH-3 and Panasonic GF8

 SH-3 GF8 
IntroducedFebruary 2016February 2016Similar age
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic GF8 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to travel with your camera, you're going to have to factor its weight and size. The Olympus SH-3 features outer dimensions of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GF8 has specifications of 107mm x 65mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") having a weight of 266 grams (0.59 lbs).

See the Olympus SH-3 and Panasonic GF8 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you choose at that time. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the SH-3 vs the GF8.

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic GF8 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the SH-3 and GF8 is 88 and 90 respectively.

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic GF8 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic GF8 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's hard to see the gap between sensor dimensions simply by reviewing specifications. The pic below might provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the SH-3 and GF8.

To sum up, both the cameras have the same resolution albeit not the same sensor dimensions. The SH-3 contains the tinier sensor which will make obtaining shallower DOF trickier.

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic GF8 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic GF8 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic GF8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SH-3 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic GF8 as a Portrait photography camera
44
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
includes face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
no manual focus
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
65
focusing manually
decent MP (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focus
saves RAW formats
external flash not possible
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SH-3
Street photography with Panasonic GF8
70
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW files
includes focus by touch
lighter than competition (271 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
80
has a tilting screen
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
offers touch focus
above average ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-3 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic GF8 as a Sports photography camera
51
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
better than average battery life (380 CIPA)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
49
silent shutter (1/16,000s)
decent MP (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/500s)
low frames per second (5.8 fps)
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery (230 CIPA)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SH-3
Travel photography with Panasonic GF8
74
better than average battery life (380 shots)
lighter than competition (271 grams)
includes focus by touch
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
66
offers touch focus
decent MP (16MP)
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse function
terrible battery (230 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Landscape photography features
Panasonic GF8 Landscape photography features
55
really wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (380 CIPA)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
65
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
above average ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery (230 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SH-3
Vlogging with Panasonic GF8
35
really wide (25mm)
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection autofocus
great video quality (3840 x 2160 pixels)
lighter than competition (271 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing external microphone socket
33
touch screen
supports face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
missing external mic socket
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Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic GF8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-3 and Panasonic GF8
 Olympus Stylus SH-3Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus Stylus SH-3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2016-02-08 2016-02-15
Physical type Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII Venus Engine
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4592 x 3448
Highest native ISO 6400 25600
Lowest native ISO 125 200
RAW data
Lowest boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 23
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.9 -
Macro focusing distance 3cm -
Number of lenses - 107
Focal length multiplier 5.8 2.1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 460k dots 1,040k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/500s
Maximum silent shutter speed - 1/16000s
Continuous shooting rate 11.5fps 5.8fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 8.30 m (at ISO 3200) 5.60 m (at ISO 200)
Flash modes Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, flash off
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (15 fps), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 50p, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video data format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
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) 266 gr (0.59 lbs)
Physical dimensions 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") 107 x 65 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 380 shots 230 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LI-92B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3-shot/10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots One One
Price at launch $579 $549