Panasonic FH3 vs Panasonic GH3

Lets look more closely at the Panasonic FH3 and Panasonic GH3, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Advanced Mirrorless and they are both produced by Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the FH3 (14MP) and the GH3 (16MP) is very similar but the FH3 (1/2.3") and GH3 (Four Thirds) offer different sensor sizes.

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The FH3 was manufactured 3 years prior to the GH3 which is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FH3 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GH3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting right into a complete comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the FH3 matches up vs the GH3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3. The entire galleries are viewable at Panasonic FH3 Gallery & Panasonic GH3 Gallery.

If you are intending to carry around your camera often, you are going to need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FH3 offers external dimensions of 98mm x 55mm x 24mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 165 grams (0.36 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GH3 has dimensions of 133mm x 93mm x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2") along with a weight of 550 grams (1.21 lbs).

Check the Panasonic FH3 and Panasonic GH3 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are working with at that time. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the FH3 compared to the GH3.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FH3 and GH3 is 94 and 66 respectively.

More often than not, it is very hard to visualize the difference between sensor sizes just by going over a spec sheet. The picture below will give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the FH3 and GH3.

Clearly, both of these cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The FH3 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF more difficult and the Panasonic GH3 will offer greater detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images more aggressively. The more aged FH3 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.