Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic GH3

Its time to look a little more in depth at the Panasonic FS42 and Panasonic GH3, former is a Ultracompact while the other is a Advanced Mirrorless and they are both sold by Panasonic. There is a substantial difference among the sensor resolutions of the FS42 (10MP) and GH3 (16MP) and the FS42 (1/2.5") and GH3 (Four Thirds) possess totally different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The FS42 was manufactured 4 years earlier than the GH3 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic GH3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving through a complete comparison, below is a simple summary of how the FS42 grades vs the GH3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3. The entire galleries are provided at Panasonic FS42 Gallery & Panasonic GH3 Gallery.

If you are aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor in its weight and size. The Panasonic FS42 has got outer measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs) and the Panasonic GH3 has specifications of 133mm x 93mm x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2") along with a weight of 550 grams (1.21 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic FS42 and Panasonic GH3 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the FS42 against the GH3.

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the FS42 and GH3 is 95 and 66 respectively.

Usually, it's difficult to envision the gap in sensor dimensions purely by going through a spec sheet. The picture here may provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the FS42 and GH3.

As you can see, each of these cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The FS42 due to its smaller sensor will make getting bokeh tougher and the Panasonic GH3 will produce more detail due to its extra 6MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop images somewhat more aggressively. The more aged FS42 will be behind in sensor technology.