Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic ZS8

The following is a in-depth review of the Panasonic G3 and Panasonic ZS8, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both designed by Panasonic. The resolution of the G3 (16MP) and the ZS8 (14MP) is very comparable but the G3 (Four Thirds) and ZS8 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The G3 was manufactured within a month of the ZS8 and they are of a similar generation. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic G3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS8 being a Compact camera.

Before diving through a thorough comparison, below is a short summation of how the G3 scores versus the ZS8 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8. The entire galleries are available at Panasonic G3 Gallery and Panasonic ZS8 Gallery.

For those who are intending to travel with your camera frequently, you'll have to think about its weight and measurements. The Panasonic G3 enjoys exterior measurements of 115mm x 84mm x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9") with a weight of 336 grams (0.74 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS8 has proportions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") with a weight of 210 grams (0.46 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic G3 and Panasonic ZS8 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you choose at that time. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the G3 vs the ZS8.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the G3 and ZS8 is 83 and 92 respectively.

Sometimes, it is very hard to visualise the difference in sensor dimensions just by seeing specs. The picture underneath will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the G3 and ZS8.

All in all, both of these cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The G3 because of its larger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field less difficult and the Panasonic G3 will provide more detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos a little more aggressively.