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Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic SZ1

Portability
90
Imaging
48
Features
48
Overall
48
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 front
Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37

Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic SZ1 Key Specs

Panasonic GF3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 264g - 108 x 67 x 32mm
  • Revealed August 2011
  • Replaced the Panasonic GF2
  • New Model is Panasonic GF5
Panasonic SZ1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 131g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Introduced January 2012
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Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic SZ1 Overview

Below is a extended overview of the Panasonic GF3 versus Panasonic SZ1, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both are manufactured by Panasonic. There is a noticeable difference between the image resolutions of the GF3 (12MP) and SZ1 (16MP) and the GF3 (Four Thirds) and SZ1 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor sizing.

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The GF3 was released 5 months before the SZ1 so they are both of a similar age. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GF3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ1 being a Compact camera.

Before we go into a more detailed comparison, here is a quick view of how the GF3 scores versus the SZ1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF3 over the Panasonic SZ1

 GF3 SZ1 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ1 over the Panasonic GF3

 SZ1 GF3 

Common features in the Panasonic GF3 and Panasonic SZ1

 GF3 SZ1 
IntroducedAugust 2011January 2012Similar age
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic SZ1 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to lug around your camera frequently, you'll need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GF3 has got external measurements of 108mm x 67mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") along with a weight of 264 grams (0.58 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ1 has measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") with a weight of 131 grams (0.29 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic GF3 versus Panasonic SZ1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you choose at that time. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the GF3 against the SZ1.

Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic SZ1 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the GF3 and SZ1 is 90 and 95 respectively.

Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic SZ1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic SZ1 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very difficult to envision the gap between sensor measurements only by reading specifications. The graphic below should provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the GF3 and SZ1.

Plainly, each of the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The GF3 because of its bigger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field easier and the Panasonic SZ1 will deliver more detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop shots way more aggressively.

Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic SZ1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic SZ1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic SZ1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic SZ1 Portrait photography highlights
55
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
cannot use external flash
MP count low (12 megapixels)
34
MP count good (16 megapixels)
includes face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic GF3
Street photography with Panasonic SZ1
70
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
provides focus via touch
no moving screen
no image stabilization
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (131 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic GF3
Sports photography with Panasonic SZ1
38
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
not so great battery power (300 per charge)
has no phase detect autofocus
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF3 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic SZ1 as a Travel photography camera
58
provides focus via touch
flash built-in
no Timelapse mode
not so great battery power (300 CIPA)
MP count low (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
70
lighter than average in class (131g)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
long reach (250mm)
no Time Lapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF3 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic SZ1 as a Landscape photography camera
55
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
not so great battery power (300 per charge)
no Timelapse mode
43
quite wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
no manual exposure
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic SZ1 Vlogging highlights
32
built-in touchscreen
offers face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
no external microphone support
32
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focusing
lighter than average in class (131g)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external mic support
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Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic SZ1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF3 and Panasonic SZ1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1
General Information
Make Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2011-08-11 2012-01-09
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 160 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 23 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 4cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate 3.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.30 m 5.60 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 264 grams (0.58 pounds) 131 grams (0.29 pounds)
Physical dimensions 108 x 67 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 50 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light rating 459 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 images 250 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $360 $179