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Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic SZ8

Portability
90
Imaging
48
Features
48
Overall
48
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 front
Portability
94
Imaging
40
Features
31
Overall
36

Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic SZ8 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
  • Released August 2011
  • Succeeded the Panasonic GF2
  • Successor is Panasonic GF5
Panasonic SZ8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 159g - 100 x 60 x 27mm
  • Launched January 2014
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Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic SZ8 Overview

Lets look a bit more in depth at the Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic SZ8, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are created by Panasonic. There is a huge difference among the image resolutions of the GF3 (12MP) and SZ8 (16MP) and the GF3 (Four Thirds) and SZ8 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor sizes.

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The GF3 was unveiled 3 years before the SZ8 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic GF3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ8 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight into a detailed comparison, below is a concise overview of how the GF3 scores vs the SZ8 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF3 over the Panasonic SZ8

 GF3 SZ8 
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ8 over the Panasonic GF3

 SZ8 GF3 
LaunchedJanuary 2014August 2011Newer by 29 months

Common features in the Panasonic GF3 and Panasonic SZ8

 GF3 SZ8 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Screen resolution460k460kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic SZ8 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to travel with your camera regularly, you need to consider its weight and measurements. The Panasonic GF3 has physical dimensions of 108mm x 67mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") and a weight of 264 grams (0.58 lbs) and the Panasonic SZ8 has proportions of 100mm x 60mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic SZ8 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Below is the front view scale comparison of the GF3 against the SZ8.

Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic SZ8 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the GF3 and SZ8 is 90 and 94 respectively.

Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic SZ8 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic SZ8 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very difficult to see the gap in sensor dimensions purely by going through specs. The image below might provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the GF3 and SZ8.

All in all, the 2 cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The GF3 having a bigger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF easier and the Panasonic SZ8 will provide extra detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures much more aggressively. The more aged GF3 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic SZ8 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GF3
Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ8
55
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focus
supports RAW formats
can't use external flash
low MP (12MP)
35
good MP (16MP)
supports face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic GF3
Street photography with Panasonic SZ8
70
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
includes touch to focus
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (159g)
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF3 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic SZ8 as a Sports photography camera
38
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
not so great battery pack (300 per charge)
no phase detect auto focus
34
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (200 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Travel photography factors
Panasonic SZ8 Travel photography factors
58
includes touch to focus
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
not so great battery pack (300 shots)
low MP (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
67
lighter than competitors (159 grams)
good MP (16MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
great reach (288mm)
no Timelapse recording
terrible battery power (200 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic GF3
Landscape photography with Panasonic SZ8
55
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (300 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse mode
42
quite wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not available
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
terrible battery power (200 shots)
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic GF3
Vlogging with Panasonic SZ8
32
touchscreen
provides face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
does not have external mic jack
32
quite wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect autofocus
lighter than competitors (159 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no microphone jack
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Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic SZ8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF3 and Panasonic SZ8
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
General Information
Brand Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2011-08-11 2014-01-06
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine FHD Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 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 resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 1600
Highest boosted ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 160 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-288mm (12.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.1-6.3
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 8 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.30 m 5.20 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 264 grams (0.58 pounds) 159 grams (0.35 pounds)
Dimensions 108 x 67 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") 100 x 60 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 200 images
Battery format 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
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $360 $275