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Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic ZS20

Portability
90
Imaging
48
Features
48
Overall
48
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
46
Overall
41

Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic ZS20 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
  • Launched August 2011
  • Previous Model is Panasonic GF2
  • Refreshed by Panasonic GF5
Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Launched April 2012
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Previous Model is Panasonic ZS15
  • Newer Model is Panasonic ZS25
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Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic ZS20 Overview

Let's examine more closely at the Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic ZS20, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both created by Panasonic. The image resolution of the GF3 (12MP) and the ZS20 (14MP) is very well matched but the GF3 (Four Thirds) and ZS20 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor size.

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The GF3 was manufactured 8 months earlier than the ZS20 and they are of a similar generation. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic GF3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS20 being a Compact camera.

Before getting through a full comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the GF3 grades against the ZS20 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF3 over the Panasonic ZS20

 GF3 ZS20 
Manual focus More precise focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Panasonic GF3

 ZS20 GF3 
LaunchedApril 2012August 2011Newer by 8 months

Common features in the Panasonic GF3 and Panasonic ZS20

 GF3 ZS20 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Display resolution460k460kThe same display resolution
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic ZS20 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to travel with your camera often, you are going to need to think about its weight and volume. The Panasonic GF3 has outside dimensions of 108mm x 67mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") along with a weight of 264 grams (0.58 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS20 has sizing of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic ZS20 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you use at that time. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the GF3 against the ZS20.

Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic ZS20 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GF3 and ZS20 is 90 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic ZS20 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic ZS20 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is tough to picture the gap between sensor dimensions simply by checking specs. The image below might offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the GF3 and ZS20.

All in all, both cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The GF3 because of its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field simpler and the Panasonic ZS20 will give you more detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The more aged GF3 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic ZS20 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GF3
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS20
55
focusing manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
no external flash support
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
30
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF3 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS20 as a Street photography camera
70
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
features touch focus
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
65
has image stabilization (Optical)
features focus by touch
lighter than competition in class (206g)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic ZS20 Sports photography highlights
38
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
low battery power (300 shots)
lack of phase detect AF
47
great zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery life (260 shots)
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Travel photography info
Panasonic ZS20 Travel photography info
58
features touch focus
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse function
low battery power (300 per charge)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
68
lighter than competition in class (206g)
features focus by touch
good megapixels (14MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (24mm)
very long zoom (480mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
bad battery life (260 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic ZS20 Landscape photography advice
55
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
low battery power (300 per charge)
lack of Timelapse function
42
decently wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (14MP)
manual focus not available
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
bad battery life (260 shots)
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF3 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS20 as a Vlogging camera
32
touch screen
has face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
lack of external microphone socket
34
decently wide (24mm)
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (206 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have external mic jack
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Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic ZS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF3 and Panasonic ZS20
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
Alternative name - Lumix DMC-TZ30
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2011-08-11 2012-04-26
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 160 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 23 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 15 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.30 m 6.40 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 264 gr (0.58 lbs) 206 gr (0.45 lbs)
Dimensions 108 x 67 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 50 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 20.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light score 459 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 images 260 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 shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail price $360 $349