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Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic ZS40

Portability
90
Imaging
48
Features
48
Overall
48
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 front
Portability
90
Imaging
43
Features
58
Overall
49

Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic ZS40 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
  • Introduced August 2011
  • Old Model is Panasonic GF2
  • Later Model is Panasonic GF5
Panasonic ZS40
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 240g - 111 x 64 x 34mm
  • Introduced January 2014
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-TZ60
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS35
  • Newer Model is Panasonic ZS45
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Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic ZS40 Overview

Below is a comprehensive overview of the Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic ZS40, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both manufactured by Panasonic. There exists a noticeable gap between the image resolutions of the GF3 (12MP) and ZS40 (18MP) and the GF3 (Four Thirds) and ZS40 (1/2.3") come with different sensor sizing.

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The GF3 was revealed 3 years before the ZS40 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GF3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS40 being a Compact camera.

Before delving through a in depth comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the GF3 grades versus the ZS40 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF3 over the Panasonic ZS40

 GF3 ZS40 
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS40 over the Panasonic GF3

 ZS40 GF3 
IntroducedJanuary 2014August 2011More recent by 29 months
Display resolution920k460kClearer display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GF3 and Panasonic ZS40

 GF3 ZS40 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic ZS40 Physical Comparison

If you are going to lug around your camera often, you will want to think about its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GF3 has got physical dimensions of 108mm x 67mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") with a weight of 264 grams (0.58 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS40 has measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic ZS40 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Underneath is the front view physical size comparison of the GF3 vs the ZS40.

Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic ZS40 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GF3 and ZS40 is 90 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic ZS40 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic ZS40 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very difficult to visualize the difference between sensor measurements only by reviewing a spec sheet. The photograph underneath will give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the GF3 and ZS40.

As you can see, both of these cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The GF3 using its larger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh simpler and the Panasonic ZS40 will offer you greater detail because of its extra 6MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics a little more aggressively. The older GF3 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic ZS40 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Portrait photography features
Panasonic ZS40 Portrait photography features
55
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
external flash not possible
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
52
you can focus manually
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
comes with face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Street photography advice
Panasonic ZS40 Street photography advice
70
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
features touch focus
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
69
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
lighter than average in class (240 grams)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Sports photography advice
Panasonic ZS40 Sports photography advice
38
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
bad battery (300 shots)
doesn't have phase detect AF
54
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (18MP)
comes with tracking focus
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Travel photography information
Panasonic ZS40 Travel photography information
58
features touch focus
flash built-in
no Timelapse function
bad battery (300 per charge)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
69
lighter than average in class (240 grams)
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
does not have Timelapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Landscape photography features
Panasonic ZS40 Landscape photography features
55
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
bad battery (300 per charge)
no Timelapse function
56
you can focus manually
relatively wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
delivers RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Vlogging details
Panasonic ZS40 Vlogging details
32
touch screen
offers face detect focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
no microphone port
34
relatively wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average in class (240g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have microphone support
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Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic ZS40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF3 and Panasonic ZS40
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
General Information
Company Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-TZ60
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-08-11 2014-01-06
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine FHD Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Highest enhanced ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 160 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 23 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 200k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 3.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.30 m 6.40 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 264 grams (0.58 lbs) 240 grams (0.53 lbs)
Dimensions 108 x 67 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") 111 x 64 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3")
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 300 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $360 $450