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Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic ZS8

Portability
90
Imaging
48
Features
48
Overall
48
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
39
Overall
37

Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic ZS8 Key Specs

Panasonic GF3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 264g - 108 x 67 x 32mm
  • Introduced August 2011
  • Succeeded the Panasonic GF2
  • Newer Model is Panasonic GF5
Panasonic ZS8
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 210g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Announced July 2011
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ18
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS7
Photography Glossary

Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic ZS8 Overview

Here is a comprehensive comparison of the Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic ZS8, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are produced by Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the GF3 (12MP) and the ZS8 (14MP) is pretty well matched but the GF3 (Four Thirds) and ZS8 (1/2.3") offer different sensor measurements.

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The GF3 was revealed within a month of the ZS8 so they are both of a similar generation. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GF3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS8 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick view of how the GF3 matches up against the ZS8 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF3 over the Panasonic ZS8

 GF3 ZS8 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS8 over the Panasonic GF3

 ZS8 GF3 

Common features in the Panasonic GF3 and Panasonic ZS8

 GF3 ZS8 
AnnouncedAugust 2011July 2011Similar generation
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic ZS8 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry your camera regularly, you are going to need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GF3 comes with outer dimensions of 108mm x 67mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") having a weight of 264 grams (0.58 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS8 has measurements of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") along with a weight of 210 grams (0.46 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic ZS8 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 change based on the lens you have attached at the time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the GF3 vs the ZS8.

Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic ZS8 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the GF3 and ZS8 is 90 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic ZS8 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic ZS8 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very difficult to visualize the gap between sensor sizing simply by looking at a spec sheet. The visual below will give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the GF3 and ZS8.

As you can see, both of those cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The GF3 using its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF simpler and the Panasonic ZS8 will resolve greater detail because of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots way more aggressively.

Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic ZS8 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF3 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS8 as a Portrait photography camera
55
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focus
saves RAW formats
no external flash support
low resolution (12 megapixels)
30
decent megapixels (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Street photography information
Panasonic ZS8 Street photography information
70
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
features focus via touch
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (210 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Sports photography information
Panasonic ZS8 Sports photography information
38
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
low resolution (12 megapixels)
low battery (300 CIPA)
has no phase detect auto focus
47
amazing zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (2.0 frames/s)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF3 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS8 as a Travel photography camera
58
features focus via touch
has built in flash
no Timelapse function
low battery (300 shots)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
69
lighter than others in class (210g)
decent megapixels (14MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
great zoom (384mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
does not feature selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic GF3
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS8
55
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
no image stabilization
low resolution (12MP)
low battery (300 per charge)
no Timelapse function
44
reasonably wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Vlogging details
Panasonic ZS8 Vlogging details
32
touchscreen
offers face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
no external microphone socket
30
reasonably wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (210 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing mic jack
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Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic ZS8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF3 and Panasonic ZS8
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
General Information
Brand Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
Also called - Lumix DMC-TZ18
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-08-11 2011-07-19
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine FHD 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 14 megapixel
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 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 160 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 23 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-384mm (16.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.30 m 5.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160s -
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 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
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 None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 264 gr (0.58 lb) 210 gr (0.46 lb)
Physical dimensions 108 x 67 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" 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 photographs 340 photographs
Style 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
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Price at release $360 $275