Panasonic GF3 vs Sony H20
90 Imaging
48 Features
48 Overall
48


87 Imaging
33 Features
29 Overall
31
Panasonic GF3 vs Sony H20 Key Specs
(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
- Earlier Model is Panasonic GF2
- Successor is Panasonic GF5
(Full Review)
- 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 3200
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1280 x 720 video
- 38-380mm (F3.5-4.4) lens
- 250g - 107 x 69 x 47mm
- Introduced May 2009

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony H20 Overview
In this write-up, we will be reviewing the Panasonic GF3 and Sony H20, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the GF3 (12MP) and the H20 (10MP) is relatively well matched but the GF3 (Four Thirds) and H20 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor dimensions.

The GF3 was revealed 2 years after the H20 which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GF3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony H20 being a Compact camera.
Before delving straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a simple summary of how the GF3 matches up versus the H20 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony H20 Gallery
This is a preview of the gallery photos for Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20. The full galleries are viewable at Panasonic GF3 Gallery and Sony H20 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Panasonic GF3 over the Sony H20
GF3 | H20 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Introduced | August 2011 | ![]() | May 2009 | More modern by 28 months |
Screen resolution | 460k | ![]() | 230k | Crisper screen (+230k dot) |
Touch friendly screen | ![]() | Quickly navigate |
Reasons to pick Sony H20 over the Panasonic GF3
H20 | GF3 |
---|
Common features in the Panasonic GF3 and Sony H20
GF3 | H20 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manual focus | ![]() | More exact focus | ||
Screen type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed screen |
Screen sizing | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Equivalent screen sizing |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Lacking selfie screen |
Panasonic GF3 vs Sony H20 Physical Comparison
When you are looking to carry around your camera regularly, you'll need to consider its weight and volume. The Panasonic GF3 offers physical measurements of 108mm x 67mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 264 grams (0.58 lbs) whilst the Sony H20 has sizing of 107mm x 69mm x 47mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.9") and a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs).
Check the Panasonic GF3 and Sony H20 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are working with at that time. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the GF3 and the H20.

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the GF3 and H20 is 90 and 87 respectively.

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony H20 Sensor Comparison
Generally, it can be hard to envision the difference between sensor sizes only by looking at specs. The picture here will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the GF3 and H20.
As you can plainly see, each of these cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The GF3 using its bigger sensor will make getting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Panasonic GF3 will resolve greater detail because of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The fresher GF3 will have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony H20 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony H20 Specifications
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand Name | Panasonic | Sony |
Model type | Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 |
Type | Entry-Level Mirrorless | Small Sensor Compact |
Introduced | 2011-08-11 | 2009-05-14 |
Body design | Rangefinder-style mirrorless | Compact |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor | Venus Engine FHD | - |
Sensor type | CMOS | CCD |
Sensor size | Four Thirds | 1/2.3" |
Sensor dimensions | 17.3 x 13mm | 6.17 x 4.55mm |
Sensor area | 224.9mm² | 28.1mm² |
Sensor resolution | 12MP | 10MP |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 |
Full resolution | 4000 x 3000 | 3648 x 2736 |
Max native ISO | 6400 | 3200 |
Lowest native ISO | 160 | 100 |
RAW files | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
AF touch | ||
AF continuous | ||
Single AF | ||
Tracking AF | ||
Selective AF | ||
Center weighted AF | ||
Multi area AF | ||
AF live view | ||
Face detect AF | ||
Contract detect AF | ||
Phase detect AF | ||
Total focus points | 23 | 9 |
Lens | ||
Lens mount type | Micro Four Thirds | fixed lens |
Lens zoom range | - | 38-380mm (10.0x) |
Highest aperture | - | f/3.5-4.4 |
Macro focusing distance | - | 2cm |
Available lenses | 107 | - |
Crop factor | 2.1 | 5.8 |
Screen | ||
Range of display | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Display sizing | 3 inches | 3 inches |
Display resolution | 460 thousand dot | 230 thousand dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch display | ||
Display technology | TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle | - |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | None | None |
Features | ||
Slowest shutter speed | 60 secs | 30 secs |
Maximum shutter speed | 1/4000 secs | 1/2000 secs |
Continuous shooting speed | 3.0 frames/s | 2.0 frames/s |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Change WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Integrated flash | ||
Flash distance | 6.30 m | 7.10 m |
Flash modes | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Front Curtain, Rear Curtain |
Hot shoe | ||
AE bracketing | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Maximum flash sync | 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) |
Max video resolution | 1920x1080 | 1280x720 |
Video data format | AVCHD, Motion JPEG | - |
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 | ||
Environment seal | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 264 grams (0.58 lbs) | 250 grams (0.55 lbs) |
Dimensions | 108 x 67 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") | 107 x 69 x 47mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.9") |
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 pictures | - |
Battery format | Battery Pack | - |
Battery ID | - | NP-BG1 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse shooting | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC/SDXC | Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal |
Storage slots | Single | Single |
Price at launch | $360 | $249 |