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Panasonic GF3 vs Sony H20

Portability
90
Imaging
48
Features
48
Overall
48
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 front
Portability
87
Imaging
33
Features
29
Overall
31

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony H20 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
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic GF2
  • Successor is Panasonic GF5
Sony H20
(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
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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.

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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.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF3 over the Sony H20

 GF3 H20 
IntroducedAugust 2011May 2009More modern by 28 months
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper 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 typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"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).

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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.

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony H20 size comparison

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

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony H20 top view buttons comparison

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 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony H20 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF3 vs Sony H20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Portrait photography advice
Sony H20 Portrait photography advice
55
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
no external flash support
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
27
you can focus manually
cannot use external flash
low resolution (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Street photography features
Sony H20 Street photography features
70
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
comes with focus by touch
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
heavier than competitors in class (250 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF3 as a Sports photography camera
Sony H20 as a Sports photography camera
38
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
max fps very slow (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
terrible battery power (300 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
26
built in image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
low resolution (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Travel photography info
Sony H20 Travel photography info
58
comes with focus by touch
built-in flash
no Time Lapse function
terrible battery power (300 per charge)
megapixel count low (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
51
flash built-in
long reach (380mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
heavier than competitors in class (250 grams)
low resolution (10MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Landscape photography advice
Sony H20 Landscape photography advice
55
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
terrible battery power (300 per charge)
no Time Lapse function
36
you can focus manually
screen is a good size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
low resolution (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Vlogging information
Sony H20 Vlogging information
32
built-in touchscreen
comes with face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
no external mic socket
23
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have mic jack
heavier than competitors in class (250g)
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Panasonic GF3 vs Sony H20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF3 and Sony H20
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3Sony 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