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Panasonic GF8 vs Panasonic SZ3

Portability
90
Imaging
54
Features
62
Overall
57
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
40
Features
29
Overall
35

Panasonic GF8 vs Panasonic SZ3 Key Specs

Panasonic GF8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 266g - 107 x 65 x 33mm
  • Launched February 2016
  • Succeeded the Panasonic GF7
Panasonic SZ3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 126g - 95 x 56 x 22mm
  • Released January 2013
Photography Glossary

Panasonic GF8 vs Panasonic SZ3 Overview

Here, we are reviewing the Panasonic GF8 and Panasonic SZ3, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both manufactured by Panasonic. The resolution of the GF8 (16MP) and the SZ3 (16MP) is very similar but the GF8 (Four Thirds) and SZ3 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor measurements.

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The GF8 was launched 3 years after the SZ3 which is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GF8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ3 being a Compact camera.

Before going into a full comparison, here is a short overview of how the GF8 matches up versus the SZ3 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF8 over the Panasonic SZ3

 GF8 SZ3 
ReleasedFebruary 2016January 2013More modern by 38 months
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1040k230kSharper display (+810k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ3 over the Panasonic GF8

 SZ3 GF8 

Common features in the Panasonic GF8 and Panasonic SZ3

 GF8 SZ3 
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Panasonic GF8 vs Panasonic SZ3 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry around your camera, you will have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic GF8 offers exterior dimensions of 107mm x 65mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") and a weight of 266 grams (0.59 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ3 has dimensions of 95mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic GF8 and Panasonic SZ3 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the GF8 vs the SZ3.

Panasonic GF8 vs Panasonic SZ3 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GF8 and SZ3 is 90 and 96 respectively.

Panasonic GF8 vs Panasonic SZ3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF8 vs Panasonic SZ3 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very hard to see the difference between sensor sizes purely by reading a spec sheet. The picture here will provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the GF8 and SZ3.

As you can see, both of the cameras feature the identical megapixel count but not the same sensor sizes. The GF8 comes with the larger sensor which will make getting shallower DOF easier. The more modern GF8 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic GF8 vs Panasonic SZ3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF8 vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF8 vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Portrait photography information
Panasonic SZ3 Portrait photography information
65
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focus
delivers RAW files
external flash not possible
30
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF8 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic SZ3 as a Street photography camera
80
tilting screen
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
provides focus by touch
very good high ISO (25,600)
no image stabilization
64
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (126 grams)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic GF8
Sports photography with Panasonic SZ3
49
silent shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
low max shutter speed (1/500 seconds)
slow continuous shooting (5.8 fps)
no image stabilization
not so great battery life (230 CIPA)
does not have phase detect auto focus
41
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
low frames per second (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Travel photography features
Panasonic SZ3 Travel photography features
66
provides focus by touch
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse recording
not so great battery life (230 shots)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
71
lighter than competition (126 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
very long reach (250mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Landscape photography info
Panasonic SZ3 Landscape photography info
65
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
no image stabilization
not so great battery life (230 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse recording
39
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
lack of manual mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic GF8
Vlogging with Panasonic SZ3
33
touchscreen functionality
supports face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
lack of microphone port
31
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (126g)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone port
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Panasonic GF8 vs Panasonic SZ3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF8 and Panasonic SZ3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
General Information
Company Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2016-02-15 2013-01-07
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Full resolution 4592 x 3448 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 23 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 1,040 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/500s 1/1600s
Maximum silent shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shooting speed 5.8 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.60 m (at ISO 200) 4.10 m
Flash modes Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, flash off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 50p, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 266 gr (0.59 lbs) 126 gr (0.28 lbs)
Physical dimensions 107 x 65 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") 95 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 230 pictures 250 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3-shot/10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $549 $150