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Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic GH3

Portability
81
Imaging
50
Features
57
Overall
52
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 front
Portability
66
Imaging
52
Features
80
Overall
63

Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic GH3 Key Specs

Panasonic GH1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Expand to 3200)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 385g - 124 x 90 x 45mm
  • Launched July 2009
  • Successor is Panasonic GH2
Panasonic GH3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 550g - 133 x 93 x 82mm
  • Launched September 2012
  • Old Model is Panasonic GH2
  • Renewed by Panasonic GH4
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Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic GH3 Overview

In this article, we will be contrasting the Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic GH3, both Advanced Mirrorless cameras and both are built by Panasonic. There is a substantial difference among the resolutions of the GH1 (12MP) and GH3 (16MP) but they feature the same exact sensor measurements (Four Thirds).

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The GH1 was announced 4 years prior to the GH3 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before delving in to a thorough comparison, below is a quick summation of how the GH1 matches up against the GH3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH1 over the Panasonic GH3

 GH1 GH3 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GH3 over the Panasonic GH1

 GH3 GH1 
LaunchedSeptember 2012July 2009More modern by 38 months
Screen resolution614k460kSharper screen (+154k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Panasonic GH1 and Panasonic GH3

 GH1 GH3 
Manual focus More precise focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Selfie screen Both good for selfies

Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic GH3 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry around your camera, you'll have to consider its weight and size. The Panasonic GH1 comes with outer dimensions of 124mm x 90mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8") along with a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs) while the Panasonic GH3 has specifications of 133mm x 93mm x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2") with a weight of 550 grams (1.21 lbs).

Check the Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic GH3 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are working with during that time. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the GH1 compared to the GH3.

Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic GH3 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the GH1 and GH3 is 81 and 66 respectively.

Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic GH3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic GH3 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is hard to see the contrast in sensor sizes just by going through a spec sheet. The pic below should offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the GH1 and GH3.

As you can see, both of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same megapixels. You can count on the Panasonic GH3 to provide more detail with its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The more aged GH1 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic GH3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic GH3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic GH3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Portrait photography information
Panasonic GH3 Portrait photography information
60
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12MP)
71
focusing manually
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Street photography features
Panasonic GH3 Street photography features
72
fully articulated screen
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
65
screen can move to multiple angles
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
includes focus via touch
weather proofing
does not have image stabilization
heavier than average (550 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Sports photography information
Panasonic GH3 Sports photography information
33
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (320 shots)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
63
max fps high (20.0 fps)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
weather proofing
good battery power (540 per charge)
does not have image stabilization
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH1 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic GH3 as a Travel photography camera
58
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
does not have Time Lapse mode
not so great battery pack (320 shots)
low resolution sensor (12MP)
71
good battery power (540 per charge)
weather proofing
includes focus via touch
MP count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
heavier than average (550g)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic GH3 Landscape photography highlights
55
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
low resolution sensor (12MP)
not so great battery pack (320 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse mode
71
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
good battery power (540 CIPA)
does not have image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Vlogging info
Panasonic GH3 Vlogging info
72
selfie friendly screen
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes mic port
does not have image stabilization
65
screen is selfie friendly
built-in touchscreen
provides face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has mic support
does not have image stabilization
heavier than average (550 grams)
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Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic GH3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH1 and Panasonic GH3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3
Class Advanced Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Launched 2009-07-10 2012-09-17
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine HD Venus Engine VII FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 18.89 x 14.48mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 273.5mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Max boosted ISO 3200 -
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 107 107
Crop factor 1.9 2.1
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460k dots 614k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology - OLED Monitor with static touch control
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,744k dots
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.67x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 20.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.50 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25 24 fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25fps
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic 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 None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 385g (0.85 lbs) 550g (1.21 lbs)
Dimensions 124 x 90 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8") 133 x 93 x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 64 71
DXO Color Depth rating 21.6 22.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.6 12.4
DXO Low light rating 772 812
Other
Battery life 320 photographs 540 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Retail price $949 $799