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Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic ZS3

Portability
81
Imaging
49
Features
57
Overall
52
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic ZS3 Key Specs

Panasonic GH1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Increase to 3200)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 385g - 124 x 90 x 45mm
  • Released July 2009
  • Refreshed by Panasonic GH2
Panasonic ZS3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 229g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Announced May 2009
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ7
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Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic ZS3 Overview

Lets look more in depth at the Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic ZS3, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are designed by Panasonic. The resolution of the GH1 (12MP) and the ZS3 (10MP) is pretty close but the GH1 (Four Thirds) and ZS3 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor measurements.

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The GH1 was revealed 2 months after the ZS3 which means that they are of a similar generation. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GH1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS3 being a Compact camera.

Before going into a full comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the GH1 matches up vs the ZS3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH1 over the Panasonic ZS3

 GH1 ZS3 
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS3 over the Panasonic GH1

 ZS3 GH1 

Common features in the Panasonic GH1 and Panasonic ZS3

 GH1 ZS3 
AnnouncedJuly 2009May 2009Same generation
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements
Screen resolution460k460kEqual screen resolution
Touch screen Neither features Touch screen

Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic ZS3 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry around your camera regularly, you should think about its weight and volume. The Panasonic GH1 enjoys external measurements of 124mm x 90mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8") accompanied by a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS3 has sizing of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic ZS3 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you select at the time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the GH1 vs the ZS3.

Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic ZS3 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the GH1 and ZS3 is 81 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic ZS3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic ZS3 Sensor Comparison

Often, its tough to envision the difference in sensor sizes purely by researching technical specs. The picture underneath might give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the GH1 and ZS3.

As you have seen, each of the cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The GH1 having a bigger sensor will make achieving bokeh easier and the Panasonic GH1 will result in extra detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots a good deal more aggressively.

Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic ZS3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Portrait photography details
Panasonic ZS3 Portrait photography details
59
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
19
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
resolution not great (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH1 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS3 as a Street photography camera
72
screen can move to multiple angles
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (229g)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Sports photography advice
Panasonic ZS3 Sports photography advice
32
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
low frames per second (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (320 per charge)
lacks phase detect AF
24
image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
resolution not great (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH1 Travel photography details
Panasonic ZS3 Travel photography details
58
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
doesn't have Time Lapse function
terrible battery pack (320 CIPA)
resolution not great (12MP)
63
lighter than others (229 grams)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
long reach (300mm)
no Time Lapse function
resolution not great (10MP)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic GH1
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS3
55
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (320 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
35
decently wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
lack of manual exposure
resolution not great (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH1 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS3 as a Vlogging camera
72
display is selfie friendly
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external mic jack
lack of image stabilization
30
decently wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (229 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic socket
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Panasonic GH1 vs Panasonic ZS3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH1 and Panasonic ZS3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
General Information
Company Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
Also called as - Lumix DMC-TZ7
Category Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2009-07-10 2009-05-14
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine HD -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 18.89 x 14.48mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 273.5mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 10 megapixels
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 1600 6400
Max boosted ISO 3200 -
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-300mm (12.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-4.9
Macro focusing distance - 3cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 1.9 5.9
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 10.50 m 5.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format AVCHD AVCHD Lite
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 385 grams (0.85 lbs) 229 grams (0.50 lbs)
Physical dimensions 124 x 90 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 1.8") 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 64 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.6 not tested
DXO Low light rating 772 not tested
Other
Battery life 320 photographs -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $949 $200