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Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic SZ3

Portability
70
Imaging
51
Features
65
Overall
56
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
40
Features
29
Overall
35

Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic SZ3 Key Specs

Panasonic GH2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 442g - 124 x 90 x 76mm
  • Revealed March 2011
  • Replaced the Panasonic GH1
  • Newer Model is Panasonic GH3
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
  • Revealed January 2013
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Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic SZ3 Overview

In this write-up, we are matching up the Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic SZ3, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both are sold by Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the GH2 (16MP) and the SZ3 (16MP) is fairly similar but the GH2 (Four Thirds) and SZ3 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor measurements.

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The GH2 was launched 21 months before the SZ3 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GH2 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ3 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the GH2 scores against the SZ3 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH2 over the Panasonic SZ3

 GH2 SZ3 
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ3 over the Panasonic GH2

 SZ3 GH2 
RevealedJanuary 2013March 2011More recent by 21 months

Common features in the Panasonic GH2 and Panasonic SZ3

 GH2 SZ3 

Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic SZ3 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera frequently, you have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Panasonic GH2 has got external dimensions of 124mm x 90mm x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0") with a weight of 442 grams (0.97 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ3 has proportions 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 GH2 vs Panasonic SZ3 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you use during that time. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the GH2 and the SZ3.

Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic SZ3 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the GH2 and SZ3 is 70 and 96 respectively.

Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic SZ3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic SZ3 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very difficult to envision the contrast between sensor measurements merely by going over technical specs. The graphic here might offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the GH2 and SZ3.

As you have seen, both of the cameras enjoy the same exact resolution but not the same sensor measurements. The GH2 uses the larger sensor which will make getting shallow depth of field less difficult. The older GH2 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic SZ3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH2 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic SZ3 as a Portrait photography camera
70
focusing manually
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focusing
supports RAW files
30
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
lack of manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Street photography advice
Panasonic SZ3 Street photography advice
68
fully articulated screen
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
64
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (126g)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH2 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic SZ3 as a Sports photography camera
46
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
bad battery pack (330 CIPA)
has no phase detect AF
41
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic SZ3 Travel photography highlights
62
good resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
missing Time Lapse function
bad battery pack (330 CIPA)
71
lighter than competitors (126g)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
very long zoom (250mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic SZ3 Landscape photography factors
60
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
bad battery pack (330 per charge)
missing Time Lapse function
39
really wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.7")
no manual control
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Vlogging factors
Panasonic SZ3 Vlogging factors
71
selfie friendly display
touchscreen functionality
includes face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external mic jack
lack of image stabilization
31
really wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (126g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic jack
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Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic SZ3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH2 and Panasonic SZ3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
General Information
Make Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
Type Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2011-03-23 2013-01-07
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Minimum native ISO 160 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 23 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.71x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 15.60 m 4.10 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24, 30, 60fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG 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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 442g (0.97 lb) 126g (0.28 lb)
Dimensions 124 x 90 x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0") 95 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 60 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.2 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 655 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 pictures 250 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $1,000 $150