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Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic ZS3

Portability
70
Imaging
51
Features
65
Overall
56
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 front
Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic ZS3 Key Specs

Panasonic GH2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 442g - 124 x 90 x 76mm
  • Launched March 2011
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic GH1
  • Updated by Panasonic GH3
Panasonic ZS3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 229g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Introduced May 2009
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ7
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Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic ZS3 Overview

On this page, we are matching up the Panasonic GH2 versus Panasonic ZS3, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are created by Panasonic. There is a substantial difference among the resolutions of the GH2 (16MP) and ZS3 (10MP) and the GH2 (Four Thirds) and ZS3 (1/2.3") have different sensor size.

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The GH2 was released 23 months after the ZS3 making them a generation away from each other. The two cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GH2 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS3 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight to a full comparison, here is a brief overview of how the GH2 grades vs the ZS3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic GH2 over the Panasonic ZS3

 GH2 ZS3 
IntroducedMarch 2011May 2009More modern by 23 months
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS3 over the Panasonic GH2

 ZS3 GH2 

Common features in the Panasonic GH2 and Panasonic ZS3

 GH2 ZS3 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Display resolution460k460kExact same display resolution

Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic ZS3 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry around your camera frequently, you will have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic GH2 has got outer 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 ZS3 has dimensions of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic GH2 versus Panasonic ZS3 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you select at that time. Underneath is a front view physical size comparison of the GH2 vs the ZS3.

Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic ZS3 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the GH2 and ZS3 is 70 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic ZS3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic ZS3 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very hard to visualize the gap in sensor sizes merely by viewing specifications. The image here will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the GH2 and ZS3.

To sum up, both of the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The GH2 featuring a larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field less difficult and the Panasonic GH2 will result in more detail as a result of its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images a bit more aggressively. The younger GH2 should have an advantage in sensor technology.

Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic ZS3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic ZS3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GH2
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS3
70
focusing manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focus
saves RAW files
19
lack of manual focus
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (10MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Street photography factors
Panasonic ZS3 Street photography factors
68
fully articulated screen
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
does not have image stabilization
60
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (229 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Sports photography factors
Panasonic ZS3 Sports photography factors
46
good megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
low fps (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery (330 shots)
does not have phase detect auto focus
24
has image stabilization (Optical)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Travel photography factors
Panasonic ZS3 Travel photography factors
62
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
no Timelapse recording
terrible battery (330 shots)
63
lighter than competitors in class (229 grams)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
very long reach (300mm)
no Timelapse function
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Landscape photography features
Panasonic ZS3 Landscape photography features
60
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
good megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery (330 CIPA)
no Timelapse recording
35
relatively wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
no manual mode
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic ZS3 Vlogging highlights
71
selfie friendly display
touchscreen functionality
supports face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have external microphone socket
does not have image stabilization
30
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (229g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not have selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone jack
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Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic ZS3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH2 and Panasonic ZS3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-TZ7
Type Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2011-03-23 2009-05-14
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 12800 6400
Minimum native ISO 160 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 23 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-300mm (12.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-4.9
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.71x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 15.60 m 5.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max 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), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format AVCHD, Motion JPEG AVCHD Lite
Microphone 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 442 grams (0.97 pounds) 229 grams (0.50 pounds)
Physical dimensions 124 x 90 x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0") 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 60 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.2 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 655 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 photos -
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/SDXC SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $1,000 $200