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Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic LZ20

Portability
66
Imaging
52
Features
80
Overall
63
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20 front
Portability
71
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic LZ20 Key Specs

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
  • Previous Model is Panasonic GH2
  • Newer Model is Panasonic GH4
Panasonic LZ20
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Boost to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-525mm (F3.1-5.8) lens
  • 499g - 120 x 76 x 80mm
  • Announced July 2012
  • Later Model is Panasonic LZ30
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Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic LZ20 Overview

In this article, we will be analyzing the Panasonic GH3 and Panasonic LZ20, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both produced by Panasonic. The image resolution of the GH3 (16MP) and the LZ20 (16MP) is pretty comparable but the GH3 (Four Thirds) and LZ20 (1/2.3") possess different sensor sizing.

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The GH3 was announced 3 months later than the LZ20 and they are both of a similar generation. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GH3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic LZ20 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving through a thorough comparison, below is a concise view of how the GH3 grades versus the LZ20 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH3 over the Panasonic LZ20

 GH3 LZ20 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution614k460kCrisper screen (+154k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ20 over the Panasonic GH3

 LZ20 GH3 

Common features in the Panasonic GH3 and Panasonic LZ20

 GH3 LZ20 
AnnouncedSeptember 2012July 2012Same generation
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic LZ20 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry your camera regularly, you have to take into account its weight and size. The Panasonic GH3 features outside dimensions of 133mm x 93mm x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2") having a weight of 550 grams (1.21 lbs) whilst the Panasonic LZ20 has specifications of 120mm x 76mm x 80mm (4.7" x 3.0" x 3.1") accompanied by a weight of 499 grams (1.10 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic GH3 and Panasonic LZ20 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are working with at that time. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the GH3 compared to the LZ20.

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic LZ20 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GH3 and LZ20 is 66 and 71 respectively.

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic LZ20 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic LZ20 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its hard to visualize the difference in sensor sizing merely by going through specs. The photograph here might offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the GH3 and LZ20.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras offer the same exact megapixels albeit different sensor sizing. The GH3 contains the bigger sensor which should make getting shallow depth of field less difficult.

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic LZ20 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic LZ20 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic LZ20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic LZ20 Portrait photography highlights
71
focusing manually
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
36
MP count decent (16MP)
offers face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic GH3
Street photography with Panasonic LZ20
65
fully articulated screen
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
comes with touch to focus
weather proofing
no image stabilization
heavier than competition (550g)
45
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
more heavy than competition in class (499g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Sports photography features
Panasonic LZ20 Sports photography features
63
max fps high (20.0 frames per second)
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
weather proofing
better than average battery power (540 shots)
no image stabilization
lack of phase detect AF
47
long zoom range (25-525mm 21.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
great battery power (380 shots)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Travel photography factors
Panasonic LZ20 Travel photography factors
71
better than average battery power (540 shots)
weather proofing
comes with touch to focus
MP count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
heavier than competition (550g)
58
great battery power (380 per charge)
MP count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
long zoom (525mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
more heavy than competition in class (499g)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic GH3
Landscape photography with Panasonic LZ20
71
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
better than average battery power (540 shots)
no image stabilization
45
really wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
great battery power (380 CIPA)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic GH3
Vlogging with Panasonic LZ20
65
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen functionality
includes face detection focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have external mic support
no image stabilization
heavier than competition (550g)
25
really wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focus
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone jack
more heavy than competition in class (499 grams)
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Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic LZ20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH3 and Panasonic LZ20
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20
Class Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2012-09-17 2012-07-18
Body design SLR-style mirrorless SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine VII FHD -
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 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 12800 1600
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-525mm (21.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.1-5.8
Macro focus range - 2cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 614k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech OLED Monitor with static touch control TFT Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,744k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.67x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 15 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 20.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m 6.80 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25 24 fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25fps 1280 x 720p ( 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 550g (1.21 lbs) 499g (1.10 lbs)
Dimensions 133 x 93 x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2") 120 x 76 x 80mm (4.7" x 3.0" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 71 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 812 not tested
Other
Battery life 540 images 380 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $799 $250