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Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic S3

Portability
66
Imaging
52
Features
80
Overall
63
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic S3 Key Specs

Panasonic GH3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 550g - 133 x 93 x 82mm
  • Introduced September 2012
  • Succeeded the Panasonic GH2
  • New Model is Panasonic GH4
Panasonic S3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 117g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Revealed January 2011
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Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic S3 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Panasonic GH3 and Panasonic S3, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are created by Panasonic. The resolution of the GH3 (16MP) and the S3 (14MP) is relatively well matched but the GH3 (Four Thirds) and S3 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor size.

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The GH3 was announced 21 months later than the S3 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GH3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic S3 being a Compact camera.

Before delving right into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple overview of how the GH3 matches up versus the S3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH3 over the Panasonic S3

 GH3 S3 
RevealedSeptember 2012January 2011Fresher by 21 months
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution614k230kClearer screen (+384k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic S3 over the Panasonic GH3

 S3 GH3 

Common features in the Panasonic GH3 and Panasonic S3

 GH3 S3 

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic S3 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry your camera regularly, you'll need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Panasonic GH3 has got outer measurements of 133mm x 93mm x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2") and a weight of 550 grams (1.21 lbs) while the Panasonic S3 has proportions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") with a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Check the Panasonic GH3 and Panasonic S3 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you use during that time. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the GH3 versus the S3.

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic S3 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GH3 and S3 is 66 and 96 respectively.

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic S3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic S3 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be hard to visualise the difference between sensor sizing purely by checking specifications. The visual underneath may give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the GH3 and S3.

To sum up, both cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The GH3 using its bigger sensor will make getting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Panasonic GH3 will resolve more detail with its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop shots more aggressively. The fresher GH3 will have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic S3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic S3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic S3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Portrait photography information
Panasonic S3 Portrait photography information
71
has manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focus
supports RAW files
28
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Street photography information
Panasonic S3 Street photography information
65
fully articulated screen
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
boasts touch to focus
weather sealing
lack of image stabilization
heavier than others (550 grams)
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (117 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH3 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic S3 as a Sports photography camera
63
fast continuous shooting (20.0 frames/s)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
weather sealing
good battery pack (540 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
lack of phase detect auto focus
35
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14MP)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH3 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic S3 as a Travel photography camera
71
good battery pack (540 shots)
weather sealing
boasts touch to focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
heavier than others (550 grams)
68
lighter than competition (117g)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic S3 Landscape photography advice
71
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
weather sealing
good battery pack (540 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
38
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.7")
manual mode not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Vlogging advice
Panasonic S3 Vlogging advice
65
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen functionality
offers face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external mic socket
lack of image stabilization
heavier than others (550g)
31
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (117 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have mic port
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Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic S3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH3 and Panasonic S3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
General Information
Brand Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
Category Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2012-09-17 2011-01-05
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine VII FHD Venus Engine IV
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 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 12800 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
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 - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.1-5.6
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 614k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology OLED Monitor with static touch control TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,744k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.67x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 8 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 20.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 3.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 550 gr (1.21 pounds) 117 gr (0.26 pounds)
Physical dimensions 133 x 93 x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 71 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 812 not tested
Other
Battery life 540 images 250 images
Battery form 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 Single Single
Cost at launch $799 $110