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Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic SZ1

Portability
66
Imaging
52
Features
80
Overall
63
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1 front
Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
34
Overall
37

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic SZ1 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
  • Introduced September 2012
  • Old Model is Panasonic GH2
  • New Model is Panasonic GH4
Panasonic SZ1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 131g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Introduced January 2012
Photography Glossary

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic SZ1 Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic SZ1, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both are offered by Panasonic. The image resolution of the GH3 (16MP) and the SZ1 (16MP) is relatively similar but the GH3 (Four Thirds) and SZ1 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor size.

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The GH3 was revealed 9 months later than the SZ1 and they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GH3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ1 being a Compact camera.

Before we go in to a in depth comparison, below is a concise highlight of how the GH3 scores against the SZ1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH3 over the Panasonic SZ1

 GH3 SZ1 
IntroducedSeptember 2012January 2012Fresher by 9 months
Manually focus Very precise focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution614k230kClearer screen (+384k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ1 over the Panasonic GH3

 SZ1 GH3 

Common features in the Panasonic GH3 and Panasonic SZ1

 GH3 SZ1 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic SZ1 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry your camera frequently, you'll need to think about its weight and volume. The Panasonic GH3 provides physical measurements of 133mm x 93mm x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2") having a weight of 550 grams (1.21 lbs) while the Panasonic SZ1 has sizing of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 131 grams (0.29 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic SZ1 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are employing at the time. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the GH3 and the SZ1.

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic SZ1 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the GH3 and SZ1 is 66 and 95 respectively.

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic SZ1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic SZ1 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very hard to see the difference between sensor sizing simply by reading specifications. The visual here might offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the GH3 and SZ1.

Plainly, the 2 cameras offer the same exact megapixels albeit not the same sensor sizing. The GH3 features the bigger sensor which should make obtaining bokeh easier. The more modern GH3 will have an edge in sensor innovation.

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic SZ1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic SZ1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic SZ1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH3 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic SZ1 as a Portrait photography camera
71
manual focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
34
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
includes face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic GH3
Street photography with Panasonic SZ1
65
fully articulated screen
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
features focus via touch
weather proof
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than competitors (550g)
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (131 grams)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic GH3
Sports photography with Panasonic SZ1
63
max frames per second high (20.0 fps)
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
weather proof
good battery (540 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
lack of phase detect autofocus
40
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic SZ1 Travel photography highlights
71
good battery (540 shots)
weather proof
features focus via touch
decent megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
more heavy than competitors (550 grams)
70
lighter than competition in class (131g)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
very long zoom (250mm)
no Timelapse function
does not contain selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Landscape photography details
Panasonic SZ1 Landscape photography details
71
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3")
decent megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
weather proof
good battery (540 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
43
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Vlogging advice
Panasonic SZ1 Vlogging advice
65
selfie friendly display
touchscreen functionality
supports face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external microphone port
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than competitors (550g)
32
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect autofocus
lighter than competition in class (131 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
no microphone port
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Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic SZ1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH3 and Panasonic SZ1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ1
Category Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2012-09-17 2012-01-09
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor 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 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 12800 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 23 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus range - 4cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 614 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech OLED Monitor with static touch control TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,744 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.67x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 8 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 20.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m 5.60 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max 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 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone 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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 550 gr (1.21 lbs) 131 gr (0.29 lbs)
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 Overall 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 pictures 250 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch price $799 $179