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Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic ZS40

Portability
66
Imaging
52
Features
80
Overall
63
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 front
Portability
90
Imaging
43
Features
58
Overall
49

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic ZS40 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
  • Revealed September 2012
  • Succeeded the Panasonic GH2
  • Replacement is Panasonic GH4
Panasonic ZS40
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Boost to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 240g - 111 x 64 x 34mm
  • Revealed January 2014
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ60
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS35
  • Renewed by Panasonic ZS45
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Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic ZS40 Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Panasonic GH3 and Panasonic ZS40, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both designed by Panasonic. The resolution of the GH3 (16MP) and the ZS40 (18MP) is very comparable but the GH3 (Four Thirds) and ZS40 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor sizes.

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The GH3 was unveiled 15 months earlier than the ZS40 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic GH3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS40 being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a in-depth comparison, below is a brief view of how the GH3 scores vs the ZS40 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH3 over the Panasonic ZS40

 GH3 ZS40 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS40 over the Panasonic GH3

 ZS40 GH3 
RevealedJanuary 2014September 2012More recent by 15 months
Display resolution920k614kSharper display (+306k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GH3 and Panasonic ZS40

 GH3 ZS40 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic ZS40 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to lug around your camera regularly, you will need to think about its weight and measurements. The Panasonic GH3 provides external dimensions of 133mm x 93mm x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2") with a weight of 550 grams (1.21 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS40 has proportions of 111mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic GH3 and Panasonic ZS40 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you select at the time. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the GH3 against the ZS40.

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic ZS40 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the GH3 and ZS40 is 66 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic ZS40 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic ZS40 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very tough to visualise the contrast in sensor measurements purely by going through a spec sheet. The photograph here will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the GH3 and ZS40.

As you can see, both of the cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The GH3 using its larger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF easier and the Panasonic ZS40 will show greater detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos much more aggressively. The older GH3 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic ZS40 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Portrait photography details
Panasonic ZS40 Portrait photography details
71
focusing manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focus
exports RAW formats
52
has manual focus
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
offers face detection focus
exports RAW formats
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Street photography info
Panasonic ZS40 Street photography info
65
fully articulated screen
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
provides touch to focus
weather sealing
does not have image stabilization
heavier than average (550g)
69
has image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (240g)
no moving screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Sports photography factors
Panasonic ZS40 Sports photography factors
63
high max fps (20.0 frames per second)
decent megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
weather sealing
good battery power (540 per charge)
does not have image stabilization
does not have phase detect auto focus
54
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18MP)
offers tracking autofocus
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH3 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS40 as a Travel photography camera
71
good battery power (540 shots)
weather sealing
provides touch to focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
heavier than average (550 grams)
69
lighter than competition in class (240 grams)
megapixel count good (18MP)
built-in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
very long reach (720mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic GH3
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS40
71
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
good battery power (540 per charge)
does not have image stabilization
56
has manual focus
relatively wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
exports RAW formats
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic GH3
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS40
65
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen enabled
includes face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have mic socket
does not have image stabilization
heavier than average (550 grams)
34
relatively wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (240 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
doesn't have external mic jack
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Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic ZS40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH3 and Panasonic ZS40
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
Also called - Lumix DMC-TZ60
Class Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2012-09-17 2014-01-06
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine VII FHD Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 12800 3200
Max boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 23 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 614k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology OLED Monitor with static touch control TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 1,744k dot 200k dot
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.67x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 20.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 6.40 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AEB
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 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 550 grams (1.21 lbs) 240 grams (0.53 lbs)
Dimensions 133 x 93 x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2") 111 x 64 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3")
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 300 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 feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $799 $450