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Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic ZS7

Portability
66
Imaging
52
Features
80
Overall
63
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 front
Portability
91
Imaging
35
Features
33
Overall
34

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic ZS7 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
  • Superseded the Panasonic GH2
  • Newer Model is Panasonic GH4
Panasonic ZS7
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 218g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Released July 2011
  • Additionally referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ10
  • Updated by Panasonic ZS8
Photography Glossary

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic ZS7 Overview

In this article, we are contrasting the Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic ZS7, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are designed by Panasonic. There exists a big gap among the resolutions of the GH3 (16MP) and ZS7 (12MP) and the GH3 (Four Thirds) and ZS7 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor sizes.

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The GH3 was introduced 15 months after the ZS7 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GH3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS7 being a Compact camera.

Before diving through a in depth comparison, below is a brief summation of how the GH3 scores against the ZS7 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH3 over the Panasonic ZS7

 GH3 ZS7 
ReleasedSeptember 2012July 2011More modern by 15 months
Manual focus More accurate focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution614k460kSharper display (+154k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS7 over the Panasonic GH3

 ZS7 GH3 

Common features in the Panasonic GH3 and Panasonic ZS7

 GH3 ZS7 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic ZS7 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry around your camera regularly, you will need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GH3 provides physical dimensions of 133mm x 93mm x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2") having a weight of 550 grams (1.21 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS7 has measurements of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 218 grams (0.48 lbs).

See the Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic ZS7 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are working with at that moment. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the GH3 vs the ZS7.

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic ZS7 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GH3 and ZS7 is 66 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic ZS7 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic ZS7 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be hard to see the gap in sensor sizes only by viewing technical specs. The picture below will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the GH3 and ZS7.

As you can tell, both of the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The GH3 using its larger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field simpler and the Panasonic GH3 will render more detail using its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos far more aggressively. The more recent GH3 is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic ZS7 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic ZS7 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic ZS7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic ZS7 Portrait photography highlights
71
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
21
focusing manually not possible
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH3 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS7 as a Street photography camera
65
screen articulates
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
has focus by touch
weather proof
no image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (550g)
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (218 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH3 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS7 as a Sports photography camera
63
high max fps (20.0 frames per second)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
weather proof
great battery power (540 CIPA)
no image stabilization
does not have phase detect AF
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second low (2.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Travel photography info
Panasonic ZS7 Travel photography info
71
great battery power (540 CIPA)
weather proof
has focus by touch
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
more heavy than competition in class (550g)
63
lighter than competition in class (218 grams)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
great zoom (300mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH3 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZS7 as a Landscape photography camera
71
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
weather proof
great battery power (540 shots)
no image stabilization
38
decently wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Vlogging factors
Panasonic ZS7 Vlogging factors
65
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen enabled
includes face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has microphone support
no image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (550 grams)
30
decently wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (218g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have microphone port
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Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic ZS7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH3 and Panasonic ZS7
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-TZ10
Class Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2012-09-17 2011-07-19
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine VII FHD Venus Engine HD II
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 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 12800 6400
Min native ISO 200 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 23 11
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-300mm (12.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-4.9
Macro focus range - 3cm
Available lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 614k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech OLED Monitor with static touch control -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,744k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.67x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 20.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m 5.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160s -
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 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 AVCHD Lite
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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 550g (1.21 lbs) 218g (0.48 lbs)
Dimensions 133 x 93 x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2") 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
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 pictures -
Type of battery 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 1 1
Price at launch $799 $350