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Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic ZS8

Portability
66
Imaging
52
Features
80
Overall
63
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
39
Overall
37

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic ZS8 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
  • Superseded the Panasonic GH2
  • Replacement is Panasonic GH4
Panasonic ZS8
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 210g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Launched July 2011
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-TZ18
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS7
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Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic ZS8 Overview

Lets look much closer at the Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic ZS8, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are offered by Panasonic. The image resolution of the GH3 (16MP) and the ZS8 (14MP) is pretty well matched but the GH3 (Four Thirds) and ZS8 (1/2.3") use different sensor sizing.

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The GH3 was released 15 months later than the ZS8 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic GH3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS8 being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a in-depth comparison, below is a simple summation of how the GH3 grades against the ZS8 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH3 over the Panasonic ZS8

 GH3 ZS8 
LaunchedSeptember 2012July 2011More recent by 15 months
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution614k230kClearer screen (+384k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS8 over the Panasonic GH3

 ZS8 GH3 

Common features in the Panasonic GH3 and Panasonic ZS8

 GH3 ZS8 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic ZS8 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic GH3 provides exterior dimensions of 133mm x 93mm x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2") along with a weight of 550 grams (1.21 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS8 has dimensions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") along with a weight of 210 grams (0.46 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic ZS8 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have chosen at that time. Underneath is the front view measurement comparison of the GH3 against the ZS8.

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic ZS8 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GH3 and ZS8 is 66 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic ZS8 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic ZS8 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is hard to imagine the difference between sensor measurements simply by looking at a spec sheet. The visual below should give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the GH3 and ZS8.

As you can see, both of those cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The GH3 due to its bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Panasonic GH3 will give you greater detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs a little more aggressively. The younger GH3 provides a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic ZS8 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic ZS8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GH3
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS8
71
focusing manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focus
exports RAW files
30
good resolution (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
can't use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Street photography features
Panasonic ZS8 Street photography features
65
screen articulates fully
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
provides focus via touch
environment sealing
no image stabilization
more heavy than average (550 grams)
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (210 grams)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Sports photography advice
Panasonic ZS8 Sports photography advice
63
fast shooting (20.0 fps)
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
environment sealing
good battery power (540 per charge)
no image stabilization
has no phase detect auto focus
47
great zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (2.0 frames/s)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic GH3
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS8
71
good battery power (540 shots)
environment sealing
provides focus via touch
good resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
more heavy than average (550 grams)
69
lighter than competitors in class (210g)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (24mm)
great reach (384mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH3 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZS8 as a Landscape photography camera
71
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3")
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
good battery power (540 shots)
no image stabilization
44
quite wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Vlogging advice
Panasonic ZS8 Vlogging advice
65
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen capability
supports face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external microphone jack
no image stabilization
more heavy than average (550g)
30
quite wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (210g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone socket
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Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic ZS8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH3 and Panasonic ZS8
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
General Information
Company Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS8
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-TZ18
Category Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2012-09-17 2011-07-19
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine VII FHD Venus Engine 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 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
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 - 24-384mm (16.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 614 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech OLED Monitor with static touch control TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,744 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.67x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 20.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 12.00 m 5.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 550g (1.21 lbs) 210g (0.46 lbs)
Dimensions 133 x 93 x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2") 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 photographs 340 photographs
Battery type 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
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $799 $275