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Panasonic GH3 vs Sony RX100 IV

Portability
66
Imaging
52
Features
80
Overall
63
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV front
Portability
89
Imaging
52
Features
79
Overall
62

Panasonic GH3 vs Sony RX100 IV 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
  • Older Model is Panasonic GH2
  • Renewed by Panasonic GH4
Sony RX100 IV
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 298g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Announced June 2015
  • Older Model is Sony RX100 III
  • Successor is Sony RX100 V
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Panasonic GH3 vs Sony RX100 IV Overview

Here is a comprehensive review of the Panasonic GH3 and Sony RX100 IV, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Large Sensor Compact by rivals Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the GH3 (16MP) and the RX100 IV (20MP) is fairly close but the GH3 (Four Thirds) and RX100 IV (1") boast different sensor sizing.

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The GH3 was announced 3 years earlier than the RX100 IV and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GH3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX100 IV being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a complete comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the GH3 scores vs the RX100 IV in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH3 over the Sony RX100 IV

 GH3 RX100 IV 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 IV over the Panasonic GH3

 RX100 IV GH3 
AnnouncedJune 2015September 2012Fresher by 33 months
Display resolution1229k614kSharper display (+615k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GH3 and Sony RX100 IV

 GH3 RX100 IV 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Selfie screen Both are selfie friendly

Panasonic GH3 vs Sony RX100 IV Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Panasonic GH3 comes with outside dimensions of 133mm x 93mm x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2") and a weight of 550 grams (1.21 lbs) whilst the Sony RX100 IV has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") having a weight of 298 grams (0.66 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic GH3 and Sony RX100 IV in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you choose at that time. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the GH3 against the RX100 IV.

Panasonic GH3 vs Sony RX100 IV size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the GH3 and RX100 IV is 66 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic GH3 vs Sony RX100 IV top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH3 vs Sony RX100 IV Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be difficult to visualize the difference in sensor sizing simply by researching technical specs. The graphic here will provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the GH3 and RX100 IV.

As you can tell, both the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The GH3 with its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF simpler and the Sony RX100 IV will provide you with extra detail with its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop images more aggressively. The older GH3 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic GH3 vs Sony RX100 IV sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH3 vs Sony RX100 IV Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH3 vs Sony RX100 IV Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Portrait photography features
Sony RX100 IV Portrait photography features
71
you can focus manually
MP count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
65
focusing manually
above average flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
good megapixels (20MP)
nice sensor size (1")
has face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
cannot use external flash
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Street photography factors
Sony RX100 IV Street photography factors
65
fully articulated screen
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
offers touch focus
environment proofing
does not have image stabilization
heavier than others (550 grams)
85
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Optical)
nice sensor size (1")
delivers RAW formats
lighter than average in class (298 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic GH3
Sports photography with Sony RX100 IV
63
high frames per second (20.0 fps)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
environment proofing
good battery power (540 shots)
does not have image stabilization
lacks phase detect AF
68
quiet shutter (1/32,000s)
high max fps (16.0 frames per second)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
has tracking autofocus
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH3 Travel photography info
Sony RX100 IV Travel photography info
71
good battery power (540 per charge)
environment proofing
offers touch focus
MP count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
heavier than others (550g)
86
lighter than average in class (298g)
good megapixels (20MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
relatively wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH3 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony RX100 IV as a Landscape photography camera
71
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
MP count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
good battery power (540 CIPA)
does not have image stabilization
74
focusing manually
relatively wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen is a good size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
delivers RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic GH3
Vlogging with Sony RX100 IV
65
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen
has face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes external mic socket
does not have image stabilization
heavier than others (550 grams)
81
relatively wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
selfie friendly screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
lighter than average in class (298g)
missing external mic support
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Panasonic GH3 vs Sony RX100 IV Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH3 and Sony RX100 IV
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV
Category Advanced Mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Introduced 2012-09-17 2015-06-10
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine VII FHD Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 200 125
RAW data
Min enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 23 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-70mm (2.9x)
Maximal aperture - f/1.8-2.8
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 2.7
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Tilting
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 614 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology OLED Monitor with static touch control -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 1,744 thousand dots 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.67x 0.59x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Fastest quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 20.0 frames per second 16.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync -
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 seconds 1/2000 seconds
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 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/24p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p/24p/120p), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
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 550 grams (1.21 lb) 298 grams (0.66 lb)
Physical dimensions 133 x 93 x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2") 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 71 70
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 22.9
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 12.6
DXO Low light rating 812 562
Other
Battery life 540 photographs 280 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $799 $898