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Panasonic GH4 vs Panasonic S3

Portability
66
Imaging
53
Features
88
Overall
67
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Panasonic GH4 vs Panasonic S3 Key Specs

Panasonic GH4
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 560g - 133 x 93 x 84mm
  • Released February 2014
  • Replaced the Panasonic GH3
  • Later Model is Panasonic GH5
Panasonic S3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 117g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Introduced January 2011
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Panasonic GH4 vs Panasonic S3 Overview

Below is a in depth analysis of the Panasonic GH4 versus Panasonic S3, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both are offered by Panasonic. The image resolution of the GH4 (16MP) and the S3 (14MP) is relatively close but the GH4 (Four Thirds) and S3 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor sizing.

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The GH4 was introduced 3 years later than the S3 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GH4 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic S3 being a Compact camera.

Before we go into a in-depth comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the GH4 matches up vs the S3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH4 over the Panasonic S3

 GH4 S3 
IntroducedFebruary 2014January 2011More recent by 38 months
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1036k230kCrisper screen (+806k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic S3 over the Panasonic GH4

 S3 GH4 

Common features in the Panasonic GH4 and Panasonic S3

 GH4 S3 

Panasonic GH4 vs Panasonic S3 Physical Comparison

If you're going to lug around your camera, you will need to think about its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GH4 has got external measurements of 133mm x 93mm x 84mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.3") with a weight of 560 grams (1.23 lbs) while the Panasonic S3 has measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") along with a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic GH4 versus Panasonic S3 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have attached at that time. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the GH4 vs the S3.

Panasonic GH4 vs Panasonic S3 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GH4 and S3 is 66 and 96 respectively.

Panasonic GH4 vs Panasonic S3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH4 vs Panasonic S3 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very hard to envision the difference in sensor measurements purely by looking through specs. The photograph here may provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the GH4 and S3.

All in all, both the cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The GH4 with its bigger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF simpler and the Panasonic GH4 will result in more detail using its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The more recent GH4 will have a benefit in sensor innovation.

Panasonic GH4 vs Panasonic S3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH4 vs Panasonic S3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH4 vs Panasonic S3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH4 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic S3 as a Portrait photography camera
71
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
28
decent MP (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic GH4
Street photography with Panasonic S3
71
screen articulates
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
boasts touch to focus
weather proof
lighter than competitors (560g)
good high ISO (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (117 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic GH4
Sports photography with Panasonic S3
62
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
weather proof
lack of image stabilization
no phase detect autofocus
35
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
max frames per second low (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH4 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic S3 Travel photography highlights
77
lighter than competitors (560g)
weather proof
boasts touch to focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
68
lighter than competitors (117g)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (28mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH4 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic S3 Landscape photography factors
72
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3")
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
lack of image stabilization
38
rather wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
manual mode not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH4 Vlogging information
Panasonic S3 Vlogging information
71
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen functionality
supports face detect autofocus
high quality video (4096 x 2160 resolution)
includes microphone jack
lighter than competitors (560g)
lack of image stabilization
31
rather wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (117g)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic port
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Panasonic GH4 vs Panasonic S3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH4 and Panasonic S3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
General Information
Brand Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
Class Pro Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Released 2014-02-07 2011-01-05
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine IX Venus Engine IV
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 49 11
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.1-5.6
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 1,036 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology OLED TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,359 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.67x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 8s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 12.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 17.00 m (at ISO 200) 3.30 m
Flash modes Auto, auto/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync/redeye reduction, forced off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 4096 x 2160 (24p), 3840 x 2160 (24p, 25p, 30p), 1920 x 1080 (24p, 25p, 30p, 50p, 60p), 1280 x 720 (24p, 25p, 30p), 640 x 480 (25p, 30p) 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 4096x2160 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4
Mic 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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 560 gr (1.23 lb) 117 gr (0.26 lb)
Physical dimensions 133 x 93 x 84mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.3") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 74 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.2 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.8 not tested
DXO Low light rating 791 not tested
Other
Battery life 500 photos 250 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID DMW-BLF19 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs (single or three-shot)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at launch $1,500 $110