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Panasonic GX8 vs Panasonic S3

Portability
74
Imaging
59
Features
84
Overall
69
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Panasonic GX8 vs Panasonic S3 Key Specs

Panasonic GX8
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 487g - 133 x 78 x 63mm
  • Introduced July 2015
  • Older Model is Panasonic GX7
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 GX8 vs Panasonic S3 Overview

Below, we will be evaluating the Panasonic GX8 versus Panasonic S3, one is a Advanced Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both are offered by Panasonic. There exists a sizeable gap between the image resolutions of the GX8 (20MP) and S3 (14MP) and the GX8 (Four Thirds) and S3 (1/2.3") use different sensor size.

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The GX8 was unveiled 4 years after the S3 which is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic GX8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic S3 being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a in depth comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the GX8 grades versus the S3 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic GX8 over the Panasonic S3

 GX8 S3 
IntroducedJuly 2015January 2011More modern by 56 months
Manually focus More exact focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution1040k230kClearer screen (+810k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic S3 over the Panasonic GX8

 S3 GX8 

Common features in the Panasonic GX8 and Panasonic S3

 GX8 S3 

Panasonic GX8 vs Panasonic S3 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry around your camera, you have to think about its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GX8 features outside measurements of 133mm x 78mm x 63mm (5.2" x 3.1" x 2.5") and a weight of 487 grams (1.07 lbs) whilst the Panasonic S3 has measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") and a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic GX8 versus Panasonic S3 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are using at that moment. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the GX8 against the S3.

Panasonic GX8 vs Panasonic S3 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GX8 and S3 is 74 and 96 respectively.

Panasonic GX8 vs Panasonic S3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GX8 vs Panasonic S3 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is hard to imagine the gap between sensor sizes merely by checking technical specs. The pic underneath should offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the GX8 and S3.

As you can tell, both the cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The GX8 with its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field less difficult and the Panasonic GX8 will give you extra detail having an extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots much more aggressively. The fresher GX8 provides a benefit in sensor technology.

Panasonic GX8 vs Panasonic S3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GX8 vs Panasonic S3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GX8 vs Panasonic S3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic GX8
Portrait photography with Panasonic S3
75
you can focus manually
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
28
decent megapixels (14MP)
no manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GX8 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic S3 as a Street photography camera
80
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
provides touch to focus
environment sealing
great ISO range (25,600)
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (117 grams)
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GX8 Sports photography info
Panasonic S3 Sports photography info
68
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
silent shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (20MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
environment sealing
not so great battery pack (330 shots)
lack of phase detect autofocus
35
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GX8 Travel photography details
Panasonic S3 Travel photography details
73
environment sealing
provides touch to focus
MP count decent (20MP)
selfie friendly screen
not so great battery pack (330 per charge)
68
lighter than average (117 grams)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GX8 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic S3 Landscape photography advice
76
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
not so great battery pack (330 per charge)
38
rather wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.7 inches)
no manual control
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GX8 Vlogging info
Panasonic S3 Vlogging info
81
selfie friendly screen
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect autofocus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
does have microphone support
31
rather wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (117 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external microphone support
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Panasonic GX8 vs Panasonic S3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GX8 and Panasonic S3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
Category Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2015-07-16 2011-01-05
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine Venus Engine IV
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 20 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 5184 x 3888 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 100
RAW format
Minimum boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
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)
Max aperture - f/3.1-5.6
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 1,040k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.77x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 8 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Highest silent shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shooting rate 12.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 3.30 m
Flash settings Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, forced off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 487g (1.07 lbs) 117g (0.26 lbs)
Dimensions 133 x 78 x 63mm (5.2" x 3.1" x 2.5") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 75 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.6 not tested
DXO Low light rating 806 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 shots 250 shots
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $898 $110