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Panasonic GX850 vs Panasonic S3

Portability
90
Imaging
55
Features
70
Overall
61
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX850 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Panasonic GX850 vs Panasonic S3 Key Specs

Panasonic GX850
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 269g - 107 x 65 x 33mm
  • Revealed January 2017
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-GX800 / Lumix DMC-GF9
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
  • Revealed January 2011
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Panasonic GX850 vs Panasonic S3 Overview

Below, we will be evaluating the Panasonic GX850 and Panasonic S3, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both sold by Panasonic. The image resolution of the GX850 (16MP) and the S3 (14MP) is relatively well matched but the GX850 (Four Thirds) and S3 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor measurements.

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The GX850 was manufactured 6 years after the S3 which is quite a large difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic GX850 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic S3 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick summation of how the GX850 scores versus the S3 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GX850 over the Panasonic S3

 GX850 S3 
RevealedJanuary 2017January 2011Newer by 74 months
Manual focus More precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting 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 GX850

 S3 GX850 

Common features in the Panasonic GX850 and Panasonic S3

 GX850 S3 

Panasonic GX850 vs Panasonic S3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to travel with your camera, you'll need to think about its weight and volume. The Panasonic GX850 has got external dimensions of 107mm x 65mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") and a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs) whilst the Panasonic S3 has sizing of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic GX850 and Panasonic S3 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are using at the time. Underneath is the front view sizing comparison of the GX850 versus the S3.

Panasonic GX850 vs Panasonic S3 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the GX850 and S3 is 90 and 96 respectively.

Panasonic GX850 vs Panasonic S3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GX850 vs Panasonic S3 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very tough to visualise the difference between sensor dimensions simply by reading through technical specs. The image here should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the GX850 and S3.

As you have seen, both of those cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The GX850 because of its bigger sensor will make shooting bokeh simpler and the Panasonic GX850 will give more detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The newer GX850 is going to have an advantage in sensor technology.

Panasonic GX850 vs Panasonic S3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GX850 vs Panasonic S3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GX850 vs Panasonic S3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GX850 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic S3 as a Portrait photography camera
66
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
external flash not possible
28
resolution is good (14MP)
no manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic GX850
Street photography with Panasonic S3
80
has a tilting screen
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
provides touch focus
great high ISO (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (117g)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic GX850
Sports photography with Panasonic S3
52
silent shooting (1/16,000s)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
low max shutter speed (1/500s)
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery pack (210 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
35
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GX850 Travel photography details
Panasonic S3 Travel photography details
79
provides touch focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
terrible battery pack (210 shots)
68
lighter than competition (117 grams)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
does not have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GX850 Landscape photography features
Panasonic S3 Landscape photography features
71
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
doesnt have anti-alias filter
great high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery pack (210 shots)
38
decently wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
no manual control
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GX850 Vlogging details
Panasonic S3 Vlogging details
73
selfie friendly screen
has touchscreen
includes face detection autofocus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
does not have image stabilization
does not have external microphone support
31
decently wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (117g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not have selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone port
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Panasonic GX850 vs Panasonic S3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GX850 and Panasonic S3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX850Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX850 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
Also Known as Lumix DMC-GX800 / Lumix DMC-GF9 -
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2017-01-04 2011-01-05
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip 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 area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4592 x 3448 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Lowest enhanced ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 49 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.1-5.6
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of display 1,040 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 8 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/500 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Fastest quiet shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shutter speed 10.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.30 m
Flash modes Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, on, on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
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 / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 28 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 28 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital1920 x 1080 @ 60i / 17 Mbps, AVCHD, MTS, H.264, Dolby Digital1920 x 1080 @ 30p / 20 Mbps, MP4, H.264 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4
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 None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 269g (0.59 pounds) 117g (0.26 pounds)
Dimensions 107 x 65 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.2 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 586 not tested
Other
Battery life 210 photographs 250 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2, 10 sec, 3 images/10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media microSD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $548 $110