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Panasonic GH3

 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 front
 
Portability
66
Imaging
52
Features
80
Overall
63

Panasonic GH3 overview

Panasonic GH3 is Panasonic's Advanced Mirrorless digital camera initially released on September of 2012. It uses a 16 MegaPixel, CMOS Four Thirds size sensor with a maximum resolution of 4608 x 3456.

Panasonic brought out this model in an effort to improve the earlier Panasonic GH2 (Read Full Comparison) & then launched the newer Panasonic GH4 (Read Full Comparison) to improve this model.

The GH3 is rated #46 out of 62 in Advanced Mirrorless cameras & all around #262 out of 1465 for cameras in our list. Remember to look at our Advanced camera filter to get camera results based on your custom criteria.

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The following is a graph of specific criteria used in the scoring system.

Panasonic GH3 history

The Panasonic GH3 has a history of related cameras. Down below, you can see all past and current models along with key features.

ModelVisualizeResolutionSensor SizeMax fpsReleased
Panasonic-Lumix-DC-GH6 front thumbnailPanasonic GH6
GH3 vs GH6
25MPFour Thirds14.0 fps2022
Panasonic-Lumix-DC-GH5-II front thumbnailPanasonic GH5 II
GH3 vs GH5 II
20MPFour Thirds12.0 fps2021
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Panasonic-Lumix-DC-G100 front thumbnailPanasonic G100
GH3 vs G100
20MPFour Thirds10.0 fps2020
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-G95 front thumbnailPanasonic G95
GH3 vs G95
20.3MPFour Thirds9.0 fps2019
Panasonic-Lumix-DC-GX9 front thumbnailPanasonic GX9
GH3 vs GX9
20MPFour Thirds9.0 fps2018
Panasonic-Lumix-DC-GH5S front thumbnailPanasonic GH5S
GH3 vs GH5S
10MPFour Thirds12.0 fps2018
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Panasonic-Lumix-DC-G9 front thumbnailPanasonic G9
GH3 vs G9
20MPFour Thirds20.0 fps2017
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GH5 front thumbnailPanasonic GH5
GH3 vs GH5
20MPFour Thirds12.0 fps2017
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-G85 front thumbnailPanasonic G85
GH3 vs G85
16MPFour Thirds9.0 fps2016
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GX85 front thumbnailPanasonic GX85
GH3 vs GX85
16MPFour Thirds8.0 fps2016
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GX8 front thumbnailPanasonic GX8
GH3 vs GX8
20MPFour Thirds12.0 fps2015
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Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-G7 front thumbnailPanasonic G7
GH3 vs G7
16MPFour Thirds7.0 fps2015
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GH4 front thumbnailPanasonic GH4
GH3 vs GH4
16MPFour Thirds12.0 fps2014
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GX7 front thumbnailPanasonic GX7
GH3 vs GX7
16MPFour Thirds5.0 fps2013
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-G6 front thumbnailPanasonic G6
GH3 vs G6
16MPFour Thirds7.0 fps2013
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GH3 front thumbnailPanasonic GH316MPFour Thirds20.0 fps2012
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-G5 front thumbnailPanasonic G5
GH3 vs G5
16MPFour Thirds6.0 fps2012
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-G3 front thumbnailPanasonic G3
GH3 vs G3
16MPFour Thirds4.0 fps2011
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GH2 front thumbnailPanasonic GH2
GH3 vs GH2
16MPFour Thirds3.0 fps2011
Photography Glossary
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-G10 front thumbnailPanasonic G10
GH3 vs G10
12MPFour Thirds3.0 fps2010
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-G2 front thumbnailPanasonic G2
GH3 vs G2
12MPFour Thirds3.0 fps2010
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GH1 front thumbnailPanasonic GH1
GH3 vs GH1
12MPFour Thirds3.0 fps2009
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-G1 front thumbnailPanasonic G1
GH3 vs G1
12MPFour Thirds3.0 fps2009

Panasonic GH3 Pros and Cons

Here is a shortlist of upsides and downsides of the Panasonic GH3 based on features which are often viewed as crucial in a digital camera.

better than average battery (540 shots)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
environment proof
features face detection focusing
features tracking autofocus
flash built-in
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external microphone jack
has HDMI support
has headphone jack
high max fps (20.0 frames per second)
includes focus via touch
manual focus
nice screen size (3 inch)
OLED
saves RAW files
screen articulates
screen is selfie friendly
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
touchscreen enabled
does not have phase detect AF
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than others (550g)
screen has low resolution (614 thousand dot)
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Panasonic GH3 Sensor features

The Panasonic GH3 is run by the Venus Engine VII FHD chip. The measurement of the sensor in the Panasonic GH3 is 17.3mm x 13mm (Four Thirds). The 225 mm² sensor is able to resolve 4608 x 3456 pixels with aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9.

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The CMOS sensor has 16MP and supports a standard ISO range of 200 - 12800. RAW photos are supported so the user has more margin for error.

The graphic underneath shows the GH3's sensor size when compared to other popular sizes. The GH3 sensor has a crop factor of 2.1 and is pointed out in green.

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To get an idea of various aspect ratios, you can refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Panasonic GH3 dimensions

Panasonic GH3 weighs in at 1.21 pounds (550 grams / 19.40 ounces) & the overall size of the camera is 133mm x 93mm x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2"). The weight of normal Advanced Mirrorless camera is 454 grams so the Panasonic GH3 is heavier than various competitors.

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Down below is a picture of the Panasonic GH3 next to a soda so you can get a sense of its size.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 dimensions scale

The top view just below will illustrate the button arrangement on the GH3.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 topview buttons dials

Panasonic GH3 Lens features

The GH3 uses the Micro Four Thirds mount and has 162 lenses available to buy. Here is a small number of the lenses we have in our collection that will work with the GH3.

ModelVisualizeFocal LengthApertureStabilizedWeight
Sigma-24mm-F1.8-EX-DG-Aspherical-Macro-Four-Thirds lensSigma 24mm F1.8 EX DG Aspherical Macro24mmf/1.8 485g
Panasonic-Lumix-G-Vario-7-14mm-F4-ASPH lensPanasonic Lumix G Vario 7-14mm F4 ASPH7-14mmf/4.0 300g
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Sigma-30mm-F1.4-DC-DN-C-Micro-Four-Thirds lensSigma 30mm F1.4 DC DN C30mmf/1.4 265g
Olympus-M.Zuiko-Digital-ED-12-45mm-F4-Pro lensOlympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-45mm F4 Pro24-90mmf/4254g
Olympus-Zuiko-Digital-ED-14-35mm-f2.0-SWD lensOlympus Zuiko Digital ED 14-35mm f2.0 SWD14-35mmf/2.0 915g
Olympus-M.Zuiko-Digital-ED-100-400mm-F5.0-6.3-IS lensOlympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 IS100-400mmf/5-6.3 1120g
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Olympus-M.Zuiko-Digital-ED-14-42mm-F3.5-5.6-EZ lensOlympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 EZ14-42mmf/3.5-5.6 91g
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Panasonic GH3 Connectivity

The GH3 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • Wireless Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Cameras that contain NFC and / or Bluetooth compatibility can easily be used wirelessly through smartphones. You are able to send files and sometimes alter settings without connecting directly with the camera.

Certain apps also stream a Liveview and click the shutter in case you aren't near the camera. If the camera features a HDMI port, it could be hooked up to an external monitor. A good number of cameras enable you to recharge the battery with the USB port.

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Panasonic GH3 Video features

The maximum video resolution in the Panasonic GH3 is 1920 x 1080 and you can save in MPEG-4, AVCHD and H.264 file format. 1080p resolution is an excellent balance in video quality and file size but FULL HD isn't going to leave you with any room to downsample. The body does include both headphone and microphone jack making it really valuable while recording audio.

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Panasonic GH3 Weather Sealing

Panasonic GH3 features environment sealing which makes it a excellent option for use in tricky climates. This is particularly beneficial whenever you are uncertain about the elements you might encounter in outdoor photography.

Panasonic GH3 Screen and Viewfinder

The Panasonic GH3 houses a 3 inch fully articulated screen with a resolution of 614 thousand dots.

It features a selfie friendly screen to take self portraits and group shots when needed. Additionally the screen is touch friendly so you can set focus points and change settings with your fingertips.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 screen and viewfinder Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

The View Finder details for Panasonic GH3 are as follows:

  • ViewFinder Electronic
  • Resolution 1,744 thousand dots
  • Coverage 100%
  • Magnification 0.67x

Viewfinders can be quite helpful in sunny outdoor situations which can easily make the camera screen washed out and hard to see.

Panasonic GH3 Shutter features

Panasonic GH3 is able to shoot continuously at 20.0 frames per second. The max shutter speed is 1/4000s.

Photography Glossary

Panasonic GH3 Flash and Hot shoe features

Panasonic GH3 comes with both integrated flash as well as external flash ability. The highest flash sync is 1/160s.

Panasonic GH3 Autofocusing features

Panasonic GH3 comes with only Contrast Detect Autofocus & does not have Phase Detect Autofocus. Phase Detection focusing is a lot more snappier & exact than Contrast Detect focusing. The camera boasts Face detection which is useful for taking portraits of people.

The AF system boasts 23 focus points to pick from. Panasonic GH3 has tap to focus. You are able to use your fingers in order to switch where you focus. It also boasts Tracking Autofocus for moving subjects. Panasonic GH3 can use manual focus when needed in low light conditions or you want more precise control on focus.

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Panasonic GH3 Battery life

The battery for the Panasonic GH3 is made to last for 540 shots according to the CIPA standards making it higher than standard for its class. The general Advanced Mirrorless camera battery life is 390. Sony A6600 comes with the highest possible (810) battery life in this type of cameras.

Following is a collection of Advanced Mirrorless cameras that have the highest battery life:

Panasonic GH3 for varying categories of photography

The following illustration presents a analysis of the Panasonic GH3 for varying categories of photography. To see more, go to the specific paragraph underneath.

Panasonic GH3 Portrait photography factors

The Panasonic GH3 gets a points tally of 71 which is nice, and means the camera is a good option to use for portrait photos. Photographing portraits leans greatly towards sensor dimensions, RAW support & option to utilize external flash.

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manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
includes face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats

Street photography with Panasonic GH3

With a nice score of 65, the Panasonic GH3 is a fine choice to use in street photography. A very good street photography camera comes with a fine balance of image quality and portability.

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screen articulates
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
supports touch to focus
environment proofing
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than average (550g)

Panasonic GH3 as a Sports photography camera

A nice sports photography points total of 63 suggests the Panasonic GH3 is a good option for shooting sports. A camera needs to have good autofocus and fast continuous shooting for sports photography.

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max frames per second high (20.0 frames per second)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has tracking focus
weather proofing
better than average battery power (540 CIPA)
does not have image stabilization
no phase detect auto focus

Panasonic GH3 Travel photography features

Portability is really crucial when selecting a camera for travel. In general, the Panasonic GH3 gets a above average 71 as a travelling camera which is a very decent option to take on your trips.

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great battery life (540 CIPA)
weather proofing
boasts touch focus
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
more heavy than competitors in class (550 grams)

Panasonic GH3 Landscape photography highlights

If you are looking to pick a digital camera for landscape photos, the biggest factor is going to be image quality. The Panasonic GH3 with it's above average grade of 71 for a landscape camera is a fine choice among its competitors.

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you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
decent MP (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
better than average battery life (540 shots)
lack of image stabilization

Vlogging with Panasonic GH3

A vlogging camera ought to posses a moving screen, microphone input and preferably image stabilization. Considering all the details, the Panasonic GH3 is a respectable pick as a vlog camera as it delivers a very good rating of 65.

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selfie friendly screen
screen is touchscreen
offers face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external microphone support
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than competitors (550 grams)

Panasonic GH3 Alternatives

If you need replacements to the GH3, below is a range of the highest ranked cameras that fall within the family of Advanced Mirrorless.

The graph here gives you a summary of the GH3 vs it's top ranked competitors suggested earlier.

Following are additional cameras you may check out as alternative options. To read through a complete comparison, click the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Brand Name
Panasonic
Model
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3
Category
Advanced Mirrorless
Introduced
2012-09-17
Body design
SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CMOS
Powered by
Venus Engine VII FHD
Sensor size
Four Thirds
Sensor measurements
17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area
224.9mm²
Sensor resolution
16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution
4608 x 3456
RAW pictures
Max native ISO
12800
Lowest native ISO
200
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points
23
Lens
Lens mount
Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses
107
Focal length multiplier
2.1
Screen
Screen type
Fully Articulated
Screen sizing
3 inch
Screen resolution
614 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech
OLED Monitor with static touch control
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder
Electronic
Viewfinder resolution
1,744 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage
100%
Viewfinder magnification
0.67x
DXO scores
DXO All around score
71
DXO Color Depth score
22.7
DXO Dynamic range score
12.4
DXO Low light score
812
Features
Slowest shutter speed
60 secs
Maximum shutter speed
1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed
20.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation
Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range
12.00 m
Flash options
Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync
1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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
Max video resolution
1920x1080
Video data format
MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless
Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
550 gr (1.21 lb)
Dimensions
133 x 93 x 82mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 3.2")
Other
Battery life
540 shots
Type of battery
Battery Pack
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Type of storage
SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots
Single
Price at launch
$799