Panasonic GH3
- 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 3" Fully Articulated Screen
- ISO 200 - 12800
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 550g - 133 x 93 x 82mm
- Introduced September 2012
- Replaced the Panasonic GH2
- Updated by Panasonic GH4
- Read full specs
- Alternatives
- Lenses
- Size Comparison
- FAQ
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 #263 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.
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.
Panasonic GH3 Gallery
You can view the GH3 from various angles in the gallery here.
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.
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.
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a LandslideThe 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.
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music videoTo get an idea of various aspect ratios, you can refer to the graphic below.
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.
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or banDown below is a picture of the Panasonic GH3 next to a soda so you can get a sense of its size.
The top view just below will illustrate the button arrangement on the GH3.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modesThe 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.