Panasonic GH3 vs Ricoh GR II

Cameras
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Panasonic GH3 vs Ricoh GR II

4/3 224.9mm²
16.1 megapixels
ISO 200 - 12,800

Go in depth with our full Panasonic GH3 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the GH3.

APS-C 369.7mm²
16.2 megapixels
28.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Ricoh GR II Review.
How does it shoot? Ricoh GR II in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the GR II.
Compare Ricoh GR II image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Ricoh GR II conclusion.

Succeeded by the Panasonic GH4
Compare GH3 vs GH4

Succeeded by the Ricoh GR III
Compare GR II vs GR III

Compare PANASONIC GH4 vs RICOH GR III

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Differences

Panasonic GH3 advantages over Ricoh GR II

Tilt-swivel screen
Tilt-swivel vs none
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Eye-level viewfinder
Eye-level vs Rear display only
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Fast startup
~0.80 vs 1.3 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

540 vs 320 shots
Capture more photos
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Has anti-aliasing filter
Filter vs No Filter
Reduces unsightly moiré in photos
Faster JPEG shooting
6.1 fps vs 4.0 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger RAW buffer
24 vs 10 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)

Ricoh GR II advantages over Panasonic GH3

Larger sensor
APS-C vs 4/3
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 4.81 vs 3.75 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
GR II test data on DxO Mark GH3 test data on DxO Mark

1,078 vs 812 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
More dynamic range

More dynamic range

Cameras with more dynamic range allow you to take photos with dramatic differences in highlight and shadow areas while retaining detail in both.

Think of a brilliant sunset on a rocky beach: Bright sunset in the background, with dark rocks in the foreground. High dynamic range means more of the extremes will be faithfully reproduced.

Dynamic range test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
GR II test data on DxO Mark GH3 test data on DxO Mark

13.7 vs 12.3 evs
Retain detail in highlight and shadows
Integrated ND filter
Yes vs No
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
Thinner
34 mm vs 82 mm
Thinner
Higher max flash sync
1/4000 vs 1/160 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Lighter weight
248g vs 555g
Lighter weight
Higher-res screen
307k vs 205k pixels
More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
Lacks anti-aliasing filter
No Filter vs Filter
Enjoy sharper photos
Longer exposure
300 vs 60 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Faster RAW shooting
6.1 fps vs 5.1 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode

Similarities

Common Strengths

Rear display
Both provide
Review photos on the back of the camera
RAW file ability
Both provide
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Manual focus
Both provide
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Focus peaking
Neither provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Neither provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read GH3 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read GR II User Reviews

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Review Excerpt

Professional quality video in a compact body; Still image quality ranks with the best mirrorless models and even some prosumer DSLRs; Fast autofocus; Rugged, weatherized camera build; Reasonably priced for its advanced feature set; Large selection of high quality lenses.
Not as compact as most mirrorless cameras; Live View not available during high speed bursts; High ISO image quality and dynamic range not quite as good as top APS-C cameras.
Read our Panasonic GH3 Review

Shooting with a wide prime helps you see new shots; Good performance and fast autofocus; Excellent sharp, bright lens; Very customizable; In-camera Wi-Fi works with more than just Android and iOS; Supports Pentax wireless flash strobes
Fixed, wide prime lens isn't for everyone; Cramped controls; Burst capture is slower for JPEGs; Tends too warm under incandescent lighting; Wi-Fi app is poor, and web browser control has cluttered interface
Read our Ricoh GR II Review

The Competition

Compared to Panasonic G5

Panasonic GH3

Panasonic G5

$798
4/3

Tilt-swivel screen
Fast startup

$550
4/3

Higher-res screen

Compare Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic G5

Ricoh GR II

Panasonic G5

$538
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$550
4/3

Eye-level viewfinder
Touchscreen

Compare Ricoh GR II vs Panasonic G5

Compared to Ricoh GR

Panasonic GH3

Ricoh GR

$798
4/3

Tilt-swivel screen
Eye-level viewfinder

$799
APS-C

Larger sensor
Less expensive

Compare Panasonic GH3 vs Ricoh GR

Ricoh GR II

Ricoh GR

$538
APS-C

Built-in Wi-Fi
NFC

$799
APS-C

Compare Ricoh GR II vs Ricoh GR

Compared to Olympus E-M1

Panasonic GH3

Olympus E-M1

$798
4/3

Tilt-swivel screen
Longer stills battery life

$1099
4/3

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Panasonic GH3 vs Olympus E-M1

Ricoh GR II

Olympus E-M1

$538
APS-C

Larger sensor
Less expensive

$1099
4/3

Focus peaking
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Ricoh GR II vs Olympus E-M1

Compared to Panasonic GH4

Panasonic GH3

Panasonic GH4

$798
4/3

$998
4/3

Focus peaking
Shoot 4K video

Compare Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic GH4

Ricoh GR II

Panasonic GH4

$538
APS-C

Less expensive
Larger sensor

$998
4/3

Tilt-swivel screen
Focus peaking

Compare Ricoh GR II vs Panasonic GH4

Compared to Fujifilm XF10

Panasonic GH3

Fujifilm XF10

$798
4/3

Tilt-swivel screen
Eye-level viewfinder

$499
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Panasonic GH3 vs Fujifilm XF10

Ricoh GR II

Fujifilm XF10

$538
APS-C

Bigger pixels
NFC

$499
APS-C

Focus peaking
Shoot 4K video

Compare Ricoh GR II vs Fujifilm XF10

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