Sony RX100 vs Panasonic GH3

Cameras
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Sony RX100 vs Panasonic GH3

1 inch 116.2mm²
20.2 megapixels
28.00mm - 100.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Sony RX100 Review.
How does it shoot? Sony RX100 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the RX100.
Compare Sony RX100 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony RX100 conclusion.

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.

Succeeded by the Sony RX100 II
Compare RX100 vs RX100 II

Succeeded by the Panasonic GH4
Compare GH3 vs GH4

Compare SONY RX100 II vs PANASONIC GH4

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Differences

Sony RX100 advantages over Panasonic GH3

Less expensive
$650 vs $1300 (MSRP)
Save money for lenses or accessories
Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Thinner
35 mm vs 82 mm
Thinner
Higher max flash sync
1/2000 vs 1/160 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
Lighter weight
240g vs 555g
Lighter weight
Higher-res screen
307k vs 205k pixels
More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
More pixels
20.2 vs 16.1 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Faster JPEG shooting
10.0 fps vs 6.1 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
10.0 fps vs 5.1 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode

Panasonic GH3 advantages over Sony RX100

Larger sensor
4/3 vs 1 inch
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
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
Bigger pixels
~ 3.75 vs 2.41 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Fast startup
~0.80 vs 2.8 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
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.
GH3 test data on DxO Mark RX100 test data on DxO Mark

812 vs 390 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
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 330 shots
Capture more photos
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Shoots 24p video
Yes vs No
Gives your movies a big-screen feel
Hot shoe
Hot shoe vs None
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Bigger JPEG buffer
Unlimited vs 13 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Bigger RAW buffer
24 vs 13 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/4000 vs 1/2000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

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
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
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

NFC
Neither provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
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
Integrated ND filter
Neither provide
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

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Adorama
Read RX100 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read GH3 User Reviews

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Body Only

Review Excerpt

Excellent high-ISO performance for such a compact model; Smart controls; Small body; Bright lens; 10fps full-res burst mode; Very fast shutter response; Excellent LCD.
Lens flare at night; Poor rendering of yellows; Slow flash recycling; Soft corners wide open; Continuous AF mode slow to lock.
Read our Sony RX100 Review

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

The Competition

Compared to Sony RX100 II

Sony RX100

Sony RX100 II

$1074
1 inch

Faster RAW shooting

$598
1 inch

Tiltable Screen
Built-in Wi-Fi

Compare Sony RX100 vs Sony RX100 II

Panasonic GH3

Sony RX100 II

$798
4/3

Tilt-swivel screen
Larger sensor

$598
1 inch

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Panasonic GH3 vs Sony RX100 II

Compared to Sony RX100 III

Sony RX100

Sony RX100 III

$1074
1 inch

More telephoto lens reach
Faster RAW shooting

$748
1 inch

Eye-level viewfinder
Tiltable Screen

Compare Sony RX100 vs Sony RX100 III

Panasonic GH3

Sony RX100 III

$798
4/3

Tilt-swivel screen
Larger sensor

$748
1 inch

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Panasonic GH3 vs Sony RX100 III

Compared to Olympus E-M1

Sony RX100

Olympus E-M1

$1074
1 inch

Less expensive
In-camera panoramas

$1099
4/3

Larger sensor
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Sony RX100 vs 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

Compared to Panasonic GH4

Sony RX100

Panasonic GH4

$1074
1 inch

In-Camera Image Stabilization
In-camera panoramas

$998
4/3

Tilt-swivel screen
Larger sensor

Compare Sony RX100 vs Panasonic GH4

Panasonic GH3

Panasonic GH4

$798
4/3

$998
4/3

Focus peaking
Shoot 4K video

Compare Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic GH4

Compared to Sony RX100 IV

Sony RX100

Sony RX100 IV

$1074
1 inch

Less expensive
More telephoto lens reach

$898
1 inch

Eye-level viewfinder
Shoot 4K video

Compare Sony RX100 vs Sony RX100 IV

Panasonic GH3

Sony RX100 IV

$798
4/3

Larger sensor
Tilt-swivel screen

$898
1 inch

Less expensive
Focus peaking

Compare Panasonic GH3 vs Sony RX100 IV

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