• 1/2.3 inch 28.1mm2
  • 12.1 megapixels
  • 28.00mm - 336.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • 4/3 224.9mm2
  • 16.1 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 12,800

Buy From

Differences

Canon SX200 IS advantages over Panasonic GH3

  • Less expensive
    $350 vs $1300 (MSRP)
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Thinner
    38 mm vs 82 mm
    Thinner
  • Lighter weight
    220g vs 555g
    Lighter weight

Panasonic GH3 advantages over Canon SX200 IS

  • Larger sensor
    4/3 vs 1/2.3 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 1.54 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • RAW file ability
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
  • Fast startup
    ~0.80 vs 2.0 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 540 vs 280 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
  • More dots on screen
    614k vs 230k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • Hot shoe
    Hot shoe vs None
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Shoots 1080p video
    Yes vs No
    You'll want this if you shoot video
  • Less shutter lag
    0.21 vs 0.46 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • More pixels
    16.1 vs 12.1 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Shoots 60p video
    Yes vs No
    A faster framerate can give you more editing options
  • Headphone jack
    Yes vs No
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Longer exposure
    60 vs 15 sec
    Long exposures for night shots
  • Bulb shutter
    Bulb vs No bulb
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    6.1 fps vs 1.0 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Higher extended ISO
    25600 vs 3200 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Rear display
    Both provide
    Review photos on the back of the camera
  • 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

Common Weaknesses

  • Focus peaking
    Neither provide
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • In-camera panoramas
    Neither provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • 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
  • 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

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Canon SX200 IS

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Panasonic GH3
Body Only

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

The Competition

Compared to Panasonic DMC-ZS3

Canon SX200 IS
Panasonic DMC-ZS3
  • $267
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Fast startup
  • Manual focus
  • $400
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • More dots on screen
  • Shoots 60p video

Compare Canon SX200 IS vs Panasonic DMC-ZS3

Panasonic GH3
Panasonic DMC-ZS3
  • $798
  • 4/3
  • Larger sensor
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $400
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • Less expensive
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic DMC-ZS3

Compared to Panasonic DMC-ZS1S

Canon SX200 IS
Panasonic DMC-ZS1S
  • $267
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Larger sensor
  • Fast startup
  • $300
  • 1/2.5 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Wider angle lens

Compare Canon SX200 IS vs Panasonic DMC-ZS1S

Panasonic GH3
Panasonic DMC-ZS1S
  • $798
  • 4/3
  • Larger sensor
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $300
  • 1/2.5 inch
  • Less expensive
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic DMC-ZS1S

Compared to Panasonic DMC-ZS7

Canon SX200 IS
Panasonic DMC-ZS7
  • $267
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Manual focus
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
  • $400
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • More dots on screen
  • Shoots 60p video

Compare Canon SX200 IS vs Panasonic DMC-ZS7

Panasonic GH3
Panasonic DMC-ZS7
  • $798
  • 4/3
  • Larger sensor
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $400
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • Less expensive
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic DMC-ZS7

Compared to Olympus E-M1

Canon SX200 IS
Olympus E-M1
  • $267
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Internal flash
  • Thinner
  • $1099
  • 4/3
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor

Compare Canon SX200 IS 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

Canon SX200 IS
Panasonic GH4
  • $267
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Thinner
  • $899
  • 4/3
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Focus peaking

Compare Canon SX200 IS vs Panasonic GH4

Panasonic GH3
Panasonic GH4
  • $798
  • 4/3
  • $899
  • 4/3
  • Focus peaking
  • Shoot 4K video

Compare Panasonic GH3 vs Panasonic GH4

Compare Other Cameras?