Name: Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 Mirrorless Digital Camera Body Only, Black
Brand: Panasonic
SKU: IPCDMCGH3
Price: 797.99 USD
Availability: Discontinued
Rating: 4.7 (33 reviews)

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 Mirrorless Digital Camera Body Only, Black

Panasonic DMC-GH3

Panasonic

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 Digital Camera Body Only- Black

Adorama

Photography

Cameras

Mirrorless Cameras

Panasonic Mirrorless Cameras

Panasonic DMC-GH3 

Top Rated Gear: Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 Mirrorless Digital Camera Body Only, Black Max Video Quality: HD 1080, Model: Panasonic GH3, Newer Model: Panasonic DMC-GH4, Predecessor: Panasonic DMC-GH2, Resolution: 16 MP, Sensor Size: Micro Four Thirds

Panasonic is proud to introduce a new Digital Single Lens Mirrorless Camera DMC-GH3 of its top-of-the-line GH series. The LUMIX GH3 is not just a compact, lightweight camera. It is an attractive, top-of-the-line mirrorless single lens system camera that is tough enough to withstand the extreme conditions of heavy field use. In Europe and the United States, digital SLR cameras are called DSLR and mirrorless cameras are referred to as CSC (Compact System Cameras). Panasonic uses the term DSLM (Digital Single Lens Mirrorless) cameras to refer to its mirrorless models, and continues to develop attractive camera systems with interchangeable lenses. With the introduction of the high-end LUMIX GH3, Panasonic will be able to provide more people with the experience of exploring the remarkable potential of the digital single lens mirrorless camera.  The new Live MOS Sensor achieves high-resolution images with minimum noise. And the new Venus Engine attains high-speed, high-quality signal processing. These features combine to maximize shooting fun and operating ease. Another prominent feature of the LUMIX GH3 is a tough body that is rugged enough to stand up to even professional use. It features a magnesium alloy full diecast body and advanced splash / dustproof construction that was achieved by tightly sealing the sections of the camera body to enable shooting under extreme conditions. Although the LUMIX GH3 is integrating features a class above than other G Series models, it is still compact when compared with an SLR camera featuring equivalent performance and functions. The body has enabled a new control layout with three dials on the front and back as well as single-function buttons. The LUMIX GH3 allows users to capture images in extreme environments and provides superb mobility. It also records still images consecutively at a rate of about 6 fps. The LUMIX GH3 is proud to assume the role of Panasonic's flagship digital single-lens mirrorless camera. The newly developed 16.05 effective megapixels Live MOS sensor boasts wide dynamic range and high sensitivity image recording even at ISO 12800 or ISO 25600 in extended mode. The key point here was reducing noise, for which Panasonic focused on the following three areas: (1) minimizing noise in the sensor, (2) preventing sensor noise from entering the output signal, and (3) preventing noise from entering the signal processing circuit, power supply line and grounding line. To reduce noise, it is also important to design the power supply wiring and the signal wiring connected to the engine to be as close to the same length as possible. These measures not only suppress noise but also help to improve processing speed. Standard sensitivity is from ISO 200 to ISO 12800, but the user can set sensitivity to ISO 125 or ISO 25600 by using an extension function. The LPF (Low Pass Filter) has been also newly designed to minimize generation of moire while drawing maximum resolution of the image out of the sensor.

I bought this camera to replace my Panasonic GH2. I didn't want to go for the higher -priced GH4, but I wanted an upgrade to use with the 2 lenses I have. (Panasonic 14-140 and 100-300). As I have been doing mostly bird photography, I wanted something smaller and lighter to carry around when I'm not using my big, heavy Canon setup.  GH3 is pretty good for birds, though the viewfinder is rather small. Still it locks on pretty well. Clearly the image quality is lacking for distant birds and birds in flight, but that is to be expected. If you are a bird-watcher, you'll at least be able to identify the bird.  Close range, birds and wildlife come out well. It's  just fine for landscape, flowers, etc. Biggest asset for me is that it is small and light, and compatible with lens I already own.

Very versatile camera, OK for birds

First time I used it on a photo club trip to a Mock-Up Western town, in the rain. Lighting was a problem so had to shoot at ISO of 1600. Got very little grain, in fact I was amazed at the clarity of the photos, especially the indoor ones. Loved the ability to to touch the screen where I wanted the lens to focus within the same scene. Can't wait to to put it to more situations and learn how to use all of the features of this camera.

Phenomenal Camera!

I use this camera mainly for video but photos seem to look nice also.  I used to have the GH2 but I became an early adopter when the GH3 arrived.  The largest draw for my switch was the weatherproofed body! The second draw were separate inputs for audio out and audio in.  But there's a lot more to love abot this camera.

**Before you read further, I really do enjoy this camera even though this review may seem negative.  I've just spent a enough time with this camera to point out my greatest frustrations.  And when I reference the GH2, assume hacked GH2.**

In terms of overall performance, the GH3 is only a step above the GH2.  It isn't some giant leap the marketing teams and videos by Philip Bloom have made it out to be.  What those videos show us the improved dynamic range of GH3 video, which is definitely better than the GH2.  

The 5DMK3 easily outperforms both cameras in low light with high ISOs and if you plan to shoot in low light, you really shouldn't push past ISO 1600; buy or rent some fast glass.

Speaking of fast glass, the GH3 does NOT have focus peaking or zebra pattern etc; a huge misstep!  Instead you have to use the magnifier that vanishes once you hit record.  So being precise while wide open on a manual lens has become that much harder.  The GH3 has a HDMI input to connect with an external monitor but still ridiculous.  (Probably my biggest frustration).

Another problem is the wifi connectivity and app integration.  It is just impractical in its current form.  This doesn't bother me other than it's a feature that GH3 owners 'pay' for whether or not they want it.  So I can't help but feel they neglected some basic features *cough* focus peaking *cough* to include this shoddy extra.

My final complaint is the wierd trimming it does with recorded audio.  There isn't an issue with the way the audio is synced, rather, a tiny chunk part of the track at the beginning and end is missing.  So it's almost as if the video track is the first and last thing recorded while the audio track is recorded second and cut third.

Despite these issues, there are overall performance improvements with some added bonuses.  Slow motion can be done in 1080p at 60fps, the codec and sensor processing is more efficient, the battery life is amazing, and a new native timelapse program.

I may just be turning into a fanboy, but the GH3 shares a similar 'diamond in the rough' quality as the GH2.  The time spent into pushing the limits of the GH2 definitely carry over but this camera will still require the user to spend a good deal of time investigating each feature to create a custom setup that makes sense for his or her needs. 

If you currently own and enjoy your GH2, I'm sure this camera would easily find its way into your heart as well.  If you found the GH2 more work than it was worth, you may want to take a look at the GH4 if not switch formats all together.  The GH3 is definitely lacking the polish you seek.

An improvement but not quite there.

I use the GH3 a lot.  It is very easy to use and takes excellent photos.  If you are used to shooting in manual it is best to have 0 compensation.  If you go to the -1 or lower the photo seems to come out really dark.  But in the 0 compensation setting the photos are almost perfect.  Many times using RAW I only have to minimally edit the photo.  Love this camera.

Love the GH3

I recently purchased a high-end AVCHD camcorder for work, but when I compared the images with the GH3 it wasn't close.  The GH3 had much higher resolution! I returned the camcorder and bought a second body.
See test frame grabs for comparison.

A Winner!

I purchased this camera to replace my Canon 7D, and honestly I'm blown away. I shoot mainly video and the GH3 out preforms the 7D in every aspect. The amount of manual control you have over video is great, and the quality of images produced amazing. I've heard complaints about the GH3 producing more Moire than the GH2 but thus far I haven't noticed any. This is an amazing camera, the body and lens are light and compact so it's easy to carry around, the viewfinder is sharp and easy to look through and the built in wifi is a nice feature. I would recommend this camera to anyone who is looking to shoot high quality video, but still wants great photo capabilities.

Can't Be Beat For Video

I've been desiring to purchase one of these because I have been so pleased with the GH2. I finally bit the bullet. And boy was it worth it! Panasonic listened to their customers, and gave us what we wanted. I love editing straight into final cut with no transcoding. It's a bit of a learning curve coming from the GH2. 

Now if Nick Driftwood would only make a RAW video hack for this like Magic Lantern just did for the Mark III.

MMMM MMMM!!

I chose to buy the GH3 for two reasons:

I wanted to embrace the future, especially with video
I wanted a stop gap stills camera that would work with my Olympus lenses

The GH3 does video better than any other hybrid camera around the price.  It's not unusual to find professionals using the equipment, and Zeiss already adapted quite a few of their cine lenses to work with micro Four-Thirds.

The GH3 works with Olympus' Zuiko Digital lenses through the Olympus MMF-3 adapter, which is weatherproof.  Most will auto focus at a slow speed, although some focus more quickly than on the Olympus E-1 in all but bright light.  The Leica/Panasonic 25mm f/1.4 for Four-Thirds even allows use of the aperture ring.  Since the camera body is bigger, it's easier to use those lenses--I'm not sure I would recommend using the 35-100mm f/2.0 lens with it.  I find it a bit much even with the E-5 and E-1.

As far as operating it goes, I've found it a bit too electronic at times.  The automatic white balance will sometimes shift during burst mode and the photos have a bit of an electronic feel to them.  The electronic viewfinder takes some acclimation, and the auto review setting needs to be turned off to be able to see what's actually happening through the viewfinder or the rear display.

Various other settings need some experimentation.  The Standard photo style may be okay, but I use Natural, and I've seen others use Portrait.  It's important to experiment so that you get the shadows and highlights that you want without the iDynamic feature (artificial dynamic range expansion).

I was initially concerned about the single SD card slot, but a 32 GB card gives me an indicated 1603 raw files at maximum resolution.

As is prudent, I would recommend an extra battery.  The battery grip may be of use to you but I don't have one to balance the heavier ZD lenses and I'm not having a problem.  It only takes one battery, so I'm not sure it's of much help.

I'm pleased with the image quality, even at ISO 3200.

Focus issues to note: If you're accustomed to using manual focus, as I am, you may find the native micro Four-Thirds lenses too small to be used easily.  Also, the manual focus assist helps you by magnifying the area you're trying to focus.  If you have a group of runners, it's helpful but you to follow and focus is difficult, unlike using an SLR and optical viewfinder.  As with any current mirror-less camera body, you'll find that continuous auto focus does not work well.

Great for video, good for stills

This is my second GH3 body, I feel I always need a backup and on occasion I may need to run 2 cameras on a narrative shoot.

Panasonic listened to users, both pro and advanced non pro's on desired improvements over the GH2.  Many have been incorporated.  

This camera produces stunning video and great stills as well so right now this is the best answer to those who want state of the art video and pro level stills out of one camera.

An Outstanding Followup To The GH2!

Great little camera. I use this primarily for videography projects. At 75 mbps the image quality is pretty good for a DSLR. Very low noise. being able to shoot 60 fps at 1080 is also pretty great. Overall, I've been very happy with it. Great bang for the buck.

fantastic camera

Broke my Lumix G2 a few months ago.  Best thing to ever happen!  The GH3 represents a huge leap beyond that model.  Bought mine with the battery pack attachment.  Fantastic accessory, since I often shoot in portrait mode. 

Some other things I like about it:
1. Remote flash socket. Perfect with my old studio equipment.
2. The hot shoe (of all Panasonics) work with my old Canon flash-compatible equipment.
3. Using a relatively inexpensive adaptor allows me to use the same Canon FD lenses. Not the best for all situations, but put to good use for some superb special effects, unavailable with the standard M43 lenses.
4. The articulating swivel screen is a must. Once you use a camera with this, there's no going back.

Excellent build quality. Probably many features that I may not use for ages, or until I accidentally discover them!  Panasonic hit a grand slam with the GH3.

Amazing camera

I've owned all the GH's and this one puts it all together in a near perfect camera. I say "near" only because it's not a full frame camera, which most people in my industry expect due to the Canon mk2 and 3. The GH3 is very intuitive with super fast and accurate focus. The two new lenses, 12-35 and 35-100 with 2.8 constant are just an awesome package to have in one bag. And it's a small bag! This is what I love about the GH3, it is not a beast in size and weight, it performs like a very high end camera with the new codec, and costs one-third as much. What's not to love?

Best GH ever

Bought this to cut weight. Have one lens 14-45 proving to be very good. Also using for digiscoping but haven't had time for a proper run through. I like the camera very much though.

Terrific Camera

I own a production company and we use some really high-end equipment in the course of our business.

I purchased 2 GH3s as a backup and for cam 3 and cam 4 coverage, and found that the images fit in well with our high-end gear.

Given it's compact nature and procepoint, this camera is a pure winner.

We have even used it as a primary camera (when the client isn't looking :-) ).

I would like RAW sesor data comming out of the HDMI port and/or HDSDI or I would give a full 5 Stars!

Best In Class - Best Pricepoint

Upgraded from a hacked GH2.  The GH3 makes my dreams come true, which is good, because my job is to make other people's jobs come true.

The Alpha and The Omega of DSLRS

Panasonic has hit the target with this GH3. The best video of any camera on the market,  unsurpassed image quality, low noise, packed with features, great control layout, nice touch screen features, I can go on and on.  The body feels perfect in your hand, the optional grip is a nice feature. Wi Fi works great... EXCEPT currently the firmware can not find my iMac on my network.  Apparently it needs to see a windows OS running on the network, because if I run Windows under Parallels Desktop the camera finds my iMac.  This is a known issue on several forums and I will be speaking with Panasonic about this. I'm certain this will be fixed with a firmware update. One other odd thing, using the iPhone/iPad app you can start recording video but to stop recording you must use the button on the camera, makes that feature sort of awkward. Again an update to the app should fix this. Otherwise this is simply the best body on the market. My entire system is now Lumix, GX1, LX7 and now my GH3. No more bulky DSLR, sold them all.

Incredible!

I have not had this camera very long, and only have had the opportunity for a couple of time. So far, I rate this camera as 'top notch' For me, the size is perfect. I have this camera body, a Lumix GX1 and 4 lenses and a GoPro in a LowePro sling bag. The outdoor images and studio shots are rival to any camera. The OLED tilting screen and the viewfinder is on par with anything out there. Everyone says that the video is exemplary and I can say that for the still photos as well. It is perfect for me and maybe perfect for you as well.

So far, so good!

I liked my GH 2, but I love my new GH 3!
I got it 2 days before going to Argentina, downloaded the manuals onto my laptop, and set the camera up during travel. The custom profiles I created made the camera easy to use, with a quick learning curve. I took video of dancing, and shot a short music video (available light, Lumix 14-140 lens) in the apartment, on the street, and in the subway. The images far exceeded my expectations, and were definitely superior to the GH 2. Photos were "a snap" as well. The IQ is great, I shot RAW with jpeg's for quick reference. At this price point the GH 3 is a 5 star value!

Terrific travel companion

Best DSLR out there

Very comfortable ergonomics. Fast autofocus. Very easy to master hero through highly customizable buttons. Wifi works flawlessly. I chose this camera over the OMD and the epl5. I sold both in order to keep the gh3.  I did not buy this for video, although I appreciate the potential for great video work this camera is capable of. I use it with the fantastic Panasonic 12-35 lens.

Gh3 is Superb

I'm an amateur, a photo/video enthusiast, who is about to retire and focus on becoming the best photographer/videographer I can be. I read and follow the field well, but my work has been as a documenter of family and our travels. This GH3 is a pleasure to hold and use, even the shutter sounds solid. I am very pleased after a couple of weeks of use. The low light capabilities are improved over the GH2 which I still own. Net is that while more expensive than I would like, I am happy.

A worthwhile upgrade from the GH2

I have owned the GH2 for several years and love it so paying $500 more for the GH3 was more than I really wanted to spend but the reviews convinced me to try it. Most reviews keep going on and on about the video quality and options but althoug I do take an ocassional video, I was more interested in the photo aspect of this camera. I was very pleasantly surprised! This new incarnation has so many new features and updates it is amazing. Panasonic really listened to the suggestions and implemented most of them.

I just shot a series of pictures at Fort Baker in San Francisco on a hazy day and the quality is stunning! 

The camera body feels a lot heavier than the GH2 and it is definitley larger but it is very well balanced which is a plus. It is still not as heavy or as large as my Canon 50D and feels just as good in my hands.

I am very very happy with this camera even though the price is exhorbitant!

Far exceeded my expectations!

Due to a tight budget I did not want to spend the money on a full sensor DSLR and after much research I decided to purchase a GH3. So far I have been nothing but happy with it. I haven't gotten to use it extensively yet but I've been tinkering and it definitely has lived up to the many great reviews online.

Great Camera for a Great Price!

Micro Four Thirds cameras tend to be about size. In shrinking the MFT cameras, Olympus slightly overshot the mark with the OM-D E-M5 (which I also own). Panasonic went a little larger and, for me, hit the sweet spot on size. The additional size allows the GH3 to have many dedicated function buttons and controls, making it easier and faster to use. The image quality is great and low light performance is exceptional. And this is for still photography - many would stress that the GH3 is one of the best video cameras around. The GH3 improves its video capability over even a hacked GH2. And did I mention the built-in WiFi allowing instant photo transfers AND wireless control of the camera.

Panasonic Gets It Right

I waited for this camera for a few months and am very happy i did.  It has exceeded my expectation and is now the centerpiece of my kit.

Exactly as promised

I already own a GH2 camera and am very pleased with it.  I hacked it and use it mainly for video production.  But it was never a strong stills camera.  So I purchased the GH3 because I heard that it's a better camera for photos as well as video.  And it's true!  The engineers at Panasonic must have been watching the GH2 discussion forums because this is almost a perfect upgrade from the GH2.  It's got almost everything a video/photo producer could want in a DSLR camera.  Great image quality. Much better in low light. More dynamic range.  Faster burst rate for RAW stills and longer duration of bursts.  1920x1080 @ 60p.  More control over audio levels.  And a headphone jack!  I no longer have to record sound on a separate system.  I can get high quality slow motion video.  And it's autofocus is much faster than my old GH2.  I'm really loving this camera.  A few minor nit picks:  the Display Info disappears from the LCD/EVF after 10 seconds which can be annoying if shooting a video interview. There's no focus peaking (I use an external monitor which has this function so it's not a problem for me). But other than that this camera is excellent.

A Worthy Upgrade

Superior video quality to the canon line. Color rendition is way more accurate. More dynamic range is definitely present. Probably 2/3rds a stop I'm the shadows and 1/3 in the highlights. Data is very recoverable too. Footage has much more flexibility within DAVINCI. Easier to push lift without washing everything out.

I have yet to see the macro blocking in the ALL-I codec. But the blues do seem to degrade the earliest Under intense grades. 

60p looks great at 1080, would be nice to have etc mode and all-I with 60p. 

Moire is definitely there. Slightly improved in some situations than an unhacked gh2, but its still more apparent than the hacked gh2s. Not horrible though. It handles most organic textures very well. Water, trees, dirt, etc. I had no problems with. What it doesn't seem to like is intensely repeated man made patterns, especially metals. 

Timelapse mode is nice, fast motion is whatever, slow motion I've yet to use. 

Still image is also pretty good. The RAW format is great, they almost seem to have more data than canon RAW. Shadow detail is extremely recoverable. Idk about overall sharpness or ability to be blown up, but for anything other than that I fail to see how an SLR is superior. This thing is as light as my entry level d40. 

I've also found low light video performance to be better than a 7d right out of camera. More DR, less noise. However when you grade it, the difference becomes even more apparent. Lots of detail can be brought back from shadows. Powerful enough to be slightly comparable to, dare I say it, RAW territory. Definitely not dng territory, but maybe redcode. Meaning I could see this used as a bcam on a low budget red shoot no doubt. Not that it's actually as gradable as redcode, just that it seems to pair better with it than other DSLR/mirrorless systems .

I've seen none of the oversharp digital look that people have attributed to this camera too. And the DOF with a 0.95 lens is probably very comparable to a 5d at 1.8 or 1.4, maybe even 1.2. It seems to gain more depth of field with each aperture click. So Id say a 2.8 or 3.5 is probably closer to a 4 or 5.6 on the 5d. Still I don't see a reason to need any less depth of field. F0.95 is already awfully misty, especially with a subject that can't sit still. 

I think I've covered it all.

Exceeds expectations

I'm a videographer, and this little camera destroys the 5DMKIII in detail, latitude, and features, but not low light ability.  Panasonic has successfully created the best video DSLR on the market.  Canon and Sony have cameras in very specific price brackets so that cannot afford to create such a powerful video camera at such a reasonable price.  Panasonic will announce their new VariCam soon, which will compete in the +$10k market.  These two markets are probably very wisely chosen to present the consumer with a video camera that is very difficult to pass up.

I owned a Sony FS700, and replaced it with 2 GH3s.  I'm very happy with the image quality and features of the camera, and so are my clients.

Feature Heavy Packs a Punch

We wanted quality cameras to be smaller and micro four thirds made that happen. The first serious MFT camera was the Olympus OM-D E-M5 but it overshot the mark on size and can be a little difficult to handle for my hands.  The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 is the perfect size and shape for me. Add in great image quality, professional levels of adjustments and settings, good low-light performance, WiFi, and superior video capability. This is a really good camera, mirrorless or otherwise.

Loving the GH3

I own the previous model, the GH2, and I can say that this new model, the GH3, is an improvement in every way.  It's bigger, which helps large handed individuals like myself.  It's image quality is better.  It's got at least one stop more latitude.  The high ISO levels are a lot cleaner.  The LCD screen is bigger and better.  The autofocus is faster.  It has 1080 60p at 50Mbps and 1080 24p at 74Mbps.  It has headphone output!  And it takes loooong bursts of RAW photos, something the GH2 could never handle.  Maybe that's why it's more expensive, but for me it's totally worth it.  I do a lot of video work and photography work.  This is my new workhorse and my old GH2 has become my 2nd camera on two-camera setups.  I bought the battery grip with an extra battery so I'll never have to worry about losing power again.  I haven't tried the WiFi option yet but it looks cool.  Yes, I'm very happy with this purchase.