Upgrade Guide
Lumix G3→Lumix GH4
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
→
Strong upgrade
The GH4 improves across 4 key areas at a reasonable price gap. Most G3 owners will notice the difference.
What's new in the GH4
-
Weather sealingAdded — fully sealed body
-
Burst rate12fps (AFS), 7fps (AFC) vs 4fps
-
Battery life~500 shots (CIPA) vs ~270 shots (CIPA)
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Generation3 years newer (2014 vs 2011)
Unchanged or similar
-
ResolutionSimilar (16MP)
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | G3 | GH4 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | — | ||
| Street | -0.5 | ||
| Travel | — | ||
| Wedding & Events | +0.9 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | +0.6 | ||
| Documentary | +2.1 | ||
| Sports & Action | +1.7 | ||
| Landscape | +0.7 | ||
| Wildlife | +1.3 | ||
| Casual | -0.3 | ||
| Food | -0.2 | ||
| Macro | +0.7 | ||
| Architecture | — | ||
| Astrophotography | +0.6 | ||
| Filmmaking | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | G3 | GH4 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £39 | £349 | |
| Released | 2011 | 2014 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 16MP Micro Four Thirds CMOS | 16.05MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS | |
| Resolution | 16MP | 16MP | |
| Video | Full HD 1080/60i | 4K/30p, C4K/24p (first consumer camera with 4K), 1080p/96fps | |
| Autofocus | 23-area contrast AF with face detection, touch AF | Contrast-detect DFD AF, face detection | |
| Stabilisation | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | None (no body IBIS) | |
| Burst Rate | 4fps | 12fps (AFS), 7fps (AFC) | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~270 shots (CIPA) | ~500 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 388g (with battery) | 560g (with battery and card) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Yes | ↑ |
| Viewfinder | LCD EVF, 1.44M dots | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.67× magnification | |
| Screen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 460k dots | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Micro Four Thirds | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD slot | Single SD UHS-I slot |
Compare side-by-side
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Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the GH4 against your specific genres — not just specs.
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Camera family history