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Panasonic GH3 PDF User Manual

Did you lose or misplace the instruction manual that came with your Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3? It happens all too easily, but fortunately Panasonic makes a soft copy available that you can browse through online, print out, or download (see the pdf file below). It is certainly good practice to carefully familiarize oneself with the many different functionalities and options that the GH3 offers, and the official user manual is without doubt an authoritative and comprehensive source of respective information.

That said, the instruction booklet can be a dry read, so that a dedicated camera guide book from a professional photographer that illustrates the camera's core functions in a real life photography context can be a very helpful complement. Yes, getting one of these camera guides (see here at amazon) would involve an additional expense, but if that book helps to exploit the camera's potential to the full, the (small) additional investment may well be worth it.

Also, you might want to check out the video tutorial on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 below.

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In any case, the GH3 is an advanced imaging tool, whose many features merit serious attention. This mirrorless interchangeable lens camera was announced on September 17th, 2012, which means that, as of today, the camera is 4389 days old (young?). The camera has meanwhile been discontinued and was succeeded by the Panasonic GH4 as a replacement in the same line of cameras.

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Panasonic's advanced owner manual for the GH3

The camera's advanced owner manual is 319 pages long. The pdf version is embedded below. As you browse through, you will hopefully find the information you are looking for. You can also print out a hard copy by right clicking on the manual and then choosing the respective menu option. For convenience, a summary of the key specs of the GH3 is included towards the bottom of this webpage.

Don't forget to bookmark this page for future reference (Ctrl-Shift-D on a Windows PC; Cmd-Shift-D on a Mac). Happy browsing!

Click on the button below to download the pdf version of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 manual to your computer. The file will open in a new browser window.

Download the Manual

If you prefer to read the user guide in another language, please check the respective availability on Panasonic's support site. That site also provides complementary online resources, such as information on the compatibility of various camera accessories or the availability of firmware updates that are not necessarily comprehensively covered in the instruction manual.

Printed, hardcopy versions of the Panasonic GH3 manual can sometimes be found online. You can check the availability on amazon and ebay via the buttons below.

amazon.com ebay.com

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Video tutorial for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3

Perhaps instead of reading through a manual or operations guide, you might prefer to better familiarize yourself with your GH3 by watching a video tutorial. It can notably help to quickly get to know the key functions and to set up your camera according to your particular preferences and needs.

Once again, the Panasonic GH3 is a sophisticated imaging tool and not exploiting its capabilities to the full would be a pity. Hence, taking the time to study online information material or to read through a well-written camera guide book is highly recommended to make the most of your purchase.

Find GH3 guide book at
amazon.com

Panasonic GH3 FAQ

Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the GH3.

What is the technology behind the imaging sensor in the Panasonic GH3?

The camera features a CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor.

Which image processing chip is used in the Panasonic GH3 to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?

Panasonic equipped the GH3 with the Venus VII FHD image processor.

What is the ISO sensitivity range of the Panasonic GH3?

The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 200 to ISO 12800, which can be extended to ISO 125-25600.

Does the Panasonic GH3 have a selfie-friendly screen?

Yes, the LCD-screen of the GH3 is flexible and can be turned to be front-facing for capturing selfies.

What is the life expectancy of the shutter in the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3?

Panasonic does not publish a shutter rating for the GH3. Yet, shutters in comparable cameras from other manufacturers are said to be good for at least 200 000 actuations. It should be noted, though, that this number represents a Mean Time before Failure. The shutter might fail earlier, or it might last longer. Anyway, in order to exhaust an expected shutter life of 200 000 shots over, say, three years, one would have to take about 200 pictures each and every day.

How do I find the shutter count on my Panasonic GH3?

Panasonic embeds the number of shutter actuations in hidden menus. You can check the number of shots that your GH3 has taken up to now by carefully following the steps described on the Panasonic GH3 shutter count page.

Is completely silent shooting possible with the Panasonic GH3?

The camera has an electronic shutter option, so that it is indeed feasible to capture images without any shutter noise.

Do I need to purchase an external camera trigger to shoot time-lapse sequences with the Panasonic GH3?

No, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 has an intervalometer built-in, so that low frequency shooting (for example, flower blooming, sunset, moon rise) can be undertaken without the need to purchase a separate external intervalometer and related software.

Does the Panasonic GH3 feature an autofocus assist light?

Yes, the camera has a lamp built-in that can illuminate the subject and improve autofocus in low-light settings.

What is the fastest shutter speed that can be used with the Panasonic GH3 for flash photography?

The GH3's flash sync speed is 1/160 sec.

Does the Panasonic GH3 support the Ultra High Speed (UHS) bus interface for SD cards?

Yes, the camera can indeed use UHS-I cards (data transfer speed of up to 104 MB/s).

Which battery does the Panasonic GH3 use?

The camera gets its power from the Panasonic DMW-BLF19 (here at amazon), which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.

Is there a vertical grip available for the Panasonic GH3?

Yes, Panasonic offers the DMW-BGGH3 as an optional accessory to facilitate shooting in portrait orientation and to provide additional battery power.

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Further reading

How does the GH3 stack up against available alternatives? In case you are interested in seeing how this camera compares to another one, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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    Core camera specifications

    Here is a list of the main features and technical characteristics of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3.

    Specifications Summary
    Camera Model Panasonic GH3
    Camera Type Mirrorless system camera
    Camera Lens Micro Four Thirds lenses
    Launch Date September 2012
    Launch Price USD 1 299
    Sensor Specs
    Sensor Technology CMOS
    Sensor Format Four Thirds Sensor
    Sensor Size 17.3 x 13.0 mm
    Sensor Area 225 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 21.6 mm
    Crop Factor 2.0x
    Sensor Resolution 15.9 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 4 608 x 3 456 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 3.76 μm
    Pixel Density 7.08 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability 1080/60p Video
    ISO Setting 200 - 12 800 ISO
    ISO Boost 125 - 25 600 ISO
    Image Processor Venus VII FHD
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 71
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 22.7
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 12.4
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 812
    Screen Specs
    Viewfinder Type Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.67x
    Viewfinder Resolution 1746k dots
    Top-Level Screen no Top Display
    LCD Framing Live View
    LCD Size 3.0 inch
    LCD Resolution 614k dots
    LCD Attachment Swivel screen
    V-logging Friendliness Front-flip possible
    Touch Input Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs
    Focus System Contrast-detect AF
    Manual Focusing Aidno Peaking Feature
    Maximum Shutter Speed 1/4000s
    Continuous Shooting 6 shutter flaps/s
    Shutter Life Expectancy200 000 actuations
    Silent ShootingElectronic Shutter
    Time Lapse PhotographyIntervalometer Built-in
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot
    UHS card support UHS-I
    Connectivity Specs
    External Flash Hotshoe
    Studio Flash PC Sync socket
    USB Connector USB 2.0
    HDMI Port mini HDMI
    Microphone Port External MIC port
    Headphone Socket Headphone port
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in
    Body Specs
    Environmental SealingWeathersealed body
    Battery Type Panasonic DMW-BLF19 power pack
    Battery Life (CIPA)540 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 133 x 93 x 82 mm
    (5.2 x 3.7 x 3.2 in)
    Camera Weight 550 g (19.4 oz)

    Did you notice an error on this page? If so, please get in touch, so that we can correct the information.

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