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Canon M3 vs Panasonic GF2

Portability
85
Imaging
65
Features
76
Overall
69
Canon EOS M3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 front
Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
50
Overall
48

Canon M3 vs Panasonic GF2 Key Specs

Canon M3
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF-M Mount
  • 366g - 111 x 68 x 44mm
  • Released February 2015
  • Successor is Canon M6
Panasonic GF2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 310g - 113 x 68 x 33mm
  • Introduced February 2011
  • Old Model is Panasonic GF1
  • Renewed by Panasonic GF3
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Canon M3 vs Panasonic GF2 Overview

Following is a detailed comparison of the Canon M3 vs Panasonic GF2, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by rivals Canon and Panasonic. There exists a sizable gap among the image resolutions of the M3 (24MP) and GF2 (12MP) and the M3 (APS-C) and GF2 (Four Thirds) boast different sensor size.

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The M3 was announced 4 years after the GF2 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before getting right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short summary of how the M3 matches up versus the GF2 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon M3 over the Panasonic GF2

 M3 GF2 
IntroducedFebruary 2015February 2011More modern by 49 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1040k460kClearer display (+580k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF2 over the Canon M3

 GF2 M3 

Common features in the Canon M3 and Panasonic GF2

 M3 GF2 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Canon M3 vs Panasonic GF2 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry around your camera regularly, you need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Canon M3 has physical measurements of 111mm x 68mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.7") having a weight of 366 grams (0.81 lbs) and the Panasonic GF2 has proportions of 113mm x 68mm x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3") along with a weight of 310 grams (0.68 lbs).

Check out the Canon M3 vs Panasonic GF2 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are working with at the time. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the M3 compared to the GF2.

Canon M3 vs Panasonic GF2 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the M3 and GF2 is 85 and 88 respectively.

Canon M3 vs Panasonic GF2 top view buttons comparison

Canon M3 vs Panasonic GF2 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be hard to picture the difference in sensor sizes simply by going through specs. The image below will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the M3 and GF2.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The M3 with its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field less difficult and the Canon M3 will show extra detail with its extra 12MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos more aggressively. The more modern M3 provides an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Canon M3 vs Panasonic GF2 sensor size comparison

Canon M3 vs Panasonic GF2 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon M3 vs Panasonic GF2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon M3
Portrait photography with Panasonic GF2
79
has manual focus
MP count decent (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
60
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
low megapixels (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon M3
Street photography with Panasonic GF2
79
screen tilts
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
comes with focus via touch
lack of image stabilization
65
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon M3 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic GF2 as a Sports photography camera
61
MP count decent (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
comes with phase detect AF
low fps (4.2 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
low battery pack (250 CIPA)
38
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (300 shots)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon M3 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic GF2 as a Travel photography camera
73
comes with focus via touch
MP count decent (24MP)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
missing Timelapse function
low battery pack (250 per charge)
52
has built in flash
missing Timelapse mode
terrible battery pack (300 shots)
low megapixels (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Canon M3 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic GF2 Landscape photography advice
67
has manual focus
change lenses (Canon EF-M mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
low battery pack (250 CIPA)
missing Timelapse function
55
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
no image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
terrible battery pack (300 CIPA)
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon M3 Vlogging information
Panasonic GF2 Vlogging information
80
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen
offers face detection focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external microphone jack
lack of image stabilization
32
has touchscreen
offers face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
missing microphone port
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Canon M3 vs Panasonic GF2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon M3 and Panasonic GF2
 Canon EOS M3Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2
General Information
Company Canon Panasonic
Model Canon EOS M3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2015-02-06 2011-02-24
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip DIGIC 6 Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 22.3 x 14.9mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 332.3mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 6000 x 4000 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Highest enhanced ISO 25600 -
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 49 23
Lens
Lens mount Canon EF-M Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 23 107
Crop factor 1.6 2.1
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 1,040 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 4.2fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.00 m (at ISO 100) 6.00 m
Flash settings Auto, on, off, slow synchro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264 AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 366 grams (0.81 pounds) 310 grams (0.68 pounds)
Physical dimensions 111 x 68 x 44mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.7") 113 x 68 x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 72 54
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 21.2
DXO Dynamic range score 11.8 10.3
DXO Low light score 1169 506
Other
Battery life 250 photographs 300 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LP-E17 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $481 $330