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Canon G15 vs Panasonic S3

Portability
86
Imaging
37
Features
58
Overall
45
Canon PowerShot G15 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Canon G15 vs Panasonic S3 Key Specs

Canon G15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 352g - 107 x 76 x 40mm
  • Revealed September 2012
  • Succeeded the Canon G12
  • Newer Model is Canon G16
Panasonic S3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 117g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Released January 2011
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Canon G15 vs Panasonic S3 Overview

The following is a detailed analysis of the Canon G15 versus Panasonic S3, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by companies Canon and Panasonic. The image resolution of the G15 (12MP) and the S3 (14MP) is relatively comparable but the G15 (1/1.7") and S3 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor sizes.

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The G15 was announced 21 months after the S3 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a short summary of how the G15 scores vs the S3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon G15 over the Panasonic S3

 G15 S3 
ReleasedSeptember 2012January 2011Newer by 21 months
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution922k230kClearer screen (+692k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic S3 over the Canon G15

 S3 G15 

Common features in the Canon G15 and Panasonic S3

 G15 S3 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Canon G15 vs Panasonic S3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to travel with your camera often, you're going to have to factor in its weight and volume. The Canon G15 comes with exterior dimensions of 107mm x 76mm x 40mm (4.2" x 3.0" x 1.6") having a weight of 352 grams (0.78 lbs) and the Panasonic S3 has sizing of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") having a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Check the Canon G15 versus Panasonic S3 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have attached at the time. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the G15 compared to the S3.

Canon G15 vs Panasonic S3 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the G15 and S3 is 86 and 96 respectively.

Canon G15 vs Panasonic S3 top view buttons comparison

Canon G15 vs Panasonic S3 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's tough to picture the difference in sensor dimensions merely by seeing specs. The pic underneath will help give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the G15 and S3.

All in all, each of these cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The G15 with its bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Panasonic S3 will show extra detail with its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The younger G15 provides an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Canon G15 vs Panasonic S3 sensor size comparison

Canon G15 vs Panasonic S3 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon G15 vs Panasonic S3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon G15 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic S3 Portrait photography highlights
48
you can focus manually
high flash sync (1/2,000 seconds)
supports face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
28
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon G15
Street photography with Panasonic S3
59
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/1.7")
more heavy than competitors (352g)
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (117g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon G15 Sports photography factors
Panasonic S3 Sports photography factors
39
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking focus
better than average battery power (350 per charge)
slow frames per second (2.0 frames/s)
resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
does not have phase detect autofocus
35
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon G15
Travel photography with Panasonic S3
61
better than average battery power (350 per charge)
built-in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
does not have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competitors (352 grams)
resolution not great (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
68
lighter than competition in class (117 grams)
decent megapixels (14MP)
built-in flash
really wide (28mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon G15 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic S3 Landscape photography advice
55
you can focus manually
fairly wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
better than average battery power (350 shots)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/1.7")
does not have Timelapse mode
38
really wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not available
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon G15 Vlogging details
Panasonic S3 Vlogging details
33
fairly wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have microphone port
more heavy than competitors (352 grams)
31
really wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (117 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external mic jack
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Canon G15 vs Panasonic S3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon G15 and Panasonic S3
 Canon PowerShot G15Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
General Information
Make Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot G15 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2012-09-17 2011-01-05
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 5 Venus Engine IV
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 12800 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 9 11
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture f/1.8-2.8 f/3.1-5.6
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 4.8 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 922 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology TFT PureColor II G LCD TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (tunnel) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15s 8s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.00 m 3.30 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Second Curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/2000s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 352 gr (0.78 lb) 117 gr (0.26 lb)
Dimensions 107 x 76 x 40mm (4.2" x 3.0" x 1.6") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 46 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 19.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.5 not tested
DXO Low light rating 165 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 images 250 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-10L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $499 $110