Canon G15 vs Panasonic S3
86 Imaging
37 Features
58 Overall
45


96 Imaging
37 Features
24 Overall
31
Canon G15 vs Panasonic S3 Key Specs
(Full Review)
(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

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.

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.

Canon G15 vs Panasonic S3 Gallery
This is a preview of the gallery photos for Canon PowerShot G15 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3. The whole galleries are viewable at Canon G15 Gallery & Panasonic S3 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Canon G15 over the Panasonic S3
G15 | S3 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Released | September 2012 | ![]() | January 2011 | Newer by 21 months |
Manually focus | ![]() | Dial accurate focus | ||
Screen dimension | 3" | ![]() | 2.7" | Bigger screen (+0.3") |
Screen resolution | 922k | ![]() | 230k | Clearer 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 type | Fixed | ![]() | 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.
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.

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

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 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Canon G15 vs Panasonic S3 Specifications
Canon PowerShot G15 | Panasonic 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 |