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Nikon S6400 vs Panasonic GF3

Portability
94
Imaging
40
Features
37
Overall
38
Nikon Coolpix S6400 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 front
Portability
90
Imaging
48
Features
48
Overall
48

Nikon S6400 vs Panasonic GF3 Key Specs

Nikon S6400
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 150g - 95 x 58 x 27mm
  • Introduced August 2012
Panasonic GF3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 264g - 108 x 67 x 32mm
  • Introduced August 2011
  • Replaced the Panasonic GF2
  • New Model is Panasonic GF5
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Nikon S6400 vs Panasonic GF3 Overview

Here, we will be looking at the Nikon S6400 and Panasonic GF3, former is a Ultracompact while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Nikon and Panasonic. There exists a sizable gap among the image resolutions of the S6400 (16MP) and GF3 (12MP) and the S6400 (1/2.3") and GF3 (Four Thirds) provide totally different sensor dimensions.

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The S6400 was announced 13 months after the GF3 which makes them a generation away from one another. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Nikon S6400 being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic GF3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting into a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick summation of how the S6400 grades vs the GF3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon S6400 over the Panasonic GF3

 S6400 GF3 
IntroducedAugust 2012August 2011Newer by 13 months

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF3 over the Nikon S6400

 GF3 S6400 
Manually focus More accurate focus

Common features in the Nikon S6400 and Panasonic GF3

 S6400 GF3 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Screen resolution460k460kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Nikon S6400 vs Panasonic GF3 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to travel with your camera regularly, you need to think about its weight and measurements. The Nikon S6400 has outer measurements of 95mm x 58mm x 27mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 150 grams (0.33 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GF3 has proportions of 108mm x 67mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") having a weight of 264 grams (0.58 lbs).

Check the Nikon S6400 and Panasonic GF3 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are working with at that time. The following is a front view measurement comparison of the S6400 and the GF3.

Nikon S6400 vs Panasonic GF3 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the S6400 and GF3 is 94 and 90 respectively.

Nikon S6400 vs Panasonic GF3 top view buttons comparison

Nikon S6400 vs Panasonic GF3 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's difficult to see the difference in sensor dimensions merely by viewing specs. The image underneath will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the S6400 and GF3.

All in all, each of the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The S6400 with its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower DOF more challenging and the Nikon S6400 will result in extra detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs way more aggressively. The more recent S6400 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Nikon S6400 vs Panasonic GF3 sensor size comparison

Nikon S6400 vs Panasonic GF3 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S6400 vs Panasonic GF3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon S6400 Portrait photography info
Panasonic GF3 Portrait photography info
35
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
offers face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
55
you can focus manually
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focus
delivers RAW files
no external flash support
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Nikon S6400 Street photography information
Panasonic GF3 Street photography information
55
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
more heavy than competition (150 grams)
70
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
supports touch focus
fixed screen
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon S6400
Sports photography with Panasonic GF3
41
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery (160 CIPA)
lack of phase detect auto focus
38
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
bad battery life (300 CIPA)
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon S6400 Travel photography details
Panasonic GF3 Travel photography details
63
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
great zoom (300mm)
missing Timelapse recording
low battery (160 shots)
more heavy than competition (150g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
58
supports touch focus
flash built-in
no Time Lapse recording
bad battery life (300 shots)
low megapixels (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon S6400 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic GF3 Landscape photography factors
42
rather wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not available
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
low battery (160 CIPA)
missing Timelapse recording
55
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
bad battery life (300 per charge)
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon S6400 Vlogging advice
Panasonic GF3 Vlogging advice
33
rather wide (25mm)
has touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing external microphone port
more heavy than competition (150g)
32
has touchscreen
includes face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
no mic jack
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Nikon S6400 vs Panasonic GF3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S6400 and Panasonic GF3
 Nikon Coolpix S6400Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3
General Information
Company Nikon Panasonic
Model Nikon Coolpix S6400 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3
Category Ultracompact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2012-08-22 2011-08-11
Body design Ultracompact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Expeed C2 Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 125 160
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens focal range 25-300mm (12.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.1-6.5 -
Macro focus range 10cm -
Available lenses - 107
Focal length multiplier 5.8 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology TFT LCD monitor TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed - 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 6.30 m
Flash modes - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD, Motion JPEG
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 150 gr (0.33 lbs) 264 gr (0.58 lbs)
Physical dimensions 95 x 58 x 27mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 1.1") 108 x 67 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 50
DXO Color Depth score not tested 20.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 10.1
DXO Low light score not tested 459
Other
Battery life 160 shots 300 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL19 -
Self timer Yes (10 or 2 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Launch price $500 $360