Panasonic FP3 vs Panasonic G5: A Hands-On, No-Nonsense Comparison for Serious Shooters and Budget-Minded Snappers

When you’re eyeing Panasonic cameras, chances are you’ve stumbled over two very different beasts: the ultracompact Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3 and the entry-level mirrorless Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5. While they share a brand name, these cameras are aimed at vastly different users, offering unique feature sets, handling, and image quality. As someone who’s personally wrangled thousands of cameras over the past 15+ years - from the tinniest point-and-shoots to full-frame beasts - I’m here to take you on a detailed, practical tour. By the end of this comparison, you’ll know exactly which one fits your style, budget, and shooting ambitions.

Let’s get right into it.

First Impressions: Size, Feel, and Controls

Before we crunch numbers or discuss sensor specs, you need to understand how these cameras feel in your hands, since ergonomics directly impact your shooting experience.

The FP3 is the quintessential pocket rocket - a true ultracompact designed to be tossed into any bag (or maybe your pocket if you’re lucky). At 99x59x19mm and a featherweight 155g, it’s nearly invisible in size compared to the much beefier G5, which measures 120x83x71mm and weighs in at 396g. The G5’s mirrorless, SLR-style body provides more substantial handling, with a solid grip that benefits when pairing with heavy lenses.

If you’re a walker or a traveler who hates lugging gear, the FP3’s slim silhouette wins hands down, but don’t expect to get clubs for your thumbs here - the FP3’s controls are minimal, designed for easy point-and-shoot, whereas the G5 handles like a true camera with dedicated dials, buttons, and that satisfying feel of manual control.

Looking at the top view, the G5 boasts direct access dials for shutter speed, exposure compensation, mode selection, and more. If you love tweaking settings on the fly, you’ll appreciate this. Meanwhile, the FP3 keeps it lean with just the essentials and touchscreen-only menus - great for quick snaps but limiting if you’re striving for precision.

The Heart of the Matter: Sensor and Image Quality

Any camera comparison would be incomplete without diving into sensor technology and image quality. After all, this is where the rubber meets the road.

The FP3’s sensor is a 1/2.3-inch CCD with a 14-megapixel resolution (4320x3240 pixels). CCD sensors were common in compact cameras around 2010, but today their dynamic range and noise control is bested by CMOS sensors. Its sensor area is quite small (~27.7mm²), which limits light gathering capability - especially noticeable in lower light or when printing large images.

In contrast, the G5 rocks a Four Thirds (Micro Four Thirds) CMOS sensor sporting 16 megapixels (4608x3456 pixels) and a much larger surface area (~225mm²). This leap in sensor size, combined with CMOS tech, gives the G5 a significant advantage in noise handling, dynamic range, and overall image clarity.

Testing both cameras side-by-side in real-world scenarios, the G5 consistently delivers cleaner files in moderate and low-light, with better color depth and detail retention. The FP3’s JPEGs, while respectable for social media, show softness and noise creeping in beyond ISO 400, whereas the G5 remains usable well into ISO 1600 and understandable up to its maximum ISO 12800 for emergencies.

The G5 also supports RAW files, a must-have for professionals and enthusiasts who want full control in post-processing. The FP3 offers no RAW, locking you to in-camera JPEGs, which can be restrictive.

If image quality is your top priority, the Panasonic G5’s bigger sensor and superior processing engine (Venus Engine VII FHD vs. Venus Engine IV) offer a distinctly sharper, cleaner picture that will serve you well beyond casual shooting.

Looking Through the Viewfinder: LCDs and EVFs

Shooting experience dramatically shifts when transitioning from a pure LCD-based camera to one with an electronic viewfinder (EVF).

The FP3 has a modest 3-inch fixed touchscreen LCD with a resolution of just 230k dots. While responsive, its lower resolution means images and menus look a bit grainy and muted, especially in bright sunlight.

The G5 ups the ante with a 3-inch fully articulated touchscreen LCD boasting a sharp 920k dots resolution and a wide viewing angle. The articulated screen is priceless for shooting tricky angles and video vlogging. Plus, the G5 offers a 1440k-dot electronic viewfinder with 100% coverage, something the FP3 lacks entirely.

From my experience, having an EVF on the G5 is a game changer outdoors or in bright conditions. It allows you to compose accurately even in harsh sunlight, stabilize your shots by bracing the camera against your face, and preview critical focus and exposure in real-time.

Autofocus, Burst, and Shooting Speed: Can They Keep Up?

Nothing tests a camera’s DNA like its autofocus system and burst shooting capability.

The FP3’s autofocus relies on contrast-detection with 9 focus points, fixed lenses, and no face or eye detection. It’s fine for casual snapshots but sluggish compared to modern standards, and it lacks continuous autofocus tracking - which means fast action can be frustrating.

Conversely, the G5 packs a sophisticated 23-point contrast-detection AF system with face detection and tracking modes. It offers continuous autofocus during burst shooting, which is rated at 6 frames per second - not blazing fast by today’s pro standards, but perfectly adequate for most enthusiast needs.

For wildlife and sports shooters, the G5’s better AF accuracy and tracking shine with telephoto lenses (thanks to the Micro Four Thirds mount). The FP3’s fixed 35-140mm equivalent lens (5.9x zoom) doesn’t allow much flexibility, and its AF simply can’t handle moving subjects effectively.

Versatility of Lens Ecosystem

One enormous advantage the G5 has is interchangeable lens support via the Micro Four Thirds mount. Panasonic and Olympus offer over 100 native lenses, from blazing fast primes to telephotos, macro lenses, and ultra-wide options.

By contrast, the FP3’s lens is fixed at 35-140mm equivalent focal length with a slow aperture range of f/3.5-5.9. While it covers a useful general-purpose zoom range, it can’t be swapped out or upgraded. Macro focusing is possible down to 10cm, but you’re stuck with what’s there.

The lens choices alone make the G5 a better platform for photographers pursuing specific genres - whether you want creamy bokeh for portraits, super-sharp wide-angles for landscapes, or fast lenses for low light.

Optical Image Stabilization and Video Capabilities

For stills, the FP3 has Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) built into its lens assembly, essential for reducing handshake at full zoom and in low light. The G5, however, has no in-body or lens stabilization in its kit options - note that many compatible lenses offer OIS independently.

When it comes to video, the G5 wins on points again:

• FP3 max video resolution: 1280x720 at 30 fps (Motion JPEG codec)
• G5 max video resolution: full HD 1920x1080 at up to 60 fps (AVCHD and MPEG-4)

The G5’s advanced codec choices mean higher quality, better compression efficiency, and smoother frame rates - ideal if you dabble in video alongside stills.

Neither offers microphone or headphone jacks, which limits audio control for filmmakers, but for casual video, the G5’s crisp picture and articulated screen come in clutch.

Battery Life, Storage, and Connectivity

The FP3 uses a basic battery with unspecified life ratings (estimated ~200 shots), while the G5 touts a respectable 320-shot battery rating, reflecting its mirrorless design and larger capacity pack.

On storage, both use SD/SDHC/SDXC cards with one slot, a standard convenience.

Connectivity across the board is sparse; neither camera offers Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or GPS - no surprises given their era. The G5 includes HDMI output, handy for tethered viewing or playback, which the FP3 lacks.

USB 2.0 transfers are standard on both but quite slow by today's expectations.

Build Quality and Environmental Resistance

Neither camera is advertised as weathersealed or ruggedized. The G5’s more substantial size gives it a sturdier feel in the hands. The FP3’s ultra-compact body sacrifices toughness for portability - sensible for its class but worth noting if you tend to shoot outdoors in tough conditions.

Practical Usage Scenarios: Who Should Pick Which?

Now that we’ve parsed the specs and performance, let’s look at genre-specific strengths informed by real-world testing.

Panasonic FP3 front Panasonic FP3 screen back Panasonic G5 front Panasonic G5 screen back

Analyzing sample images side-by-side, the G5’s files exhibit cleaner shadows, richer color fidelity, and finer detail in textures - such as foliage and skin - with less digital noise. For users who might crop or print moderately large images, this is crucial.

Summary of Strengths and Weaknesses

Panasonic FP3

• Pros: Ultra-compact, lightweight, simple touchscreen interface, affordable price (~$180), decent optical zoom in tiny form factor, built-in OIS, easy to use.
• Cons: Small CCD sensor, poor low-light/high ISO performance, no RAW support, slow AF, limited zoom range, no EVF, low-res LCD, no video beyond 720p, no manual exposure modes.

Panasonic G5

• Pros: Large Micro Four Thirds sensor with RAW support, articulated high-res touchscreen, 1440k-dot EVF with 100% coverage, fast and reliable AF system with face detection, full manual controls, good burst speed (6FPS), 1080p video at 60fps, broad lens ecosystem.
• Cons: Bulkier and heavier, no in-body stabilization, average battery life (~320 shots), no wireless connectivity, higher price (~$700, though depreciated).

Looking at overall performance ratings from DxO and real-world testing, the G5 outclasses the FP3 by a significant margin, especially in image quality and flexibility.

Final Takeaway and Recommendations

If you’re a cheapskate or casual shooter who wants a no-fuss, pocket-sized camera to snap vacation shots or quick family pics, the Panasonic FP3 is a charming little companion. It’s simple, pocketable, and reasonably priced. Just temper your expectations on image quality and slower autofocus.

On the other hand, if you’re an enthusiast or aspiring pro stepping into the Micro Four Thirds system, craving flexibility, better image quality, and manual controls, the Panasonic G5 is a highly capable mirrorless camera that still holds up in 2024 for modest budgets. It bridges the gap nicely between point-and-shoot convenience and advanced photography.

Want the best portrait or landscape images? G5 hands down. Need a compact street camera? The FP3 shines. Video recording? G5 all the way. Wildlife or sports? The G5 serves you well. Night and astro? G5. If travel weight is king, FP3 wins but sacrifices image control.

Bonus Tips for Buyers

• If you buy the G5, invest in a few prime lenses or a versatile zoom from Panasonic’s Micro Four Thirds lineup to fully unleash its potential.
• Given the FP3’s age and sensor limitations, use it in bright daylight whenever possible for best results.
• Consider your post-processing workflow: G5’s RAW output will reward you with much more editing headroom.
• Neither camera has wireless features - if that’s critical, look elsewhere or plan on wired transfers.
• Check used or refurbished markets for good deals - both models have depreciated in price and may represent excellent value under $500 for the G5 and under $200 for the FP3.

Wrapping It Up

Choosing between the Panasonic Lumix FP3 and G5 boils down to your shooting style and expectations:

• FP3: Ultra-light, quick, and affordable for casual snapshots.
• G5: More serious gear for quality-conscious creators wanting room to grow.

I hope this deep dive gives you the clarity needed to make an informed choice. Having hands-on experience testing these cameras extensively, I can assure you that understanding their real-world strengths and weaknesses will save you from buyer’s remorse and elevate your photography journey.

Happy shooting!