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Panasonic G1 vs Panasonic G3

Portability
82
Imaging
47
Features
50
Overall
48
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 front
Portability
83
Imaging
52
Features
62
Overall
56

Panasonic G1 vs Panasonic G3 Key Specs

Panasonic G1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Boost to 3200)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 360g - 124 x 84 x 45mm
  • Revealed January 2009
  • Refreshed by Panasonic G2
Panasonic G3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 336g - 115 x 84 x 47mm
  • Launched July 2011
  • Succeeded the Panasonic G2
  • Replacement is Panasonic G5
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Panasonic G1 vs Panasonic G3 Overview

On this page, we are contrasting the Panasonic G1 versus Panasonic G3, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras and they are both manufactured by Panasonic. There exists a sizable gap among the image resolutions of the G1 (12MP) and G3 (16MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor sizing (Four Thirds).

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The G1 was introduced 3 years before the G3 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have the same body design (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before diving right into a in-depth comparison, here is a short introduction of how the G1 grades against the G3 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic G1 over the Panasonic G3

 G1 G3 

Reasons to pick Panasonic G3 over the Panasonic G1

 G3 G1 
LaunchedJuly 2011January 2009Fresher by 30 months
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Panasonic G1 and Panasonic G3

 G1 G3 
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Display resolution460k460kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Both good for selfies

Panasonic G1 vs Panasonic G3 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry your camera often, you will want to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic G1 has got outer dimensions of 124mm x 84mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") with a weight of 360 grams (0.79 lbs) and the Panasonic G3 has dimensions of 115mm x 84mm x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9") and a weight of 336 grams (0.74 lbs).

Check the Panasonic G1 versus Panasonic G3 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have attached during that time. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the G1 and the G3.

Panasonic G1 vs Panasonic G3 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the G1 and G3 is 82 and 83 respectively.

Panasonic G1 vs Panasonic G3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic G1 vs Panasonic G3 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is difficult to see the difference in sensor sizing purely by looking through technical specs. The visual below might give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the G1 and G3.

As you have seen, each of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You can anticipate the Panasonic G3 to render more detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images a bit more aggressively. The older G1 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic G1 vs Panasonic G3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic G1 vs Panasonic G3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic G1 vs Panasonic G3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic G1 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic G3 Portrait photography highlights
58
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
MP count low (12MP)
71
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic G1 Street photography details
Panasonic G3 Street photography details
72
screen can move to multiple angles
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
75
screen articulates fully
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
features focus via touch
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic G1
Sports photography with Panasonic G3
33
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
lacks phase detect auto focus
47
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
max frames per second low (4.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
not so great battery power (270 per charge)
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic G1 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic G3 as a Travel photography camera
62
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
missing Timelapse mode
MP count low (12 megapixels)
70
features focus via touch
megapixel count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
lack of Time Lapse function
not so great battery power (270 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic G1 Landscape photography info
Panasonic G3 Landscape photography info
58
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3")
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
missing Timelapse mode
62
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no image stabilization
not so great battery power (270 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic G1
Vlogging with Panasonic G3
18
lack of video recording
70
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen
provides face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
no image stabilization
lack of mic support
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Panasonic G1 vs Panasonic G3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic G1 and Panasonic G3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3
General Information
Company Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2009-01-19 2011-07-11
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4592 x 3448
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Maximum boosted ISO 3200 -
Min native ISO 100 160
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.50 m 11.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30fps))
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data format - AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 360 grams (0.79 lbs) 336 grams (0.74 lbs)
Physical dimensions 124 x 84 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") 115 x 84 x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 53 56
DXO Color Depth rating 21.1 21.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 10.6
DXO Low light rating 463 667
Other
Battery life 330 photographs 270 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/MMC/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $0 $500