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Panasonic G1 vs Panasonic SZ3

Portability
82
Imaging
47
Features
50
Overall
48
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
40
Features
29
Overall
35

Panasonic G1 vs Panasonic SZ3 Key Specs

Panasonic G1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Bump to 3200)
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 360g - 124 x 84 x 45mm
  • Introduced January 2009
  • Updated by Panasonic G2
Panasonic SZ3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 126g - 95 x 56 x 22mm
  • Revealed January 2013
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Panasonic G1 vs Panasonic SZ3 Overview

Let's look a little more in depth at the Panasonic G1 and Panasonic SZ3, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both created by Panasonic. There is a crucial difference among the image resolutions of the G1 (12MP) and SZ3 (16MP) and the G1 (Four Thirds) and SZ3 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor sizing.

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The G1 was announced 5 years prior to the SZ3 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic G1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic SZ3 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a concise summation of how the G1 scores vs the SZ3 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic G1 over the Panasonic SZ3

 G1 SZ3 
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ3 over the Panasonic G1

 SZ3 G1 
RevealedJanuary 2013January 2009Newer by 48 months

Common features in the Panasonic G1 and Panasonic SZ3

 G1 SZ3 
Touch display Absent Touch display

Panasonic G1 vs Panasonic SZ3 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to travel with your camera frequently, you will have to consider its weight and size. The Panasonic G1 comes with exterior dimensions of 124mm x 84mm x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") and a weight of 360 grams (0.79 lbs) and the Panasonic SZ3 has specifications of 95mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs).

See the Panasonic G1 and Panasonic SZ3 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are employing at that moment. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the G1 compared to the SZ3.

Panasonic G1 vs Panasonic SZ3 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the G1 and SZ3 is 82 and 96 respectively.

Panasonic G1 vs Panasonic SZ3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic G1 vs Panasonic SZ3 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it can be tough to visualise the contrast in sensor dimensions only by looking through technical specs. The pic below may provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the G1 and SZ3.

As you have seen, both cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The G1 using its larger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF easier and the Panasonic SZ3 will provide you with greater detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The more aged G1 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic G1 vs Panasonic SZ3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic G1 vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic G1 vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic G1 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic SZ3 as a Portrait photography camera
58
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
30
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic G1 Street photography information
Panasonic SZ3 Street photography information
72
screen articulates fully
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
no image stabilization
64
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (126 grams)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic G1 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic SZ3 as a Sports photography camera
33
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
lack of phase detect autofocus
41
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic G1 Travel photography details
Panasonic SZ3 Travel photography details
62
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
no Timelapse function
low MP (12MP)
71
lighter than competition in class (126g)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
great zoom (250mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic G1 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic SZ3 Landscape photography factors
58
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
no image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
no Timelapse function
39
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not available
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic G1 Vlogging features
Panasonic SZ3 Vlogging features
18
lack of video recording
31
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (126 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic jack
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Panasonic G1 vs Panasonic SZ3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic G1 and Panasonic SZ3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2009-01-19 2013-01-07
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Max enhanced ISO 3200 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.50 m 4.10 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution None 1280x720
Video file format - Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None 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 360g (0.79 lbs) 126g (0.28 lbs)
Dimensions 124 x 84 x 45mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 1.8") 95 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 53 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 463 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 pictures 250 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/MMC/SDHC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch cost $0 $150