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Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic GF2

Portability
83
Imaging
51
Features
62
Overall
55
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 front
Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
50
Overall
48

Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic GF2 Key Specs

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
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic G2
  • Refreshed by Panasonic G5
Panasonic GF2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 310g - 113 x 68 x 33mm
  • Released February 2011
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic GF1
  • Later Model is Panasonic GF3
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Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic GF2 Overview

On this page, we will be reviewing the Panasonic G3 and Panasonic GF2, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras and both of them are produced by Panasonic. There exists a sizable gap between the image resolutions of the G3 (16MP) and GF2 (12MP) but both cameras have the same sensor sizing (Four Thirds).

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The G3 was revealed 5 months later than the GF2 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both cameras have different body design with the Panasonic G3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic GF2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting into a full comparison, here is a quick summation of how the G3 grades vs the GF2 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic G3 over the Panasonic GF2

 G3 GF2 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF2 over the Panasonic G3

 GF2 G3 

Common features in the Panasonic G3 and Panasonic GF2

 G3 GF2 
ReleasedJuly 2011February 2011Similar age
Manual focus More exact focus
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Screen resolution460k460kIdentical screen resolution
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic GF2 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic G3 has outer dimensions of 115mm x 84mm x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9") accompanied by a weight of 336 grams (0.74 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GF2 has dimensions of 113mm x 68mm x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3") with a weight of 310 grams (0.68 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic G3 and Panasonic GF2 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the G3 and the GF2.

Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic GF2 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the G3 and GF2 is 83 and 88 respectively.

Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic GF2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic GF2 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is tough to envision the difference between sensor measurements just by going over specs. The graphic here will help provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the G3 and GF2.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same megapixels. You can count on the Panasonic G3 to offer extra detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures more aggressively.

Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic GF2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic GF2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic GF2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic G3
Portrait photography with Panasonic GF2
70
manual focus
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
60
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic G3 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic GF2 as a Street photography camera
75
screen can move to multiple angles
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
boasts touch to focus
no image stabilization
65
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic G3 Sports photography factors
Panasonic GF2 Sports photography factors
46
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
low frames per second (4.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
terrible battery (270 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
38
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
terrible battery power (300 CIPA)
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic G3
Travel photography with Panasonic GF2
70
boasts touch to focus
decent MP (16MP)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
does not have Timelapse recording
terrible battery (270 per charge)
52
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse recording
terrible battery power (300 per charge)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic G3
Landscape photography with Panasonic GF2
62
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
no image stabilization
terrible battery (270 per charge)
does not have Timelapse recording
55
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (12MP)
terrible battery power (300 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic G3 Vlogging information
Panasonic GF2 Vlogging information
70
display is selfie friendly
has touchscreen
supports face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
no image stabilization
does not have microphone socket
32
has touchscreen
features face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have microphone socket
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Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic GF2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic G3 and Panasonic GF2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2
General Information
Brand Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2011-07-11 2011-02-24
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine FHD Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4592 x 3448 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 160 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 23 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 4.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 11.00 m 6.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/160s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30fps)) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 336g (0.74 lb) 310g (0.68 lb)
Physical dimensions 115 x 84 x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9") 113 x 68 x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 56 54
DXO Color Depth rating 21.0 21.2
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.6 10.3
DXO Low light rating 667 506
Other
Battery life 270 photos 300 photos
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $500 $330