Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic S1

Its time to look more in depth at the Panasonic G3 and Panasonic S1, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both are built by Panasonic. There is a big difference among the resolutions of the G3 (16MP) and S1 (12MP) and the G3 (Four Thirds) and S1 (1/2.3") provide different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The G3 was brought out 7 months later than the S1 which means that they are both of a similar generation. The two cameras have different body design with the Panasonic G3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic S1 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a thorough comparison, here is a short summary of how the G3 scores vs the S1 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-S1. The entire galleries are viewable at Panasonic G3 Gallery and Panasonic S1 Gallery.

For those who are aiming to lug around your camera often, you should take into account its weight and measurements. The Panasonic G3 features outside dimensions of 115mm x 84mm x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9") and a weight of 336 grams (0.74 lbs) while the Panasonic S1 has proportions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") with a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic G3 and Panasonic S1 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are using at that time. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the G3 compared to the S1.

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the G3 and S1 is 83 and 96 respectively.

Oftentimes, it's difficult to picture the difference in sensor measurements simply by seeing a spec sheet. The graphic below might provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the G3 and S1.

Clearly, both cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The G3 due to its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field easier and the Panasonic G3 will produce more detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop images more aggressively. The more modern G3 provides an edge in sensor technology.