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Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic S2

Portability
83
Imaging
51
Features
62
Overall
55
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
29
Overall
33

Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic S2 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
  • Announced July 2011
  • Superseded the Panasonic G2
  • Later Model is Panasonic G5
Panasonic S2
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 112g - 98 x 57 x 21mm
  • Introduced January 2012
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Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic S2 Overview

Its time to take a deeper look at the Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic S2, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are created by Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the G3 (16MP) and the S2 (14MP) is very comparable but the G3 (Four Thirds) and S2 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor dimensions.

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The G3 was revealed 6 months prior to the S2 and they are of a similar generation. The two cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic G3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic S2 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight into a complete comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the G3 matches up against the S2 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic G3 over the Panasonic S2

 G3 S2 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic S2 over the Panasonic G3

 S2 G3 

Common features in the Panasonic G3 and Panasonic S2

 G3 S2 
IntroducedJuly 2011January 2012Same generation

Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic S2 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry around your camera regularly, you will have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic G3 enjoys outer measurements of 115mm x 84mm x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9") along with a weight of 336 grams (0.74 lbs) while the Panasonic S2 has dimensions of 98mm x 57mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") along with a weight of 112 grams (0.25 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic S2 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the G3 compared to the S2.

Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic S2 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the G3 and S2 is 83 and 96 respectively.

Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic S2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic S2 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes merely by going through a spec sheet. The picture here should provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the G3 and S2.

Clearly, each of these cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The G3 with its larger sensor will make getting shallower DOF easier and the Panasonic G3 will show greater detail because of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics a little more aggressively.

Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic S2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic G3 Portrait photography info
Panasonic S2 Portrait photography info
70
you can focus manually
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect focus
supports RAW formats
33
MP count good (14MP)
supports face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic G3 Street photography features
Panasonic S2 Street photography features
75
fully articulated screen
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
comes with focus by touch
no image stabilization
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (112g)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic G3 Sports photography details
Panasonic S2 Sports photography details
46
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
no image stabilization
not so great battery pack (270 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
39
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
better than average battery (280 CIPA)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic G3 Travel photography details
Panasonic S2 Travel photography details
70
comes with focus by touch
good resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
missing Timelapse recording
not so great battery pack (270 CIPA)
70
better than average battery (280 CIPA)
lighter than competition (112 grams)
MP count good (14MP)
built-in flash
decently wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic G3 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic S2 as a Landscape photography camera
62
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
no image stabilization
not so great battery pack (270 shots)
missing Timelapse recording
41
decently wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14MP)
better than average battery (280 shots)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
lack of manual exposure
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic G3 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic S2 as a Vlogging camera
70
display is selfie friendly
screen is touchscreen
features face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
no image stabilization
missing microphone support
32
decently wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focus
lighter than competition (112 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external microphone socket
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Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic G3 and Panasonic S2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2
General Information
Company Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2011-07-11 2012-01-09
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4592 x 3448 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 160 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 23 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.1-6.5
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 8 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 4.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 11.00 m 3.30 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30fps)) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG 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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 336g (0.74 pounds) 112g (0.25 pounds)
Dimensions 115 x 84 x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9") 98 x 57 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.6 not tested
DXO Low light rating 667 not tested
Other
Battery life 270 shots 280 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail price $500 $109