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Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic S3

Portability
83
Imaging
52
Features
62
Overall
56
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic S3 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
  • Introduced July 2011
  • Superseded the Panasonic G2
  • Successor is Panasonic G5
Panasonic S3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 117g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Revealed January 2011
Photography Glossary

Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic S3 Overview

Here is a in-depth overview of the Panasonic G3 versus Panasonic S3, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both designed by Panasonic. The image resolution of the G3 (16MP) and the S3 (14MP) is very comparable but the G3 (Four Thirds) and S3 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor size.

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The G3 was launched 7 months later than the S3 so they are both of a similar age. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic G3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic S3 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a thorough comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the G3 grades vs the S3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic G3 over the Panasonic S3

 G3 S3 
RevealedJuly 2011January 2011Fresher by 7 months
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic S3 over the Panasonic G3

 S3 G3 

Common features in the Panasonic G3 and Panasonic S3

 G3 S3 

Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic S3 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry your camera regularly, you are going to need to consider its weight and size. The Panasonic G3 comes with exterior measurements 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 S3 has specifications of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") along with a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

See the Panasonic G3 versus Panasonic S3 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have at that time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the G3 and the S3.

Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic S3 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the G3 and S3 is 83 and 96 respectively.

Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic S3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic S3 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very difficult to envision the contrast in sensor sizing merely by going through specifications. The visual underneath will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the G3 and S3.

To sum up, each of these cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The G3 due to its larger sensor will make shooting bokeh less difficult and the Panasonic G3 will produce greater detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop images way more aggressively. The more modern G3 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic S3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic S3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic S3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic G3 Portrait photography information
Panasonic S3 Portrait photography information
71
manual focus
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
28
megapixel count good (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic G3 Street photography advice
Panasonic S3 Street photography advice
75
screen articulates
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
boasts focus by touch
lack of image stabilization
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (117 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic G3 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic S3 Sports photography highlights
47
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
bad battery life (270 shots)
lacks phase detect autofocus
35
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic G3 Travel photography details
Panasonic S3 Travel photography details
70
boasts focus by touch
good MP (16MP)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
missing Timelapse function
bad battery life (270 CIPA)
68
lighter than others (117g)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (28mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic G3 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic S3 as a Landscape photography camera
62
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
lack of image stabilization
bad battery life (270 CIPA)
missing Timelapse function
38
quite wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is small (2.7")
no manual mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic G3 Vlogging details
Panasonic S3 Vlogging details
70
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen capability
features face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lack of image stabilization
missing microphone support
31
quite wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (117 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have mic jack
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Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic S3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic G3 and Panasonic S3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2011-07-11 2011-01-05
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine FHD Venus Engine IV
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4592 x 3448 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 160 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 23 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.1-5.6
Macro focus range - 5cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 3" 2.7"
Resolution of display 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 11.00 m 3.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160 secs -
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 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
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 336 grams (0.74 lb) 117 grams (0.26 lb)
Physical dimensions 115 x 84 x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.0 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.6 not tested
DXO Low light score 667 not tested
Other
Battery life 270 photographs 250 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $500 $110