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Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic ZS40

Portability
83
Imaging
51
Features
62
Overall
55
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40 front
Portability
90
Imaging
43
Features
58
Overall
49

Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic ZS40 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
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic G2
  • Later Model is Panasonic G5
Panasonic ZS40
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Bump to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 240g - 111 x 64 x 34mm
  • Revealed January 2014
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ60
  • Old Model is Panasonic ZS35
  • Newer Model is Panasonic ZS45
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Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic ZS40 Overview

On this page, we will be contrasting the Panasonic G3 and Panasonic ZS40, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are built by Panasonic. The resolution of the G3 (16MP) and the ZS40 (18MP) is pretty close but the G3 (Four Thirds) and ZS40 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor sizing.

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The G3 was released 3 years prior to the ZS40 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Panasonic G3 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS40 being a Compact camera.

Before getting into a full comparison, here is a simple summary of how the G3 scores vs the ZS40 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic G3 over the Panasonic ZS40

 G3 ZS40 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS40 over the Panasonic G3

 ZS40 G3 
RevealedJanuary 2014July 2011More modern by 30 months
Screen resolution920k460kCrisper screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic G3 and Panasonic ZS40

 G3 ZS40 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement

Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic ZS40 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry around your camera frequently, you'll have to think about its weight and volume. The Panasonic G3 enjoys outer dimensions 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 ZS40 has sizing of 111mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 240 grams (0.53 lbs).

See the Panasonic G3 and Panasonic ZS40 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you select at that time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the G3 versus the ZS40.

Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic ZS40 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the G3 and ZS40 is 83 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic ZS40 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic ZS40 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its hard to visualise the difference in sensor sizes only by viewing technical specs. The image below will help give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the G3 and ZS40.

As you have seen, both of these cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The G3 because of its bigger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF simpler and the Panasonic ZS40 will result in more detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs more aggressively. The more aged G3 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic ZS40 sensor size comparison

Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic ZS40 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic G3 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS40 as a Portrait photography camera
70
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focus
supports RAW formats
52
manual focus
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
comes with face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Panasonic G3 Street photography advice
Panasonic ZS40 Street photography advice
75
screen articulates
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
provides focus by touch
does not have image stabilization
69
image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
lighter than competition (240 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic G3 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic ZS40 Sports photography highlights
46
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery pack (270 per charge)
does not have phase detect auto focus
54
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic G3 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic ZS40 Travel photography highlights
70
provides focus by touch
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
doesn't have Timelapse mode
terrible battery pack (270 per charge)
69
lighter than competition (240g)
resolution is good (18MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
doesn't have selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic G3
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS40
62
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery pack (270 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
56
manual focus
fairly wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (18MP)
saves RAW formats
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic G3 Vlogging factors
Panasonic ZS40 Vlogging factors
70
selfie friendly display
touchscreen capability
provides face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have microphone socket
34
fairly wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (240 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
does not have microphone jack
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Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic ZS40 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic G3 and Panasonic ZS40
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
General Information
Make Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS40
Alternate name - Lumix DMC-TZ60
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-07-11 2014-01-06
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine FHD Venus Engine
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4592 x 3448 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 160 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 23 23
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-720mm (30.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dot 200 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 4s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 4.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 11.00 m 6.40 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 336 gr (0.74 lbs) 240 gr (0.53 lbs)
Physical dimensions 115 x 84 x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9") 111 x 64 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.3")
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 photographs 300 photographs
Style 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 1 1
Retail price $500 $450