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Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic S3

Portability
74
Imaging
52
Features
66
Overall
57
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic S3 Key Specs

Panasonic G5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 396g - 120 x 83 x 71mm
  • Introduced July 2012
  • Superseded the Panasonic G3
  • Newer Model is Panasonic G6
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
  • Announced January 2011
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Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic S3 Overview

Here is a complete analysis of the Panasonic G5 versus Panasonic S3, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both created by Panasonic. The resolution of the G5 (16MP) and the S3 (14MP) is very close but the G5 (Four Thirds) and S3 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor size.

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The G5 was launched 19 months later than the S3 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic G5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic S3 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise view of how the G5 scores vs the S3 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic G5 over the Panasonic S3

 G5 S3 
AnnouncedJuly 2012January 2011Fresher by 19 months
Focus manually More precise focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kSharper display (+690k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic S3 over the Panasonic G5

 S3 G5 

Common features in the Panasonic G5 and Panasonic S3

 G5 S3 

Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic S3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera regularly, you have to consider its weight and volume. The Panasonic G5 features external dimensions of 120mm x 83mm x 71mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 396 grams (0.87 lbs) while the Panasonic S3 has sizing of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic G5 versus Panasonic S3 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you select at the time. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the G5 against the S3.

Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic S3 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the G5 and S3 is 74 and 96 respectively.

Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic S3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic S3 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very tough to picture the difference in sensor sizing simply by researching specs. The graphic underneath will offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the G5 and S3.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The G5 due to its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF less difficult and the Panasonic G5 will result in more detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The more modern G5 should have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic S3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic S3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic S3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic G5
Portrait photography with Panasonic S3
71
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
28
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic G5 Street photography advice
Panasonic S3 Street photography advice
66
screen can move to multiple angles
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
boasts focus via touch
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than average (396g)
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (117g)
no moving screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic G5 Sports photography factors
Panasonic S3 Sports photography factors
51
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect AF
35
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
max frames per second low (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic G5 Travel photography factors
Panasonic S3 Travel photography factors
66
boasts focus via touch
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
no Timelapse mode
more heavy than average (396 grams)
68
lighter than average (117 grams)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
does not contain selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.1)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic G5 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic S3 as a Landscape photography camera
65
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
no Timelapse mode
38
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
manual mode not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic G5 Vlogging info
Panasonic S3 Vlogging info
62
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen functionality
includes face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lack of image stabilization
no microphone socket
more heavy than average (396 grams)
31
quite wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (117g)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not contain selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic port
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Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic S3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic G5 and Panasonic S3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2012-07-17 2011-01-05
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine VII 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 surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Lowest native ISO 160 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 23 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.1-5.6
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Number of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 920 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x -
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 8s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 6.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.50 m 3.30 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max 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 (60, 50, 30, 25fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25fps 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 396 grams (0.87 pounds) 117 grams (0.26 pounds)
Dimensions 120 x 83 x 71mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 2.8") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 61 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.6 not tested
DXO Low light rating 618 not tested
Other
Battery life 320 photographs 250 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $699 $110