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Panasonic GF1 vs Panasonic GF3

Portability
85
Imaging
47
Features
47
Overall
47
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 front
Portability
90
Imaging
48
Features
48
Overall
48

Panasonic GF1 vs Panasonic GF3 Key Specs

Panasonic GF1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 385g - 119 x 71 x 36mm
  • Introduced October 2009
  • Renewed by Panasonic GF2
Panasonic GF3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 264g - 108 x 67 x 32mm
  • Revealed August 2011
  • Superseded the Panasonic GF2
  • Successor is Panasonic GF5
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Panasonic GF1 vs Panasonic GF3 Overview

On this page, we are looking at the Panasonic GF1 versus Panasonic GF3, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras and both of them are manufactured by Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the GF1 (12MP) and the GF3 (12MP) is very close and both cameras boast the same sensor size (Four Thirds).

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The GF1 was revealed 22 months earlier than the GF3 making them a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before delving right into a complete comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the GF1 grades vs the GF3 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF1 over the Panasonic GF3

 GF1 GF3 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF3 over the Panasonic GF1

 GF3 GF1 
RevealedAugust 2011October 2009Fresher by 22 months
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Panasonic GF1 and Panasonic GF3

 GF1 GF3 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Display resolution460k460kThe same display resolution
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Panasonic GF1 vs Panasonic GF3 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry your camera often, you will have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GF1 has got exterior dimensions of 119mm x 71mm x 36mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 1.4") along with a weight of 385 grams (0.85 lbs) while the Panasonic GF3 has measurements of 108mm x 67mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") having a weight of 264 grams (0.58 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic GF1 versus Panasonic GF3 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the GF1 vs the GF3.

Panasonic GF1 vs Panasonic GF3 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the GF1 and GF3 is 85 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic GF1 vs Panasonic GF3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF1 vs Panasonic GF3 Sensor Comparison

Often, its hard to visualize the difference in sensor sizing simply by looking through a spec sheet. The photograph below will help give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the GF1 and GF3.

As you can see, both the cameras have the same sensor dimensions and the same exact megapixels and you should expect comparable quality of photographs although you would want to take the release date of the cameras into account. The older GF1 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic GF1 vs Panasonic GF3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF1 vs Panasonic GF3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF1 vs Panasonic GF3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF1 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic GF3 Portrait photography factors
60
manual focus
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focus
supports RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
55
focusing manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes face detect focus
supports RAW files
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic GF1
Street photography with Panasonic GF3
64
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
70
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
provides touch focus
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic GF1
Sports photography with Panasonic GF3
44
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
better than average battery pack (380 per charge)
slow frames per second (3.0 fps)
no image stabilization
low resolution sensor (12MP)
does not have phase detect auto focus
38
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
includes tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (300 CIPA)
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic GF1
Travel photography with Panasonic GF3
59
better than average battery pack (380 per charge)
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse recording
low resolution sensor (12MP)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
58
provides touch focus
has built in flash
missing Timelapse recording
not so great battery pack (300 per charge)
low megapixels (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic GF1
Landscape photography with Panasonic GF3
60
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
better than average battery pack (380 per charge)
no image stabilization
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse recording
55
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
no image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
not so great battery pack (300 per charge)
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF1 Vlogging information
Panasonic GF3 Vlogging information
25
includes face detect focus
does not posses selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing mic support
32
screen is touchscreen
includes face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
missing microphone port
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Panasonic GF1 vs Panasonic GF3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF1 and Panasonic GF3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3
General Information
Brand Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2009-10-14 2011-08-11
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine HD Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 160
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
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 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 107 107
Crop factor 2.1 2.1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.00 m 6.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format AVCHD Lite AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Microphone 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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 385 grams (0.85 pounds) 264 grams (0.58 pounds)
Physical dimensions 119 x 71 x 36mm (4.7" x 2.8" x 1.4") 108 x 67 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 54 50
DXO Color Depth score 21.2 20.6
DXO Dynamic range score 10.3 10.1
DXO Low light score 513 459
Other
Battery life 380 photographs 300 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/MMC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $400 $360