Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic LZ30

On this page, we will be looking at the Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic LZ30, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both manufactured by Panasonic. There is a sizeable difference among the image resolutions of the GF3 (12MP) and LZ30 (16MP) and the GF3 (Four Thirds) and LZ30 (1/2.3") offer different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The GF3 was revealed 17 months before the LZ30 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GF3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic LZ30 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go into a detailed comparison, here is a simple summary of how the GF3 scores vs the LZ30 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

This is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30. The full galleries are available at Panasonic GF3 Gallery and Panasonic LZ30 Gallery.

If you're intending to carry your camera frequently, you'll have to think about its weight and measurements. The Panasonic GF3 has outside measurements of 108mm x 67mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 264 grams (0.58 lbs) and the Panasonic LZ30 has proportions of 124mm x 84mm x 92mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 3.6") and a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic LZ30 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are employing during that time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the GF3 vs the LZ30.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the GF3 and LZ30 is 90 and 66 respectively.

Often, it can be hard to visualize the gap in sensor sizing only by going through a spec sheet. The photograph underneath should offer you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the GF3 and LZ30.

As you can see, both the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The GF3 using its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field easier and the Panasonic LZ30 will produce more detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The older GF3 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.