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Panasonic GF3 vs Samsung NX mini

Portability
90
Imaging
48
Features
48
Overall
48
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 front
 
Samsung NX mini front
Portability
93
Imaging
51
Features
68
Overall
57

Panasonic GF3 vs Samsung NX mini Key Specs

Panasonic GF3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 264g - 108 x 67 x 32mm
  • Introduced August 2011
  • Old Model is Panasonic GF2
  • Refreshed by Panasonic GF5
Samsung NX mini
(Full Review)
  • 20.5MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • 1/16000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Samsung NX-M Mount
  • 196g - 110 x 62 x 23mm
  • Announced March 2014
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Panasonic GF3 vs Samsung NX mini Overview

Here, we will be contrasting the Panasonic GF3 and Samsung NX mini, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by companies Panasonic and Samsung. There exists a significant gap among the resolutions of the GF3 (12MP) and NX mini (20.5MP) and the GF3 (Four Thirds) and NX mini (1") posses totally different sensor sizing.

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The GF3 was revealed 3 years prior to the NX mini which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before getting right into a in-depth comparison, here is a concise summation of how the GF3 scores against the NX mini when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF3 over the Samsung NX mini

 GF3 NX mini 

Reasons to pick Samsung NX mini over the Panasonic GF3

 NX mini GF3 
AnnouncedMarch 2014August 2011Newer by 31 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution461k460kClearer screen (+1k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GF3 and Samsung NX mini

 GF3 NX mini 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Panasonic GF3 vs Samsung NX mini Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to travel with your camera, you will have to factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic GF3 has physical measurements of 108mm x 67mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") having a weight of 264 grams (0.58 lbs) and the Samsung NX mini has measurements of 110mm x 62mm x 23mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 196 grams (0.43 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic GF3 and Samsung NX mini in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you select at the time. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the GF3 against the NX mini.

Panasonic GF3 vs Samsung NX mini size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the GF3 and NX mini is 90 and 93 respectively.

Panasonic GF3 vs Samsung NX mini top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF3 vs Samsung NX mini Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be tough to envision the contrast in sensor dimensions just by checking out a spec sheet. The picture below will help offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the GF3 and NX mini.

As you can see, the 2 cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The GF3 using its bigger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF simpler and the Samsung NX mini will show extra detail because of its extra 8.5 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots way more aggressively. The more aged GF3 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic GF3 vs Samsung NX mini sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF3 vs Samsung NX mini Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF3 vs Samsung NX mini Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Portrait photography details
Samsung NX mini Portrait photography details
55
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
can't use external flash
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
70
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (20.5 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
features face detect focus
saves RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic GF3
Street photography with Samsung NX mini
70
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
features focus by touch
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
81
tilting screen
good sensor size (1")
saves RAW files
supports focus by touch
lighter than competitors (196g)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic GF3
Sports photography with Samsung NX mini
38
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
max frames per second low (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
bad battery pack (300 shots)
lack of phase detect AF
54
great max shutter speed (1/16,000s)
sensor resolution is decent (20.5MP)
good sensor size (1")
great battery (650 shots)
slow frames per second (6.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF3 Travel photography advice
Samsung NX mini Travel photography advice
58
features focus by touch
flash built-in
missing Timelapse mode
bad battery pack (300 per charge)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
75
great battery (650 per charge)
lighter than competitors (196g)
supports focus by touch
sensor resolution is decent (20.5MP)
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse recording
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF3 as a Landscape photography camera
Samsung NX mini as a Landscape photography camera
55
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
bad battery pack (300 shots)
missing Timelapse mode
68
focusing manually
change lenses (Samsung NX-M mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
sensor resolution is decent (20.5MP)
good sensor size (1")
saves RAW files
great battery (650 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF3 as a Vlogging camera
Samsung NX mini as a Vlogging camera
32
touchscreen
features face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
missing microphone socket
37
touch screen
features face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with microphone support
lighter than competitors (196g)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
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Panasonic GF3 vs Samsung NX mini Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF3 and Samsung NX mini
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3Samsung NX mini
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Samsung
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Samsung NX mini
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2011-08-11 2014-03-19
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 20.5MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Max boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 160 160
RAW files
Minimum boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 23 21
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds Samsung NX-M
Total lenses 107 2
Crop factor 2.1 2.7
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460k dots 461k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT-LCD (180 degree tilt)
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/16000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.30 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Smart Flash, auto, auto + redeye reduction, fill-in, fill-in + redeye reduction, 1st curtain, 2nd curtain
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160 seconds 1/200 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080, 1280 x 720, 640 x 480, 320 x 240 (all 30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 264 gr (0.58 pounds) 196 gr (0.43 pounds)
Physical dimensions 108 x 67 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.3") 110 x 62 x 23mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 50 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 20.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.1 not tested
DXO Low light score 459 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 images 650 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - B740
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2-30 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC microSD/microSDHC/microSDXC
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $360 $530