Panasonic GM5 vs Panasonic S3

Let's take a more detailed look at the Panasonic GM5 versus Panasonic S3, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are offered by Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the GM5 (16MP) and the S3 (14MP) is fairly similar but the GM5 (Four Thirds) and S3 (1/2.3") feature different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The GM5 was revealed 3 years later than the S3 and that is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic GM5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic S3 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief overview of how the GM5 scores vs the S3 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM5 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3. The full galleries are provided at Panasonic GM5 Gallery and Panasonic S3 Gallery.

If you are aiming to carry your camera frequently, you'll need to consider its weight and size. The Panasonic GM5 enjoys external measurements of 99mm x 60mm x 36mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.4") having a weight of 211 grams (0.47 lbs) while the Panasonic S3 has specifications of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") with a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic GM5 versus Panasonic S3 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you use at the time. Following is the front view sizing comparison of the GM5 compared to the S3.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the GM5 and S3 is 91 and 96 respectively.

Sometimes, its difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor sizing purely by reading a spec sheet. The visual underneath will help offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the GM5 and S3.

As you can see, both of these cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The GM5 having a larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF easier and the Panasonic GM5 will offer greater detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop pics much more aggressively. The younger GM5 provides an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.