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Panasonic G3

 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 front
 
Portability
83
Imaging
51
Features
62
Overall
55

Panasonic G3 overview

Panasonic G3 is Panasonic's Entry-Level Mirrorless camera originally introduced on July of 2011. It comes with a 16 MegaPixel, CMOS Four Thirds sized sensor and has a maximum resolution of 4592 x 3448.

Panasonic introduced this camera in order to improve the older Panasonic G2 (Read Full Comparison) & then introduced the newer Panasonic G5 (Read Full Comparison) in order to improve this model.

The G3 is rated #81 out of 117 in Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras & all round #373 out of 1465 for cameras in our database. Remember to try our Advanced camera filter to get camera ratings based on your personal requirements.

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Below is a graph of various criteria used in the scoring system.

Panasonic G3 family

The Panasonic G3 is part of a family of digital cameras. You can read the detailed range underneath.

ModelVisualizeResolutionSensor SizeMax fpsReleased
Panasonic-Lumix-DC-GH6 front thumbnailPanasonic GH6
G3 vs GH6
25MPFour Thirds14.0 fps2022
Panasonic-Lumix-DC-GH5-II front thumbnailPanasonic GH5 II
G3 vs GH5 II
20MPFour Thirds12.0 fps2021
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Panasonic-Lumix-DC-G100 front thumbnailPanasonic G100
G3 vs G100
20MPFour Thirds10.0 fps2020
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-G95 front thumbnailPanasonic G95
G3 vs G95
20.3MPFour Thirds9.0 fps2019
Panasonic-Lumix-DC-GH5S front thumbnailPanasonic GH5S
G3 vs GH5S
10MPFour Thirds12.0 fps2018
Panasonic-Lumix-DC-G9 front thumbnailPanasonic G9
G3 vs G9
20MPFour Thirds20.0 fps2017
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Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GX850 front thumbnailPanasonic GX850
G3 vs GX850
16MPFour Thirds10.0 fps2017
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GH5 front thumbnailPanasonic GH5
G3 vs GH5
20MPFour Thirds12.0 fps2017
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-G85 front thumbnailPanasonic G85
G3 vs G85
16MPFour Thirds9.0 fps2016
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GF8 front thumbnailPanasonic GF8
G3 vs GF8
16MPFour Thirds5.8 fps2016
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-G7 front thumbnailPanasonic G7
G3 vs G7
16MPFour Thirds7.0 fps2015
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Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GF7 front thumbnailPanasonic GF7
G3 vs GF7
16MPFour Thirds5.8 fps2015
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GM5 front thumbnailPanasonic GM5
G3 vs GM5
16MPFour Thirds5.8 fps2014
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GH4 front thumbnailPanasonic GH4
G3 vs GH4
16MPFour Thirds12.0 fps2014
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GM1 front thumbnailPanasonic GM1
G3 vs GM1
16MPFour Thirds5.0 fps2013
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-G6 front thumbnailPanasonic G6
G3 vs G6
16MPFour Thirds7.0 fps2013
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GF6 front thumbnailPanasonic GF6
G3 vs GF6
16MPFour Thirds4.0 fps2013
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GH3 front thumbnailPanasonic GH3
G3 vs GH3
16MPFour Thirds20.0 fps2012
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-G5 front thumbnailPanasonic G5
G3 vs G5
16MPFour Thirds6.0 fps2012
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Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GF5 front thumbnailPanasonic GF5
G3 vs GF5
12MPFour Thirds4.0 fps2012
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GX1 front thumbnailPanasonic GX1
G3 vs GX1
16MPFour Thirds4.0 fps2012
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GF3 front thumbnailPanasonic GF3
G3 vs GF3
12MPFour Thirds3.0 fps2011
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-G3 front thumbnailPanasonic G316MPFour Thirds4.0 fps2011
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GH2 front thumbnailPanasonic GH2
G3 vs GH2
16MPFour Thirds3.0 fps2011
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GF2 front thumbnailPanasonic GF2
G3 vs GF2
12MPFour Thirds3.0 fps2011
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-G10 front thumbnailPanasonic G10
G3 vs G10
12MPFour Thirds3.0 fps2010
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-G2 front thumbnailPanasonic G2
G3 vs G2
12MPFour Thirds3.0 fps2010
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GF1 front thumbnailPanasonic GF1
G3 vs GF1
12MPFour Thirds3.0 fps2009
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-GH1 front thumbnailPanasonic GH1
G3 vs GH1
12MPFour Thirds3.0 fps2009
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide
Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-G1 front thumbnailPanasonic G1
G3 vs G1
12MPFour Thirds3.0 fps2009

Panasonic G3 Pros and Cons

Below is a checklist of advantages and disadvantages of the Panasonic G3 based on factors which are often viewed as necessary in a camera.

fully articulated screen
good resolution (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has built in flash
has focus by touch
has HDMI socket
includes face detection autofocus
includes tracking autofocus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
saves RAW files
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen enabled
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
you can focus manually
does not have external microphone socket
does not have headphone socket
does not have Timelapse mode
lacks phase detect autofocus
low battery (270 shots)
low resolution screen (460 thousand dots)
no image stabilization
slow fps (4.0 frames/s)
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Panasonic G3 Sensor details

The Panasonic G3 is powered by the Venus Engine FHD chip. The sensor size in the Panasonic G3 is 17.3mm x 13mm (Four Thirds). The 225 mm² sensor is able to resolve 4592 x 3448 pixels and aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9.

Photography Glossary

The CMOS sensor has 16 megapixels and gives a native ISO range of 160 - 6400. RAW format is supported which means that the user has wider margin for error.

The picture underneath illustrates the G3's sensor dimensions when compared to other common sizes. The G3 sensor has a crop factor of 2.1 and is showcased in green.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 sensor size Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

To get a sense of specific aspect ratios, you can refer to the visual below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Panasonic G3 dimensions

Panasonic G3 weighs around 0.74 pounds (336 gr / 11.85 oz) & the volume of the camera is 115mm x 84mm x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9"). The weight of normal Entry-Level Mirrorless camera is 329 gr so the Panasonic G3 is on par compared with its rivals.

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Underneath is a shot of the Panasonic G3 besides a soda so you can get a sense of its scale.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 dimensions scale

The top view underneath will highlight the button arrangement on the G3.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 topview buttons dials

Panasonic G3 Lens specs

The G3 fits the Micro Four Thirds mount and has 162 lenses available to buy. Below is some of the lenses we have in our collection which will work with the G3.

ModelVisualizeFocal LengthApertureStabilizedWeight
Rokinon-8mm-f3.5-Aspherical-Fisheye-Four-Thirds lensRokinon 8mm f3.5 Aspherical Fisheye8mmf/3.5 443g
Samyang-100mm-F2.8-Macro-MFT-Mount lensSamyang 100mm F2.8 Macro100mmf/2.8720g
Photography Glossary
OM-System-M.Zuiko-Digital-ED-20mm-F1.4-Pro lensOM System M.Zuiko Digital ED 20mm F1.4 Pro20mmf/1.4247g
Sigma-56mm-F1.4-DC-DN-C-Micro-Four-Thirds lensSigma 56mm F1.4 DC DN C56mmf/1.40g
Olympus-M.Zuiko-Digital-ED-40-150mm-f4-5.6 lensOlympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f4-5.640-150mmf/4.0-5.6 190g
Samyang-Reflex-300mm-f6.3-ED-UMC-CS-Micro-Four-Thirds lensSamyang Reflex 300mm f6.3 ED UMC CS300mmf/6.3 318g
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Olympus-Zuiko-Digital-300mm-f2.8 lensOlympus Zuiko Digital 300mm f2.8300mmf/2.8 3290g
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Panasonic G3 Connectivity

The G3 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Cameras that include NFC and Bluetooth support can be used wirelessly through smartphones. You will be able to transfer pictures and oftentimes adjust camera settings without connecting physically to the camera.

Many applications even stream a Liveview and click the shutter whenever you aren't near the camera. If the camera features a HDMI port, it can be attached to an external monitor. Most cameras enable you to recharge the battery using the USB socket.

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Panasonic G3 Video specs

The maximum video resolution in the Panasonic G3 is 1920 x 1080 and you can shoot in AVCHD and Motion JPEG format. 1080p resolution offers a decent balance in quality and file sizes but FULL HD is not going to give you any room to downsample. The camera doesn't feature a microphone and headphone jack which means you get little control over the audio. It is perhaps best to look at an alternative model should you need decent audio for your video clips.

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Panasonic G3 Weather Sealing

Panasonic G3 doesn't include weather sealing so damp conditions can affect the camera.

Panasonic G3 Display and Viewfinder

The Panasonic G3 comes with a 3 inch fully articulated display screen supporting a resolution of 460 thousand dots.

The display is selfie friendly to take self portraits and group photos when needed. Moreover the display screen is touch friendly which means that you can change focus points and adjust settings by using your fingertips.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 screen and viewfinder Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

The View Finder specs for Panasonic G3 are the following:

  • ViewFinder Electronic
  • ViewFinder Resolution 1,440 thousand dots
  • ViewFinder Coverage 100%
  • ViewFinder Magnification 0.7x

For sunny outdoor situations which make the camera screens washed out and tricky to see, viewfinders will be rather useful.

Panasonic G3 Shutter specs

Panasonic G3 continuous shooting rate is 4.0 frames/s. The maximum shutter speed is 1/4000 seconds.

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Panasonic G3 Flash and Hot shoe specs

Panasonic G3 has both inbuilt flash as well as external flash ability. The maximum flash sync is 1/160 seconds.

Panasonic G3 Autofocusing specs

Panasonic G3 has just Contrast Detect Autofocus & does not have Phase Detect Autofocus. Phase Detection focusing is more snappier & precise in comparison with Contrast Detect focusing. The camera comes with Face detect making it useful for portrait photography.

It comes with 23 focus points to select from. Panasonic G3 has tap to focus. You can use your fingers in order to adjust focus points. It also features Tracking Autofocus for moving subjects. Panasonic G3 can use manual focus in case it is required in low light or you need more accurate focus control.

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Panasonic G3 Battery life

The battery in the Panasonic G3 is built to last for 270 clicks based on the CIPA specifications making it lesser compared with it's competition. The general Entry-Level Mirrorless camera battery life is 343. Fujifilm X-S20 offers the highest possible (750) battery life in this range of cameras.

Listed below is a listing of Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras having the strongest battery life:

Panasonic G3 for various kinds of photography

The following bar chart gives a analysis of the Panasonic G3 for various kinds of photography. To look at more, scroll to the specific paragraph underneath.

Panasonic G3 Portrait photography details

The Panasonic G3 has a points total of 70 which is very good, meaning that it is a very decent choice to use for portrait images. Shooting portrait images favors heavily to sensor size, RAW support & ability to work with off-camera flash.

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has manual focus
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focus
saves RAW files

Panasonic G3 Street photography features

Coming in at a nice points total of 75, the Panasonic G3 is a fine option for street photography. A very good street photography camera gives a fine balance of image quality plus portability.

Photography Glossary
screen articulates fully
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
has focus via touch
no image stabilization

Panasonic G3 Sports photography factors

A decent sports photography rating of 46 suggests the Panasonic G3 is somewhat appropriate for shooting sports. A camera must have good autofocus and continuous shooting for sports photography.

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decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (4.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
terrible battery pack (270 shots)
no phase detect AF

Panasonic G3 Travel photography factors

Weight is very critical when selecting a travel camera. All things considered, the Panasonic G3 gets a above average 70 as a travel camera which is a very decent option to take with you on your travels.

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boasts focus via touch
good MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
lack of Time Lapse mode
not so great battery (270 shots)

Panasonic G3 Landscape photography highlights

For anybody looking to purchase a digital camera for landscape pictures, the most critical factor will no doubt be image quality. The Panasonic G3 with it's above average grade of 62 for a landscape camera is a good pick amongst it's competition.

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focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
no image stabilization
not so great battery pack (270 shots)
does not have Timelapse mode

Panasonic G3 as a Vlogging camera

A vlogging camera really should have a moving display, mic port and ideally IBIS. Considering every thing, the Panasonic G3 is a respectable pick for vlogging as it receives a above average rating of 70.

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selfie friendly display
built-in touchscreen
has face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have image stabilization
does not have external microphone port

Panasonic G3 Alternatives

If you are looking for alternatives to the G3, here is a collection of the highest placed cameras that fall into the family of Entry-Level Mirrorless.

The line graph down below shows you an overview of the G3 compared to it's highest scoring competitors shown previously.

There are a bunch of cameras you may regard as alternative options. To browse through a detailed comparison, click the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Company
Panasonic
Model
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3
Class
Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched
2011-07-11
Physical type
SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CMOS
Chip
Venus Engine FHD
Sensor size
Four Thirds
Sensor measurements
17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area
224.9mm²
Sensor resolution
16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution
4592 x 3448
RAW data
Maximum native ISO
6400
Minimum native ISO
160
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points
23
Lens
Lens mount
Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses
107
Crop factor
2.1
Screen
Display type
Fully Articulated
Display diagonal
3 inch
Display resolution
460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech
TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
Electronic
Viewfinder resolution
1,440 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage
100%
Viewfinder magnification
0.7x
DXO scores
DXO All around score
56
DXO Color Depth score
21.0
DXO Dynamic range score
10.6
DXO Low light score
667
Features
Slowest shutter speed
60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed
1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate
4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation
Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range
11.00 m
Flash modes
Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize
1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions
1920 x 1080 (60fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30fps))
Maximum video resolution
1920x1080
Video format
AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
336 grams (0.74 lb)
Dimensions
115 x 84 x 47mm (4.5" x 3.3" x 1.9")
Other
Battery life
270 photographs
Battery type
Battery Pack
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage
SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots
1
Retail price
$500