Canon Rebel
T3i
 vs
Panasonic Lumix
DMC-G3

Canon Rebel T3i

84
"Excellent image quality even at high ISO settings"
dpreview.com | talking about the T3i's image-quality
"Good quality 1080/720p video output with a range of frame rates and control over exposure"
dpreview.com | talking about the T3i's video-quality

Reasons to buy the Canon Rebel T3i

Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
1,040k dots
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Badge
 Phase detection autofocus
fast and accurate
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

40
"For someone considering a camera to improve upon compact digital image quality, the mirrorless interchangeable lens genre is a slam dunk."
digitalcamerareview.com | talking about the DMC-G3's overall-performance
"Default images out of the G3 are very good with regard to color fidelity and sharpness"
digitalcamerareview.com | talking about the DMC-G3's image-quality

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Size
 Really small
Standard size 115x84x47 mm
Touch screen
 Touch screen
Less buttons
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
3D
 Takes 3D photos
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Badge
 Autofocuses shooting video
Contrast detection

differences

Advantages of the Canon T3i
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 460k dots
Help
 Around 2.5x higher resolution screen
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Lens availability Much more lenses available 162 lenses vs 26 lenses
Help
 More than 6x more lenses available
Overall image quality Better image quality 65.0 vs 56.0
Help
 Around 20% better image quality
Color depth Better color depth 22.1 bits vs 21 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.1 more bits of color
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.5 EV vs 10.6 EV
Help
 0.9 f-stops more dynamic range
True resolution Higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 15.8 MP
Help
 Capture more than 10% more detail in your photos
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 22.3x14.9mm vs Four thirds 17.3x13.0mm
Help
 Around 50% larger sensor
Battery life Longer battery life 440 shots vs 270 shots
Help
 More than 60% more shots per battery charge
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 793 ISO vs 667 ISO
Help
 The T3i has a slight edge (0.2 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Viewfinder Has an optical viewfinder Pentamirror vs Digital
Help
 Optical viewfinders save battery life and are more detailed
Canon Rebel T3i Learn more about
the Canon T3i

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-G3
Size Significantly smaller 115x84x47 mm vs 133x99x79 mm
Help
 2.3x smaller
Touch screen Has a touch screen Yes vs No
Help
 Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.9" vs 3.1"
Help
 More than 40% thinner
Weight Lighter 336 g vs 570 g
Help
 More than 40% lighter
Focus points More focus points 23 vs 9
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
 2x longer exposures
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $499.87 vs $618.94
Help
 The best price we've seen is $119 cheaper (around 20% less)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-G3
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon Rebel T3i Canon Rebel T3i
84 vs 40
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon Rebel T3i. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a entry-level DSLR with a mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

advice

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by Brad-Jones this month
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similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Movie format Both shoot high resolution HD movies Help
1080p @ 30fps
True resolution Capture extremely high resolution images Help
T3i:17.9 MP
DMC-G3:15.8 MP
Interchangeable lenses Both support interchangeable lenses, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
Many lenses to choose from
Sensor size Large sensors Help
T3i:APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
DMC-G3:Four thirds 17.3x13.0mm
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Sensor cleaning Self cleaning sensors Help
Avoids dust in your photos
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
T3i:Pentamirror
DMC-G3:Digital
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/4000 of a second
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
T3i:30s
DMC-G3:60s
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
T3i:1
DMC-G3:0

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D5100 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the D5100 vs the Lumix DMC-G3
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Lumix DMC-G3
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$330 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens
Battery life Has a significantly longer battery life
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Lumix DMC-G3
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens
Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D3100 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the D3100 vs the Lumix DMC-G3
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Size Is slightly smaller
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Compare the NEX-5N vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the NEX-5N vs the Lumix DMC-G3
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,200 body only

$1,350 - $1,499 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Size Is slightly smaller
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the NEX-7 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the NEX-7 vs the Lumix DMC-G3

Canon Rebel T3i Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens
Battery life Much longer battery life
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points
Size Larger
Weight Heavier
Compare the EOS 60D vs the Rebel T3i
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens
Autofocus Video autofocus
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Compare the D3200 vs the Rebel T3i
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,500 - $1,849 with 18-135mm lens
Weather sealed Weather sealed
Cross type focus points Significantly more cross-type focus points
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Screen resolution Lower resolution screen
Compare the EOS 7D vs the Rebel T3i

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$849 - $997 with 14-42mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Size Larger
Thickness Thicker
Compare the Lumix DMC-GH2 vs the Lumix DMC-G3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$643 - $1,125 body only

$739 - $964 with 14-42mm lens
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Viewfinder No viewfinder
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the Lumix DMC-G3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$469 body only
Size Smaller
Thickness Thinner
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
True resolution Significantly lower true resolution
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the Lumix DMC-G3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$610 - $642 with 14-42mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Battery life Longer battery life
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Size Larger
Compare the Lumix DMC-G2 vs the Lumix DMC-G3
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Overall image quality Better image quality
Touch screen No touch screen
Built-in flash No built-in flash
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the Lumix DMC-G3

appearance

Canon Rebel T3i Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3
Canon Rebel T3i
Canon Rebel T3i Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

discussion

Showing 2 comments

Carpandean (2:40 PM, July 28, 2011)
Also, I am curious about your scoring system.  Why does Popularity get a weight of 100 when comparing "recent digitals", but only 85 when comparing two DSLRs?  In fact, why does popularity receive such a high weight, anyway?  Popularity has a higher weight than image quality!  Most of the difference in score (70 of the 87 difference in raw score, or 30 of the 33 difference in reported score) here is due to the relative popularity of a very old brand like Canon vs. a relatively new brand like Panasonic.  If you want to put a score in for availability of lenses or service or some other result of that difference in popularity, fine, but just popularity shouldn't be worth more than the critical factors such as which takes better pictures.  If you take out the Popularity score, the Nikon D5100 stays at 100 (it is still top), the T3i is 90, and the G3 is 77.  However, even there, there are several factors that are, at least in part, due to the smaller sensor (e.g., low light performance, dynamic range, etc.), so it seems a little unfair (double-counting) to also have sensor size.  Basically, your scoring system all but guarantees that any MFT camera, even if it were made to outperform the Canon/Nikon cameras in every way, will be rated lower.
 
Carpandean (2:14 PM, July 28, 2011)
Uh ... you can no longer use Phase Detection vs. Contrast Detection --> faster focus anymore.  The Lumix GH2 and G3, as well as the Olympus E-P3, have demonstrated that Contrast Detection can be made to focus faster than Phase Detection.  Now, there may be some cases (e.g., low light) where Phase Detection still has an advantage, but in many cases, the G3 will focus faster and more accurately than the T3i.  Check out the numerous independent reviews that state this.