Updated (May, 2011): Compare the Canon PowerShot G12 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Canon PowerShot G11

55

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot G11

Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Lens
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Viewfinder
Great viewfinder
Tunnel
Built-in flash
Built-in flash
Usually standard
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

40

"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
"Otherwise, control placement seems logical and Panasonic has arranged them so as to present little potential for inadvertent activations"
digitalcamerareview.com | talking about the DMC-G3's button-layout

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

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
Viewfinder
Great viewfinder
Digital
Built-in flash
Built-in flash
External flash not needed
Longest exposure
Long exposures
60 seconds

differences

Advantages of the Canon G11

Image stabilization Image stabilization Lens vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.1 EV vs 10.6 EV
Help
0.5 f-stops more dynamic range
Size Slightly smaller 112x76x48 mm vs 115x84x47 mm
Help
More than 10% smaller
Canon PowerShot G11 Learn more about
the Canon G11

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-G3

Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 480p @ 30fps
Help
Shoots high resolution Full HD (1080p) video
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
Screen size Larger screen 3.0" vs 2.8"
Help
Around 10% larger screen
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 15.8 MP vs 10 MP
Help
Capture around 60% more detail in your photos
Overall image quality Better image quality 56.0 vs 47.0
Help
Around 20% better image quality
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
Sensor size Larger sensor Four thirds 17.3x13.0mm vs 1/1.7" 7.6x5.7mm
Help
More than 5x larger sensor
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 667 ISO vs 169 ISO
Help
The DMC-G3 has excellent image quality 2 f-stops higher ISO than the G11
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The DMC-G3's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 4 fps vs 1.1 fps
Help
More than 3.5x faster continuous shooting
Color depth Better color depth 21 bits vs 20.4 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.6 more bits of color
Longest exposure Much longer exposures 60s vs 15s
Help
4x longer exposures
Weight Slightly lighter 336 g vs 375 g
Help
More than 10% lighter
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $499.87 vs $671.89
Help
The best price we've seen is $172 cheaper (around 30% 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 PowerShot G11 Canon PowerShot G11
55 vs 40
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon PowerShot G11. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a pro digicam with a mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

advice

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2
votes
by Brad-Jones this month
Olympus E-PM1 vs Panasonic DMC-G3

I am an expert beginner! I have been interested in photography all my life, with a parent who wo...

8 people recommend the Panasonic DMC-G3:

" Lumix its the best from those choice and U can get cheaper G1 or G2 "

" personally I have not been happy with the olympus's I have used.  I would check amazon or bhphot..."

One person recommends the Olympus E-PM1:

" GF1 or GX1 , because it is the best ;) I have one, beside of my 5D mkII."

1
votes
by jancasey last month
Nikon D3100 vs Panasonic DMC-G3

Total beginner.  Have only used "point and shoot" cameras before.  Looking for something that wi...

One person recommends the Nikon D3100:

" Without a doubt, the image quality of the Nikon, trumps the Panasonic to a point where the two a..."

0
votes
by Marcia-Powdermaker last month
Nikon V1 vs Panasonic DMC-G3

I am not a beginner, I have used SLRs for years, but haven't had a DSLR camera. I have used the...

1
votes
by creativesoulny this month
Panasonic DMC-G3 vs Sony NEX-5N

I travel internationally and take photos, some of which I sell after printing on my Epson printe...

One person recommends the Panasonic DMC-G3:

" the panasonic, it might have a smaller(4/3 vs aps-c) sensor but the images are considered crysta..."

One person recommends the Sony NEX-5N:

" I'd recommend the Sony NEX-5N, it has a huge sensor (APS-C), and tons of great built in features..."

0
votes
by Julie-Maddams-Huggins last month
Canon G11 vs Canon G12

I love taking pictures of my family , particularly when we're on holidays or just playing around i...

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
G11:Tunnel
DMC-G3:Digital
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/4000 of a second
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Color depth Poor color depth Help
G11:20.4 bits
DMC-G3:21 bits
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
G11:11.1 EV
DMC-G3:10.6 EV

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$433 body only

Thickness Is thinner
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$390 - $496

Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Canon PowerShot G1X

Canon PowerShot G1X

Boutique

$799 - $800

Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Thickness Is thicker
Macro focus Much worse macro focusing

Canon PowerShot G11 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon PowerShot G10

Canon PowerShot G10

Pro digicam

Screen size Larger screen
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Nikon Coolpix P7000

Nikon Coolpix P7000

Pro digicam

$249

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$356 - $430

Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Macro focus Worse macro capability
Canon PowerShot G9

Canon PowerShot G9

Pro digicam

Screen size Larger screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Wide angle Much worse wide angle
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Canon Powershot SX40

Canon Powershot SX40

Super zoom

$347 - $380

Zoom Much more zoom
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Size Much larger
Screen resolution Lower resolution screen

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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
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
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$615 - $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

appearance

Canon PowerShot G11 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3
Canon PowerShot G11
Canon PowerShot G11 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

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