Canon PowerShot
G12
 vs
Panasonic Lumix
DMC-G3

Updated (July, 2012): Compare the Canon PowerShot G1X vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5

Canon PowerShot G12

58

  
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

36

  

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot G12

Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Lens
Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Macro focus
 Great macro
1 cm
 

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

True resolution
 High true resolution
15.8 MP
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
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Interchangeable lenses
 Interchangeable lenses
Many lenses to choose from
 

differences

Advantages of the Canon G12
Image stabilization Image stabilization Lens vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.2 EV vs 10.6 EV
Help
 0.6 f-stops more dynamic range
Battery life Longer battery life 350 shots vs 270 shots
Help
 Around 30% more shots per battery charge
Size Slightly smaller 112x76x48 mm vs 115x84x47 mm
Help
 More than 10% smaller
Canon PowerShot G12 Learn more about
the Canon G12

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-G3
Touch screen Has a touch screen Yes vs No
Help
 Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate
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
Overall image quality Better image quality 56.0 vs 47.0
Help
 Around 20% better image quality
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 15.8 MP vs 10 MP
Help
 Capture around 60% more detail in your photos
Startup delay Significantly less startup delay 1400 ms vs 2700 ms
Help
 Around 50% less delay when turning on
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 161 ISO
Help
 The DMC-G3 has excellent image quality 2.1 f-stops higher ISO than the G12
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
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
Color depth Better color depth 21 bits vs 20.4 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.6 more bits of color
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 4 fps vs 2 fps
Help
 2x faster continuous shooting
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 293 ms vs 380 ms
Help
 More than 20% less delay when taking photos
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures 60s vs 15s
Help
 4x longer exposures
Weight Lighter 336 g vs 401 g
Help
 Around 20% lighter
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 G12 Canon PowerShot G12
58 vs 36
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon PowerShot G12. 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.

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
G12: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
G12:20.4 bits
DMC-G3:21 bits
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
G12:11.2 EV
DMC-G3:10.6 EV
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
G12:47.0
DMC-G3:56.0

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 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 D3100 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the D3100 vs the Lumix DMC-G3
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$656 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the Lumix DMC-G3
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the Lumix DMC-G3
Canon PowerShot SX50 HS

Canon PowerShot SX50 HS

Super zoom

$429 - $450
Zoom Has way more more zoom
Wide angle Has a slightly wider wide angle lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the PowerShot SX50 HS vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the PowerShot SX50 HS vs the Lumix DMC-G3
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$332 body only

$449 - $499 with 18-55mm lens
Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
Color depth Has slightly more color depth
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Lumix DMC-G3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7

Pro digicam

$398
Aperture Has a much wider aperture
Wide angle Has a slightly wider wide angle lens
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX7 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX7 vs the Lumix DMC-G3

Canon PowerShot G12 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon PowerShot G15

Canon PowerShot G15

Pro digicam

$449
Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the PowerShot G15 vs the PowerShot G12
Canon PowerShot G1X

Canon PowerShot G1X

Boutique

$649
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Overall image quality Better image quality
Macro focus Much worse macro capability
Size Larger
Compare the PowerShot G1X vs the PowerShot G12
Nikon Coolpix P7100

Nikon Coolpix P7100

Pro digicam

$299
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Screen size Larger screen
Supports 24p No 24p support
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the Coolpix P7100 vs the PowerShot G12
Canon PowerShot G11

Canon PowerShot G11

Pro digicam
Battery life Much longer battery life
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay
Supports 24p No 24p support
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Compare the PowerShot G11 vs the PowerShot G12
Fujifilm Finepix X10

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Pro digicam

$549
Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Supports 24p No 24p support
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Compare the Finepix X10 vs the PowerShot G12

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$498 body only

$498 with 14-42mm lens
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster
Size Larger
Thickness Thicker
Compare the Lumix DMC-G5 vs the Lumix DMC-G3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$229 - $239 body only

$399 - $419 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

$339 - $514 with 14-42mm lens
Size Smaller
Thickness Thinner
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the Lumix DMC-G3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$950 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
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Autofocus Faster autofocus
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Touch screen No touch screen
Compare the D5100 vs the Lumix DMC-G3

appearance

Canon PowerShot G12 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3
Canon PowerShot G12
Canon PowerShot G12 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

discussion

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