Nikon 1
V1
 vs
Panasonic Lumix
DMC-G3

Updated (July, 2012): Compare the Nikon 1 V1 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5

Nikon 1 V1

59

  
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

59

  

Reasons to buy the Nikon 1 V1

Viewfinder
 Great viewfinder
Digital
High-speed framerate
 High speed movies
1,200 fps
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
60 fps
Viewfinder coverage
 Great viewfinder coverage
100%
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Badge
 Phase detection video autofocus
fast and accurate
 

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Viewfinder
 Great viewfinder
Digital
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
External flash
 External flash
Better lighting
 

differences

Advantages of the Nikon V1
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies 1,200 fps vs None
Help
 Capture events too fast for the naked eye and play them back in super-slow motion
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster 60 fps vs 4 fps
Help
 15x faster continuous shooting
Focus points Many more focus points 135 vs 23
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
Autofocus Faster video autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Shoot videos without worrying about focus
Battery life Longer battery life 350 shots vs 270 shots
Help
 Around 30% more shots per battery charge
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11 EV vs 10.6 EV
Help
 0.4 f-stops more dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 21.3 bits vs 21 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.3 more bits of color
Size Smaller 113x76x43 mm vs 115x84x47 mm
Help
 Around 20% smaller
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 97 ms vs 293 ms
Help
 3x less delay when taking photos
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/16000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 4x faster max shutter speed
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 1300 ms vs 1400 ms
Help
 Around 10% less delay when turning on
Weight Lighter 294 g vs 336 g
Help
 More than 10% lighter
Thickness Thinner 1.7" vs 1.9"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Nikon 1 V1 Learn more about
the Nikon V1

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-G3
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 667 ISO vs 346 ISO
Help
 The DMC-G3 has a slight edge (0.9 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Touch screen Has a touch screen Yes vs No
Help
 Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
 Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 15.8 MP vs 10 MP
Help
 Capture around 60% more detail in your photos
Lens availability More lenses available 26 lenses vs 4 lenses
Help
 6.5x more lenses available
Sensor size Larger sensor Four thirds 17.3x13.0mm vs Nikon CX 13.2x8.8mm
Help
 More than 90% larger sensor
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
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 56.0 vs 54.0
Help
 Almost the same
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
 A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Longest exposure Longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
 2x longer exposures
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $249.00 vs $394.81
Help
 The best price we've seen is $146 cheaper (around 40% less)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-G3
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon 1 V1 Nikon 1 V1
59 vs 59
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3
Green arrow Too close to call! Snapsort considers these cameras too competitive to make a clear recommendation.

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Viewfinder Both have digital viewfinders Help
Digital
Movie continuous focus Focus continuously recording movies Help
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
External flash Each supports an external flash Help
Better lighting
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
Supports 24p No support for 24p Help
Missing that film look
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
V1:3,200 ISO
DMC-G3:6,400 ISO
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
V1:11 EV
DMC-G3:10.6 EV
Color depth Poor color depth Help
V1:21.3 bits
DMC-G3:21 bits
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
V1:54.0
DMC-G3:56.0

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$239 - $249 body only

$399 - $419 with 14-42mm lens
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the 1 V1
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the Lumix DMC-G3
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D3100 vs the 1 V1
Compare the D3100 vs the Lumix DMC-G3
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the 1 V1
Compare the D5100 vs the Lumix DMC-G3
Samsung NX1000

Samsung NX1000

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$324 - $449 with 20-50mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder
Compare the NX1000 vs the 1 V1
Compare the NX1000 vs the Lumix DMC-G3
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has much better image quality
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D3200 vs the 1 V1
Compare the D3200 vs the Lumix DMC-G3
Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$399 with 14-42mm lens
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Size Is slightly smaller
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Compare the PEN Lite E-PL3 vs the 1 V1
Compare the PEN Lite E-PL3 vs the Lumix DMC-G3
Olympus OM-D E-M5

Olympus OM-D E-M5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$999 - $1,114 body only

$1,099 with 14-42mm lens
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the OM-D E-M5 vs the 1 V1
Compare the OM-D E-M5 vs the Lumix DMC-G3

Nikon 1 V1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$397 with 10-30mm lens
Size Smaller
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality
Viewfinder No viewfinder
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Compare the 1 J1 vs the 1 V1
Nikon 1 V2

Nikon 1 V2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$697 body only

$797 with 10-30mm lens
True resolution Higher true resolution
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Autofocus Slower autofocus
Compare the 1 V2 vs the 1 V1
Nikon 1 J3

Nikon 1 J3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera
True resolution Higher true resolution
Viewfinder No viewfinder
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Compare the 1 J3 vs the 1 V1
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$650 - $699 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
High-speed framerate Doesn't record high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots much slower
Compare the NEX-5N vs the 1 V1
Nikon 1 J2

Nikon 1 J2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$321 - $449 with 10-30mm lens
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera
Size Smaller
Viewfinder No viewfinder
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Compare the 1 J2 vs the 1 V1

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
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera
Size Significantly larger
Low light performance Slightly more noise at high ISO
Compare the Lumix DMC-G5 vs the Lumix DMC-G3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$514 with 14-42mm lens
Size Significantly smaller
Battery life Longer battery life
Viewfinder No viewfinder
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the Lumix DMC-G3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$990 with 14-42mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Battery life Significantly longer battery life
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Compare the Lumix DMC-G2 vs the Lumix DMC-G3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,298 body only

$2,599 with 12-35mm lens
Weather sealed Weather sealed
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Size Much larger
Thickness Much thicker
Compare the Lumix DMC-GH3 vs the Lumix DMC-G3

appearance

Nikon 1 V1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3
Nikon 1 V1
Nikon 1 V1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

discussion

Showing 1 comments

rudolf (0:19 AM, July 15, 2012)
Lumix still have its slr style design which makes their camera look bulky. The nikon, apart from being stylish and elegance, it also make its user a classy people.