Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

54

"The JPEGs aren't uniformly great; in our testing, even shots at ISO 160 had some noise in shadow areas."
reviews.cnet.com | talking about the DMC-GF3's iso-noise
"The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 delivers excellent performance and good-to-great photo quality."
reviews.cnet.com | talking about the DMC-GF3's image-quality

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Touch screen
Touch screen
Less buttons
3D
Takes 3D photos
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
Interchangeable lenses
Interchangeable lenses
Many lenses to choose from
Sensor cleaning
Self cleaning sensor
Avoids dust in your photos
Longest exposure
Long exposures
60 seconds
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1

33

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1

Viewfinder
Great viewfinder
Digital
Interchangeable lenses
Interchangeable lenses
Many lenses to choose from
External flash
External flash
Better lighting
Longest exposure
Long exposures
60 seconds

differences

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-GF3

Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 30fps vs None
Help
Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
Automatically focuses shooting 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
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
The DMC-GF3's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Size Significantly smaller 107x67x32 mm vs 124x84x45 mm
Help
Around 50% smaller
Weight Significantly lighter 264 g vs 430 g
Help
Around 40% lighter
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.3" vs 1.8"
Help
Around 30% thinner
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $394.00 vs $489.90
Help
The best price we've seen is $96 cheaper (around 20% less)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-GF3

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-G1

Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Digital vs None
Help
A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Color depth Better color depth 21.1 bits vs 20.6 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.5 more bits of color
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 53.0 vs 50.0
Help
Around 10% better image quality
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
Help
An external flash often produces better looking flash images
Dynamic range More dynamic range 10.3 EV vs 10.1 EV
Help
0.2 f-stops more dynamic range
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor Four thirds 18.0x13.5mm vs Four thirds 17.3x13.0mm
Help
Around 10% larger sensor
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-G1
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3
54 vs 33
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3.

advice

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0
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by Ursula-Puga last month
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expert, do shows, but need to photographe without being noticed with a huge SLR camera

1
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by Rajesh-Venkataraman last month
Panasonic DMC-GF3 vs Sony C3

I am a point and shoot photographer. I would like to upgrade to a bit more professional camera b...

One person recommends the Sony C3:

" Although the Sony NEX C3 doesn't have a built in flash it would still be my top choice. The N..."

0
votes
by Segun-Gomes last month
Panasonic DMC-GF3 vs Panasonic DMC-GF2

Semi Pro, Fast response, Manual setting and fast and sharp autofocus will be handy

One person recommends the Panasonic DMC-GF3:

"There is not really a big difference between these cameras, I would go with the GF3, it is newer. ..."

0
votes
by Avi-Schmerer last month
Panasonic DMC-GF3 vs Panasonic DMC-GF2

I'm a beginner that has used nothing but point-and-shoots. I want to get a better camera that is r...

0
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by Gareth-Egerton 3 days ago
Nikon J1 vs Panasonic DMC-GF3

Looking to upgrade from 2008 Sony H10.  The priorities for me are speed (capture action shots), ...

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
DMC-GF3:$394.00
DMC-G1:$489.90
Longest exposure Long exposures Help
60 seconds
Built-in flash Each has a built-in flash Help
External flash not needed
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
12 MP
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
DMC-GF3:10.1 EV
DMC-G1:10.3 EV
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Color depth Poor color depth Help
DMC-GF3:20.6 bits
DMC-G1:21.1 bits
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
460k dots
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
DMC-GF3:50.0
DMC-G1:53.0
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
DMC-GF3:459 ISO
DMC-G1:463 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$376 with 14-42mm lens

Startup delay Has much less startup delay
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 body only

$700 with 14-42mm lens

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$643 - $1,125 body only

$731 - $964 with 14-42mm lens

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Longest exposure Significantly shorter exposures
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

Low light performance Is much less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has much better image quality
Longest exposure Significantly shorter exposures
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Olympus PEN E-PL1

Olympus PEN E-PL1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$260 - $279 with 14-42mm lens

Image stabilization Has image stabilization
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$390 - $496

Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Longest exposure Much shorter exposures
Thickness Is thicker

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens

High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster
Touch screen No touch screen
3D Doesn't take 3D photos
Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 with 14-42mm lens

Image stabilization Image stabilization
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera
Touch screen No touch screen
Built-in flash No built-in flash

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$330 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Shoots movies
Autofocus Video autofocus
Size Much larger
Low light performance Slightly more noise at high ISO
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$849 - $997 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Shoots movies
Autofocus Video autofocus
Size Much larger
Thickness Much thicker

appearance

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1

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