Panasonic Lumix
DMC-GF3
 vs
Panasonic Lumix
DMC-GF2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

51

  
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

50

  

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Touch screen
 Touch screen
Less buttons
Startup delay
 Almost no delay when powering up
1000 ms startup delay
3D
 Takes 3D photos
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
Interchangeable lenses
 Interchangeable lenses
Many lenses to choose from
External flash
 External flash
Better lighting
 

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
 

differences

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-GF3
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 320 shots vs 300 shots
Help
 Around 10% more shots per battery charge
Weight Lighter 264 g vs 310 g
Help
 More than 10% lighter
Size Slightly smaller 107x67x32 mm vs 113x68x33 mm
Help
 Around 10% smaller
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-GF3

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-GF2
Startup delay Less startup delay 1000 ms vs 1900 ms
Help
 Around 50% less delay when turning on
Overall image quality Better image quality 54.0 vs 50.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
Color depth Better color depth 21.2 bits vs 20.6 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.6 more bits of color
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
Help
 An external flash often produces better looking flash images
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 506 ISO vs 459 ISO
Help
 The DMC-GF2 has a slight edge (0.1 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Dynamic range More dynamic range 10.3 EV vs 10.1 EV
Help
 0.2 f-stops more dynamic range
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $317.00 vs $513.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $197 cheaper (around 40% less)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-GF2
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3
50 vs 51
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2
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
Touch screen Have touch screens Help
Less buttons
Movie continuous focus Focus continuously recording movies Help
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
3D 3D photos Help
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
Thickness Thin Help
1.3"
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
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
12 MP
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
DMC-GF3:10.1 EV
DMC-GF2:10.3 EV
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Supports 24p No support for 24p Help
Missing that film look
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
6,400 ISO
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
0
Focus points Few focus points Help
23
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Color depth Poor color depth Help
DMC-GF3:20.6 bits
DMC-GF2:21.2 bits
Viewfinder No viewfinders Help
Can only preview photos on the screen
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
DMC-GF3:50.0
DMC-GF2:54.0
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
DMC-GF3:459 ISO
DMC-GF2:506 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$600 with 14-42mm lens
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF5 vs the Lumix DMC-GF3
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF5 vs the Lumix DMC-GF2
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$239 - $249 body only

$399 - $419 with 14-42mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the Lumix DMC-GF3
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the Lumix DMC-GF2
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$397 with 10-30mm lens
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
Sensor size Has a marginally smaller sensor
Compare the 1 J1 vs the Lumix DMC-GF3
Compare the 1 J1 vs the Lumix DMC-GF2
Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$299 with 14-42mm lens
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Touch screen Doesn't have a touch screen
Compare the PEN E-PM1 vs the Lumix DMC-GF3
Compare the PEN E-PM1 vs the Lumix DMC-GF2
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$249 - $499 body only
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Lumix DMC-G3 vs the Lumix DMC-GF3
Compare the Lumix DMC-G3 vs the Lumix DMC-GF2
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,100 with 14-45mm lens
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF1 vs the Lumix DMC-GF3
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF1 vs the Lumix DMC-GF2
Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$399 with 14-42mm lens
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
3D Doesn't take 3D photos
Compare the PEN Lite E-PL3 vs the Lumix DMC-GF3
Compare the PEN Lite E-PL3 vs the Lumix DMC-GF2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2.

appearance

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

discussion

Showing 4 comments

Avatar for kevenbehboody kevenbehboody (0:48 PM, December 27, 2011)
Thanks for the great review. I went with the gf2 based on the price and features it was a no brainer.
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (1:49 PM, July 18, 2011)
Thanks for pointing out that mistake, we'll get that fixed up.
 
MMXBreaks (9:42 AM, July 18, 2011)
Also there's no difference in sensor sizes. The Micro Four Thirds standard is just that - a standard. If you're going to publish things then at least try and get them right. 
 
MMXBreaks (9:41 AM, July 18, 2011)
Stop best-guessing specs. The GF3 does have AFC in video mode.