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Panasonic GF3 vs G2

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in June 2011 and March 2010. Both the GF3 and the G2 are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are equipped with a Four Thirds sensor. Both cameras offer a resolution of 12 megapixels.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Panasonic GF3
versus
Panasonic G2
Panasonic GF3   Panasonic G2
Mirrorless system camera Mirrorless system camera
Micro Four Thirds lenses Micro Four Thirds lenses
12 MP – Four Thirds sensor 12 MP – Four Thirds sensor
1080/60i Video 720/30p Video
ISO 160-6,400 ISO 100-6,400
No viewfinder, LCD framing Electronic viewfinder (1440k dots)
3.0" LCD – 460k dots 3.0" LCD – 460k dots
Fixed touchscreen Swivel touchscreen
3.2 shutter flaps per second 2.6 shutter flaps per second
300 shots per battery charge360 shots per battery charge
108 x 67 x 32 mm, 264 g 124 x 84 x 74 mm, 428 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

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Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Panasonic GF3 and the Panasonic G2 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The GF3 can be obtained in five different colors (black, brown, pink, red, white), while the G2 is available in three color-versions (black, blue, red).

Size Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic G2
Compare GF3 versus G2 top
Comparison GF3 or G2 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Panasonic G2 is considerably larger (44 percent) than the Panasonic GF3. Moreover, the G2 is substantially heavier (62 percent) than the GF3. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the GF3 nor the G2 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. In this particular case, both cameras feature the same lens mount, so that they can use the same lenses. You can compare the optics available in the Micro Four Thirds Lens Catalog. Mirrorless cameras, such as the two under consideration, have the additional advantage of having a short flange to focal plane distance, which makes it possible to mount many lenses from other systems onto the camera via adapters.

Concerning battery life, the GF3 gets 300 shots out of its Panasonic DMW-BLE9 battery, while the G2 can take 360 images on a single charge of its Panasonic DMW-BLB13 power pack.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

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Body Specifications
# image Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Panasonic GF3 108 mm 67 mm 32 mm 264 g 300 n Jun 2011 549ebay.com
2.
 
Panasonic G2 124 mm 84 mm 74 mm 428 g 360 n Mar 2010 599ebay.com
3.
 
Olympus E-PL3 110 mm 64 mm 37 mm 313 g 300 n Jun 2011 599ebay.com
4.
 
Olympus E-PM1 110 mm 64 mm 34 mm 265 g 330 n Jun 2011 499ebay.com
5.
 
Panasonic GF5 108 mm 67 mm 37 mm 267 g 360 n Apr 2012 499ebay.com
6.
 
Panasonic LX7 111 mm 68 mm 46 mm 298 g 330 n Jul 2012 499ebay.com
7.
 
Panasonic G3 115 mm 84 mm 47 mm 336 g 270 n May 2011 599ebay.com
8.
 
Panasonic G10 124 mm 84 mm 74 mm 388 g 380 n Mar 2010 499ebay.com
9.
 
Panasonic GF2 113 mm 68 mm 33 mm 310 g 300 n Nov 2010 549ebay.com
10.
 
Panasonic GH2 124 mm 90 mm 76 mm 442 g 330 n Sep 2010 899ebay.com
11.
 
Panasonic LX5 110 mm 65 mm 43 mm 271 g 400 n Jul 2010 499ebay.com
12.
 
Panasonic GH1 124 mm 90 mm 45 mm 385 g 300 n Mar 2009 899ebay.com
13.
 
Panasonic G1 124 mm 84 mm 45 mm 360 g 410 n Sep 2008 599ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
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Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The GF3 was somewhat cheaper (by 8 percent) than the G2 at launch, but both cameras fall into the same price category. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature a Four Thirds sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 2.0. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability. Both cameras feature a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 4:3.

Panasonic GF3 and Panasonic G2 sensor measures

The two cameras under review do not only share the same sensor size, but also offer an identical resolution of 12 megapixels. This similarity in sensor specs implies that both the GF3 and the G2 have the same pixel density, as well as the same pixel size. It should, however, be noted that the GF3 is a somewhat more recent model (by 1 year and 3 months) than the G2, and its sensor might have benefitted from technological advances during this time.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 160 to ISO 6400. The corresponding ISO settings for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 are ISO 100 to ISO 6400 (no boost).

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

GF3 versus G2 MP

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The Overall DXO ratings for the two cameras under consideration are close, suggesting that they provide similar imaging performance. The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

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Sensor Characteristics
# image Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Panasonic GF3 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 30001080/60i20.610.145950
2.
 
Panasonic G2 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 3000720/30p21.210.349353
3.
 
Olympus E-PL3 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 30241080/60i20.910.349952
4.
 
Olympus E-PM1 Four Thirds 12.2 4032 30241080/60i21.010.349952
5.
 
Panasonic GF5 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 30001080/60i20.510.057350
6.
 
Panasonic LX7 1/1.7 10.0 3648 27361080/60p20.711.714750
7.
 
Panasonic G3 Four Thirds 15.8 4592 34481080/60i21.010.666756
8.
 
Panasonic G10 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 3000720/30p21.210.141152
9.
 
Panasonic GF2 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 30001080/60i21.210.350654
10.
 
Panasonic GH2 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34561080/60i21.211.365560
11.
 
Panasonic LX5 1/1.7 10.0 3648 2736720/60p19.610.813241
12.
 
Panasonic GH1 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 30001080/24p21.611.677264
13.
 
Panasonic G1 Four Thirds 12.0 4000 3000none21.110.346353
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Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the GF3 provides a higher video resolution than the G2. It can shoot video footage at 1080/60i, while the G2 is limited to 720/30p.

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Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the G2 has an electronic viewfinder (1440k dots), which can be very helpful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the GF3 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Panasonic GF3 and Panasonic G2 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

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Core Features
# image Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Panasonic GF3none n3.0 / 460 fixed Y 1/4000s 3.2/s Y n
2.
 
Panasonic G21440 n3.0 / 460 swivel Y 1/4000s 2.6/s Y n
3.
 
Olympus E-PL3optional n3.0 / 460 tilting n 1/4000s 5.5/s n Y
4.
 
Olympus E-PM1optional n3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/4000s 5.5/s n Y
5.
 
Panasonic GF5none n3.0 / 920 fixed Y 1/4000s 4.0/s Y n
6.
 
Panasonic LX7optional n3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/4000s 11.0/s Y Y
7.
 
Panasonic G31440 n3.0 / 460 swivel Y 1/4000s 4.0/s Y n
8.
 
Panasonic G10202 n3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/4000s 2.6/s Y n
9.
 
Panasonic GF2optional n3.0 / 460 fixed Y 1/4000s 2.6/s Y n
10.
 
Panasonic GH21534 n3.0 / 460 swivel n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
11.
 
Panasonic LX5optional n3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/4000s 2.5/s Y Y
12.
 
Panasonic GH11440 n3.0 / 460 swivel n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
13.
 
Panasonic G11440 n3.0 / 460 swivel n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
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The G2 has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing. This characteristic will be appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in taking selfies. In contrast, the GF3 does not have a selfie-screen.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the GF3 and the G2 write their files to SDXC cards.

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Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
# image Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Panasonic GF3-stereo / mono--mini2.0---
2.
 
Panasonic G2Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
3.
 
Olympus E-PL3Ystereo / ---mini2.0---
4.
 
Olympus E-PM1Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
5.
 
Panasonic GF5-stereo / mono--mini2.0---
6.
 
Panasonic LX7Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
7.
 
Panasonic G3Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
8.
 
Panasonic G10Ymono / ---mini2.0---
9.
 
Panasonic GF2Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
10.
 
Panasonic GH2Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0---
11.
 
Panasonic LX5Ymono / mono--mini2.0---
12.
 
Panasonic GH1Ystereo / -Y-mini2.0---
13.
 
Panasonic G1Y- / ---mini2.0---
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It is notable that the G2 has a hotshoe, which makes it possible to easily attach optional accessories, such as an external flash gun. The GF3 does not feature such an accessory-socket.

Both the GF3 and the G2 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The G2 was replaced by the Panasonic G3, while the GF3 was followed by the Panasonic GF5. Further information on the features and operation of the GF3 and G2 can be found, respectively, in the Panasonic GF3 Manual (free pdf) or the online Panasonic G2 Manual.

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Review summary

So how do things add up? Is there a clear favorite between the Panasonic GF3 and the Panasonic G2? Which camera is better? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.


Arguments in favor of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3:

  • Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (1080/60i vs 720/30p).
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (3.2 vs 2.6 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • More compact: Is smaller (108x67mm vs 124x84mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
  • Less heavy: Is lighter (by 164g or 38 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
  • More modern: Is somewhat more recent (announced 1 year and 3 months after the G2).


Advantages of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2:

  • Easier framing: Has an electronic viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
  • More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
  • More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
  • Longer lasting: Gets more shots (360 versus 300) out of a single battery charge.
  • Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.
  • More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in March 2010).

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the G2 comes out slightly ahead of the GF3 (6 : 5 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

GF3 05:06 G2

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Panasonic GF3 and the Panasonic G2 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the GF3 or the G2 perform in practice. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

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Expert Camera Reviews
# image  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Panasonic GF33/582/100..71/1004.5/54/5 Jun 2011 549ebay.com
2.
 
Panasonic G2......72/1004/54.5/5 Mar 2010 599ebay.com
3.
 
Olympus E-PL33/5+ +..72/1004.5/54/5 Jun 2011 599ebay.com
4.
 
Olympus E-PM1..86/100..71/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2011 499ebay.com
5.
 
Panasonic GF53/5......4.5/54.5/5 Apr 2012 499ebay.com
6.
 
Panasonic LX73/5+ +..75/1004/54.5/5 Jul 2012 499ebay.com
7.
 
Panasonic G33/5+ +..75/1004.5/55/5 May 2011 599ebay.com
8.
 
Panasonic G103/5....70/1004/54/5 Mar 2010 499ebay.com
9.
 
Panasonic GF23/582/100..70/1004.5/54.5/5 Nov 2010 549ebay.com
10.
 
Panasonic GH25/5+ +..79/1004.5/55/5 Sep 2010 899ebay.com
11.
 
Panasonic LX54/5+..73/1004.5/54.5/5 Jul 2010 499ebay.com
12.
 
Panasonic GH1..+ +..72/1004.5/54.5/5 Mar 2009 899ebay.com
13.
 
Panasonic G1..+ +..70/1004/54.5/5 Sep 2008 599ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
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Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just use the search menu below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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    Specifications: Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic G2

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Panasonic GF3 Panasonic G2
    Camera Type Mirrorless system camera Mirrorless system camera
    Camera Lens Micro Four Thirds lenses Micro Four Thirds lenses
    Launch Date June 2011 March 2010
    Launch Price USD 549 USD 599
    Sensor Specs Panasonic GF3 Panasonic G2
    Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format Four Thirds Sensor Four Thirds Sensor
    Sensor Size 17.3 x 13.0 mm 17.3 x 13.0 mm
    Sensor Area 224.9 mm2 224.9 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 21.6 mm 21.6 mm
    Crop Factor 2.0x 2.0x
    Sensor Resolution 12 Megapixels 12 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 4000 x 3000 pixels 4000 x 3000 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 4.33 μm 4.33 μm
    Pixel Density 5.34 MP/cm2 5.34 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability 1080/60i Video 720/30p Video
    ISO Setting 160 - 6,400 ISO 100 - 6,400 ISO
    Image Processor Venus FHD Venus HD II
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 50 53
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 20.6 21.2
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 10.1 10.3
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 459 493
    Screen Specs Panasonic GF3 Panasonic G2
    Viewfinder Type no viewfinder Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.70x
    Viewfinder Resolution 1440k dots
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 460k dots 460k dots
    LCD Attachment Fixed screen Swivel screen
    Touch Input Touchscreen Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs Panasonic GF3 Panasonic G2
    Focus System Contrast-detect AF Contrast-detect AF
    Continuous Shooting 3.2 shutter flaps/s 2.6 shutter flaps/s
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Single card slot
    UHS card support no no
    Connectivity Specs Panasonic GF3 Panasonic G2
    External Flash no Hotshoe Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port mini HDMI mini HDMI
    Wifi Support no Wifi no Wifi
    Body Specs Panasonic GF3 Panasonic G2
    Battery Type Panasonic DMW-BLE9 Panasonic DMW-BLB13
    Battery Life (CIPA)300 shots per charge360 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 108 x 67 x 32 mm
    (4.3 x 2.6 x 1.3 in)
    124 x 84 x 74 mm
    (4.9 x 3.3 x 2.9 in)
    Camera Weight 264 g (9.3 oz) 428 g (15.1 oz)
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