The Lumix G3 is the result of Panasonic updating their Lumix G2 with a smaller body and a 16 megapixel sensor. The new sensor in the Lumix G3 is still a Four Thirds size. This is slightly smaller than many DSLR sensors, but is much bigger than the sensor found in most compact digital cameras.
Touch Screen Operation
The introduction of touch screen operation to popular smart phones and pad computers means inevitably a greater use in digital cameras.
“With the LUMIX G3, Panasonic offers an extremely light compact system camera that is easy to use, thanks to a touch-control LCD, yet still maintains powerful and creative features to appease the more advanced photographer,” said Darin Pepple, Senior Product Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company.
The Lumix G3’s touch screen is used by photographers to indicate a particular focus point. They simply touch the object on the main LCD screen on the Lumix G3 to tell autofocus system to indicate the focus target. The G3 has a focus tracking function and Panasonic says the AF system will track moving objects.
Electronic Viewfinder
Not all compact digital cameras have viewfinders, many rely on the rear LCD screen for composing and taking photos. Even though the viewfinder on the Lumix G3 is a small electronic screen, not the optical system found on digital SLR cameras, the system still allows photographers to minimise camera shake by holding the camera properly. Holding the camera up to the face helps steady the camera. For an interchangeable lens camera, where telephoto zoom lenses are heavier and bulkier than normal lenses, this is an advantage.
“The LUMIX DMC-G3 is the company’s smallest and lightest digital interchangeable lens camera with a viewfinder to date,” said Panasonic.
There is one downside as the housing on top of the Lumix G3’s camera body for the electronic viewfinder and inbuilt flash sticks out. This makes it more likely to snag getting the G3 in and out of a coat pocket or bag.
DxOMark Sensor Tests
The resolution of the Four Thirds sensor in the Panasonic Lumix G3 have increased and at the same time improved the high ISO noise performance.
The overall sensor score at DxOMark indicates the G3 is only a slight improvement over the Lumix G2. However, there is a significant in the DxOMark noise comparison graph as the ISO settings become higher, the G3 performs better. It is not quite as good as an entry level DSLR, a Nikon D3100, for colour depth and dynamic range, the G3 has similar noise performance to the DSLR.
The Lumix G3 has a real advantage over ordinary compact digital cameras even up market models such as the G12 and P7000 from Canon and Nikon. According to the DxOMark tests the huge difference in low light performance helps give the Lumix G3 a considerable performance edge in the overall DxOMark score. This is result of the Four Thirds sensor size. It is larger than the sensors in common compact digital cameras.
The larger sensor allows bigger individual pixel with more surface area to gather light, giving a cleaner image due to less digital noise. The pixel size in the Lumix G3 is 3.75 micro metres compared to 2.03 micro meters in the Canon G12. Even though digital noise might not be obvious in the bright areas of an image at lower ISO settings it can show up in the darker or shadow areas.
Micro Four Thirds Lenses
The Lumix G3 uses a micro Four Thirds lens system that is related to the Four Thirds DSLR system, but is designed for mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras. Without the reflex mirror of the DSLR optical viewfinder system is one reason why the G3 is so slim.
Panasonic and Olympus, produce a good range of lenses for the the micro Four Thirds system. With an optional adaptor the Lumix G3 can also use the larger Four Thirds DSLR lenses.
Surprisingly, since achieving a small size is an important design factor of the Lumix G3, Panasonic make the standard kit lens a relatively bulky 14-42mm zoom lens. There is an excellent pancake type lens available from Panasonic. They are called pancake lenses because they are very flat and do not stick out, making the camera easier to carry. The Panasonic Lumix 20mm f/1.7 Aspheric G- Series Lens is not only compact, the large maximum aperture makes suitable for low light situations.
Attaching a large telephoto lens does make the G3 bulky but it has the advantage that it is easily changed back to a compact unit when the long focal length is not required.
Dimensions (WxHxD) (excluding protrusions)
G2 - 124 x 83.6 x 74mm
G3 - 115.2 x 83.6 x 46.7mm
The body of the Lumix G3 is slightly smaller, not as wide and there are fewer controls on the camera body than the G2, suggesting the touch screen systems has more functions in the G3.
Battery Size
The Panasonic Lumix G3 has a smaller capacity battery than the older G2, down from 1250mAh in the G2 to 1010mAh in the G3.
The smaller battery means the G3 can shoot fewer pictures than the G2 on single fully charged battery. Under lab test conditions the G2 has a maximum of 410 images if you use the viewfinder only and with the kit lens. The G2 will only take 380 if the rear LCD is used to compose the pictures.
For the G3 Panasonic say they expect 270 images from a battery charge, but this is using a combination of the viewfinder for some shots and the larger LCD screen for others. the number of images also varies depending on the lens used. The number of images when using a larger telephoto zoom lens as 250. This is due to the autofocus motor in the lens also using the camera battery. Panasonic Lumix G3 owners should consider a spare battery for special events or vacations.
These are standardised lab tests so the number of images per charge varies with other depending on other activities such as reviewing images on the LCD screen or using flash.
Video
The Panasonic Lumix G3 has better video capabilities with high resolution Full HD at 1920×1080 and the G3 has a built in stereo microphones with wind noise shielding.
The Verdict
The DxOMark tests clearly show the Panasonic Lumix is a more than capable performer and if you are looking for an easy to carry camera this is one for consideration
The Panasonic Lumix G3 is available as a kit that includes Lumix G Vario 14-42mm/F3.5-5.6 ASPH./MEGA O.I.S lens for $US 699.95
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