Canon IXUS 240 HS
Canon PowerShot SX240 HS
Nikon D800
Samsung DV300F
Olympus OM-D E-M5
Nikon Coolpix P510
Canon PowerShot SX260 HS
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ30
Nikon Coolpix S9300
Panasonic G3 Hands-On
A hands-on preview of the new Panasonic G3 compact system camera, with a gallery of 28 photos.
The Panasonic G3 is the world’s smallest compact system camera with an electronic viewfinder, roughly being the same size as the first-generation Panasonic GF1 fitted with the optional EVF accessory. The G3 has a smooth, sculpted look, very shallow housing for the pop-up flash, and quite a chunky handgrip considering its small dimensions.
The front of the Panasonic G3 with its Micro Four Thirds sensor.
The rear of the Panasonic G3 is very similar to the previous G2 model, with the large 3-inch vari-angle LCD screen, high-resolution EVF and the bulk of the controls over on the right. Note that the G3 doesn’t have the useful eye-level sensor of the G2 which seamlessly switches between the LVF and LCD as you hold the camera up to your eye, and the AF/AE lock button has been replaced by the Movie Record button.
The rear of the Panasonic G3.
The G3’s touch-screen is very similar to that found on the company’s recent compact system cameras, amongst other things allowing you to set the focus point, interact with menus and even fire the shutter by simply touching the large, high-resolution screen.
The Panasonic G3 has a large 3-inch touch-screen LCD which you can interact with in various ways - here we’re setting the focus points.
The Panasonic G3 inherits the same 3-inch, 460K dot vari-angle LCD as the G2, which can be folded-out to the left and twisted around to face to the front.
The Panasonic G3’s LCD screen.
The top of the Panasonic G3 is much simpler and less cluttered than the G2, with fewer direct controls to accomodate the smaller body. The combined focus / metering mode and the burst mode controls have disappeared completely, and the shooting mode dial has fewer options. The G3 gains a stereo microphone to go with its full 1080i AVCHD movies.
The top of the Panasonic G3.
Below is a full hands-on gallery of Panasonic G3 photos showing it off from every angle.
Image Gallery
Click on a thumbnail to see the full version.
Canon IXUS 240 HS Review
Canon PowerShot SX240 HS Review
Nikon D800 Review
Samsung DV300F Review
Olympus OM-D E-M5 Review
Nikon Coolpix P510
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ30
Canon PowerShot SX260 HS
Fujifilm X-Pro1
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V
#1 TBC
Nice early break of the embargo there!
7:38 am - Thursday, May 12, 2011
#2 satish rajpathak
Panasonic seems to be providing best of 2 worlds, i.e. point & shoot and D-SLR.
It is trying to fit everything in very small space. Very good.
Small query - is it not going to make maintenance of camera body difficult or may be impossible?
another is - by introducing these many cameras in short span - is it not going to be difficult for panasonic to keep track of all these models.
Most important is - G3 body seems to be MADE IN CHINA
8:28 pm - Friday, May 20, 2011
#3 David Morehead
I am not happy about Panasonic offering a kit lens that is worse than the lens they provided with the G1. At least they are letting us buy the G series cameras body only now. When I bought the G1, you had to to get the kit lens with it. I wish I would have known they were going to downgrade the kit lens on the G2 and the G3. I would have kept my G1's kit lens and used it on the G3 when it comes out. (It is a great lens!) I can buy the G3 body only and then buy the good kit lens (that came with the G1), but that is going to add $300-$400 to the cost of the G3.
3:03 pm - Tuesday, May 31, 2011