Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Review
Image Quality
All of the sample images in this Review were taken using the 12.1 megapixel Fine JPEG setting, which gives an average image size of around 6Mb.
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 produced images of excellent quality during the review period. It produces noise-free images at ISO 100 to 800, with limited noise starting to appear at ISO 1600. ISO 3200 exhibits quite visible noise and loss of fine detail, and the fastest setting of ISO 6400 is even noisier but still usable.
The images were a little soft straight out of the camera at the default sharpening level and ideally require further sharpening in an application like Adobe Photoshop, or you can change the in-camera setting if you don't like the default results. The various Creative Controls and Photo Styles allow you to quickly and easily customise the look of the camera's JPEG images. The pop-up flash worked well indoors, with no red-eye and good overall exposure.
The night photograph was excellent, with the maximum shutter speed of 60 seconds allowing you to capture plenty of light. We struggled to see any differences between the Intelligent Resolution settings, but Intelligent D-range is an effective new feature for capturing more detail in the shadows and highlights.
Noise
There are 7 ISO settings available on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3. Here are some 100% crops which show the noise levels for each ISO setting, with JPEG on the left and RAW on the right:
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JPEG |
RAW |
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ISO 160 (100% Crop) |
ISO 160 (100% Crop) |
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ISO 200 (100% Crop) |
ISO 200 (100% Crop) |
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ISO 400 (100% Crop) |
ISO 400 (100% Crop) |
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ISO 800 (100% Crop) |
ISO 800 (100% Crop) |
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ISO 1600 (100% Crop) |
ISO 1600 (100% Crop) |
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ISO 3200 (100% Crop) |
ISO 3200 (100% Crop) |
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ISO 6400 (100% Crop) |
ISO 6400 (100% Crop) |
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File Quality
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 has 2 different JPEG image quality settings available, with Fine being the highest quality option. Here are some 100% crops which show the quality of the various options, with the file size shown in brackets.
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Fine (5.87Mb) (100% Crop) |
Normal (2.63Mb) (100% Crop) |
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RAW (14.1Mb) (100% Crop) |
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Sharpening
Here are two 100% crops which have been Saved as Web - Quality 50 in Photoshop. The right-hand image has had some sharpening applied in Photoshop. The out-of-the camera images are a little soft at the default sharpening setting, and benefit from further sharpening in a program like Adobe Photoshop. You can also change the in-camera sharpening level by tweaking the Film Mode, with five different settings available.
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Original (100% Crop) |
Sharpened (100% Crop) |
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Flash
The flash settings on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 are Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced Flash On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction and Forced Flash Off. These shots of a white coloured wall were taken at a distance of 1.5m.
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Flash Off (28mm) |
Flash On (28mm) |
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And here are some portrait shots. As you can see, neither the Flash On setting or the Red-Eye Reduction option caused any amount of red-eye.
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Flash On |
Flash On (100% Crop) |
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Red-eye Reduction |
Red-eye Reduction (100% Crop) |
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Night
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 maximum shutter speed is 60 seconds and there's also a Bulb option for exposures up to 4 minutes long, which is excellent news if you're seriously interested in night photography. The shot below was taken using a shutter speed of 15 seconds at f/8 at ISO 100. I've included a 100% crop of the image to show what the quality is like. The camera takes the same amount of time again to apply noise reduction, so for example at the 15 second setting the actual exposure takes 30 seconds.
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Night Shot |
Night Shot (100% Crop) |
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Intelligent Resolution
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3's Intelligent Resolution feature identifies outlines, texture areas and soft gradation areas of the image and then automatically optimizes the edges and detailed texture areas while using noise reduction to make the soft gradation areas smoother. There are three available strengths - low, standard and high.
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Off |
Low |
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Standard |
High |
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| Extended | |
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Intelligent D-Range
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3's new Intelligent D-range adjusts the exposure setting to record more detail in the highlights and shadows, with three strengths available - low, standard and high.
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Off |
Low |
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Standard |
High |
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Photo Styles
Panasonic's Photo Styles, similar to Nikon's Picture Styles, Canon's Picture Controls and Olympus' Picture Modes, are preset combinations of different sharpness, contrast, saturation and noise reduction settings. The six available Photo Styles are shown below in the following series, which demonstrates the differences. There is also a Custom option so that you can create your own look.
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Standard |
Vivid |
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Natural |
Monochrome |
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Scenery |
Portrait |
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Creative Controls
The Panasonic GF3 has a new range of Creative Controls, denoted by an artist's palette in the shooting mode menu, with 6 options - Expressive, Retro, High Key, Sepia, High Dynamic Range and Miniature - on offer.
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Expressive |
Retro |
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High Key |
Sepia |
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High Dynamic |
Miniature Effect |
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Sample Images
This is a selection of sample images from the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 camera, which were all taken using the 12 megapixel Fine JPEG setting. The thumbnails below link to the full-sized versions, which have not been altered in any way.
Sample RAW Images
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 enables users to capture RAW and JPEG format files. We've provided some Panasonic RAW (RW2) samples for you to download (thumbnail images shown below are not 100% representative).
1/250s · f/2.8 · ISO 160
28mm
Download original
1/50s · f/2.8 · ISO 800
28mm
Download original
1/400s · f/5.6 · ISO 400
400mm
Download original
1/100s · f/5.6 · ISO 160
90mm
Download original
1/1000s · f/3.5 · ISO 160
28mm
Download original
1/15s · f/5.6 · ISO 800
28mm
Download original
1/400s · f/5.5 · ISO 800
360mm
Download original
1/1000s · f/4 · ISO 160
28mm
Download original
1/800s · f/8 · ISO 160
400mm
Download original
1/640s · f/2.5 · ISO 6400
28mm
Download original
1/320s · f/2.5 · ISO 3200
28mm
Download original
1/160s · f/2.5 · ISO 1600
28mm
Download original
1/80s · f/2.5 · ISO 800
28mm
Download original
1/40s · f/2.5 · ISO 400
28mm
Download original
1/60s · f/3.5 · ISO 800
28mm
Download original
1/1300s · f/5.6 · ISO 160
400mm
Download original
1/400s · f/5.6 · ISO 200
400mm
Download original
1/400s · f/5.6 · ISO 160
400mm
Download original
Sample Movie & Video
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 can record 1080i HD video at 1920x1080 pixels and 60fps in the AVCHD Lite format. This is a sample movie at the highest quality setting. Please note that this 16 second movie is 32.4Mb in size.
Product Images
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Front of the Camera |
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Front of the Camera / Lens Removed |
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Front of the Camera / Pop-up Flash |
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Isometric View |
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Isometric View |
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Rear of the Camera |
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Rear of the Camera / Image Displayed |
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Rear of the Camera / Turned On |
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Rear of the Camera / Info Screen |
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Rear of the Camera / Info Screen |
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Rear of the Camera / Main Menu |
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Rear of the Camera / Record Mode Menu |
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Rear of the Camera / Main Menu |
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Rear of the Camera / Touchscreen |
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Rear of the Camera / Pop-up Flash |
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Top of the Camera |
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Bottom of the Camera |
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Side of the Camera |
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Side of the Camera |
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Front of the Camera |
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Front of the Camera |
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Memory Card Slot |
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Battery Compartment |
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14mm Lens |
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20mm Lens |
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14-42mm Lens |
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14-42mm Lens |
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45-200mm Lens |
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45-200mm Lens |
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GF1 v GF3 |
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GF1 v GF3 |
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GF1 v GF3 |
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GF1 v GF3 |
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GF1 v GF3 |
Conclusion
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 is an even more obvious attempt to woo compact camera owners looking to upgrade to the new breed of DSLR-like models than the GF2 was, who will be attracted by the tiny body design, cutting-edge touchscreen and pared-down user interface. Original GF1 owners, on the other hand, will find even less to like than with the GF2, so much so that Panasonic themselves have hinted at a future GF-series camera designed specifically for enthusiasts - those users should consider the new DMC-G3 instead. On the other hand, the diminutive size, speedier auto-focus, new GUI and feature-set and arguably more attractive design may outweigh the main negatives of losing the flash hot shoe, accessory port, stereo microphones and dedicated ISO button for some users.
The drive towards smaller and smaller bodies and lenses in the fledgling Compact System Camera market is similar to the megapixel wars that have dominated compact digicams until very recently. The Panasonic GF3 is now as small as the Sony NEX system if you compare the bodies side-by side, and when you factor in the fact that the GF3 has a clever built-in flash and smaller lenses, it's easy to see the appeal of going with the smaller Four Thirds sensor if you can live with the slightly inferior image quality at higher ISO speeds.
Our only criticism of this drive to reduce the body size is the subsequent imbalance when using the GF3 with longer lenses, something that is further compounded by the lack of any optical viewfinder thanks to the removal of the external hotshoe. Using telephoto lenses like the 45-200mm is a tricky affair when holding the GF3 at arm's length, and even the 14-42mm kit lens is less than ideal when fully zoomed. Conversely, the GF3 is a real street shooter's delight when paired with the 14mm or 20mm prime lenses, looking to all intents and purposes like an unthreatening compact, aided greatly by the even faster auto-focus system. Those lenses won't be the first choice for compact camera users looking to upgrade, though, so you really need to consider exactly how you will use the GF3 before purchasing.
In terms of still image quality the GF3 offers virtually indistinguishable performance to its predecessor. Noise levels are very similar, with a usable range of ISO 160-800 and good results even at 1600, although the fastest settings of 3200 and particularly the 6400 setting aren't really worth using, so the GF3 still can't quite rival a decent DSLR or CSC camera with an APS-C sized sensor in low-light. Colours are accurate when using the default Standard setting, with lots of scope to adjust the JPEG output to suit your own tastes, and the auto white balance is spot-on in most lighting conditions. The diminutive pop-up flash is OK for use as fill-in, the ability to make bulb exposures up to 4 minutes long will please night photographers, and anti-shake via compatible lenses helps to keep things sharp in low-light.
Slightly cheaper than the GF2, the new DMC-GF3 continues to take Panasonic's GF-series compact system cameras in a beginner-friendly direction, aiming to appeal to a much wider base of users who are looking for DSLR-like results from an even simpler and more compact design. We do have a few more concerns about the GF3 than the GF2 though, most notably the lack of an external viewfinder, flash hotshoe, stereo sound and fewer external controls, but the majority of the GF3's target audience will probably never notice their absence, while the speedy auto-focus may tempt more advanced users looking for a small and inconspicuous system.
| Ratings (out of 5) | |
|---|---|
| Design | 4 |
| Features | 4.5 |
| Ease-of-use | 4 |
| Image quality | 4.5 |
| Value for money | 4 |
Specifications
TYPE |
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|---|---|
| Type | Digital interchangeable lens system camera |
| Recording media | SD memory card, SDHC memory card, SDXC memory card |
| Image sensor size | 17.3 x 13.0 mm (in 4:3 aspect ratio) |
| Lens Mount | Micro Four Thirds mount |
IMAGE SENSOR |
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|---|---|
| Type | Live MOS Sensor |
| Total pixels | 13.06 Megapixels |
| Camera effective pixels | 12.10 Megapixels |
| Colour filter | Primary colour filter |
| Dust reduction system | Supersonic wave filter |
RECORDING SYSTEM |
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|---|---|
| Recording file format | Still Image: JPEG(DCF, Exif 2.3), RAW, / MPO (When attaching 3D lens in Micro Four Thirds standard) / Motion Image: AVCHD / QuickTime Motion JPEG |
| Aspect ratio | 4:3, 3:2, 16:9, 1:1 |
| Image quality | RAW, RAW+Fine, RAW+Standard, Fine, Standard, / MPO+Fine, MPO+Standard (with 3D lens in Micro Four Thirds System standard) |
| Color Space | sRGB, Adobe RGB |
| File size(Pixels) | |
| Still Image | [4:3] 4000x3000(L) / 2816x2112(M) / 2048x1536(S) / 1600x1200(When attaching 3D lens in Micro Four Third System standard) / [3:2] 4000x2672(L) / 2816x1880(M) / 2048x1360(S) / 1600x1064(When attaching 3D lens in Micro Four Third System standard) / [16:9] 4000x2248(L) / 2816x1584(M) / 1920x1080(S) / 1600x904(When attaching 3D lens in Micro Four Third System standard) / [1:1] 2992 x 2992 (L) / 2112 x 2112 (M) / 1504 x 1504 (S) / 1440x1440(When attaching 3D lens in Micro Four Third System standard) |
| Motion Image (Motion JPEG*1) | [4:3] QVGA : 320 x 240, 30fps / VGA : 640 x 480, 30fps / [HD] 1280 x 720, 30fps |
| Motion Image (AVCHD*2 : NTSC) | [Full HD] 1920×1080, 60i (sensor output is 30p) (FSH:17Mbps) / [HD] 1280 x 720, 60p (sensor output is 30p)?SH:17Mbps) |
| Motion Image (AVCHD*2 : PAL) | [Full HD] 1920×1080, 50i (sensor output is 25p) (FSH:17Mbps) / [HD] 1280 x 720, 50p (sensor output is 25p)?SH:17Mbps) |
| Continuous recordable time (Motion images) | AVCHD with picture quality set to [SH]: Approx. 160 min with H-FS014042 / Approx. 170 min with H-H014 |
| Actual recordable time (Motion images) | AVCHD with picture quality set to [SH]: Approx. 130 min with H-FS014042 / Approx. 150 min with H-H014 |
FOCUS |
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|---|---|
| Type | Contrast AF system |
| Focus mode | AFS/ AFC/ MF |
| AF mode | Face detection / AF Tracking / 23-area-focusing / 1-area-focusing/Pinpoint |
| AF detective range | EV 0 - 18 (ISO100 equivalent) |
| AF assist lamp | YES |
| AF lock | Set the Fn button in custom menu to AF lock |
| Others | Quick AF, Continuous AF (during motion image recording), AF+MF, Touch shutter, Touch MF Assist, |
EXPOSURE CONTROL |
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|---|---|
| Light metering system | 144-zone multi-pattern sensing system |
| Light metering mode | Intelligent Multiple / Center Weighted / Spot |
| Metering range | EV 0 - 18 (F2.0 lens, ISO100 equivalent) |
| Exposure mode | Program AE, Aperture Priority AE, Shutter Priority AE, Manual, |
| ISO sensitivity (Standard Output Sensitivity) | Auto / Intelligent ISO / 160 / 200 / 400 / 800 / 1600 / 3200 / 6400 |
| Exposure compensation | 1/3EV Step ±3EV |
| AE lock | Set the Fn button in custom menu to AE lock |
| AE bracket | 3,5 frame, in 1/3 or 2/3 EV Step, ±4/3 EV |
WHITE BALANCE |
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| White balance | Auto / Daylight / Cloudy / Shade / Halogen / Flash / White Set 1, 2 / Color temperature setting / Portrait / Beauty skin / Sport / Flower / Collection / Baby / Pet / defocus control |
| White balance adjustment | Blue/amber bias, Magenta/green bias |
| Color temperature setting | 2500-10000K in 100K |
| White balance bracket | 3 exposures in blue/ amber axis or in magenta/ green axis |
SHUTTER |
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| Type | Focal-plane shutter |
| Shutter speed | Still Images: 1/4000 ~ 60 / Motion image: 1/16000 ~ 1/30 (NTSC), 1/16000 ~ 1/25 (PAL) |
| Self timer | 10sec, 3 images/ 2sec / 10sec |
SCENE MODE |
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| Still Image SCN mode | Portrait / Soft Skin / Scenery / Architecture / Sports / Peripheral Defocus / Flower / Food / Objects / /Night Portrait / Night Scenery / Illiminatioms / Baby 1, 2 / Pet / Party / Sunset |
| Movie SCN mode | Portrait / Soft Skin / Scenery / Architecture / Sports / Flower / Food / Objects / Low-light / Party / Sunset / (Activated by selecting Still Image SCN mode then pressing Movie Button. Still Image SCN modes without corresponding Movie SCN mode is recorded in mode suitable for the recording situation.) |
Creative control |
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| Creative control | (Still image & Motion image) Expressive / Retro / High key / Sepia / High Dyamic / Miniature |
BURST SHOOTING |
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| Burst speed | H: 3.8 frames/sec, M: 2.8 frames/sec (with Live View), L: 2 frames/sec (with Live View) |
| Number of recordable images | 7 images (when there are RAW files with the particular speed) / Unlimited consecutive shooting (when there are no RAW files) / (depending on memory card size, battery power, picture size, and compression) |
BUILT-IN-FLASH |
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| Type | TTL Built-in-Flash, GN6.3 equivalent (ISO 160 ?m), Built-in Pop-up |
| Flash Mode | Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, / Slow Sync., Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off |
| Synchronization speed | Less than 1/160 second |
| Flash synchronization | 1st. Curtain Sync |
LCD MONITOR |
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|---|---|
| Type | TFT LCD with Touch panel |
| Monitor size | 3.0inch / 3:2 Aspect / Wide-viewing angle |
| Pixels | 460K dots |
| Filed of view | Approx. 100% |
| Monitor adjustment | Brightness (7 levels), Cnotrast and Saturation (7 levels), Red tint (7 levels), Blue tint (7 levels) |
LIVE VIEW |
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|---|---|
| Digital zoom | 2x, 4x |
| Extra Tele Conversion | Still image: Max.2x (Not effective with L size recording. Magnification ratio depends on the recording pixels and aspect ratio.) / Motion image: 3.1x (SH/H in AVCHD and HD/WVGA in Motion JPEG), 4.2x (VGA/QVGA in Motion JPEG) |
| Other functions | Guide Lines (3 patterns) / Real-time Histogram |
PLAYBACK |
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| Playback mode | Normal playback, 30-thumbnail display, 12-thumbnail display, Calendar display, Zoomed playback (16x Max.), Slideshow (duration & effect is selectable), Playback Mode (Normal/Picture/AVCHD/Motion JPEG/3D Play/Category/Favorite), Title Edit, / Text Stamp, Video Divide, Resize, Cropping, Aspect Conversion, Rotate, Rotate Display, Favorite, Print set, Protect, Face Recognition Edit |
IMAGE PROTECTION / ERASE |
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| Protection | Single / Multi, Single in Burst Group / Multi in Burst Group, Cancel |
| Erase | Single / Multi / All / Except Favorite |
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| Direct Print | PictBridge compatible?Print size, Layout, Date setting are selectable ? |
INTERFACE |
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| USB | USB 2.0 High Speed |
| HDMI | miniHDMI TypeC / Video: Auto / 1080i / 720p / 480p (576p in PAL system) / Audio: Linear PCM |
| Audio video output | Monaural Type, NTSC/PAL, NTSC only for North America / *Check the website of the Panasonic sales company in your country or region for details on the products that are available in your market. |
| Microphone | Monaural, Wind-cut: Off / Low / Standard / High / Microphone level adjustable: Lv1 / Lv2 / Lv3 / Lv4 |
| Speaker | Monaural |
LANGUAGE |
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| OSD language | Japanese, English, German, French, Italian, Spanish |
GENERAL |
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|---|---|
| Power | |
| Battery | Li-ion Battery Pack (7.2V, 940mAh) (Included) / Battery Charger |
| Battery life (CIPA standard) | Approx. 340 images with H-H014 |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 107.7 x 67.1 x 32.5 mm / 4.24 x 2.64 x 1.28 inch?(excluding protrusions) |
| Weight | Approx. 264g / 9.31 oz ?SD card, Battery, Body) / Approx. 222g / 7.83 oz ?Body only) / Approx. 319g / 11.25 oz ?SD card, Battery, H-H014 lens included? |
| Operating Environment | |
| Operating temperature | 0? to 40? (32°F to 104°F) |
| Operating humidity | 10% to 80? |
| Standard Accessories | |
| Software | PHOTOfunSTUDIO 6.2 HD Edition / SILKYPIX® Developer Studio 3.1 SE / Super LoiloScope (trial version) / USB Driver |
| Standard accessories | Battery Charger, AV Cable, USB Connection Cable, Shoulder Strap, Stylus pen, CD-ROM / * Body cap not included for DMC-GF3C kit and DMC-GF3W kit / ** Lens rear cap of H-H014 lens not included for DMC-GF3C kit and DMC-GF3W Kit |
INTERCHANGEABLE LENS-1 |
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|---|---|
| Lens Name | LUMIX G 14mm/F2.5 ASPH. |
| Lens Construction | 6 elements in 5 groups (3 aspherical lenses) |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds mount |
| Optical Image Stabilizer | No |
| Focal Length | f=14mm (35mm camera equivalent 28mm) |
| Aperture Type | 7 diaphragm blades / Circular aperture diaphragm |
| Aperture | F2.5 |
| Minimum Aperture | F22 |
| Closest Focusing Distance | 0.18m / 0.59ft |
| Maximum magnification | Approx. 0.10x / 0.20x (35mm camera equivalent) |
| Diagonal Angle of View | 75° |
| General | |
| Filter Size | φ46mm / 1.81in |
| Max. Diameter | φ55.5mm / 2.19in |
| Overall Length | Approx. 20.5mm (from the tip of the lens to the base side of the lens mount) / 0.81in |
| Weight [g] | Approx. 55g |
| Weight [oz] | Approx. 1.94oz |
| Standard Accessories | Lens cap / Lens rear cap / Lens storage bag |
Further Specifications |
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|---|---|
| NOTE | *1 Use a card with SD Speed Class with "Class6" or higher / *2 Use a card with SD Speed Class with "Class4" or higher |
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