Panasonic Lumix G3 first look from PhotoRadar.com

[97adhib]

How does the G2 become a entrylevel model? In Panasonic its like the newer models lose the enthusiast features of the old. Look at the GF line, GF3=rebranded compact camera. Baisically Panasonic's past m4/3 cameras were more popular with the pros because of the complex features. Panasonic just make the cameras smaller, add crap touchscreens, add gimmick features to replace the pro ones in the old cameras. In MY opinion Panasonic produce piece of crap now (Except the GX1) compared to Olympus!

[blackerflash]

dmc g3... and g3... are they the same? of different.. and do they both still have the touch screen features? thanx

[MarcyFB]

can i put a videolight on the camera ?

[AdenFox]

i love your reviews. you've covered all the questions on my mind.

[CamaraMountClamp]

Awesome

[MrPlaystationboy]

i would mutch rather have the g2

[poby5005]

she is ugly

[ceos]

Is this good in low-light situations? I like to shoot using natural light and mainly at night time.

[sirtechy]

Has the touchscreen interfaced improved since the GF2 or GH2?

[CassusBeli]

Thanks for the video. I'm buying this camera, it will suit my needs just fine.

Anybody who does not like this camera does not have to buy it. I'm quite sure that for every product that somebody likes there is a troll or two intent on putting it and the people who like said product down.

[sirtechy]

Whats the best video setting to get optimum performance when filming with the G3?

Also which creative/photo mode gives the photos the best look when snapping?

Lastly, how many hours can you squeeze out of this little battery?

[9054716755]

someone here is nice enough to spent time posting the video and here's people

making stupid comments, I had review the G3 at the show and love it. all the features

that have been mention in this video were right on. I'll get one just to travel with.

as for others who like to complaint can keep doing so.

[M3mPHiS]

DSLR...

[SquirrelFromGradLife]

I do not understand how you Nicola can give the Nikon d5100 four out of five stars...

what are you going to give this camera then?...

read your review and its quiet amusing that you first direct people to the Photo radar site and then if you want more than a ten line review you have to go to the Tech radar site...why direct people to the full review in the first place. I know you really want to drive traffic to the photoradar site but why not post the full review there then..

[uscmstormdog]

Please tell me , DMC-G3 better than DMC-GH2? Or GH2 is still better? Because GH2 has a higher price.

[SquirrelFromGradLife]

@uscmstormdog Its two different classes of cameras in two different price ranges... The GH2 have just about all the features you could want and ever dream of and the G3 have what you need.

If you have to ask which camera is the better one, the G3 has more than enough features for you to use and you might not use half of them at all...

Remember its ultimately not the camera but the lens that dictates how good your image quality is going to be so the money should be spent there..

[uscmstormdog]

@SquirrelFromGradLife Thank You! I'm interesting in good video quality, this will be my first camera ever. As I understand G3 doesn't have cinematic 24p mode and GH2 have it. So I'm lost, do I need this mode or not...

[SquirrelFromGradLife]

@uscmstormdog Short answer is dont worry about 24p. Good video quality have very little to do with the framerate but a lot to do with the codec you shoot in and what editing, effects and rendering software used.

But first you have to define what you mean by good video quality. 24p has become almost a semi religious mantra thats over hyped and pointless. 24p is to mimic the visual qualities of the late film era where the actual image quality wasnt that good but it has a certain feel to it.

[SquirrelFromGradLife]

@uscmstormdog So if you want to impress all your wannabe film maker friends 24p is a must but for good video quality its not needed. If you buy it in Russia you will most like get the 60i version and in PAL countries (US, Japan) will get the 50i. The output will be 30p from the 60i wrapper if you shoot in full HD AVCHD codec meaning that two 30p frames from the censor will be interlaced.

So 24p is the last thing you have to worry about for good video quality.

[SquirrelFromGradLife]

@uscmstormdog Whats important for good video quality is not 24p but rather good lighting, camera shake, good lenses which are really expensive, composition, a good editing program, an after effect program to correct camera shake etc. and really good rendering software like the Sorenson Media Squezze suit and actually most important of all good sound.

You're not going to remake The Godfather or some Fellini classic. You're most likely just going to film a party and some friends and family...

[altern8ive]

it actually has a 16.6MP sensor, 15.8MP effective and how can the G2 now be aimed more toward entry level when ease of use clearly seems to be the main feature of this new model especially as Panasonic have dropped some of the higher spec features from the G2 - focus mode selector, viewfinder sensor, shutter preview, no dedicated AE/AF lock, no external mic socket, etc - to make this less intimidating.

[PHOTORADAR]

@altern8ive The effective pixel count is the most meaningful figure for photographers. Interestingly, Panasonic released a firmware upgrade yesterday which boosts the G3’s effective pixel count to 16.

Focus mode is selected via the Quick Menu on the G3 and the default setting for the Fn1 button is AE/AF lock.

According to Panasonic the G2 will continue and the G3 sits above it because of the G3’s more advanced sensor, processing engine, AF system, video capability.

[SquirrelFromGradLife]

@altern8ive There is a dedicated AE lock button...and the downscaling of some choices have absolutely nothing to do with intimidation but everything to do with price and place in the product line..

The G3 is designed to be cheaper than the GH2, and have less features for a reason. The camera is no designed for semi pro or even enthusiasts at all... they already have the GH2 model to play with. Its a model intended to compete with Canon's 600D line ie. the upper entry level cameras.

[JogBird]

too bad it has a sensor from a point and shoot

[PHOTORADAR]

@JogBird The G3 has a Four Thirds type sensor that measures 17.3x13mm. This is smaller than the average APS-C format camera sensor (around 23.6x15.7mm), but considerably larger than the sensor in a point and shoot compact camera (a 1/1.8in sensor for example, is around 7.2x5.3mm).

[Borgdatanode]

@JogBird The Panasonic's "Live MOS" sensor is based on a CCD sensor which means that the sensor doesn't have to be that big to achieve the same low light performance as a CMOS sensor. In addition Panasonic claims that the "Live MOS" sensor has the colour reproduction and low energy usage of the CMOS sensor and the low light performance and the image quality of a CCD sensor.

So the "Live MOS" sensor should be as good as any APS-C sensor

(sry for my bad English ;)

[carpandean]

@JogBird The largest compact camera sensors (1/1.6") are only 22% of the size of the m43 sensor (48mm vs. 225mm), so you could fit over 4 1/2 of them on the G3's sensor. Most compacts, though, even high-end enthusiast ones, use a 1/1.7" sensor, which is less than 20% the size (you could fit 5 of them), or smaller.

For reference, you can only fit 1.4-1.6 m43 sensors on an APS-C sensor (depending on if it's Canon's or everyone else), and you can fit 2.3-2.6 APS-C sensors on a FF sensor.

[white8ass8kika]

Hating the articulating touch screen. Thats the reason why i didn't get the GF2 and went for the LX5

[PHOTORADAR]

@white8ass8kika Unlike the GF2, the G3 has a mode dial and a couple of extra buttons on its back. These and the articulated screen (the GF2's screen is fixed) significantly improve the handling of the G3 over the GF2. The Touch Shutter system that triggers the G3 to focus and fire the shutter is especially useful.

[white8ass8kika]

@PHOTORADAR I can see it has but it's lost the functionality of a carry around a lot camera because it doesnt fit in the pocket. and then you have your day of shooting camera which size doesnt matter so you go for a proper slr like sony a580.

Maybe they will release an lx7 soon. i hope not as i havent even received my lx5

[SquirrelFromGradLife]

@white8ass8kika A articulating touch screen is actually what most people like...if not all then 99% of all users.

Unfortunately my Sony a55 do not have a touch screen and its hinged at the bottom and not a the side making use of the screen when mounted on a tripod a pain... Having had a Canon 550D with a static screen it was a great joy to finally have a non static screen which were somewhat usable.

you could just leave the screen sitting there so its a bit thick reason for not choosing a camera

[white8ass8kika]

@SquirrelFromGradLife Umm no its not.... An articulating screen yes but not a resistive touch screen.

The G3 i'm talking about not the a55 or 550d. The g3 doesnt have sensor performance or lenses like slts or slrs. and its not small enough to fit in your pocket so whats the bloody point? People who get this camera are dumb. simple

[MrDka91]

@white8ass8kika Hmm..well actually it should be able to fit in your pocket with a pancake lens.

The point of it? Well that would be better image quality than a P&S that can fit in your pocket (albeit a larger pocket) with a pancake lens.

Aside from size the camera should also be lighter and certainly less cumbersome than a dslr, so you will be more inclined to take it with you when going out.

No people who get it will have their reason so they are not dumb.

That said I wouldn't buy it.

[white8ass8kika]

@MrDka91 Lol your an idiot. This isn't a camera you put in your pocket unless if you want everyone to look at you thinking wtf is that?!?!?! pahaha. What a joke. Can't believe people are still this dumb

[MrDka91]

@white8ass8kika Lol, I never said everyone would put it in their pocket I said they "can". It would slip into a coat pocket without it sticking out.

Your arrogance makes you sound childish, just because someone does not agree with you doesn't make them dumb.

[white8ass8kika]

@MrDka91 Your just trying to find some flaw in my argument which isn't there because i'm right. Sometimes people need to learn but they are too stubborn and deviate with a lack of common sense. Your still trying to nudge your point of it being a camera you can put in your pocket when you know that you can't. Now your saying ohhh but a coat pocket. WHAT IF YOU DONT HAVE A COAT ON! jesus christ!

We all agree that we wouldn't buy this camera and that is my point. simple.

[MrDka91]

@white8ass8kika No....Im not trying to find a flaw man, Im just pointing out that it can get into a pocket which a just dslr cant do, and it offers good IQ and manual control aswell and it is lighter than a dsr, therefore I see why people will find it appealing as an alternative to a dslr.

Yeah I agree I wouldnt buy it, but I dont think someone is an idiot for buying it.

[white8ass8kika]

@MrDka91 Ok. So basically your saying it's a good light small alternative. If you get this as an alternative to DSLR the lenses are poor and your still spending a hell of a lot of money. Anyone with the right mind would get a pro compact or a small fixed focal and a proper slr with a 1 or 2 lenses for that price.

[Mjollnir1234]

@white8ass8kika No, you panting jackass, the lenses aren't even remotely 'poor'.  Have you ever considered actually knowing what you're talking about before posting?

[carpandean]

@white8ass8kika I have a Canon G12 and a Lumix GF1. The G12 cannot keep up with the GF1, which is an older generation MFT camera. The G3 outperforms it by a large margin. As for MFT lenses, many are far from poor quality and are smaller than similar quality DSLR lenses. So, I can fit the camera and four lenses in a small LowePro bag, in which I couldn't fit a DSLR with even three of the equivalent lenses. That's the point: similar performance, smaller system.

[carpandean]

@white8ass8kika I'm laughing at the irony of "your an idiot."

[superchic2020]

will they be avalible in Canada?

[LTF85199]

love the articulating touch screen