Hands-on preview of the new Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

[DPNow]

That's the G3 on the left and a the original G1 on the right

Here is a summary or excerpt from an article that has just been published on DPNow:

Panasonic Lumix has totally redesigned its pioneering G2 Micro Four Thirds compact system camera making it smaller, lighter and simpler to use. The new G3 has a raft of new features, like pinpoint AF, a 20fps electronic shutter, and a brand new 16 megapixel LiveMOS sensor, while retaining the G2's articulating touch screen and integrated high resolution electronic viewfinder. We have been trying the G3.

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[Ian]

Re: Hands-on preview of the new Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

It's amazing what Panasonic has packed into this little marvel - an articulating 3 inch screen; a touch-screen at that, a 16MP sensor, Full 1080 HD video, 20fps shooting at 4MP, 1.4 megadot electronic viewfinder, etc.

Has anyone here thought about a compact system camera like this but decided against one? Interested to hear your reasons

I do hear from a sizeable number that they feel CSCs are too small for their hands, for example.

Ian

[Kurt]

Re: Hands-on preview of the new Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

I was going for a GH2 but hesitating because my GH1 is not very old and probably does as much as I really need although I would enjoy the better high ISO performance of the later camera, now I suppose a GH3 must be on the horizon (or not?). What shall I do?

Overall, it looks a nice package, but I think losing the detector in the viewfinder is a shame. I really like the fact that the display switches off as soon as I look through the viewfinder. I was trying a GH2 at a Panasonic stand at a local camera shop exhibition day and the display stayed on when I looked through the viewfinder, it was annoying. The Panasonic guy didn't know why it did that and I couldn't find an option in the menus to change that function.

Regarding the G3 I guess the viewfinder will come on automatically if you close the screen to the body..

[Ian]

Re: Hands-on preview of the new Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

I was going for a GH2 but hesitating because my GH1 is not very old and probably does as much as I really need although I would enjoy the better high ISO performance of the later camera, now I suppose a GH3 must be on the horizon (or not?). What shall I do?

Overall, it looks a nice package, but I think losing the detector in the viewfinder is a shame. I really like the fact that the display switches off as soon as I look through the viewfinder. I was trying a GH2 at a Panasonic stand at a local camera shop exhibition day and the display stayed on when I looked through the viewfinder, it was annoying. The Panasonic guy didn't know why it did that and I couldn't find an option in the menus to change that function.

Regarding the G3 I guess the viewfinder will come on automatically if you close the screen to the body..

Hi Kurt, yes the EVF comes on when you close the screen facing inwards.

The GH2 is actually very new (less than six months since first availability) and has the multi aspect ratio 16MP sensor, which the G3 doesn't. I haven't yet closely compared the G3 and GH2 high ISO samples yet, but I would still expect the GH2 to have the edge

Ian

[Kurt]

Re: Hands-on preview of the new Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Perhaps I should keep with the GH2 plan . . . or wait till I find out about the high ISO comparison.

[Ian]

Re: Hands-on preview of the new Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Been really busy today, so it's been a bit difficult to do the G3/GH2 comparisons at high ISO, especially as in Lightroom I can only compare JPEGs from the G3 with RAW from the GH2, but the G3 JPEGs look good and the ISO 6400 JPEGs I'm seeing are very usable indeed.

Ian

[Kurt]

Re: Hands-on preview of the new Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Thanks for checking, Ian. It is amazing how much ISO performance has improved in a very short time.