Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Panasonic's latest 16-megapixel Micro Four Thirds shooter sports a slimmer chassis, improved Venus Engine FHD image processor and 1080/30p full-HD recording capabilities (25p for PAL). Apart from a faster contrast autofocus system, the new camera's Live MOS sensor promises enhanced image quality in low-light conditions, and speedy 4fps burst-mode shooting in full resolution.

Design And Features

We saw some improvements in the design of the Lumix DMC-G3 compared with its predecessor. Sporting a slimmer chassis (a 25 percent size reduction), Panasonic has redesigned the handgrip to be more recessed, making it look more like the Lumix DMC-LX5's, albeit thicker. Overall, we found the camera's body to be solidly built and had no problems using the snapper for one-handed operation. However, shutterbugs with larger hands may have issues with the smaller handgrip.


On the top, the AF mode dial and frame rate, exposure compensation and self-timer selector have been removed. We suspect this had something to do with Panasonic's downsizing of the G3. However, it's good that they kept the dedicated video recording and iA (Intelligent Auto) mode buttons, which have been relocated to the back of the snapper. At the camera's rear sits a fully articulating 3-inch touchscreen display that is great for getting high or low angle shots.

We found the shooter's improved touch-to-focus function handy for image composition. Utilizing its Full-area focusing function, users can select focal points from any part of the LCD (previously users were restricted to an area half the size of the LCD) without having to do the usual focus and recompose routine. Also, users who like to shoot closeups can utilize its new Pinpoint focus feature which magnifies the center of your focal point for more precise focusing.

Seasoned users who are used to a dSLR's button interface might like to know that frequently used settings such as ISO, autofocus modes, white balance, frame rate and self-timer have their own quick-access buttons in the form of four-way directional buttons. We liked how Panasonic offers the best of both worlds to those who prefer touchscreens and those who don't.

Apart from physical buttons, the G3's touchscreen Quick Menu interface offers picture settings, focus modes, video options, aspect ratio selections, and flash controls. It also allows users to hold and drag most frequently used settings into the menu's dock for faster access.

One of our gripes, however, was the placement of the directional buttons. It was too close to the edge, which caused the accidental toggling of white balance settings when gripping the camera. This interfered with framing and image capture. It would have been better if Panasonic had implemented a function to lock the buttons during actual shooting. Also, the touch panel was not as sensitive as we would have liked, often requiring a much firmer press in order to select an option.

Another grouse was the lack of support for an external microphone--since replaced by a built-in stereo mic--which may be limiting for shutterbugs looking to shoot videos and desire a more focused sound capture, such as an on-camera interview.

One issue that many testers had during Panasonic's shooting tour in Chiang Mai was the 14-42mm kit lens' long minimum focusing distance, which made it rather limited. Sure, there's an existing 45mm macro lens but we would have preferred that Panasonic to revise the old kit lens to focus as close as 20cm as many casual users tend to attempt shooting closeups of food and flowers.

First-time users may find the G3's improved iA Plus mode useful where one can easily move the on-screen slider to configure depth-of-field and achieve defocused backgrounds. It also recognizes various scenes and optimizes settings to offer easy shooting for beginners.

A Comparison

	Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3	Olympus Pen E-P3	Sony Alpha NEX-5
Key specifications
Dimensions (W x H x D)	115 x 84 x 47mm	122 x 69.1 x 34.2mm	111 x 59 x 38mm
Weight	336g	369g	287g
Sensor resolution (effective pixels)	15.8-megapixel	12.3-megapixel	14.2-megapixel
Sensor type	Live MOS	Live MOS	Exmor CMOS
Crop factor	2x	2x	1.5x
Shutter speed	60 to 1/4000 sec, Bulb	60 to 1/4000 sec, Bulb	30 to 1/4000 sec,Bulb
Sensitivity range	Auto ISO, Intelligent ISO, ISO 160 to 6,400	Auto ISO, ISO 160 to 12,800	Auto ISO, ISO 200 to 12,800
Continuous shooting	4 fps	3 fps	5 fps
LCD display	3-inch, 460k resolution, articulating TFT touchscreen LCD	3-inch touchscreen OLED, 641k resolution, anti-fingerprint coating	3-inch, 921k resolution, tiltscreen
Flash	Pop-up flash	Pop-up flash	Bundled external flash
Audio	Stereo microphone	Stereo microphone	Stereo microphone
Video	Full-HD, 1920 x 1080, 60i recording	Full-HD, 1,920 x 1080, 60i recording	Full-HD, 1920 x 1080, 60 fps
Price	TBA	TBA	S$1,199

Performance

With a more compact form factor, Panasonic naturally had to use a smaller 1,010 mAh battery (compared with the G2's 1250 mAh battery) which could lead to lower battery life. This is likely the reason Panasonic rated the G3's video recording at 55 mins (from 100 minutes on the G2) and its still image capture at 270 images (from 360 images).

From our experience, we managed to wear down the shooter's battery to one bar (out of three) after capturing approximately 169 images and three short videos over the weekend.

Image Quality

Color performance of the G3 was good, with the camera giving us natural and punchy colors without looking over-processed. While we think the shooter is excellent for portraits with skintones that look natural outdoors, we felt that the colors tended to be biased toward red in indoor lighting and low-light conditions.


Images shot from ISO 160 to 400 displayed the best quality. From ISO 800, there was a slight hint of noise but image details were retained. At ISO 1600, the image experienced a slight drop in contrast and a mild softening of edge detail. Images at ISO 3200 were grainy with an overall loss of contrast, but should be usable if resized for the Web. Of course, we wouldn't advise using ISO 6400 unless you really needed to.

Video Quality

In terms of video performance, the snapper captured videos which were vivid but natural, although it did seem to have less-than-perfect shadow detail in the darker portions of the video. We felt that the autofocus performance could have been better as well. At times, it had to hunt for a while before acquiring focus. We tried using AF-tracking and it helped to lock on focus in situations where action is involved.

Images Samples

Conclusion

Panasonic has impressed us with the G3's sleek downsized chassis, but the touchscreen interface could have been more responsive. With the G2 sporting an external mic input, we were puzzled why it was left out in the G3. We think Panasonic could be drawing a clearer distinction between the G and GH series, with the former targeting those looking to upgrade from compacts and the latter focusing on amateur videographers. While it's not a deal breaker for us, the ability to attach an external microphone provides users with the flexibility to use a wireless mic to capture higher quality sound; minus noises associated with camera operation like turning of dials or the lens focusing ring.

Though the G3 does have its quirks, the new camera offers good image quality and improved noise performance at higher ISO settings. We think the Lumix is a worthy option for shutterbugs looking for a compact-sized camera with dSLR-like image quality.