Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Micro Four Thirds Digital Camera with Touch Screen

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 praises as the currently "smallest and lightest micro four thirds digital camera with integrated electronic viewfinder" and makes it unmistakably clear: The third edition of the G-series has received a completely new housing. But even under the hood has changed a lot; the 16 Megapixel sensor is now replacing the twelve megapixel on its predecessor the G2. Nevertheless, Panasonic promises that the noise level compared to the G2 has been improved by up to 66 percent.

So far, the Lumix G series was always smaller than a conventional DSLR. The G3 comes with very elegant design. The digital camera has fallen significantly slimmer than its two predecessors. Despite the diet, a camera bag is still required to own a camera bag, because it still to bulky overall.

The weight of Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 has declined far less by the way; ten percent less than the G2. The G3 however is not nearly as solid in the hand as its predecessor; it simply lacks the distinctive handle.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 has a touch-sensitive display, where it employs almost through quick menu as fast as an iPhone. Unfortunately, the camera digital reacts somewhat reluctant to finger tip, which is sometimes confused. The G3 can be triggered via the touch screen - but not without having been brought into focus quickly on the selected image portion. This went on, however, the G2 also - and more: The predecessor of the G3 switched automatically from the electronic viewfinder (EVF) to the display when the camera was taken from the eye. That's regrettable, because the swiveling and folding screen is virtually indispensable in the G3 to configure the camera. Although the menus appear in the EVF - but who wants to already look through the viewfinder, while the fingers of the right hand desperately looking knobs!

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3: More details

The viewfinder image is bright and clear, and thanks to 1.44 million pixel resolution in detail. When swiveling under normal light, it follows the movement very quickly, first in the dim light the display noticeably jerky. With 100 percent frame coverage and 0.7x magnification (relative to image) of the viewfinder is larger than many APS-C cameras, it shows much more information on request anyway. Not quite as lavishly equipped with the rear screen pixels, it dissolves with 460,000 pixels, at best, on average, yet. The menu of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 is well arranged and distributed to sub-pages long lists. These sub-pages, however, can not specifically select, you should always browse the entire list to get to the desired command.

What remains are the good 20 scene modes. Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 offers an Auto Picture mode, which can be turned on quickly with the "bo" button. In this mode, the camera automatically selects one of seven programs for Photos or four programs in video mode. A new addition is the '+ iA "mode. It allowed intervening in the automatic settings. The exposure and white balance are adjustable.

The exposure was extended, it now includes the high range of + / - 5 stops (EV), in G2 it was only + / - 3 EV. This provides enough flexibility for creative photographers, especially since the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 can be operated as a traditional-like machine, and semi-automatically by time or aperture priority and can be controlled completely manually. The latter is true not only for exposure but also for the focus. It provides the G3 is a new focusing aid: it shows in the middle of the display by request a four-fold magnified image of. The usual five-or ten-fold magnification can be switched quickly via thumbwheel. Also new, a special "needle peaks" is autofocus. It enlarges the viewfinder image and makes it so particularly sensitive to set the desired focus point.

The digital camera is now full up to full HD resolution (1,920 x 1,080) on, in either 50i or 25p. The video recordings can be stored in a space-saving AVCHD format while the MJPEG format is still available. Also new: The video recording takes the G3 to the desired sharpness. Alternatively, the focus point by a light fingertip touch on the display is set during the recording to any part of the image - which is great. In contrast to the G2, Panasonic has donated a stereo microphone, plus there is an electronic wind filter, which can be configured in four stages.

Compared to its predecessor, the G3 also sets the burst speed. It now creates up to 20 pictures per second (fps) - but only at reduced to around four megabytes of file size. In full resolution, it is a maximum of 4.9 fps, although it is full after only seven images of the buffer and continues the series of recordings with only one image every two seconds. As an action-camera, the G3 is not so well with the more rapid-sequence.

The auto focus is incredibly fast - at least for a camera that works with contrast detection on the image sensor. The continuous AF, which stands at the G3 also available in video mode is very impressing. For panning, the stabilizer can be switched into a special mode, in which only vertical camera movements are compensated.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3: Image Quality

The input dynamic RECOURSE to ISO 1600 at a high level of nearly 10 f-stops (EV) - and thus just barely missed a top rating in this discipline. Beyond the ISO 1600, the dynamic range decreases rapidly. The color noise is significantly onerous, however critical and always has his little bit unexpected peak already at ISO 200 - a sure sign, Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 that interferes with higher ISO numbers, the noise suppression.

The noise suppression is a very good: Even at ISO 3200 show the pictures even more details than one would think the noise curves left, up to ISO 1600 there are nearly as many details as the base sensitivity.

The manual white balance correct colors are very good. The automatic white balance, however, has one time or another difficulty in finding the correct setting. Especially for subjects in shade or diffused light, it reinforces the dominant colors, such as the green in the deep forest. In general the photographs show a slightly exaggerated fondness for green and magenta tones. The color fidelity is not always very accurate.

After all, the digital camera refrains oversaturated colors, the color reproduction is more strongly coordinated, but not gaudy. This is also similar to the tone curve, which tends towards moderate "crunchy". The image editor is pleased that vote fewer, the more the photographer that wants to present his shots without much ado on paper or on screen.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 features also in high-quality RAW format that avoids the weaknesses of the small in-camera image processing. All in all, the Lumix G3 provides a significantly better image quality than its predecessor.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3: Conclusion

The G3 is a great upgrade. The picture quality compared to the predecessor makes a significant leap forward. Despite the increased sensor resolution, Panasonic has given the noise problem with the G3 so well under control that they can be used without remorse to ISO 1600.

Even with its video capabilities, the G3 is the amount of time filming with the camera can see (and hear) can. In return, unfortunately a lot of good in the predecessor has fallen by the wayside. By eliminating the most dedicated switches and buttons, and especially the eye sensor suffers the ergonomics of the camera, although it is easy to operate thanks to the formidable touchscreen.

The display can be swiveled in almost any position and rotate, but its resolution is average at best. The streamlined enclosure during transportation of the G3 brings no significant benefits, but is nowhere near as good in the hand as the G2, with its strong grip. Despite improvement in the continuous shooting speed is still low. The bottom line is the G3 is a good camera system, which reaches its full potential with the kit lens but can not develop completely.

Some might say that this is not worthy successor to the G2, but we say Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 is absolutely worthy successor.

Title Post: Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Micro Four Thirds Digital Camera with Touch Screen
Rating: 100% based on 2069 ratings. 5 user reviews.
Author: the Wicaksonos Family

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