Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Category:	Type:	Image Sensor	:
Point-and-Shoot	Compact	EVF	:
Beginner	Ultra Compact	Image Stabilization	:
Serious	Ultra Zoom	Display	:
Advanced	DSLR	Shooting Mode	:
Pro	DIL	Shutter Speed	:
		Burst	:
		Movie	:
		Price check…	:

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 introduces one of the most exciting mirrorless DSLR todate: an impossibly compact micro Four Thirds Compact System Camera (CSC) that stands between the G2 and GH2 digital interchangeable lens cameras. While the G2 is now offered as an amateur photographer’s first serious mirrorless DSLR and the GH2 continues to amass awards from pros, the G3 is probably the first DIL with a Four Thirds sensor to really fulfill the latter’s promise of smaller and lighter camera and lens.

The Lumix G3 is a DSLR at heart: An external Mode dial allows quick access to common modes like Program, Shutter and Aperture Priority, Manual. Additional dial settings include two Custom Modes, Scene Modes and a Creative Control Mode. Video is now an integral part of the DSLR experience and a dedicated video button allows you to immediately switch to video capture mode. An eye-level electronic viewfinder projects a high resolution 1.44m-dot (equiv.) image with 100% field of view.

Touch-control shooting lets photographers focus on the subject by simply touching it on the large, 3.0-in. Touch Panel LCD (460k-dot). The new Pinpoint AF allows extremely precise near–pixel-level focus point setting at the touch of a finger. A new Precision Contrast LightSpeed AF system focuses in approximately 0.1 second. For those who prefer it, there is also manual focus. The Intelligent LCD has a bright 1,440,000-dot equivalent resolution, offers approximately 100% of field of view, and rotates 180° to the side and tilts 270° up and down, making it easy to operate and shoot at various angles.

Image quality is preserved at high ISOs: selective noise reduction creates a more naturally-balanced curve without deterioration of the image.

For those who are starting out, iA (Intelligent AUTO) and new iA Plus modes include Intelligent Resolution, MEGA O.I.S. (included in several lenses), Intelligent ISO Control, and Intelligent Scene Selector make shooting easy. They now feature real-time visual feedback between automatic and manual shooting features:

• Touch-screen-slider-enabled background defocusing
• Touch-enabled exposure control compensation
• Touch-screen-slider-enabled white balance. A desired color balance result under difficult lighting can now be achieved visually from the LCD with a touch-enabled slider icon.

Rapid burst shooting is 4fps at full 16MP resolution with its mechanical shutter enabled, or an even faster 20fps using the electronic shutter feature and at a reduced resolution of 4 megapixels.

Express your creativity with Creative Control mode, which allows for images to be taken with popular visual effects such as Retro, High Key, Sepia and High Dynamic. Photo Style film mode offers Standard, Vivid, Natural, Monochrome, Scenery, and Portrait presets that allow finer adjustment of contrast, sharpness, saturation and noise reduction.

The Dust Reduction System uses a supersonic wave filter in front of the Live MOS sensor and vibrates vertically around 50,000 times per second to repels dust from collecting on the sensor.

The Micro Four Thirds (MFT) System mount currently offers a selection of 11 high-performance fixed focal length and variable aperture G Vario zooms, including a highly-versatile 3D lens capable of capturing both 2D and 3D images at the same time. There are also lens adaptors available for mounting older Leica M and Leica R lenses, including prior LUMIX full Four Thirds lenses. An innovative 14-140mm HD G Vario lens provides the best of video and still-image shooting with a long 10x range and near silent high-speed focusing. When connected to the LUMIX G3, ultra-fast focusing and auto subject track AF can be achieved. Many LUMIX MFT lenses come with MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilization) built-in. This feature helps prevent blurring from shaky hands. Working together with this is the camera’s intelligent ISO Control, which reduces motions blur by adjusting the ISO sensitivity if the subject moves, helping to ensure sharp images.

The Panasonic G3 uses the SD / SDHC / SDXC memory card.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 is a compact, elegant and powerful mirrorless DSLR that targets those serious about their photography but are simply not interested with the bulk and weight of a traditional DSLR.