Hands-on preview of the new Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3
That's the G3 on the left and a the original G1 on the right
The new Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Micro Four Thirds compact system camera is smaller, lighter and simpler to use. New features include 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.
It looks like it may be my next upgrade, unfortuantely I don't have anything that can open the rawfiles to look at the samples!
Are there RAW file samples available elsewhere? I haven't looked, but as a good boy I have respected Panasonic's request not to publish RAW files or full size camera JPEGs...
Ian
PS - I have moved your post to the hands-on preview thread
Re: Hands-on preview of the new Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3
The G3 is much less of an 'enthusiasts' camera - there are far fewer external controls so you may need to rely on the touch screen user interface more. But the camera is even smaller and lighter than the G1 and G2, so that can't be bad, can it?
When I was G3 was presented to me at a briefing a few weeks ago I did say that many readers had expressed an issue with Micro Four Thirds as being too small for their hands. This was duly noted, but although Olympus has said they will produced a larger camera based on Pen technology, Panasonic seem less committed to that - at least outwardly.
Are there RAW file samples available elsewhere? I haven't looked, but as a good boy I have respected Panasonic's request not to publish RAW files or full size camera JPEGs...
Ian
PS - I have moved your post to the hands-on preview thread
Mmmm... well I have sent an email asking for clarification from Panasonic (nobody contactable by phone at the moment) as I'm under the firm impression RAW files from pre-production cameras are not supposed to be published.
If the answer is yes, I have loads here!
Ian
Update, well, I'm really pretty furious about this - no issues at all with Photographyblog, they were provided with a later camera than us at the last minute and so samples were permitted. But this makes the rest of us look like a laughing stock.
Looks like it may be aimed at more of an upgrade to the GF1 than the G2/GH2. Is it a different sensor to the GH2?
The G10 is now discontinued, but the G2 will be on sale for several months yet, but the G3 is definitely an evolution of the G2, although in a slightly different direction.
The sensor in the G3 is brand new. It's 16MP like the GH2's but is a completely different chip and does not feature the multi aspect ration feature of the GH2 sensor.
The GF1, of course, has its own upgrade in the form of the GF2.
Thanks Ian. I thought the GF2 was a bit of a dumbing-down in some ways of the GF1, such as a reduction in the number of external controls. As is the G3 to the G2 - not withstanding the improved sensor. Or is this progress? Maybe I'm old-fashioned in liking lots of knobs and dials!
However, I'm certainly not criticising Panasonic's efforts to continue development of their m4/3 range. It will be interesting to see how the new super-Pens compare when they're announced!
Thanks Ian. I thought the GF2 was a bit of a dumbing-down in some ways of the GF1, such as a reduction in the number of external controls. As is the G3 to the G2 - not withstanding the improved sensor. Or is this progress? Maybe I'm old-fashioned in liking lots of knobs and dials!
However, I'm certainly not criticising Panasonic's efforts to continue development of their m4/3 range. It will be interesting to see how the new super-Pens compare when they're announced!
Apart from the G10, in the most part, each new generation of G-series camera has introduced significant improvements, although sometimes costing functionality elsewhere, but the latter is generally much less significant than the former.
The G3 does have a different feel about it, but I suspect that this was Panasonic's aim as, in all honesty, the G2 is a complicated camera and doesn't wholly fulfil the compact system camera goal of ease of use.
Hands-on preview of the new Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3
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