PANASONIC LUMIX G3
£489.00
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The Panasonic G3 is a CSC featuring a Micro FourThirds sensor that’s physically smaller than the APS-C chips found inside some other models.
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The 16Mp MOS chip delivers a 160-6400 ISO range with no drop in resolution at the high end and due to the reduced size of the sensor it has a 2x crop factor, turning the 14-42mm kits lens into a 28-84mm film equivalent. Panasonic’s MEGA Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) technology is built into the lens to combat camera shake and the G3s contrast-detect AF system offers four AF modes, which include 23-area AF, 1-area AF, Face Detection and AF-tracking.
Features & performance
A key improvement on the G2 is the addition of full area focusing, which ties in nicely with the G3’s superb 3in, 460k-dot touchscreen that allows you to pinpoint the area of focus simply by touch. This camera features a flip-out vari-angle display, a feature that’s extremely useful if you find yourself regularly shooting from low or high angles. Without an internal mirror there’s no optical viewfinder, so it adopts an electronic viewfinder (EVF) with an impressive
1.44 million dot resolution instead, which displays 100% coverage of the sensor. In terms of size, the G3 has a smaller footprint than most D-SLRs and D-SLTs. It feels petite in the hand compared to a D-SLR and doesn’t offer much in the way of grip as it’s finished in a smooth, matt black, plastic coating. Full HD videos (1920x1080@30fps) can be recorded for up to 30 minutes using the dedicated movie-rec button and beside this is a superb command dial that allows you to easily switch between Aperture and Shutter Speed. AF speed is fast for a Contrast-Detect system and AF tracking performed faultlessly, locking on to all moving subjects with relative ease. The touchscreen is good for navigating the G3’s settings and there’s also a D-Pad if you want instant access to ISO, White Balance, Continuous Shooting (at up to 4fps) and AF modes. Overall, the G3 performs as well as its stylish looks suggest.
AT A GLANCE
Street Price: £489 (with 14-42mm kit lens)
Resolution: 16Mp
Lens Mount: Micro Four Thirds
Crop Factor: 2x
Focusing: Contrast-Detect AF
Viewfinder: EVF (1.44 million dot)
Burst Rate: 4fps (8 RAW & 11
JPEG)
ISO Range: 160-6400
Shutter range: 60secs-1/4000sec
Screen: 3in, 460k-dot
Video: Full HD 1920x1080
Storage: SD, SDHC, SDXC
Weight: 544g
Dimensions: 115.2x83.6x46.7mm
www.panasonic.co.uk
AS FEATURED IN THE JANUARY 2012 ISSUE OF DIGITAL PHOTO