• 1/1.7 inch 43.3mm2
  • 14.7 megapixels
  • 36.00mm - 133.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • 4/3 224.9mm2
  • 16.0 megapixels
  •  
  • Detailed specifications
  • Canon PowerShot SD990 IS
  • Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3
Links
Prices:    
Manufacturer URL: Manufacturer website Manufacturer website
Predecessor:   Panasonic G2
G2 vs G3
Successor:   Panasonic G5
G3 vs G5
General
Model Number: SD990 IS G3
Alternate Model Number(s): IXUS 980 IS  
Camera Format: Compact Compact System Camera
Currently Manufactured: No No
Retail Price: $399.99 $699.99
Street Price:    
Date Available: 2008-10-15 2011-06-21
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes
Weight: 5.6 oz (160 g) 20.6 oz (583 g)
includes batteries, kit lens
Size: 3.8 x 2.4 x 1.1 in.
(97 x 62 x 28 mm)
4.5 x 3.3 x 1.8 in.
(115 x 84 x 47 mm)
Waterproof: No No
Waterproof Depth: n/a n/a
Image Sensor
Sensor Type: CCD Live MOS
Sensor Manufacturer:   Panasonic
Effective Megapixels: 14.7 16.0
Sensor Format: 1/1.7 inch 4/3
Sensor size: 43.32mm2 (7.6mm x 5.7mm) 224.9mm2 (17.30mm x 13.00mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch: 1.72 microns 3.77 microns
Focal Length Multiplier: n/a 2.0x
Aspect Ratio: 4:3, 16:9 4:3
Color Filter Type: RGBG RGBG
Anti Aliasing Filter:   Fixed
Self-Cleaning: No Yes
Sensor shift image stabilization: No No
On-Sensor Phase Detect: No No
DxO Sensor Score:   56
DxO Color Depth Score (bits):   21.0
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs):   10.6
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso):   667
Image Capture
Image Resolution: 4416 x 3312 (14.6 MP, 4:3),
4416 x 2480 (11.0 MP, 16:9),
3456 x 2592 (9.0 MP, 4:3),
2592 x 1944 (5.0 MP, 4:3),
1600 x 1200 (1.9 MP, 4:3),
640 x 480 (0.3 MP, 4:3)
4592 x 3448 (15.8 MP, 4:3),
4576 x 3056 (14.0 MP, 3:2),
4576 x 2576 (11.8 MP, 16:9),
3424 x 3424 (11.7 MP, 1:1),
3232 x 2424 (7.8 MP, 4:3),
3232 x 2160 (7.0 MP, 3:2),
3232 x 1824 (5.9 MP, Other),
2416 x 2416 (5.8 MP, 1:1),
2272 x 1704 (3.9 MP, 4:3),
2272 x 1520 (3.5 MP, Other),
1920 x 1080 (2.1 MP, 16:9),
1712 x 1712 (2.9 MP, 1:1),
1824 x 1368 (2.5 MP, 4:3),
1824 x 1216 (2.2 MP, 3:2),
1824 x 1024 (1.9 MP, 16:9)
Image File Format: JPEG (EXIF 2.2) JPEG, RAW, RAW + JPEG
Continuous-mode frames/second: 1.4 3.4
Video Capture
Can take movies: Yes Yes
Movie Resolution: 640x480 (30)
320x240 (30)
1920x1080 (60i/​50i)
1280x720 (60/​50/​30)
640x480 (30)
320x240 (30)
Movie File Format: MOV (Image: H.264, Audio: PCM) AVCHD (H.264), MotionJPEG
Composite Video Out: Yes Yes
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video: Yes Yes
Video Usable as Viewfinder: No
HD Video Out: No Yes
HD Video Connection: HDMI
Lens & Optics
Lens Mount: n/a Micro Four Thirds
Lens: Canon Zoom Lens Panasonic 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 ASPH Lumix G VARIO MEGA O.I.S
Focal Length (35mm equivalent): 36 - 133mm 28 - 84mm
Focal Length (actual): 7.7 - 28.5mm 14 - 42mm
Zoom Ratio: 3.69x 3.00x
Aperture Range: f/2.8 (W) - f/5.8 (T) f/3.5 - 22 (wide) / f.5.6 - 22 (tele)
Integrated ND Filter: No No
Normal Focus Range: 50 cm to Infinity
19.7 in to Infinity
30 cm to Infinity
11.8 in to Infinity
Macro Focus Range: 5 - 50 cm
2.0 - 19.7 in
 
Filter Thread: n/a 52.0mm
Thread Type: n/a n/a
Optical Image Stabilization: Yes Yes
Digital Zoom: Yes Yes
Digital Zoom Values: Up to 4x 2x or 4x
Auto Focus
Auto Focus: Yes Yes
Auto Focus Type: Contrast Detect with Face Detection Contrast Detection: Face detection, AF Tracking, 23-area-focusing, 1-area-focusing, Pinpoint Touch (1- area-focusing in Face detection, AF Tracking, Multi-area-focusing, 1-area-focusing, Pinpoint)
Auto Focus Assist Light? Yes Yes
Manual Focus: Yes Yes
Viewfinder
Viewfinder: Optical / LCD EVF / LCD
Viewfinder Type: Real image optical zoom EVF; 1,440K dots eq., 1.4x mag., 17.5mm eyepoint, -4 to +4 diopter, eye sensor
Focus Peaking: No No
EVF Resolution: n/a  
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent):   0.70x
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed):   1.40x
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder: Yes Yes
Rear Display: Yes Yes
Rear Display Size (inches): 2.5 3.0
Rear Display Resolution: 230,000 dots 460,000 dots
Touchscreen: No Yes
Articulating Screen: No Yes
Tilt Swivel Screen: No
Selfie Screen: No
Max Playback Zoom: 10.0x 16.0x
Top Deck Display: No
Exposure
Maximum ISO (native):    
Minimum ISO (native):    
ISO Settings: Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600. 3200 requires special scene mode Auto, 160-6400 Intelligent ISO
Auto ISO Mode: Yes Yes
White Balance Settings: Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H, Flash, Underwater, Custom Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Shade, Halogen, Flash, White Set 1/2, Color Temperature Setting (2,500-10,000K in 100K steps)
Shutter Speed Range: 1/1600 - 15 sec 1/4000 - 60 sec
Bulb Mode: No Yes
Exposure Compensation: +/- 2.0EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 5.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes: Evaluative, Center-weighted, Spot (center), Face Detect AE 144-zone Intelligent Multiple, Center-weighted, Spot
Program Auto Exposure: Yes Yes
Aperture Priority: No Yes
Shutter Priority: No Yes
Full Manual Exposure: Yes Yes
Creative Exposure Modes: Portrait, Foliage, Snow, Beach, Sunset, Fireworks, Aquarium, Underwater, ISO 3200, Indoor, Kids & Pets, Night Snapshot, Color Accent, Color Swap, Digital Macro, Stitch Assist Portrait, Soft Skin, Scenery, Architecture, Sports, Peripheral Defocus, Flower, Food, Objects,,Night Portrait, Night Scenery, Illiminatioms, Baby 1, 2, Pet, Party, Sunset
Self Timer: 1 - 30 seconds 2, 10, 10 (3 images) seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer):    
High Resolution Composite: No No
Flash
Built-in Flash: Yes Yes
Flash Modes: Auto, Red-eye Reduction, Auto Red-eye Correction, Flash On, Flash Off; FE lock, Slow Synchro Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync., Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100): n/a 8.3 m / 27.2 ft.
Flash Range Description: 1.6-15 ft./50cm-4.6m (W), 1.6-7.9 ft./50cm-2.4m (T) (when sensitivity is set to ISO Auto) Lens dependent
Max Flash Sync: 1/500 1/160
Flash Exposure Compensation: +/- 2.0 EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 2.0 EV in 0.3EV steps
External Flash Connection: n/a Hot Shoe
Built-In Wireless Flash Control:    
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types: SD / SDHC SD / SDHC / SDXC
UHS Support:    
Other Memory:    
Dual Card Slots: No No
RAW Capture Support: No Yes
Uncompressed Format:   RAW, RAW + JPEG
Movie File Format: MOV (Image: H.264, Audio: PCM) AVCHD (H.264), MotionJPEG
Included Memory: No memory included No memory included
Included Memory Type:    
Connectivity
Built-In Wi-Fi: No No
NFC: No No
Bluetooth: No No
Built-In GPS: No No
Microphone Jack: No No
Headphone Jack: No No
External Connections: USB 2.0 High Speed USB 2.0 High Speed
PictBridge Compliant: Yes Yes
DPOF Compliant: Yes Yes
Remote Control: No Yes
Remote Control Type:   Optional DMW-RSL1 cable remote
Connections (extended):   Mini HDMI (Type-C), 2.5mm remote socket, combined AV/USB connector
Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution): 2.00 0.66
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame):   0.67
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames):   9
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot):    
Camera penalizes early shutter press? No No
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution): 1.4 3.4
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution): Unlimited 7
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps):    
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames):    
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps):    
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames):    
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid): 0.50 seconds 0.29 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, tele): 0.60 seconds 0.30 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter Lag (manual focus):   0.091 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash):   0.57 seconds
Shutter Lag (prefocused): 0.085 seconds 0.080 seconds
Shutter Lag (notes):   Full Autofocus lag: Multi-area AF mode, Wide Angle = 0.294s Quick AF mode, Wide Angle = 0.297s
Startup Time: 1.7 seconds 1.4 seconds
Play -> Record Time:   0.8 seconds
Flash cycle time, full power: 8.0 seconds 5.5 seconds
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View): 280 shots 270 shots
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF):    
Battery Life, Video:    
Battery Form Factor: Proprietary NB-5L Proprietary
Usable Battery Types: Lithium Ion rechargeable Lithium-ion rechargeable
Batteries Included: 1 x Proprietary NB-5L Lithium Ion rechargeable 1 x Proprietary Lithium-ion rechargeable
Battery Charger Included (dedicated charger or AC/USB adapter): Yes Yes
Dedicated Battery Charger Included:
Internal Charging Supported:
Software
Included Software: Canon software suite PHOTOfunSTUDIO 6.2 HD Edition, SILKYPIX Developer Studio 3.1 SE, Super LoiloScope (trial), USB Driver
OS Compatibility: Windows, Mac OS  
Miscellaneous
Notes & Features: New DIGIC 4 Image Processor improves Face Detection, adds Servo AF, Face Detection Self-Timer and Intelligent Contrast Correction. 16-megapixel Sensor, Improved High ISO IQ, Faster AF, Metal Body, 1920x1080 HD Movies, Articulating Touch-screen LCD, 2.5mm Remote Socket, Mini HDMI Type-C Connector. Available in black, brown, red or white.