Nikon D3000 vs Panasonic G3

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Nikon D3000 vs Panasonic G3

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APS-C 372.9mm²
10.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 1600

Go in depth with our full Nikon D3000 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the D3000.

4/3 224.9mm²
16.0 megapixels

Go in depth with our full Panasonic G3 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the G3.

Succeeded by the Panasonic G5
Compare G3 vs G5
Compare Nikon D3000 vs Panasonic G5

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Differences

Nikon D3000 advantages over Panasonic G3

Less expensive
$600 vs $700 (MSRP)
Save money for lenses or accessories
Larger sensor
APS-C vs 4/3
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 6.10 vs 3.77 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Fast startup
~0.70 vs 1.4 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

550 vs 270 shots
Capture more photos
Bigger JPEG buffer
16 vs 7 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Panasonic G3 advantages over Nikon D3000

Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
G3 test data on DxO Mark D3000 test data on DxO Mark

667 vs 563 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
Thinner
46 mm vs 64 mm
Thinner
HDMI out
HDMI out vs None
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
More dots on screen
460k vs 230k dots
Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
More viewfinder magnification
0.70x vs 0.53x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
16.0 vs 10.2 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Shoots 60p video
Yes vs No
A faster framerate can give you more editing options
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Faster JPEG shooting
3.4 fps vs 3.0 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
6400 vs 3200 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Focus peaking
Neither provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Neither provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in Wi-Fi
Neither provide
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Neither provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
External Mic Jack
Neither provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

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Review Excerpt

Read our Nikon D3000 Full Review

Read our Panasonic G3 Full Review

The Competition

Compared to Sony DSLR-A230

Nikon D3000

Sony DSLR-A230

$450
APS-C

Lens selection
Faster JPEG shooting

$549
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
HDMI out

Compare Nikon D3000 vs Sony DSLR-A230

Panasonic G3

Sony DSLR-A230

$700
4/3

Lens selection
Touchscreen

$549
APS-C

Less expensive
Larger sensor

Compare Panasonic G3 vs Sony DSLR-A230

Compared to Sony DSLR-A330

Nikon D3000

Sony DSLR-A330

$450
APS-C

Lens selection
More viewfinder magnification

$530
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Tiltable Screen

Compare Nikon D3000 vs Sony DSLR-A330

Panasonic G3

Sony DSLR-A330

$700
4/3

Lens selection
Touchscreen

$530
APS-C

Larger sensor
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Panasonic G3 vs Sony DSLR-A330

Compared to Pentax K-r

Nikon D3000

Pentax K-r

$450
APS-C

Less expensive

$850
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Fast startup

Compare Nikon D3000 vs Pentax K-r

Panasonic G3

Pentax K-r

$700
4/3

Less expensive
Touchscreen

$850
APS-C

Larger sensor
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Panasonic G3 vs Pentax K-r

Compared to Olympus E-M5

Nikon D3000

Olympus E-M5

$450
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$900
4/3

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Touchscreen

Compare Nikon D3000 vs Olympus E-M5

Panasonic G3

Olympus E-M5

$700
4/3

Internal flash
More viewfinder magnification

$900
4/3

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Higher effective ISO

Compare Panasonic G3 vs Olympus E-M5

Compared to Panasonic GX7

Nikon D3000

Panasonic GX7

$450
APS-C

Larger sensor
Less expensive

$648
4/3

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D3000 vs Panasonic GX7

Panasonic G3

Panasonic GX7

$700
4/3

Less expensive

$648
4/3

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Panasonic G3 vs Panasonic GX7

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