Panasonic G3 vs Nikon V1

Cameras
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Panasonic G3 vs Nikon V1

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4/3 224.9mm²
16.0 megapixels

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

1 inch 116.2mm²
10.1 megapixels
ISO 100 - 3200

Go in depth with our full Nikon V1 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the V1.

Succeeded by the Panasonic G5
Compare G3 vs G5
Compare Panasonic G5 vs Nikon V1

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Differences

Panasonic G3 advantages over Nikon V1

Lens selection
Excellent vs Limited
Better lens selection gives you more options
Larger sensor
4/3 vs 1 inch
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Less expensive
$700 vs $900 (MSRP)
Save money for lenses or accessories
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 V1 test data on DxO Mark

667 vs 346 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
More pixels
16.0 vs 10.1 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots

Nikon V1 advantages over Panasonic G3

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

350 vs 270 shots
Capture more photos
Higher max flash sync
1/250 vs 1/160 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
More dots on screen
922k vs 460k dots
Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
Shoots 1080p video
Yes vs No
You'll want this if you shoot video
Less shutter lag
0.10 vs 0.29 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
Faster JPEG shooting
9.8 fps vs 3.4 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
34 vs 7 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Faster shutter
1/16000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
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

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Buy the Panasonic G3

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Buy the Nikon V1

Review Excerpt

Read our Panasonic G3 Full Review

Good image quality; Good quality lens; Full HD videos; Lightning fast AF; Fun to use.
Mode dial turns easily; Missing "modern" features like panorama, HDR; Somewhat heavy; Sluggish shot-to-shot cycle times; Proprietary external flash.
Read our Nikon V1 Review

The Competition

Compared to Nikon J1

Panasonic G3

Nikon J1

$700
4/3

Lens selection
Larger sensor

$500
1 inch

On-sensor phase detect
Thinner

Compare Panasonic G3 vs Nikon J1

Nikon V1

Nikon J1

$900
1 inch

Eye-level viewfinder
Longer stills battery life

$500
1 inch

Less expensive
On-sensor phase detect

Compare Nikon V1 vs Nikon J1

Compared to 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

Nikon V1

Olympus E-M5

$900
1 inch

Higher-res screen
Shoots 1080p video

$900
4/3

Lens selection
Larger sensor

Compare Nikon V1 vs Olympus E-M5

Compared to Nikon V2

Panasonic G3

Nikon V2

$700
4/3

Lens selection
Larger sensor

$900
1 inch

On-sensor phase detect
Higher max flash sync

Compare Panasonic G3 vs Nikon V2

Nikon V1

Nikon V2

$900
1 inch

Bigger pixels
Fast startup

$900
1 inch

Higher effective ISO
On-sensor phase detect

Compare Nikon V1 vs Nikon V2

Compared to 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

Nikon V1

Panasonic GX7

$900
1 inch

Less expensive
Slow-motion videos

$648
4/3

Lens selection
Focus peaking

Compare Nikon V1 vs Panasonic GX7

Compared to Olympus E-M10

Panasonic G3

Olympus E-M10

$700
4/3

More viewfinder magnification
Shoots 60p video

$399
4/3

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Panasonic G3 vs Olympus E-M10

Nikon V1

Olympus E-M10

$900
1 inch

Less shutter lag
Shoots 60p video

$399
4/3

Lens selection
Focus peaking

Compare Nikon V1 vs Olympus E-M10

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