Panasonic GF3 vs Canon EOS M

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Panasonic GF3 vs Canon EOS M

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4/3 224.9mm²
12.1 megapixels

Go in depth with our full Panasonic GF3 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the GF3.

APS-C 332.3mm²
18.0 megapixels
ISO 100 - 12,800

Go in depth with our full Canon EOS M Review.
How does it shoot? Canon EOS M in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the EOS M.
Compare Canon EOS M image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Canon EOS M conclusion.

Succeeded by the Panasonic GF5
Compare GF3 vs GF5

Succeeded by the Canon EOS M3
Compare EOS M vs EOS M3

Compare PANASONIC GF5 vs CANON EOS M3

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Differences

Panasonic GF3 advantages over Canon EOS M

Lens selection
Excellent vs Limited
Better lens selection gives you more options
Fast startup
~1.90 vs 2.7 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

340 vs 230 shots
Capture more photos
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Lighter weight
320g vs 503g
Lighter weight
Less shutter lag
0.31 vs 0.74 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Bigger JPEG buffer
20 vs 13 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Canon EOS M advantages over Panasonic GF3

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.
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.
EOS M test data on DxO Mark GF3 test data on DxO Mark

827 vs 458 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
More dynamic range

More dynamic range

Cameras with more dynamic range allow you to take photos with dramatic differences in highlight and shadow areas while retaining detail in both.

Think of a brilliant sunset on a rocky beach: Bright sunset in the background, with dark rocks in the foreground. High dynamic range means more of the extremes will be faithfully reproduced.

Dynamic range test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
EOS M test data on DxO Mark GF3 test data on DxO Mark

11.2 vs 10.0 evs
Retain detail in highlight and shadows
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
More telephoto lens reach
88 mm vs 28 mm
Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Shoots 24p video
Yes vs No
Gives your movies a big-screen feel
More dots on screen
1040k vs 460k dots
Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
Hot shoe
Hot shoe vs None
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Shoots 1080p video
Yes vs No
You'll want this if you shoot video
More pixels
18.0 vs 12.1 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Bulb shutter
Bulb vs No bulb
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
Faster JPEG shooting
4.2 fps vs 3.5 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
25600 vs 6400 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Touchscreen
Both provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video

Common Weaknesses

Focus peaking
Neither provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Eye-level viewfinder
Neither provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
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
Tiltable Screen
Neither provide
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
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
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
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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Buy the Panasonic GF3

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Review Excerpt

Small, solid, light body; Good image quality; 14mm kit lens is of good quality and very small; Very fast autofocus; Excellent selection of lenses; Very fun to shoot with.
Small controls; Touchscreen interface might not be for everyone; Weak flash; Does not work with most accessories from previous models; JPEG image quality falls short of third-generation competition.
Read our Panasonic GF3 Review

Excellent image quality similar to Rebel T4i, T5i and SL1 DSLRs, with 18-megapixel APS-C-type sensor delivering considerable resolution for a mirrorless camera; Solid build and sleek design; Bright, high-resolution 3-inch LCD touchscreen monitor; Full 1080p HD video recording that's virtually silent with an STM lens.
Barely acceptable autofocus speed still lags far behind most mirrorless cameras despite firmware update fix; Limited physical controls and buttons, including no Program, Priority, or Manual on Mode dial; Lacks built-in flash or electronic viewfinder option; Only two compact EF-M mount lenses currently available.
Read our Canon EOS M Review

The Competition

Compared to Panasonic GF2

Panasonic GF3

Panasonic GF2

$675
4/3

Touchscreen
Faster JPEG shooting

$617
4/3

Tiltable Screen
Fast startup

Compare Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic GF2

Canon EOS M

Panasonic GF2

$600
APS-C

Larger sensor
Less expensive

$617
4/3

Lens selection
Tiltable Screen

Compare Canon EOS M vs Panasonic GF2

Compared to Sony NEX-5N

Panasonic GF3

Sony NEX-5N

$675
4/3

Lens selection
Touchscreen

$700
APS-C

Larger sensor
In-camera panoramas

Compare Panasonic GF3 vs Sony NEX-5N

Canon EOS M

Sony NEX-5N

$600
APS-C

Less expensive
Touchscreen

$700
APS-C

Lens selection
Larger sensor

Compare Canon EOS M vs Sony NEX-5N

Compared to Panasonic GF3X

Panasonic GF3

Panasonic GF3X

$675
4/3

$750
4/3

More telephoto lens reach

Compare Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic GF3X

Canon EOS M

Panasonic GF3X

$600
APS-C

Less expensive
Larger sensor

$750
4/3

Lens selection
Longer stills battery life

Compare Canon EOS M vs Panasonic GF3X

Compared to Panasonic GF5

Panasonic GF3

Panasonic GF5

$675
4/3

Bigger JPEG buffer

$450
4/3

Fast startup
Higher effective ISO

Compare Panasonic GF3 vs Panasonic GF5

Canon EOS M

Panasonic GF5

$600
APS-C

Larger sensor
Less expensive

$450
4/3

Lens selection
Fast startup

Compare Canon EOS M vs Panasonic GF5

Compared to Sony NEX-5R

Panasonic GF3

Sony NEX-5R

$675
4/3

Lens selection
Internal flash

$499
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Panasonic GF3 vs Sony NEX-5R

Canon EOS M

Sony NEX-5R

$600
APS-C

Less expensive
External Mic Jack

$499
APS-C

Lens selection
Focus peaking

Compare Canon EOS M vs Sony NEX-5R

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