Panasonic GF5 vs Canon EOS M3

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Panasonic GF5 vs Canon EOS M3

Leave Feedback

4/3 224.9mm²
12.1 megapixels
ISO 160 - 6400

Go in depth with our full Panasonic GF5 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the GF5.

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

Go in depth with our full Canon EOS M3 Review.
How does it shoot? Canon EOS M3 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the EOS M3.
Compare Canon EOS M3 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Canon EOS M3 conclusion.

Succeeded by the Panasonic GF6
Compare GF5 vs GF6

Succeeded by the Canon EOS M6
Compare EOS M3 vs EOS M6

Compare PANASONIC GF6 vs CANON EOS M6

Buy From

Differences

Panasonic GF5 advantages over Canon EOS M3

Lens selection
Excellent vs Limited
Better lens selection gives you more options
Bigger pixels
~ 4.33 vs 3.72 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Fast startup
~1.40 vs 2.4 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

330 vs 250 shots
Capture more photos
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots

Canon EOS M3 advantages over Panasonic GF5

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Larger sensor
APS-C vs 4/3
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
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 M3 test data on DxO Mark GF5 test data on DxO Mark

1,169 vs 618 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
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
Hot shoe
Hot shoe vs None
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
More pixels
24.2 vs 12.1 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Bulb shutter
Bulb vs No bulb
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
Bigger JPEG buffer
Unlimited vs 5 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
25600 vs 12800 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Touchscreen
Both provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video

Common Weaknesses

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
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

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read GF5 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read EOS M3 User Reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Panasonic GF5

Kit with 14-42mm Lens

Kit with 14-42mm Lens
Kit with 14-42mm Power Lens

All GF5 Deals

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Canon EOS M3

Body Only (Black)

Body Only (Black)
Kit with 18-55mm and 55-200mm lens (Black)
Kit with 18-55mm lens (Black)
Kit with 18-55mm lens (White)

All EOS M3 Deals

Review Excerpt

Small body pairs nicely with compact, retractable Power Zoom lens. Extremely fast autofocus. Worthwhile improvements in image quality. Touchscreen overlays can now be hidden.
LCD panel is prone to fingerprint smudges. Weak flash, and no hot shoe. Modest burst performance, and very limited buffer for raw shooting. Noise levels and dynamic range still lag competition.
Read our Panasonic GF5 Review

DSLR image quality & resolution in a mirrorless body; Higher-res 24MP APS-C sensor; Much improved AF performance; Better ergonomics with full PASM dial; Built-in Wi-Fi & NFC; Tilting LCD.
No built-in EVF; Limited native lens selection; Slow burst mode; Shallow buffer depth with RAW files; No 60p video frame rate or 4K video option.
Read our Canon EOS M3 Review

The Competition

Compared to Olympus E-PL3

Panasonic GF5

Olympus E-PL3

$450
4/3

Touchscreen
Fast startup

$700
4/3

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Tiltable Screen

Compare Panasonic GF5 vs Olympus E-PL3

Canon EOS M3

Olympus E-PL3

$700
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$700
4/3

Lens selection
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon EOS M3 vs Olympus E-PL3

Compared to Olympus E-PM1

Panasonic GF5

Olympus E-PM1

$450
4/3

Touchscreen
Higher effective ISO

$500
4/3

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Panasonic GF5 vs Olympus E-PM1

Canon EOS M3

Olympus E-PM1

$700
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$500
4/3

Lens selection
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon EOS M3 vs Olympus E-PM1

Compared to Panasonic GF3X

Panasonic GF5

Panasonic GF3X

$450
4/3

Higher effective ISO
More dynamic range

$750
4/3

Compare Panasonic GF5 vs Panasonic GF3X

Canon EOS M3

Panasonic GF3X

$700
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$750
4/3

Lens selection
Bigger pixels

Compare Canon EOS M3 vs Panasonic GF3X

Compared to Samsung NX3000

Panasonic GF5

Samsung NX3000

$450
4/3

Lens selection
Touchscreen

$950
APS-C

Larger sensor
Less expensive

Compare Panasonic GF5 vs Samsung NX3000

Canon EOS M3

Samsung NX3000

$700
APS-C

Focus peaking
Touchscreen

$950
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Canon EOS M3 vs Samsung NX3000

Compared to Fujifilm X-E3

Panasonic GF5

Fujifilm X-E3

$450
4/3

Lens selection
Internal flash

$699
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Panasonic GF5 vs Fujifilm X-E3

Canon EOS M3

Fujifilm X-E3

$700
APS-C

Tiltable Screen
NFC

$699
APS-C

Lens selection
Larger sensor

Compare Canon EOS M3 vs Fujifilm X-E3

Compare Other Cameras?