• 4/3 224.9mm2
  • 16.0 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 25,600
  • APS-C 332.3mm2
  • 24.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 12,800

Buy From

Differences

Panasonic GF7 advantages over Canon EOS M3

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Limited
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Fast startup
    ~1.10 vs 2.4 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Thinner
    33 mm vs 44 mm
    Thinner
  • Wider angle kit lens
    24 mm vs 29 mm
    Capture more of the scene with the included lens
  • Longer exposure
    60 vs 30 sec
    Long exposures for night shots
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    11.1 fps vs 4.2 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Faster shutter
    1/16000 vs 1/4000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light

Canon EOS M3 advantages over Panasonic GF7

  • Larger sensor
    APS-C vs 4/3
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Yes vs No
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • More telephoto lens reach
    88 mm vs 64 mm
    Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
  • External Mic Jack
    Jack vs No jack
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Higher max flash sync
    1/200 vs 1/50 sec
    Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
  • Hot shoe
    Hot shoe vs None
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Less shutter lag
    0.13 vs 0.24 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • More pixels
    24.2 vs 16.0 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    Unlimited vs 7 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Focus peaking
    Both provide
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Touchscreen
    Both provide
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Tiltable Screen
    Both provide
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Both provide
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

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
  • 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

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Panasonic GF7
Kit with 12-32mm lens (Black)
  • Kit with 12-32mm lens (Black)
  • Kit with 12-32mm lens (Pink)
All GF7 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

  • Very good image quality for its size; Fast AF for its class; 10fps burst mode with electronic shutter; Lightweight, yet well-built, compact design; Great value for the money.

  • Continuous AF is not reliable; Shallow buffer with RAW; Below average battery life; No EVF; Maximum mechanical shutter speed of only 1/500s.

  • Read our Panasonic GF7 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-PL6

Panasonic GF7
Olympus E-PL6
  • $590
  • 4/3
  • Focus peaking
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $299
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Panasonic GF7 vs Olympus E-PL6

Canon EOS M3
Olympus E-PL6
  • $850
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $299
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon EOS M3 vs Olympus E-PL6

Compared to Samsung NX3000

Panasonic GF7
Samsung NX3000
  • $590
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
  • $950
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • NFC

Compare Panasonic GF7 vs Samsung NX3000

Canon EOS M3
Samsung NX3000
  • $850
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Touchscreen
  • $950
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels

Compare Canon EOS M3 vs Samsung NX3000

Compared to Panasonic GM5

Panasonic GF7
Panasonic GM5
  • $590
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $898
  • 4/3
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • Hot shoe

Compare Panasonic GF7 vs Panasonic GM5

Canon EOS M3
Panasonic GM5
  • $850
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $898
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Canon EOS M3 vs Panasonic GM5

Compared to Panasonic GX850

Panasonic GF7
Panasonic GX850
  • $590
  • 4/3
  • Fast startup
  • Has anti-aliasing filter
  • $548
  • 4/3
  • Shoot 4K video
  • Lacks anti-aliasing filter

Compare Panasonic GF7 vs Panasonic GX850

Canon EOS M3
Panasonic GX850
  • $850
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • NFC
  • $548
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • Shoot 4K video

Compare Canon EOS M3 vs Panasonic GX850

Compared to Fujifilm X-E3

Panasonic GF7
Fujifilm X-E3
  • $590
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Panasonic GF7 vs Fujifilm X-E3

Canon EOS M3
Fujifilm X-E3
  • $850
  • APS-C
  • Tiltable Screen
  • NFC
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor

Compare Canon EOS M3 vs Fujifilm X-E3

Compare Other Cameras?