Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Digital Camera Kit (Black)

Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Digital Camera Kit (Black):

G3 gives good mount of details and good balance of manual control and automatic functions. It's camera for people who wants to upgrade from point & shoot. For professionals/prosumers, this camera might be too "easy" to use and have not enough controls.

The kit lens is a kit lens and gives sharp results in normal conditions. But all the weakness shows when take pictures under extreme conditions such as strong sunlight, reflective objects etc. Putting on the Lumix 20mm F1.7 lens on this camera changed the world giving you more professional results.

I like to mention that the EVF is really a bonus but it doesn't work well when shooting against the sun. In that case, the EVF looks dark and reflective and is quite difficult to focus, but still a little better than the LCD. But don't expect it can work like the optical viewfinder on a DSLR.

Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Digital Camera Kit (Black):

I like the settings and the functionality of the camera. I love the touchscreen and the focus lock. It is easy to customize the buttons. I bought Leica DG Macro-Elmarit 45mm F2.8 ASPH. MEGA O.I.S. Lens by Panasonic because I needed a macro lens and the 2 of them together is a really good combination. Overall I am quite happy with the camera

Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Digital Camera Kit (Black):

I was hesitant about micro 4/3 for many years. I used a gf2 briefly and was very unimpressed with it. Overpriced, cheaply built, slow lenses, and sub par performance.

But then I started to learn more and more about the platform. Newer & faster lenses began to sprout up, and suddenly, micro four thirds started to look like a good alternative to a larger dslr platform, specifically aps-c sized sensor.

I despised the additional eye level finder of the gf-2 (I dont trust a camera I have to hold at arms length) so my choices came down to the G3, the GH2, or the Oly OM-d. I tried an ep-3 and did not like how the olympus handled, nor did i like the bulk of the gh-2, so I plunked down on the g3.

After using it for everything from photographing portraits in the studio, to trekking through the mountains, in cold and hot, walking through canyons and sand, and carrying it all day while exploring a new city, Ive come to the conclusion that while the quality of this camera and sensor is not quite to the level of a mid level dslr, its really darn close. And when I print at 11x14, its looks really good to me.

Good Things:
Lightweight - This is what sold me on the camera. I can carry the body, a 20mm prime and a 45-200 zoom all day, and it weighs nothing in my shoulder bag, and takes up little room too. With a dslr, we are talking more weight for just the body than with all that.

Eye Level Finder - Its really good. I still like the optical view of a dslr, but this is really not bad at all. And it helps you hone your exposures much faster with its live view display. If you set something wrong, you know about it much faster than a dslr.

Rotating LCD - Ive never cared for lcd's, and now I know why. I never had an articulating one. I can put it down on the ground, or up high, and I can still see it. Thats awesome.

Fast 'n Quiet - Flip the switch, ready to shoot. Quick focus, and very quiet once you turn off the obnoxious beeping.

Things I don't like:
The supplied Kit Lens: Using only this lens for the first week nearly made me take the camera back. Its awful. Not sharp by any means, and slow as can be. Thankfully I had another lens as well, so I could see what I was missing. Do yourself a favor, skip the kit lens, but the 20mm prime instead. A world of difference. I did find that turning off the OIS in the camera menu helped a lot, but still, its a really poor lens.

Battery Life: About 250-300 shots per battery. Thats really bad, but not horrible I guess. Always carry extra batteries.

Its a good camera. The platform isn't perfect yet, but its very close. A few more years and I'm not sure the APS-C sized cameras need be around anymore. It will NOT replace a full frame dslr by any means, but choosing between a d300s or 60D and a g3 for everyday photography, the g3 goes in my bag every time.

Its not a "professional" camera, but instead of spending all your money on a nice tool like a big shiny dslr, think about what you really want to do with your photography. Save your money, buy only a few simple lenses, and spend the rest of your money on a trip somewhere and start shooting.

Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Digital Camera Kit (Black):

I'm a prosumer type shooter & this camera replaces my Canon Powershot Pro 1
Great: pictures, color reproduction, sharpness, ergonomics/size, lens selection, features & ease of use.

Started shooting on Intelligent Auto with no complaints & am now branching off into more custom settings. Just came back from a week in Mexico where I took just shy of 600 pictures with no complaints. I tend to use either the 20mm pancake or the 45-200mm telephoto lens more often than the kit lens included in the original purchase but even it works fine.

Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Digital Camera Kit (Black):

I use the camera mostly for family pictures both indoors and outside .

I love the small size but with all the SLR features plus the fold out view screen.

Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Digital Camera Kit (Black):

My favorite travel camera was my old Leica CL--great lenses, light & easy to carry, dependable, great picture quality. I have been looking for a digital replacement for this camera for years. There are several manufactures who make quality mirror-less cameras but I will not spend $500 to $1,000 for a camera which doesn't have a built in viewfinder. The jury is still out but so far I like this camera. It is heavier then the Leica and it is much more complex. But if Panasonic or others will make some fast lenses, I might be in business.

Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Digital Camera Kit (Black):

Camera is great. DPreview has the best summary of its pro's and con's that will hold more weight than my own. my only complaints are the fact that there is not sensor in the viewfinder that automatically switches between viewfinder and LCD, some difficulty in low light situations, and lastly the difficulty in trying to use the camera in manual focus instead of autofocus. Also the lag when shooting jpeg+raw in unbearable when trying to take multiple photos but as a practical matter this probably isn't going to be an issue 90% of the time.

The list of pro's are really to long to get into, and besides the low light (which really in my opinion isn't a huge issue for anyone other than professional) the complaints are fairly trivial. This camera has everything I was looking for at the price I was willing to pay = me happy.

Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Digital Camera Kit (Black):

I bought this recently as a lighter alternative to my DSLR. First, I will say the camera takes very nice images (I've only looked at the JPEGs, not Raw.) If I could I would have given it about 3.5 stars. It does have a few drawbacks, however, that people should be aware of:

First, the manual (even the advanced one) is just aweful. Panasonic should be ashamed of themselves for putting out what has to be one of the worst camera manuals ever: it is confusing, makes no sense, and is plain wrong in many places. Luckily, there are a few online forums about Mirrorless cameras where you can pose your questions. (And to add insult to injury, they don't even give you a hard copy but you instead have to download it!)

The small size has some drawbacks. First it is too easy to bump the controls on the back. I often bump the ISO control, so end up mistakenly shooting at 8000 ISO (or something wacky like that) instead of what I want to use. Other settings keep getting bumped when I don't want them to.

In almost the opposite vein, the button on the back for locking exposure is so recessed that it is almost impossible to find.

The battery has a really short life, the shortest of any camera I've owned. It is recommended that you buy a spare or two to keep with you, especially if you're shooting in a remote location.

Setting the custom white balance has a maddening quirk: You go through the steps and then have to take a shot of a white/grey/neutral area, but you don't use the shutter button (which would make sense), but instead use one of the menu buttons on the back of the camera. This makes it near impossible to hold up a grey card and push the button at the same time. (I have figured out a way to do this by turning the camera, but it sure takes away from the ease of taking pictures).

The menu system, while extensive, is confusing and not easy to navigate. For one thing, each menu has multiple screens, but there doesn't seem any way to jump between screens without going through each menu item. So if your on Item 2 on the first screen, you have to go through all the items to get to Item 45 on the fifth screen.

So far this is a camera I'm willing to keep and continue to play with. The positives outweigh the drawbacks, but people should be aware of them beforehand, especially if you're used to the ease of an SLR.

Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Digital Camera Kit (Black):

Not as user friendly as I expected, after reading MANY reviews and doing months of research. This camera needs the flash for low light or the pics are blurry, although I am very much a novice and am learning how to use the camera. I was hoping to open it out of the box and start firing away, but I've had to read up on it and play around with all the settings. This camera is a bit difficult for a novice, probably quite user friendly for a pro. I'm happy with the potential of the camera, that I can grow with it and learn to shoot like a pro eventually. I love the swivel/touch screen, and I'm excited to learn how to use all the features to their full potential. Just know that if you are inexperienced (like me) there is a HUGE learning curve with this camera. But all in all a great buy, I'm happy with it!

Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Digital Camera Kit (Black):

I bought this to try out the Micro 4/3s system as a lighter alternative to my DSLR. The bottom line is, the camera takes great photos, nice color, good exposure, etc. There are a few drawbacks however, which is why I'm not giving it 5 stars:

* The PDF advanced user manual is really bad: confusing, hard to understand, and plain wrong in some cases. It's bad enough that Panasonic makes you download and print it out, but to add insult to injury, its not very useful. I have figured out most of the features that are of use to me, but some of that was from the discussion about M4/3s cameras at http://www.dpreview.com/ and from the review at http://www.dcresource.com/

* The camera menu system seems way more complicated than it needs to be. I know there are lots of features, but for the different menus (Record, Custom, Set Up) there are multiple pages, each with 5-6 menu items. All well and good, but there is no way to quickly scroll from one page to the other, but you have to scroll through each individual item. This is particularly maddening when your on page 5 and the feature you want to is on page 1!

* The control/button layout on the back of the camera is a little cramped, and it's easy to bump against them and change your settings, especially if you've got the camera on a strap while your walking. The one that changes most for me is the ISO: where I set it at 640 for example, and when I go to take the shot it's at 1800. Along with this there is Display/function button (which I have set to lock exposure) that is almost the complete opposite: it is so small and recessed that it's hard to find and push.

* The battery is rather pathetic and way overpriced. I know I'm looking at the LCD screen a lot right now to learn the features, but it seems I have to recharge the battery after only a day of use. I've gotten two off-brand (Wasabi) batteries as replacement and they last longer and seem to have more power than the Panasonic version.

With that all said, I still feel this is a good camera, with lots of features, which takes really good photos that stand up to those taken with my DSLR. If you can live with the quirks (as I'm learning to), this is a camera worth checking out.

Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Digital Camera Kit (Black):

Bought this because I loved the shape, size, handling and ergonomics of the G2 (and the fact that it has a built-in viewfinder.) but was not happy with the color output of that camera, and reviewers said that the rendering of skin tones was improved in the G3.
Well the color quality is improved a little, still not up to Olympus standards, and the shape of the camera is worse, not better. I guess somebody told them that the G2 was "Too Big", so they made the grip smaller and less useful. And the smaller grip forced them to use a smaller battery, so battery life, which was not great on the G2, is now even worse. (So buy an extra battery.)
Colors are still somewhat muted and greenish for my taste, but that can be fixed, and overall the image quality is excellent.
The kit lens that came with the G1 is one of my favorite lenses, well built and sharp. The one that comes with the G3 is less sharp and much more cheaply built.
Overall, it's a fun and useful camera, and the fact that it has a built-in viewfinder (EVF) is a BIG plus over Olympus offerings.
(The EVF for competing Olympus cameras is an expensive add-on.)

Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Digital Camera Kit (Black):

I own the GF1, and this is my upgrade from that body. I read the reviews about the G3 and the GX1, and realized that I really wanted the built in viewfinder and the flip out screen. Being able to use the flip out LCD screen to focus by just touching the subject (in my case birds at rest) has resulted in a great many keepers. It doesn't matter where they are, just touch the screen and it will not take the picture unless the subject is in focus. This camera isn't any bigger than my GF1 when I used the attached EVF, but with the EVF being built in, I can also attach a flash unit to the camera. The touch screen has done away with my need for a cable release for most of the time. Focus has been dead on. Really happy with this purchase.

Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Digital Camera Kit (Black):

I was very interested in sony's NEX 7, but cost, floods and delays made me loook for an alternative. For less than the the cost of the Sony Nex 7, I was able to acquire the G1 with 14-42 zoom lens, and a 14-140mm Panansonic zoom lens.
I love the size and feel of the camera. I realize the senor isn't as large as sony's but it does a beautiful job and captureing an image. I love beacuse it has a viewfinder for outdoor usage, a movable LCD to compose high and low shots, manual freedom to adjust for almost any condition, and lens choices that are a bit more affordable than Sony's. It fits my needs for a traveling camera perfectly; great stills, and the ability to take AVCH video. I'm not wild about Panasonic's software for importing and handling the pics and video - but I will work with it. It tends to be very elementary - in my opinion it needs to be upgraded.
All in all if your moving into a better camera from a point and shoot, or if your tired of lugging around the big, heavy DSLR, like I was, then take a good look at the Lumix G1 - I love mine.

Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Digital Camera Kit (Black):

I got rid of my heavyweight DSLRs and bought into Micro 4/3 with the G3 and I have no regrets so far. The best camera is always the camera you have with you, and the G3 is small and light and capable enough to be with me pretty much whenever I go out. Sure, IQ isn't up to full-frame standards but it is more than good enough for on-line posting and prints up to medium size, and the video quality is outstanding. The user interface is flexible enough to adapt to pretty much any shooting style, with the new pinpoint mode autofocus and the Free Angle touch LCD as highlights for me. One of the strengths of Micro 4/3 is the range and value for money of the lenses that are now available for it - although the 14-42 kit lens is a more than decent starting point. The bottom line: this is a camera which will help you to realize your photographic or videographic vision and it is part of a system which will grow with you as your skills develop.

Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Digital Camera Kit (Black):

Street photo, reportage, landscape, portrait

Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Digital Camera Kit (Black):

This is one of the best cameras I've ever bought. Small enough to carry almost anwhere, more flexible than a point&shoot and takes great pictures without having to use the flash. Battery life seems pretty good, with little flash use. Also, the camera powers up quick, so it doesn't have to stay on. Looking forward to trying more lenses. Not perfect for video, but still very useful. OIS is not available in all lenses.

Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Digital Camera Kit (Black):

The menu system for this camera is a mystery. Nothing is logical. The camera takes great photos so that is why to buy it. But as a creative camera forget it. The menu system will have you getting a graduate degree just to understand the logic. NUTTS.

Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Digital Camera Kit (Black):

After extensive research, I choose the G3 as my entry into the world of mirrorless cameras. I currently shoot with a Canon T2i with a collection of 4 lenses, including my favorite, the Canon 70-200 F4 IS. I wanted smaller, lighter, and something less noticeable and intrusive. I replaced the 14-42mm kit lens with the older 14-45mm. So far I have been extremely happy with this camera and its performance. The touch screen was not a factor in my purchase, but it has been easy and convenient to use. Sharpness out of the camera has been excellent, at times requiring no PP in Lightroom. The only feature that has not impressed me so far is the EVF. In another month or two, the Canon gear goes to one of my daughters.

Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Digital Camera Kit (Black):

it have an excellent image quality,I previously have GF1,.G3 has better high ISO noise,I'm not sure about the DR but i can see slightly, That GF1 has more CRISP Clear Image than G3 if you shot in a good light, the Kit lens 14-42 of G3 is not even better than 14-45 from GF1,..AF much faster than GF1 the color tone is little bit bluish kind of thing/cool compare to GF1 which is more warmer,..view finder is very good, but is not like the GH2 ,.my main complain is the Baterei Life so ,..VERY POOR

Comments about Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Digital Camera Kit (Black):

I had a Panasonic G1, and a G2. Loved the shape and size, not too big, not too small. Loved the controls. Loved the Electronic Viewfinder (as opposed to no viewfinder at all.) Battery life was a little short, and I never loved the quality of the color they produced.
I bought the G3 because of reports that the color was much improved, and it is. Colors are brighter and cleaner, no odd greenish cast, better skin tones in portraits.
The problem is, they made the camera smaller and less pleasant to use, and cheapened it by removing some convenience features, like auto-on for the EVF. They made the grip smaller and less useful, and that forced them to use a smaller battery, which makes the battery life problem worse. (Buy an extra battery.)
I don't know whether they're responding to the Japanese market, or to focus groups of soccer moms saying that every camera should be the size of a cell phone.
Also, the new kit lens feels MUCH cheaper than the old one, and is less sharp. The zoom control on mine feels like un-lubricated plastic on plastic. It actually makes a noise when you zoom. Try to find one of the older 14-42 lenses, which were well made and optically excellent. Or don't sell the lens that came with your G1/G2.
Overall, it's a fine camera with great image quality, and some small annoyances. It's one of the smallest cameras available that includes a viewfinder (a necessity for me)
I put a leather case on mine, and that makes it easier to get ahold of.
Oh, I guess some people think the touch screen is a great improvement, but I haven't used it at all.