Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

[Pinball]

I'm looking to buy the new Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3. I'm just looking for other opinions on this camera. I've read reviews and all but need some more input.

[Pinball]

Nobody doesn't have anything to say about this camera?

[inkista]

Impatient, aren't we? Given that nobody's being paid to answer you, maybe it makes more sense not to have expectations of people spoonfeeding you the information you want immediately. And then there are time differences...

It's a brand new camera. Few folks have hands-on experience with one.

I played with one at Fry's and am eyeballing one myself, but am also holding off until I can get one used for cheap (the GF1 these days goes for $350 used), and also to get my hands on a GX1 to see if I'd prefer that.

The G3 has the feature set I like, but the styling is awfully dSLR-like, and one of the reasons I've been attracted to µ4/3 is the old-time styling, which makes it more compact and smaller. OTOH, the G3 is probably the most attractive/compact of the G and GH series cameras so far, and having a built-in EVF that you can use with the flash and a flip-out LCD is cool. I'm just not too attracted to touch-screen controls.

Go play with one in a store would be my advice.

Oh, and let's see how long it takes you to reply, and whether or not you're willing to type as much as I did....

[Pinball]

Well, for starters, I didn't mean anything bad by it. not my fault you took it the wrong way. I understand it's a new camera and a lot of people aren't going to have it. But thanks for your input. But I can't go somewhere and test it out for myself, no one around here has in stores yet. Bestbuy I think has it but that store is 50+ miles away from me....

[Jim Bryant]

There are much better cameras out there for that price. You want to look upon a system that will grow with you. It's looks and the camera spec are about the low end of the ladder for consumer cameras.

[inkista]

Originally Posted by Jim Bryant

There are much better cameras out there for that price.

Depends on your definition of "better." Most of the better cameras you're thinking of are going to be bigger and heavier (as will their lenses); they won't let you carry a four or five lens kit around comfortably in a single small-to-medium shoulder bag. µ4/3 cameras will.

You want to look upon a system that will grow with you.

Again, µ4/3 of all the mirrorless systems, actually has a decent lens selection: ultrawide, walkaround, fast primes, telephoto zooms, supertelephoto zooms (2x crop factor), pancake lenses, macros, fisheyes--the selection's growing. This is one system that's growing rapidly.

It's looks and the camera spec are about the low end of the ladder for consumer cameras.

Snort. Its looks/specs are pretty much the same as any entry-level dSLR, only with an EVF instead of an OVF and a considerably smaller package. And I doubt you're going to find a new mid-tier dSLR body for $600. You did say "for that price." And on the Sony NEX side of the fence, the lens selection just ain't there, yet.

[inkista]

Originally Posted by Pinball

Well, for starters, I didn't mean anything bad by it. not my fault you took it the wrong way.

Except you wrote what you wrote. Understand, I'm a curmudgeon whose had strangers on the internet tugging at her skirt to give them free information NOW since the mid-'90s. I have less patience for it these days than I used to. It takes time to think up and type an answer. If someone wants me to write a few hundred words on a subject, I'd appreciate it if they could at least not demand that I do it at their convenience rather than mine. If you need it that fast, that bad, use Google. Learn the tricks.

I understand it's a new camera and a lot of people aren't going to have it. But thanks for your input. But I can't go somewhere and test it out for myself, no one around here has in stores yet. Bestbuy I think has it but that store is 50+ miles away from me....

I have a smartass answer for that, too: rent one by internet. Preferably with the Panasonic 20/1.7.