Canon SX10 vs Panasonic G3

The Canon PowerShot SX10 IS and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in September 2008 and May 2011. The SX10 is a fixed lens compact, while the G3 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. The cameras are based on a 1/2.3-inch (SX10) and a Four Thirds (G3) sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 10 megapixels, whereas the Panasonic provides 15.8 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Canon SX10		Panasonic G3
Fixed lens compact camera		Mirrorless system camera
28-560mm f/2.8-5.7		Micro Four Thirds lenses
10 MP – 1/2.3" sensor		15.8 MP – Four Thirds sensor
480/30p Video		1080/60i Video
ISO 100-1,600 (100 - 3,200)		ISO 160-6,400
Electronic viewfinder (202k dots)		Electronic viewfinder (1440k dots)
2.5" LCD – 230k dots		3.0" LCD – 460k dots
Swivel screen (not touch-sensitive)		Swivel touchscreen
0.7 shutter flaps per second		4 shutter flaps per second
123 x 88 x 87 mm, 600 g		115 x 84 x 47 mm, 336 g

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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon PowerShot SX10 IS and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Canon SX10 and the Panasonic G3. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The G3 can be obtained in four different colors (black, brown, red, white), while the SX10 is only available in black.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Panasonic G3 is notably smaller (11 percent) than the Canon SX10. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the SX10 nor the G3 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the SX10 has a lens built in, whereas the G3 is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup. You can compare the optics available for the G3 and their specifications in the Micro Four Thirds Lens Catalog.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Canon SX10	123 mm	88 mm	87 mm	600 g	..	n	Sep 2008	EUR 379	ebay.com
2.		Panasonic G3	115 mm	84 mm	47 mm	336 g	270	n	May 2011	EUR 579	ebay.com
3.		Canon 450D	129 mm	98 mm	62 mm	524 g	500	n	Jan 2008	EUR 699	ebay.com
4.		Canon 1000D	126 mm	98 mm	65 mm	502 g	500	n	Jun 2008	EUR 399	ebay.com
5.		Canon 1100D	130 mm	100 mm	78 mm	495 g	700	n	Feb 2011	EUR 399	ebay.com
6.		Canon S120	100 mm	59 mm	29 mm	217 g	230	n	Aug 2013	EUR 499	ebay.com
7.		Canon SX1	128 mm	88 mm	88 mm	615 g	..	n	Sep 2008	EUR 579	ebay.com
8.		Canon SX20	123 mm	88 mm	87 mm	600 g	..	n	Aug 2009	EUR 379	ebay.com
9.		Canon SX30	123 mm	92 mm	108 mm	601 g	370	n	Sep 2010	EUR 469	ebay.com
10.		Canon SX40	123 mm	92 mm	108 mm	600 g	380	n	Sep 2011	EUR 469	ebay.com
11.		Canon SX50	123 mm	87 mm	106 mm	595 g	315	n	Sep 2012	EUR 529	ebay.com
12.		Canon XC10	125 mm	102 mm	122 mm	1040 g	370	n	Apr 2015	EUR 2 199	ebay.com
13.		Panasonic G2	124 mm	84 mm	74 mm	428 g	360	n	Mar 2010	EUR 549	ebay.com
14.		Panasonic G5	120 mm	83 mm	71 mm	396 g	320	n	Jul 2012	EUR 649	ebay.com
15.		Panasonic G6	122 mm	85 mm	71 mm	390 g	340	n	Apr 2013	EUR 549	ebay.com
16.		Panasonic G10	124 mm	84 mm	74 mm	388 g	380	n	Mar 2010	EUR 499	ebay.com
17.		Panasonic GX1	116 mm	68 mm	39 mm	318 g	320	n	Nov 2011	EUR 599	ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The SX10 was launched at a lower price than the G3, despite having a lens built in. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon SX10 features a 1/2.3-inch sensor and the Panasonic G3 a Four Thirds sensor. The sensor area in the G3 is 704 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 5.6 and 2.0. Both cameras feature a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 4:3.

With 15.8MP, the G3 offers a higher resolution than the SX10 (10MP), but the G3 nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 3.77μm versus 1.67μm for the SX10) due to its larger sensor. Moreover, the G3 is a much more recent model (by 2 years and 7 months) than the SX10, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the SX10 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Panasonic G3 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the G3 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 23 x 17.2 inches or 58.3 x 43.8 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 18.4 x 13.8 inches or 46.7 x 35 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 15.3 x 11.5 inches or 38.9 x 29.2 cm. The corresponding values for the Canon SX10 are 18.2 x 13.7 inches or 46.3 x 34.7 cm for good quality, 14.6 x 10.9 inches or 37.1 x 27.8 cm for very good quality, and 12.2 x 9.1 inches or 30.9 x 23.2 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Canon PowerShot SX10 IS has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 1600, which can be extended to ISO 100-3200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 are ISO 160 to ISO 6400 (no boost).

In terms of underlying technology, the SX10 is build around a CCD sensor, while the G3 uses a CMOS imager. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Canon SX10	1/2.3	10.0	3648	2736	480/30p	19.0	10.3	144	35
2.		Panasonic G3	Four Thirds	15.8	4592	3448	1080/60i	21.0	10.6	667	56
3.		Canon 450D	APS-C	12.2	4272	2848	none	21.9	10.8	692	61
4.		Canon 1000D	APS-C	10.1	3888	2592	none	22.0	10.9	719	62
5.		Canon 1100D	APS-C	12.2	4272	2848	720/30p	21.9	11.0	755	62
6.		Canon S120	1/1.7	12.0	4000	3000	1080/60p	21.3	11.9	246	56
7.		Canon SX1	1/2.3	10.0	3648	2736	1080/30p	19.0	10.3	144	35
8.		Canon SX20	1/2.3	12.0	4000	3000	720/30p	19.2	10.5	225	37
9.		Canon SX30	1/2.3	14.0	4320	3240	720/30p	19.4	10.7	320	39
10.		Canon SX40	1/2.3	12.0	4000	3000	1080/24p	19.6	10.9	409	41
11.		Canon SX50	1/2.3	12.0	4000	3000	1080/24p	20.3	11.2	179	47
12.		Canon XC10	1-inch	12.0	4000	3000	4K/30p	21.7	11.8	197	61
13.		Panasonic G2	Four Thirds	12.0	4000	3000	720/30p	21.2	10.3	493	53
14.		Panasonic G5	Four Thirds	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60p	21.4	11.6	618	61
15.		Panasonic G6	Four Thirds	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60p	21.3	11.5	639	61
16.		Panasonic G10	Four Thirds	12.0	4000	3000	720/30p	21.2	10.1	411	52
17.		Panasonic GX1	Four Thirds	15.8	4592	3448	1080/60p	20.8	10.6	703	55
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, but the G3 provides a better video resolution than the SX10. It can shoot movie footage at 1080/60i, while the Canon is limited to 480/30p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The two cameras under review are similar with respect to both having an electronic viewfinder. However, the one in the G3 offers a substantially higher resolution than the one in the SX10 (1440k vs 202k dots). The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Canon SX10, the Panasonic G3, and comparable cameras.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Max Shutter Speed *	Max Shutter Flaps *	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Canon SX10	202	n	2.5 / 230	swivel	n	1/3200s	0.7/s	Y	Y
2.		Panasonic G3	1440	n	3.0 / 460	swivel	Y	1/4000s	4.0/s	Y	n
3.		Canon 450D	optical	n	3.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.5/s	Y	n
4.		Canon 1000D	optical	n	2.5 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
5.		Canon 1100D	optical	n	2.7 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
6.		Canon S120	none	n	3.0 / 922	fixed	Y	1/2000s	12.1/s	Y	Y
7.		Canon SX1	202	n	2.8 / 230	swivel	n	1/3200s	4.0/s	Y	Y
8.		Canon SX20	202	n	2.5 / 230	swivel	n	1/3200s	0.7/s	Y	Y
9.		Canon SX30	202	n	2.7 / 230	swivel	n	1/3200s	0.6/s	Y	Y
10.		Canon SX40	202	n	2.7 / 230	swivel	n	1/3200s	10.3/s	Y	Y
11.		Canon SX50	202	n	3.0 / 461	swivel	n	1/2000s	2.2/s	Y	Y
12.		Canon XC10	none	n	3.0 / 1030	tilting	Y	1/2000s	3.8/s	n	Y
13.		Panasonic G2	1440	n	3.0 / 460	swivel	Y	1/4000s	2.6/s	Y	n
14.		Panasonic G5	1440	n	3.0 / 920	swivel	Y	1/4000s	6.0/s	Y	n
15.		Panasonic G6	1440	n	3.0 / 1036	swivel	Y	1/4000s	7.0/s	Y	n
16.		Panasonic G10	202	n	3.0 / 460	fixed	n	1/4000s	2.6/s	Y	n
17.		Panasonic GX1	optional	n	3.0 / 460	fixed	Y	1/4000s	4.2/s	Y	n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

One differentiating feature between the two cameras concerns the touch sensitivity of the rear screen. The G3 has a touchscreen, while the SX10 has a conventional panel. Touch control can be particularly helpful, for example, for setting the focus point.

The SX10 writes its imaging data to SDHC cards, while the G3 uses SDXC cards.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon PowerShot SX10 IS and Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Mic / Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Canon SX10	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
2.		Panasonic G3	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
3.		Canon 450D	Y	- / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
4.		Canon 1000D	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
5.		Canon 1100D	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
6.		Canon S120	-	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
7.		Canon SX1	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	YES	2.0	-	-	-
8.		Canon SX20	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	YES	2.0	-	-	-
9.		Canon SX30	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	YES	2.0	-	-	-
10.		Canon SX40	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	YES	2.0	-	-	-
11.		Canon SX50	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
12.		Canon XC10	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
13.		Panasonic G2	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
14.		Panasonic G5	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
15.		Panasonic G6	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
16.		Panasonic G10	Y	mono / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
17.		Panasonic GX1	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-

Both the SX10 and the G3 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The SX10 was replaced by the Canon SX20, while the G3 was followed by the Panasonic G5. Further information on the features and operation of the SX10 and G3 can be found, respectively, in the Canon SX10 Manual (free pdf) or the online Panasonic G3 Manual.

Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Is the Canon SX10 better than the Panasonic G3 or vice versa? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Reasons to prefer the Canon PowerShot SX10 IS:

• Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
• Ready to shoot: Has a lens built-in, whereas the G3 requires a separate lens.
• Sharper images: Has hand-shake reducing image stabilization built-in.
• More affordable: Was introduced at a lower price, despite coming with a built-in lens.
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in September 2008).

Arguments in favor of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (15.8 vs 10MP), which boosts linear resolution by 26%.
• Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
• Better image quality: Is equipped with a larger and more technologically advanced sensor.
• Richer colors: The sensor size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
• More dynamic range: Larger sensor captures a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
• Better low-light sensitivity: Larger sensor produces good images even in poorly lit environments.
• Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (1080/60i vs 480/30p).
• More detailed viewfinder: Has higher resolution electronic viewfinder (1440k vs 202k dots).
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.0" vs 2.5") for image review and settings control.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (460k vs 230k dots).
• Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
• More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/4000s vs 1/3200s) to freeze action.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (4 vs 0.7 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• More flexible: Takes interchangeable lenses and can thus be used with specialty optics.
• More compact: Is smaller (115x84mm vs 123x88mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• More modern: Reflects 2 years and 7 months of technical progress since the SX10 launch.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the G3 is the clear winner of the contest (17 : 5 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon SX10 and the Panasonic G3 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Superzoom Camera and Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the SX10 or the G3. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DCW   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Canon SX10	..	+ +	..	..	..	4/5	Sep 2008	EUR 379	ebay.com
2.		Panasonic G3	3/5	+ +	..	75/100	4.5/5	5/5	May 2011	EUR 579	ebay.com
3.		Canon 450D	..	+ +	..	+ +	4/5	4.5/5	Jan 2008	EUR 699	ebay.com
4.		Canon 1000D	..	82/100	..	+ +	3.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2008	EUR 399	ebay.com
5.		Canon 1100D	..	80/100	..	69/100	4/5	4.5/5	Feb 2011	EUR 399	ebay.com
6.		Canon S120	..	+ +	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2013	EUR 499	ebay.com
7.		Canon SX1	..	+ +	..	+	..	3.5/5	Sep 2008	EUR 579	ebay.com
8.		Canon SX20	..	+ +	..	73/100	..	4/5	Aug 2009	EUR 379	ebay.com
9.		Canon SX30	3/5	+ +	..	..	3.5/5	4/5	Sep 2010	EUR 469	ebay.com
10.		Canon SX40	..	+	..	..	4.5/5	4/5	Sep 2011	EUR 469	ebay.com
11.		Canon SX50	3/5	+ +	..	72/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2012	EUR 529	ebay.com
12.		Canon XC10	..	..	..	80/100	..	..	Apr 2015	EUR 2 199	ebay.com
13.		Panasonic G2	..	..	..	72/100	4/5	4.5/5	Mar 2010	EUR 549	ebay.com
14.		Panasonic G5	3/5	+ +	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jul 2012	EUR 649	ebay.com
15.		Panasonic G6	4/5	+ +	..	..	5/5	4.5/5	Apr 2013	EUR 549	ebay.com
16.		Panasonic G10	3/5	..	..	70/100	4/5	4/5	Mar 2010	EUR 499	ebay.com
17.		Panasonic GX1	3/5	+	..	77/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Nov 2011	EUR 599	ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just use the search menu below. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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