Upgrade Guide
Lumix S1→Lumix G3
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Skip it
The G3 offers little measurable spec improvement over the S1. Spend the money on glass instead.
Unchanged or similar
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Resolution16MP (down from 24MP — optimised for low light)
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Weather sealingNot present in new body
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | S1 | G3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -1.9 | ||
| Street | +1.0 | ||
| Travel | +0.5 | ||
| Wedding & Events | -3.2 | ||
| Filmmaking | — | ||
| Documentary | -3.3 | ||
| Sports & Action | -2.0 | ||
| Landscape | -2.6 | ||
| Wildlife | -1.4 | ||
| Casual | +0.3 | ||
| Food | -0.9 | ||
| Macro | -2.6 | ||
| Architecture | -2.3 | ||
| Astrophotography | -3.2 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | S1 | G3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £610 used | £20 used | |
| Released | 2019 | 2011 | ↓ |
| Sensor | 24.2MP full-frame CMOS | 16MP Micro Four Thirds CMOS | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 16MP | ↓ |
| Video | 4K/60p (crop), 4K/30p (full-frame), 1080p/180p, V-Log (upgrade) | Full HD 1080/60i | |
| Autofocus | DFD contrast-detect AF — reliable but slower than phase-detect rivals | 23-area contrast AF with face detection, touch AF | |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS — 6 stops | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | |
| Burst Rate | 9fps continuous with AF/AE | 4fps | ↓ |
| Battery Life | ~380 shots (CIPA) | ~270 shots (CIPA) | ↓ |
| Weight | 898g (body only) | 388g (with battery) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Not weather sealed | ↓ |
| Viewfinder | OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 0.78× — one of the finest EVFs available | LCD EVF, 1.44M dots | |
| Screen | 3.2" touchscreen, tilting | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 460k dots | |
| Mount | L-mount (Leica/Panasonic/Sigma) | Micro Four Thirds | |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II slots | Single SD slot |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See S1 and G3 next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
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Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the G3 against your specific genres — not just specs.
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Camera family history