Upgrade Guide
Lumix TZ40→Lumix G3
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Situational
One clear hardware improvement over the TZ40. Worth it if that specific upgrade aligns with what you shoot.
What's new in the G3
-
StabilisationIBIS added — significant for handheld and video
Unchanged or similar
-
ResolutionSimilar (16MP)
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 | TZ40 | G3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +1.7 | ||
| Street | +0.2 | ||
| Travel | -0.6 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +1.5 | ||
| Documentary | -0.1 | ||
| Sports & Action | +1.1 | ||
| Landscape | +0.5 | ||
| Wildlife | +1.0 | ||
| Casual | -0.3 | ||
| Food | +1.8 | ||
| Macro | +1.9 | ||
| Architecture | +1.1 | ||
| Astrophotography | +2.2 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | TZ40 | G3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | — | £20 used | |
| Released | 2013 | 2011 | ↓ |
| Sensor | 18.1MP 1/2.33-inch MOS | 16MP Micro Four Thirds CMOS | |
| Resolution | 18MP | 16MP | ↓ |
| Video | Full HD 1080p/50 | Full HD 1080/60i | |
| Autofocus | Contrast AF; face detection, touch AF | 23-area contrast AF with face detection, touch AF | |
| Stabilisation | Optical image stabilisation (lens-based) | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | |
| Burst Rate | 10fps (5fps with continuous AF) | 4fps | ↓ |
| Battery Life | ~300 shots (CIPA) | ~270 shots (CIPA) | ↓ |
| Weight | 198g (with battery) | 388g (with battery) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Not weather sealed | |
| Viewfinder | None (screen only) | LCD EVF, 1.44M dots | |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed touchscreen, 920k dots | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 460k dots | |
| Mount | Fixed Leica 20x zoom lens (24-480mm equivalent) | Micro Four Thirds | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD slot | Single SD slot |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See TZ40 and G3 next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
Run the upgrade checker →
Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the G3 against your specific genres — not just specs.
Other upgrades from the TZ40
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Camera family history