Panasonic Lumix DMC GF3

The Lumix DMC GF3 is a compact mirrorless camera from 2011 built around the Micro Four Thirds system. At 264 grams and 108 by 67 by 32 millimetres, it packs an interchangeable-lens system into a body that slips easily into a small bag.

It appeals to photographers who want to swap lenses without carrying bulk: everyday pictures, travel and family photography.

Owning one means composing every shot on the rear screen, since there is no viewfinder, and planning around a 300-shot battery rating. Both shape how you shoot.

The GF3 pairs a 12.1 megapixel CMOS sensor with the Venus Engine FHD processor, and that resolution covers everyday prints and web sharing comfortably, though it leaves little room for aggressive cropping. The Optics score of 38 is limited, and the camera sits in the bottom 3% of cameras in our database for Optics.

Shooting speed is modest. The maximum burst of 3.2 frames per second handles portraits and stationary subjects, but it will not keep up with fast action. The 1/4000 second maximum shutter speed is enough for typical daylight work, and autofocus offers 23 points to choose from.

Sensitivity runs from ISO 160 to 6400. The base setting suits bright outdoor light, while the upper end gives you a fallback indoors or after dark, where longer handheld exposures become risky.

There is no in-body stabilisation, so sharp handheld work in dim light depends on a fast shutter speed, a stabilised lens or a steady support.

The GF3 records Full HD video in the AVCHD format. Full HD resolution is plenty for family clips and online sharing, and it keeps file sizes smaller than higher resolutions would.

Frame rates reach 60 fps, which helps motion flow smoothly in playback. The Video score of 56 is modest, reflecting the Full HD resolution ceiling and the absence of built-in timelapse.

AVCHD is the recording format, and clips land on the same SD, SDHC or SDXC cards as your stills, so a single card serves both jobs on a shoot.

There is no built-in timelapse function, so interval recording is not possible using the camera's own controls, which limits time-based projects.

Composition and playback rely on the fixed 3-inch TFT LCD. The screen offers 460,000 dots, touch control and live view, so framing and menu selection happen on-screen. There is no flip-out mechanism for shooting at high or low angles.

A built-in flash provides light indoors or for fill, and it is the only flash option here, since the camera supports no external flash unit.

Connectivity is minimal: no Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or GPS, so images leave the camera via the memory card rather than wirelessly. The modest Features score of 49 reflects the missing Bluetooth, the limited screen resolution and the absence of weather sealing.

A single SD, SDHC or SDXC card holds everything. For casual shooting one card is enough, but there is no second slot, so a long day out calls for a spare card in the bag.

The DMW-BLE9 battery is rated at 300 shots per charge. Treat that as a planning figure rather than a promise: review and playback use power too, so a busy day can run it down faster than the number suggests. A second battery is sensible insurance.

The battery does not charge over USB, so it cannot be topped up from a computer or a USB power bank. The limited Storage & Battery score of 16 reflects a single card slot, a 300-shot battery rating and no USB charging.