Panasonic on Thursday, May 12, announced a new addition to its Lumix G Series, the Lumix DMC-G3, featuring a new 16 MP sensor, 3" touch control LCD, and an improved image processing engine. The camera is Panasonic's smallest and lightest digital interchangeable lens Micro Four Thirds camera with a viewfinder to date.
The Lumix G3 retains the external mode dial of traditional DSLR with Program, Shutter and Aperture Priority, Manual modes. In addition, it introduces two Custom Modes, Scene Modes and a Creative Control Mode.
The Lumix G3 additionally features touch-control shooting using its 3-inch high-resolution LCD touch screen.
A dedicated video button allows you to start video capture quickly without changing modes. It records 1920 x 1080 full-High Definition (HD) video with stereo sound in AVCHD.
Like in most traditional DSLRs, there is a built-in flash and hotshoe for connecting optional Lumix flashes.
The Lumix G3 features an eye-level electronic viewfinder that projects a high resolution 1.44m-dot image with 100% field of view (800x600, 0.7x magnification).
Focusing
In addition to its 23 Area Auto Focusing Points, the Lumix G3 features new Pinpoint AF that allows extremely precise near–pixel-level focus point setting at the touch of a finger.
For example, unlike DSLRs that limit the number of fixed hardware focus points, Panasonic's Pinpoint AF can be set by touch control to very fine points anywhere on the LCD.
The camera features extremely fast contrast based autofocus. It doubles the Live MOS Sensor, drives speed from 60 fps to 120 fps, achieves focus in approximately 0.1 sec (14-140mm ~0.1 sec. 14-42mm ~0.18 sec., 45-200mm ~0.15 sec). 
With Auto Focus (AF) tracking, once locked on the subject by a touch, the Lumix G3 tracks the subject, even if it moves.
Manual focus has been greatly improved when compared to its predecessor, the Lumix DMC-G2. When magnification is first enabled at 4x by simply touching the subject on the LCD, that subject is enlarged in a small window allowing you to keep the rest of the image in view as a framing reference. Beyond 4x, that small window fills the monitor so even more control over focus fine-tuning can be achieved. This handy feature is available from both the MF Assist (Manual Focus) and AF + MF focus modes.
LCD
The 3" articulating LCD has a bright 1,440,000-dot equivalent resolution and rotates 180° to the side and tilts 270° up and down offering approximately 100% of field of view, making it easy to operate and shoot at different angles.
Live MOS Sensor
The 16.0-megapixel Live MOS sensor Venus Engine FHD image processor result in lower noise at high ISO settings. S/N value is improved by approximately 200% compared with the conventional 12.1-megapixel sensor. The sensor performance improves by 6db at ISO 3200 and max. 9db at ISO 6400.
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3, made of aluminum, will be available in a variety of attractive colors, including black, red, white and brown, starting in June 2011.
Suggested retail price of the Lumix G3 with the 14-42mm Zoom Lens Kit will be $699.99.
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