(FT5) Panasonic G3 with 16 MPX coming in May 11

Image on top: The [shoplink 16254]GH2[/shoplink] sensor

A few weeks ago I heard from an anonymous source that the new Panasonic G3 will feature a 16 Megapixel sensor. But he didn’t tell me if the G3 would use the same [shoplink 16254]GH2 sensor[/shoplink] (that would have been a huge surprise). Finally I got the answer. No! The GH2 has a 18 Megapixel multi-aspect sensor that takes 16 Megapixel pictures when shooting in 4:3 format. The G3 will feature a “native” 16 Megapixel sensor. The G3 will of course deliver 1080i video-recording but the G3 is mainly a photographic tool (while the GH2 is an almost perfect hybrid video-still camera). I guess this is the sensor that will be used for future Olympus cameras too (like the E-P3). Some of you might argue that it would have been better to develop a new 12 Megapixel sensor with improved High-ISO performance. But you know, from a marketing point of view Megapixels is what the mass is looking for or not?

One more thing: The G3 will be announced on May 11.

Just for fun. The Mirrorless Megapixel ranking:
18 Megapixel -> Leica M9 -> Check price and specs at [shopcountry 17539].
16 Megapixel -> Panasonic GH2 -> Check price and specs at [shopcountry 16254].
14 Megapixel -> Sony NEX5 -> Check price and specs at [shopcountry 20638].
14 Megapixel -> Sony NEX-3 -> Check price and specs at [shopcountry 21021].
14 Megapixel -> Samsung NX10 -> Check price and specs at [shopcountry 19190].
14 Megapixel -> Samsung NX100 -> Check price and specs at [shopcountry 20762].
12 Megapixel -> Panasonic GF2 -> Check price and specs at [shopcountry 17361].
12 Megapixel -> Olympus E-PL2 -> Check price and specs at [shopcountry 18844].
12 Megapixel -> Olympus E-P2 -> Check price and specs at [shopcountry 14830].
10 Megapixel -> Ricoh GXR + P10 Kit -> Check price and specs at [shopcountry 20713].

P.S.: Samsung is rumored to announce a NX20 and NX200 in Juy with 20 Megapixel sensor (more info at MirrorlessRumors.com)