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OM SYSTEM OM-3 ASTRO vs Panasonic LUMIX G97

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

OM SYSTEMOM-3 ASTROPanasonicLUMIX G97
Overview
ReleasedFebruary 2026February 2025
Image and sensor
Camera typeMirrorlessMirrorless
Sensor formatFour ThirdsFour Thirds
Sensor typeStacked BSI Live MOSCMOS
Sensor dimensions17.3 × 13 mm–
Effective resolution20.4 MP20.3 MP
Largest image5184 × 38885184 × 3888
RAW recordingYesYes
Standard ISO range–200–25600
Sensor detailApproximately 20.37 effective megapixels (maker Japan), rounded to 20.4 in UK table; 22.9 total megapixels. Modified infrared-cut filter transmits approximately 100% at Hα 656 nm and SII 672 nm (maker Japan illustration, not a guaranteed spectral curve)Maker specifies four-thirds CMOS, approximately 20.3 million effective and 21.8 million total pixels; native 4:3 stills 5184×3888. Sensor dimensions and BSI construction are not inferred from other Lumix bodies
Image formatsOrdinary JPEG and 12-bit RAW at 5184×3888; composite output up to 50 MP handheld or 80 MP tripod, with 12/14-bit high-resolution RAW. Composite resolution is not native sensor resolutionJPEG, RAW and RAW+JPEG; 4K Photo frames are separate cropped JPEG captures
ISO detailMaker UK manual and Auto range extends from LOW approximately ISO 80 to 102400, Auto upper default 25600; maker Japan lists standard maximum 25600Standard stills ISO 200–25600; expanded ISO 100. Creative Video ISO 200–6400 with expanded 100, under the manual's mode restrictions
Image processorTruePic XVenus Engine (maker announcement)
Lens and shooting
Lens mountMicro Four ThirdsMicro Four Thirds
StabilisationLens and sensor shiftLens and sensor shift
Maximum continuous burst120 fps9 fps
Autofocus1053 cross-type phase detection positions and 1053 contrast positions; Starry Sky AF plus human, bird, animal and vehicle recognitionContrast-detection TTL AF; AFS/AFF/AFC/MF, face/eye detection, tracking, 49-area, Custom Multi, single-area and pinpoint modes
ShutterMechanical 1/8000–60 seconds; electronic 1/32000–60 seconds; Bulb up to 30 minutes and Live CompositeMechanical 60–1/4000 second; electronic first curtain 60–1/2000; electronic 1–1/16000. Mechanical/first-curtain Bulb approximately 30 minutes maximum
Burst detailMechanical approximately 6 fps; electronic approximately 20 fps, SH1 up to 120 fps with focus/exposure fixed at first frame, SH2 up to 50 fps with compatible lenses. Maker examples at 120 fps 88 RAW/90 JPEG, at 50 fps 102 RAW/125 JPEG, with specified KIOXIA card and 12–40mm F2.8 PRO IIFull-resolution 9 fps AFS/MF or 6 fps AFF/AFC with mechanical, electronic first-curtain or electronic shutter; 27 or more RAW frames, 600 or more without RAW under specified Panasonic tests and media conditions. 30 fps 4K Photo is approximately 8 MP cropped output and is excluded from native-resolution burst speed
Stabilisation detailFive-axis sensor shift rated up to 6.5 central/5.5 corner stops with 12–45mm F4 PRO at 45mm; Sync IS up to 7.5 central/6.5 corner with 12–100mm F4 IS PRO at 100mm and half-press stabilisation offFive-axis sensor-shift IBIS and compatible-lens Dual I.S.2, both rated five stops under CIPA yaw/pitch conditions; IBIS tested with H-FS12060 at 60 mm, Dual I.S.2 with H-FSA14140 at 140 mm
Flash–Built-in pop-up TTL flash, GN 9 at ISO 200 or GN 6.4 at ISO 100; sync up to 1/200 second
Exposure controlsC1/C2 astrophotography presets, C3 handheld night scenes; 12-shot astrophotography stacking and star-motion alignment. Generic high-resolution table also describes an eight-shot mode. Live ND up to ND64, Live GND, HDR, focus stacking and Live Composite–
Video
Highest video resolution4096 × 2160 at 60 fps3840 × 2160 at 30 fps
Video detailInternal C4K 4096×2160 or UHD 3840×2160 up to 60p; H.264 or HEVC/H.265 MOV. H.264 table specifies 8-bit 4:2:0; OM-Log400, HLG and OM-Cinema1/2 profiles. Separate FHD high-speed up to 240 fps; HDMI 12-bit RAW is external output, not internal recordingInternal MP4 H.264 3840×2160 at 30/25/24p for European DC-G97E, 100 Mbps; Full HD up to 60p. 4K narrows the angle of view and uses reduced autofocus speed. Maker states no fixed recording time limit but warns that high ambient temperature can stop recording; media/battery also limit duration. V-Log L with maker claim of 12 stops; Internal 4:2:0 8-bit capture (maker advanced manual). No external 10-bit claim adopted from the review without maker confirmation
AudioStereo microphones; 3.5 mm external microphone and headphone sockets; 48 kHz/16-bit or 96 kHz/24-bit PCMStereo audio with AAC compression; 3.5 mm stereo microphone input and headphone output
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderElectronicElectronic
Screen size3″3″
Screen dots1,620,0001,840,000
TouchscreenYesYes
Tilting screenYesYes
Display detailFully articulated 3-inch approximately 1.62-million-dot touchscreenThree-inch 3:2 capacitive touchscreen, approximately 1.84 million dots; free-angle articulation (Amateur Photographer)
Viewfinder detailOLED approximately 2.36 million dots, approximately 100% coverage; maximum 1.37× magnification with 50mm lens at infinity at −1 dioptre, depending on finder style0.39-inch 4:3 OLED, approximately 2.36 million dots, approximately 100% coverage; 1.48× magnification, 0.74× in 35 mm terms under maker's 50 mm/infinity/−1 dioptre/4:3 conditions
Connections and design
Wi-FiYesYes
BluetoothYesYes
Battery life (maker's claim)590 photographs300 photographs
Body weight413 g478 g
Release detailJapan on sale 27 February 2026, made to order; month precision retained because the exact first sale in other regions is unconfirmedMaker German announcement confirms February 2025 availability. The UK article, dated December 2024, prints February 2024 for both new cameras; that conflicting year is not used as the release date. No precise first retail day confirmed
Recording mediaOne SD/SDHC/SDXC slot; UHS-I and UHS-IIOne SD/SDHC/SDXC slot; UHS-I/UHS-II U3 supported under maker's format and recording restrictions
PortsUSB 3 Type-C, micro-HDMI Type D, 3.5 mm microphone/headphone sockets, hot shoe and flash sync socket; no wired remote-release input (Amateur Photographer)USB-C USB 2.0 High Speed; micro HDMI Type D, 2.5 mm remote and 3.5 mm microphone/headphone sockets
Wireless connectionsBluetooth Low Energy 5.2 and Wi-Fi; location tagging from smartphone GPS; RM-WR2 Bluetooth remote, RM-WR1 unsupportedWi-Fi 802.11b/g/n at 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth Low Energy 5.0; North American channels 1–11 are not assumed identical in every region
Battery life detailBLX-1; approximately 590 standard or 1040 Quick Sleep shots with specified KIOXIA card; approximately 120 minutes CIPA video or 190 minutes with zoom and other operations disabledDMW-BLC12 lithium-ion, 7.2 V 1200 mAh in the North American specification. CIPA approximately 280 monitor shots or 300 viewfinder shots with H-FS12060 and Nextorage SDXC; approximately 1050 only in Panasonic's specified one-second power-save EVF test
ChargingIn-camera USB charging and USB PD bus power; can operate while charging, subject to supply capabilityUSB-C in-camera charging; USB cable and AC adapter are commercially available rather than assumed supplied
DimensionsApproximately 139.3×88.9×45.8 mm excluding protrusionsApproximately 130.4 × 93.5 × 77.4 mm, excluding protrusions
Weight detailApproximately 413 g body only or 496 g with battery and card; maker Japan loaded figure excludes eyecupMaker 478 g body only, 530 g with battery and card; lens excluded
MaterialsIP53 or IPX1 depending on attached lens; operating temperature −10 to 40°C. Not an immersion ratingDust/splash-resistant construction; not waterproof. Maker operating range 0–40 °C
In the box–Body, battery pack, shoulder strap, body cap, hot-shoe cover and battery-grip connector cover; kit includes its lens and lens accessories. Regional contents may vary
ColoursSilver and black body with red ASTRO badge–

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