The Panasonic Lumix G7 is the successor to the Panasonic G6 and is placed in the company’s small system camera lineup below the Panasonic GH4. It is the more compact of the two versions that are similar to SLR cameras and designed with amateur photographers in mind. It is located next to the square Panasonic GX7 and is placed over the GF7, GM1, and GM5 cameras.
Every recent briefing for a Panasonic interchangeable lens camera appears to have begun with the phrase, “it’s got the same sensor as the GX7,” which is true of both the G7 and the GX7.
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This indicates that the new camera maintains the exact resolution as the camera it replaces, which is 16 megapixels, although having a more recent sensor (albeit still two years old). According to Panasonic, the combination of this sensor and the Venus Engine 9 processing engine found in the GH4 results in the highest possible image quality of any Panasonic camera. This processing engine can be found in the GH4.
In addition, it provides a native sensitivity range from ISO 200 to ISO 25,600 and has a low expansion option of ISO 100. The G6 has a native sensitivity range that extends from ISO 160 to 12,800 and has an extension option that goes up to 25,600.
The Venus Engine in the G7 includes a quad-core CPU for speedier processing, which enables it to take full-resolution continuous shots at an astonishing eight fps (frames per second) in Single-AF mode or at six fps in Continuous AF mode. That is an increase of 1fps above what the G6 can achieve in each focusing setting.
Panasonic Lumix G7 Build Quality
The G7 from Panasonic has a more angular appearance than its predecessor, the G6, and a handful of tweaks have been made to the control panel’s layout. Two pretty sizable dials, for instance, may be seen on the top plate of the instrument.
The first of these controls replaces the Function Lever seen on the G6 and is located around the shutter release, while the second is located nearer the rear of the plate and is within reach of your right thumb. Both have a high-quality feel, and the camera is responsive to changes. In addition, the previous Function Lever has been replaced with a front dial that is much simpler to operate.
A new drive mode dial, analogous to the one found on the GH4, may be found on the left side of the camera’s top plate. Pressing the Menu/Set button in the middle of the navigation controls on the back of the camera will bring up a menu from which you may pick one of the three different 4K possibilities. In addition, this dial can select the 4K Photo mode.
Panasonic Lumix G7 Performance
When I tested the Panasonic GX7 in August of 2013, I discovered that it produced high-quality images; the noise was well controlled up to about ISO 6400, but speckling was visible at 100% in photos taken at ISO 800 and higher. This was the case even though the camera could shoot at higher ISOs. Because it uses the same sensor, the G7 behaves similarly, which is not surprising given the circumstances.
Raw images captured at ISO 1600 and above reveal colored speckling when all noise reduction is disabled and the magnification setting is set to 100%. The concurrently taken JPEGs do not have any chroma noise when the parameters are left at their defaults; nonetheless, there is some blurring of information, and luminance noise is noticeable at 100%, with some regions seeming extremely mushy.
Although it is feasible that specific pictures taken at ISO 12,800 may produce fine A3 (11.7 x 16.6-inch) prints, others should be kept to A4 or lower (8.27×11.7) sizes, and I would avoid using the highest (ISO 25,600) level whenever it is practicable to do so.
Panasonic Lumix G7 Image Quality
During this evaluation, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G7 generated photographs of exceptionally high quality. It can produce pictures devoid of noise from ISO 100 to 1600, after which it creates some noise (although very little) from ISO 3200. ISO 6400 has rather noticeable noise and a loss of fine detail, and while the faster setting of ISO 12,800 makes even more noise, it is still helpful for small prints and usage on the web. However, we wouldn’t recommend utilizing the ISO 25,600 level because it gets so much attention.
The images were a little soft right out of the camera with the default level of sharpening, and they need additional sharpening in an application like Adobe Photoshop. Alternatively, if you don’t like the default results, you can change the setting in the camera itself.
You can quickly customize the appearance of the JPEG photographs that the camera captures thanks to the different Creative Controls and Photo Styles. In addition, the pop-up flash performed admirably indoors, preventing red-eye and providing enough exposure.
Your nighttime shot turned out wonderfully, and the fact that you could use the maximum shutter speed of 60 seconds allowed you to capture a lot of light. Although it was difficult for us to distinguish between the various Intelligent Resolution settings, the Intelligent D-range and the HDR mode proved valuable tools for obtaining more critical detail in the image’s mid-tones, highlights, and shadows.
Panasonic Lumix G7 Specs
| Body type | SLR-style mirrorless |
|---|---|
| Sensor | |
| Max resolution | 4592 x 3448 |
| Other resolutions | 4592 x 3448, 3232 x 2424, 2272 x 1704, 1824 x 1368 |
| Image ratio w h | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2, 16:9 |
| Effective pixels | 16 megapixels |
| Sensor photo detectors | 17 megapixels |
| Sensor size | Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) |
| Sensor type | CMOS |
| Color space | sRGB, Adobe RGB |
| Color filter array | Primary color filter |
| Image | |
| ISO | Auto, 160, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, 12800, 25600 |
| Boosted ISO (minimum) | 100 |
| White balance presets | 5 |
| Custom white balance | Yes (2) |
| Image stabilization | No |
| Uncompressed format | RAW |
| File format | RAWRAW + FineRAW + StandardJPEG FineJPEG StandardMPO + FineMPO + Standard (with 3D lens in Micro Four Thirds System standard) |
| Optics & Focus | |
| Autofocus | Contrast Detect (sensor)Multi-area selective single-pointTrackingSingleContinuousTouchFace DetectionLive View |
| Autofocus assist lamp | Yes |
| Digital zoom | No (2x, 4x) |
| Manual focus | Yes |
| Number of focus points | 49 |
| Lens mount | Micro Four Thirds |
| Focal length multiplier | 2× |
| Screen/viewfinder | |
| Articulated LCD | Fully articulated |
| Screen size | 3″ |
| Screen dots | 1,040,000 |
| Touch screen | Yes |
| Screen type | TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle |
| Live View | Yes |
| Viewfinder type | Electronic |
| Viewfinder coverage | 100% |
| Viewfinder magnification | 1.4× (0.7× 35mm equiv.) |
| Viewfinder resolution | 2,360,000 |
| Photography features | |
| Minimum shutter speed | 60 sec |
| Maximum shutter speed | 1/4000 sec |
| Maximum shutter speed (electronic) | 1/16000 sec |
| Exposure modes | ProgramAperture PriorityShutter PriorityManual |
| Scene modes | Clear PortraitSilky SkinBacklit SoftnessClear in BacklightRelaxing ToneSweet Child’s FaceDistinct SceneryBright Blue SkyRomantic Sunset GlowVivid Sunset GlowGlistening WaterClear NightscapeCool Night SkyWarm Glowing NightscapeArtistic NightscapeGlittering IlluminationsClear Night PortraitSoft Image of a FlowerAppetizing FoodCute DessertFreeze Animal MotionClear Sports ShotMonochrome |
| Built-in flash | Yes (Pop-up) |
| Flash Range | 9.30 m |
| External flash | Yes (Hot-shoe) |
| Flash modes | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync |
| Flash X sync speed | 1/160 sec |
| Continuous drive | 7.0 fps |
| Self-timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) |
| Metering modes | MultiCenter-weighted spot |
| Exposure compensation | ±5 (at 1/3 EV steps) |
| AE Bracketing | ±3 (3, 5, 7 frames at 1/3 EV, 2/3 EV, 1 EV steps) |
| WB Bracketing | Yes (3 frames in either blue/amber or magenta/green axis) |
| Videography features | |
| Resolutions | 3840 x 2160 (30, 25, 24, 20fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps) |
| Format | MPEG-4, AVCHD |
| Microphone | Stereo |
| Speaker | Mono |
| Storage | |
| Storage types | SD/SDHC/SDXC |
| Connectivity | |
| USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
| HDMI | Yes (micro HDMI TypeD) |
| Microphone port | Yes |
| Wireless | Built-In |
| Physical | |
| Environmentally sealed | No |
| Battery | Battery Pack |
| Battery description | Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery & charger |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 350 |
| Weight (inc. batteries) | 410 g (0.90 lb / 14.46 oz) |
| Dimensions | 125 x 86 x 77 mm (4.92 x 3.39 x 3.03″) |
| Other features | |
| Orientation sensor | Yes |
| GPS | None |
Panasonic Lumix G7 Verdict
It is pretty doubtful that customers of the G6 will be persuaded to switch to the G7, and some individuals may believe that the adjustments brought about by the new camera are a little bit basic and predictable. Despite this, the G7 is a compelling camera that is capable of producing photographs of a high grade.
Additionally, it highlights a feature anticipated to become more critical to photographers over the next couple of years: the capacity to record in 4K and extract still photographs with an 8MP resolution.
Even though the 4K Burst Shooting mode and the 4K Burst (Start/Stop) mode could appear to be the most practical use of this technology, the 4K Pre-burst mode might be more appealing to seasoned still photographers who are used to meticulously timing their photos.
This mode captures 60 photographs by recording at a rate of 30 frames per second for a mere two seconds, one of which occurs before the shutter release button is touched and the other happens after. This should be enough to catch the required portion of the action, and it gives the photographer room to choose the exact moment/expression without giving them hundreds of shots to look through to locate the perfect shot.
Panasonic Lumix G7 Pros & Cons
- Touch screen with a variable viewing angle
- OLED viewfinder
- Integration of taking photos at 4K resolution
- The Micro Four Thirds sensor format is more compact than the APS-C format.
- A sensor that is two years old
- Construction that is not heavy