Panasonic Lumix G7 review

A 4K mirrorless camera that, thanks to its age, can now be found at a bargain price

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Panasonic Lumix G7
(Image: © Future)

Digital Camera World Verdict

The Panasonic G7 dates way back to 2015 - but this early mirrorless camera is a real survivor. Our review below was compiled back at the launch - but today the camera has become one of the best-value 4K cameras that you can buy. Its age does mean that at a low price you get the chunky DSLR handling that some photographers love, and unlike some other budget mirrorless cameras you get an electronic eyelevel viewfinder, as well as a fold-out screen. Its age, however, means that it doesn't have in-body stabilization - and uses a 16-megapixel sensor that shows its age when shooting stills

Pros

  • +

    Budget price

  • +

    4K video

  • +

    Electronic viewfinder, and vari-angle screen

Cons

  • -

    No IBIS

  • -

    16MP sensor shows the camera's age

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Replacing the Panasonic G6, the G7 sits beneath the Panasonic GH4 in the company’s line-up of compact system cameras. It has the same 16MP sensor as the GX7, with the processor from the GH4.

A key feature of the G7 is that it’s possible to shoot 8MP images at 30fps (frames per second) using one of the three 4K photo modes in any exposure mode. 

Build & handling

(Image credit: Future)

If you’re used to handling cameras such as the Fujifilm X-T10 or Olympus OM-D E-M10, the G7 is going to seem quite unsubstantial by comparison, but the controls are arranged well, and the electronic viewfinder and vari-angle screen are very good. 

Panasonic makes it easy to extract the 8MP images from 4K footage in-camera. In review mode, hitting the ‘up’ navigation key reveals all the shots in the sequence, and you then scroll quickly through until you find the most interesting images. Pressing the Set/Menu button gives you the option to save the selected frame as a JPEG. Giving the best of both worlds, the 4K video is saved along with the images.

Specifications

The responsive touchscreen is useful for composing and making adjustments. (Image credit: Future)

Sensor: 16 million effective pixels Four Thirds type(17.3x13mm) Live MOS

Focal length conversion (crop factor): 2x

Memory: SD/SDHC/SDXC

Viewfinder: 2,360k-dot OLED

Max video resolution: 4K (3,840x2,160) at 30p 100Mbps

ISO range: 200-25,600, expandable to ISO 100-25,600

Autofocus points: 49

Max burst rate: 8fps in S-AF at full resolution

Screen: Vari-angle touch-sensitive three-inch LCD with 1,040,000 dots

Shutter speeds: 30-1/4,000 sec with mechanical shutter, plus bulb or 1–1/32,000 with electronic shutter

Weight: 520g (body only)

Dimensions: 125x86x77mm

Power supply: Rechargeable lithium-ion battery 

Performance

(Image credit: Future)

The G7 produces high-quality images, and noise is controlled well up to about ISO 6,400. Some ISO 12,800 images may make good A3 prints, but others are best kept to A4 or smaller, and I would avoid using the top (ISO 25,600) setting where possible.

The G7’s Tracking AF system doesn’t respond quickly enough for fast-moving subjects, but if you keep the active AF point (or area) over the subject in 1-Area or Custom Multi mode with Continuous AF mode selected, in decent light it usually gets it sharp and keeps it in focus.

In 4K photo mode the AF system isn’t really fast enough to shoot subjects that move quickly towards or away from the camera. It’s ideal, however, for shooting action that takes place in one location.

Shot using 4K photo (Stop/Start) mode so I could operate the camera and sprinkle water over the flowers. I used a shutter speed of 1/1000sec to freeze the droplets. Panasonic DMC-G7 with Lumix G Vario 12-35mm f/2.8. 1/1000sec at f/4.5, ISO800. (Image credit: Angela Nicholson/Digital Camera World)

Lab results

For our lab data comparison we compared the G7 to three of its contemporaries: the Olympus OM-D E-M10, the Sony A6000, and the Fujifilm X-T10.

We test resolution using Imatest charts and software, and dynamic range and signal to noise ratio with DxO Analyzer.

(Image credit: Future)

Color error:
In its default settings, the G7 delivers accurate images with a little extra saturation.

Panasonic G7 lab results

(Image credit: Future)

Raw signal-to-noise ratio:
The G7 puts in an impressive performance, especially at lower sensitivity settings, indicating that noise is controlled very well and images have good detail.

Panasonic G7 lab results

(Image credit: Future)

Raw dynamic range:
Up to ISO 6400, the G7 has a wide dynamic range, indicating that images have a wide range of tones, and that they withstand a reasonable degree of manipulation.

Verdict

Panasonic G7

(Image credit: Future)

The Panasonic is a good camera that produces high-quality images. It has a well-rounded feature set, with key features including a vari-angle touchscreen, Wi-Fi and an excellent viewfinder. It also showcases the ability to extract 8MP still images from 4K video, introducing a range of creative and fun possibilities.

• Should I buy a Panasonic G7? 
• Best cheap mirrorless cameras
• Best Panasonic cameras
• Best Micro Four Thirds lenses

Angela Nicholson
Angela Nicholson

Angela has been testing camera gear from all the major manufacturers since January 2004 and has been Amateur Photographer’s Technical Editor and Head of Testing for Future Publishing’s photography portfolio (Digital Camera Magazine, PhotoPlus: The Canon Magazine, N-Photo, Practical Photoshop, Photography Week and Professional Photography magazines, as well as the Digital Camera World and TechRadar websites). She is the founder of SheClicks - a community group that encourages and supports female photographers.