The professional grade Panasonic Lumix 4K Digital Camera DMC G7KK
accepts over 24 compact lens options built on the next generation
interchangeable lens camera (ILC) standard (Micro Four Thirds)
pioneered by Panasonic. Its “mirrorless” design enables a
lighter, more compact camera body while also offering cutting
edge video, audio, creative controls, wireless, intelligent
focusing and exposure technologies not possible with traditional
DSLRs. With the exclusive Lumix 4K PHOTO (~8MP, 30/60 fps),
simply pause that perfect moment from video to produce printable
high resolution photos. A high resolution 17.5mm, 0.7x OLED eye
viewfinder (2,360K dot) matches up to exactly how you intended to
see the image even under direct sunlight. For connectivity
convenience, the G7 includes 3.5mm and 2.5mm microphone & remote
ports, USB 2.0 and a micro HDMI (Type D) terminal. The G7 can be
combined with the DMW FL580L External Flash, the DMW MS2
Stereo/Shotgun Microphone and many other accessories. It’s also
compatible with newer BUS Class UHS I/UHS II SDXC/SDHC SD cards
capable of storing high resolution 4K videos and meeting the
demands of 4K Photo and Raw mode burst shooting.
Review: The G7 is one HECK of a nice camera! - EDITED 8/17/2015:
I recently received a Panasonic G7 from desertcart, and I have
already shot over 20,000 frames with it during the seven weeks
I've had it (with many different lenses, and with mostly using
the electronic shutter), plus a few video tests. Since I already
own the Panasonic G5, and GH4 (and I also had the G6), and have
shot over 125,000(!) photos with these MFT cameras, I was
familiar with Panasonic cameras, and also with the menu settings
changes I generally make to get what I want in the images. The G7
fits “neatly” between the very small and light G5/6 bodies and
the considerably larger and heavier GH4 (although that one is
still relatively compact compared with most dSLRs, and its MFT
lenses are also generally very compact and light – and this gear
is FUN to carry and use!). I value the GH4 for its excellent EVF,
great grip (it is easy and secure to use one-handed), its
excellent set of useful external controls, its wide range of
useful options in its easily-used menus, the excellence of its
stills-quality (with selected type and sample of lenses, and with
customized menu settings), and its great video capabilities. I
value the G5 for its sharp EVF (the one on the G6 has better
color and contrast, but it is not as sharp), its miniscule size
and weight, its very good external controls and menus, and the
excellence of its stills and video (although the G5, unlike the
G6, has no external mic input, and it is without focus-peaking).
The G7 is a nice combination of the good qualities of both the
G5/6 and the GH4, at a lower price in size, weight, and cost
compared with the GH4 - although it is without weather-sealing
and high data-rate and slow-motion 1080 video options (but it
does have 100Mbps 4K-24/30P video plus “4K-Photo” options). The
excellent EVF is similar to the one in the GH4, the grip is
almost as good, the external controls (both buttons and knobs)
are unusually numerous and useful, and the menus are similar to,
and consistent with, those of the other models in the line. A few
items have been added to what the G5 had: 4K-Photo/Video, the
tone-curve adjustment shared with the GX7/8 and GH4 (I find this
very useful!), “Diffraction Compensation” (I briefly tried this
and decided to leave it “Off” – it progressively sharpens the
image as the lens is stopped down to its smallest stops to offset
the softening normally resulting from diffraction, but this can
result in excessive noise even in good light - and this
sharpening can be done better during editing), and an external
mic input similar to the one on the G6 (but missing on the G5 and
GX7). Using the G7's electronic shutter, leaving the EVF and
camera always-on during shooting sessions, and using no flash, I
get well over 600 JPG highest-quality frames per battery charge.
As for color and other photo characteristics, I appreciate having
the ability to adjust EVERYTHING on these Panasonic MFT cameras
(color balance and saturation, contrast, color-curves, sharpening
and noise-reduction levels, etc.) - and I also appreciate being
able to match surprisingly well the EVF's characteristics with
those of my reference computer monitor so that I get very useful
and accurate previewing while using the EVF (with a floppy
wide-brimmed hat worn while outdoors to shade the EVF). These
cameras are a "tweaker's" (read, "perfectionist's"...;-) dream
come true...! Overall, I have no real complaints with the G7,
although a few things bothered me very slightly at first. As with
the GH4, the rear “dial” (which on the G7 is a circle of buttons
as with the G5, rather than a wheel as with the GH4) gets
somewhat “hidden” below the rear surface of the camera toward the
“dial’s” upper right – but this is to keep it from being
unintentionally pressed/moved by the right hand gripping the
camera. It took me a bit of time to remember the new way to
access exposure bias adjustment (I generally use A-Priority,
setting the aperture for best lens performance with each lens
and/or for best DOF for what I want in the image – and I often
adjust exposure-bias as I shoot, using the excellent EVF as a
guide), and it required a button-push to access this on the G7
(the G5/6 and GH4 can be left with the rear thumb-wheel needing
only to be moved in order to adjust exposure bias). But, I
discovered that with going into "Dial Set" in the menus, I was
able to enable exposure biasing with a simple turn of the rear
wheel (no button press required!;-). Also, the image resolution
is very slightly smaller than that of the other Panasonic cameras
I've used, but this is of little practical consequence. And, as
others have noticed, the G7's (and also my GH4's) serial number
tends to "evaporate" - and with my G7, there is now no trace
remaining of that number. Panasonic has recognized this issue,
and if both the box label with the serial number and the purchase
invoice are retained, and if the camera is registered with
Panasonic, the warranty will be honored. Bottom line: this is one
HECK of a nice camera, at a very decent price! Highly
recommended! (A few photos taken with the G7 are attached...)
--DR
Review: Still a great camera in 2024 - With prices of today's
cameras so high, the G7 can be found for around $250 used and it
is plenty of camera for most people. I highly recommend it. I've
had the camera since 2017 and it is my only m43 camera. I use it
with the 14-140ii, 9-18mm, 25mm/1.7 and 43/1.8 primes. It has
been a great reliable camera through the years taken to hikes in
the mountains, vacations and family gatherings - always
delivering good pictures and videos. I think that the shutter
shock issue was a little overblown. It has never been an issue
for me even keeping the camera in mechanical only shutter. Not
saying it does not exist but it is not something that had
bothered me. I used the G7 to record my daughter's soccer games
for a couple of years and it performed well there as well
managing to keep up focus with the action. I used only FHD 60fps
so cannot comment on the 4K video. The microphone port made a
huge difference in recording good sound. The body is very light
at only 400g which keeps the package easy to carry for extended
periods of time. With the 14-140 lens the combo weights almost
the same as my Sony A57 DSLR alone. The newer upgrades G85 and
G95 have gotten bulkier and heavier. Adding image stabilization
is probably the main reason for that. With the 14-140 having IOS
and the prime lenses being fast I have not missed the in-body
image stabilization of the newer models, hence never upgraded.
The ergonomics are great with two control dials and plenty of
customizable buttons. I love the well placed quick focus mode
selector switch and the touchscreen focus select area while
looking through the viewfinder. I like the power slider next to
the mode dial on the right side of the camera allowing one hand
operation when needed. The power switch being on the left side of
the camera is what I did not like on all Olympus bodies when I
was deciding which brand to go with. I have a small Meike tilt
and swivel TTL flash that works really great with the G7. It
makes for a light combo at family gatherings for high quality
bounced flash pictures. I use only RAW so cannot comment on the
JPEG engine. The RAW files allow lots of latitude during
processing. Lifting shadows and lowering highlights works very
well. ISO up to 3200/6400 is perfectly usable when processed
properly.
