The GF7 design patent.
It’s a while that I am working on that rumor but I am now 99% certain it’s true. Panasonic decided to withdraw the planned GF7 release! There will be no new GF camera model this year!
As you know since the GF1 release (glorious camera!!!) Panasonic upgraded the camera every year in Spring. And we also found patents showing the new GF7 model (see image on top). But according to our top sources Panasonic decided to focus on more “profitable” camera development. It’s uncertain yet if there will be a new GF model in 2015. Do you think this is a wise decision?
The currently cheapest GF is the GF3 for $149 via [shoplink 45677 ebay]Samys on eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
—
For sources: Sources can send me anonymous info at 43rumors@gmail.com (create a fake gmail account) or via contact form you see on the right sidebar. Thanks!
For readers: Don’t miss any news. Join our group on facebook and follow our tweets.
Rumors classification explained (FT= FourThirds):
FT1=1-20% chance the rumor is correct
FT2=21-40% chance the rumor is correct
FT3=41-60% chance the rumor is correct
FT4=61-80% chance the rumor is correct
FT5=81-99% chance the rumor is correct
58 Responses
For once, a great business decision by Panasonic. In the smartphone age, it’s best to stick with higher-end products with more favorable profit margins. Especially after the GM1 became the portability king, axing the cheap GF line was the most reasonable thing to do.
In this declining market, all camera manufacturers are announcing they will focus on high-end products with big margins (read: overpriced). This is not really a bold move, because the lower end stuff is not selling anyway. In short, what choice do they have?
The problem is, all manufacturers have the same goal, the market is shrinking, and the manufacturers react by raising the prices even more for the next model.
This is not sustainable. Not many people want to buy a new $1400 body every year, nor have to continually fork over $800 for a new lens when they have the focal length covered already.
By eliminating entry level line, Panasonic is conceding that despite years of talk there is no appreciable ‘move-up’ market. Photography is a hobby on the decline, and the demographic is aging.
Their remaining market is essentially the existing enthusiast. The best thing a manufacturer can do right now is to buy into this dwindling fanboy set. And the way to get their attention is by price.
The high-end consumers will soon be as fallacious as the move-up consumer. Buy into what market there is, get a little mindshare, before your company is gone. The best way of doing that is not just to eliminate the low end line, but to cut the price of your ‘high margin’ items that will be sitting on the shelf two months after launch. Hey, your choice camera companies, are you in this for the long run, or just the next 12 months?
Rather focus on GM2 and maybe smoothen the edges to fuse both lines
GM2 where you can ad a hotshoe for an EVF or Pocketwizard!
yes, it’s a good decision.
Now they should focus on a new 3.5-5.6/14-42 zoom so badly needed for the system..
Funny man! 😀
I hope yer making a funny
Yes it is a wise decision to abandon the GF series! Panasonic should focus it’s efforts in making the GH, GM, GX and G series as good as they can be. Also, a very small and compact camera with a m43 sensor and a fix lens with small f number will be a winner. If it is reasonably priced (around 700$ maybe).
What about he G7?
Would also like to know if there will be a G7 coming soon ?
It will come, sooner or later 🙂
I too want to know any info/rumors about the G7. I’ve been checking for news on it every day.
discontinued, i guess
The G7 is what I want t know about as well. I had expected to see a rumor regarding it by now.
Admin, off topic but it might be of some interest: DXO just tested Nocticron. (Not that I needed their numbers to see that the lens rocks..)
Yea. I’ve seen the image of a girl you keep in your Nocticron. Better than a lens cap!
🙂 just because the Nocticron is bigger!
Wise decision indeed, those models with cheap plastic and sub-par sensor technology won’t get M43 any extra supporters. In that price region it’s often better to buy a older high-end model like the GX1 now or when (next year)the GM2 is released the GM1.
Good move Panasonic. The GM, GX, GH bodies already cover a unique range in terms of size. Try getting a similar size range with Canon or Nikon and being able to use the same lenses. Panasonic should focus their energy on creating making those three bodies the best they can be.
They abandoning the entry-level or what? They need to reinvent entry-level completely. Otherwise, it sounds like bad news to me.
But then the GFs were starting at relatively high price point. NEX 3 MSRP was literally always undercutting them by $50-100. Needless to mention the 12MP sensor stigma, nurtured by the bogus DxO numbers.
Entry level could be a discounted GM1 (ie: when GM2 is released, GM1’s price could drop by 50%).
Why do ppl always want model of the year with features of old models?
“Entry level could be a discounted GM1”
Entry level should be not only cheap, but also sufficiently fool proof.
GM1 is an enthusiast camera – not by the price, but by the compromises imposed by the new shutter.
The GM1 embodies stylishness and compactness for those who value it. Enthusiasts don’t need entry-level toy GF cameras. Others are happily content with their phone. I think it was a smart decision on their part. If there’s even sense in introducing entry level models, they must have ultimate connectivity and ideally a native Facebook, Flickr or 500px app 😉
Good decision. Entry level compact style cameras with interchangeable lenses do not make sense anymore. The trend is high end compact with high quality zoom lens. Entry levels are replaced by smart phones.
It is good that Panasonic focuses on the more profitable high end and mid range products.
Disagree, a small camera with interchangeable lenses is a great idea. But making lots with different styles and names is a wee bit silly.
However if they are all the same and each called (by) a wonderful name, they could as a group capture a very big market share. After all, 25 brands/versions of the same (reasonably good) camera will outsell a single version of the same thing. Its done every day in consumer electronics, pills and chinese made shoes. It would confuse the hell out of amazon rating system. But who cares.
We would then have lots of bods saying, nae, swearing that one is better than another. Ale (Admin) could open a whole new web page.
Edited after post.
Now just why the hell is this in approval. What is wrong with it?
That “camera” at the top of the page is the ugliest “thing” I have ever seen in my life. How could the incredible GF1 morph into that mess? look at it. Phew! LOL!
My opinion , GF undoubtly a glorious model ( GF1 ) in it’s early time is hard to compete nowadays mainly due to NEX , 1 of the main factor . With introducing of GM & GX with it’s respective ground , GF become no longer connected especially with Pana’s limited customers .
A GL ( New model above GX ) is more making sense than GF provided Pana really have the tech to establish such new highend camera .
GM1 kills GF7
Could they be making a GX model, maybe GX5, that has an optional EVF?
it’s a good new for me. Because GM1 should replace GF series, IMO.
The world of marketing is a strange and wonderful one, more art than science sometimes, but my preference in the GF line would be a GF1 mark II with the new sensor. But I already have a GX7, GM1 and my old GF1 that is still a favourite.
I am waiting to see what happens with the G7. What I would prefer in that line is a G1-GH2 body with a new sensor (although the G6 is a very nice camera that might have had the Sony sensor). The EM1 supplanted the GH2 body size and grip – and EVF – but it is 20% heavier.
Not surprised, as the GF1 became the GX series and the GM has moved into the space occupied by the GF6. No need to manifest more product line mayhem :-))
I totally agree.
Except the GM1 is not an affordable option for entry users, without which m4/3 cannot expand and is instead stuck with a shrinking enthusiast niche. the GM1 is a excellent proposition to exemplify the benefits of m4/3 to entry users but the price is not the appropiate to lure them into the system
I’m guessing they don’t want to compete with the upcoming “kodak” m43 cameras in a race to the bottom for cheapest loss leader.
Alternatively they may be planning a lower price point for the GM range in the future.
Enough of this nonsense….where is my Olympus E-P5 firmware update???????????????
That opens the niche for “Kodak” if they ever actually release their camera…
In my humble opinion I think they should divert resources into updating the LX range and perhaps adding a larger sensor to compete with Sony’s RX100 as that is where the real battle is going to be I think in the next few years.
Good Decision, we only need
GM – small
GX – full feature range finder type
G – full feature DSLR type
GH – flagship focusing on high end video
I agree with most of that, unfortunately the GM line does not replace the GF line, mainly because it is not an entry level model nor is it cheap. Unless Pany decides to lower the GM price by quite a bit, this is going to become a bad move for m4/3. What this system needs is affordable entry models and good marketing, the only reason why the entry lines have not had much success is because of the lack of advertising. Basically no one outside web forums knows about m4/3 or mirrorless, common consumers see entry m4/3s and mistake them for expensive P&S so for that price they might as well ¨jump¨ to an entry DSLR because ¨it looks professional¨. Pany and Oly have failed to position m4/3 as a pocketable equivalent to DSLRs in the minds of consumers, only a heavy investment in advertising can turn entry level m4/3s into a profitable platform, unfortunately Pany and Oly have become lazy and resigned themselves into a niche by selling high profit models like the EM1 and GH4.
You have made many posts suggesting companies spend on marketing like its some kind of magic pill. The reality is that marketing is tremendously expensive and financially high risk. Such marketing will have at least two simple effects.
First is a recipe for financial disaster, huge amounts of marketing money will be wasted trying to convince people to buy something they don’t want. Truth is most won’t be convinced by marketing spin. Remember we are talking about low margin products that have little ability to any return on marketing investment. Marketing efforts are better spent on increasing awareness of a product which can sell itself and also has a good chance of making good returns on a marketing investment.
Secondly, pany will be seen by the market as company out of touch and lose respect accordingly. If I want an enthusiast compact or enthusiast mirrorless and one of these things get pushed onto me, I will take my money where the sales/marketing people listen to what I want and fill my needs accordingly.
I would agree. Except that I think the GM should never have been introduced in the first place — since the GF3 was so tiny, they could have kept going with that line for the small entry level segment. So it should have been GF > G > GX > GH.
The GF line became redundant when the GX was announced — that just made things confusing. Especially when I try to explain to friends who are interested, what the differences between Panasonic models are. Olympus has a clearer roadmap.
smart phones replaces lower models. so it’s OK that GM is the low end model of LUMIX.
G is ambiguos. GH, no thank you. I don’t need video, so refund for video part of GH for me. (GX too). Pana should make video cam , not GH4. yes, like JVC-kenwood.
true GH should a flagship “STIL CAMERA’,not kimera of video and still! I DONT” NEED video. period,but more still quality to pay money.
Interesting, you seem to only see what you want, and not what works for Panasonic. GH series, especially GH2 was stellar for ambitious videographers. The market for pure still photogrpahy has extremely big competition and Pana curently doesn’t have that special something there – except when they can fill a niche, like with the GX7.
GM1 is also not entry level, it’s more expensive than a G6!
But you are probably right about smartphones eating GF style cameras.
veeeery interesting. I saw this again.
Video people always says like this: why not video and still? please live with you.
I don’t care about video. that means I don’t negate video, but DON’t sell two thing in one to force to buy me it. I just want to pay for still. You want to pay video , oh it’s OK, I never stop you . remember that I never stop you. but don’t bother me about video. that ALL.
it’s OK to Pana makes video. but I don’t need it. just make things cheaper to eliminate video feature for pure high quality interchangeable still camera and dedicate all for still image quality. very reasonable and simple things that I said.
Not providing all the TV channels for a reduced price is feasible. Its just configuration.
Not providing all the features on a cel phone plan for a reduced price is feasible. Again, its just configuration.
Not providing video on a m43 camera would likely be hardwired configuration and if at all, they would charge more to remove the “rec” button.
those response doesn’t prove “all camera should have video”.
I count only two people need video still camera. all others silently support me.
I have Olympus too. I don’t buy GH because of massive video feature that doesn’t waste my money.
I don’t say I want cheap camera. I pay only for still image quality.
Nikon Df is good because of no video. and it sells heavy well.
I really hope Pana show it can really do well for still camera. no Kimera.
just let Pana make video cam of MFT like JVC.
what is your point? Nobody has said that all cameras need video, but you are specifically complaining about a camera meant as a hybrid.
As if by removing video feature, the still quality improves…
Nikon removed the video from the Df and that isn’t exactly a cheap camera 😉
Also: if you don’t care for video, aren’t there better options, like Olympus, Fuji or Sony (FF)?
I’m glad Panasonic is focused on video so much, I’m not going to pay big money for camera’s which do crappy video in 2014.
I still don’t think the above camera was the GF7. It’s (once more) a radical departure from the successor. GF6 was a very “complete” model, with tilt screen etc. The prototype looks like a possible GF6 if Panasonic hadn’t decided to make the GM1.
The declining market is the problem. It’s already hard to sell out GF6 and G6 from last year. Shops don’t want new models until they sold what they already have.
It was F.ing ugly anyway.
A new GF every 6 months is not the solution, the GF1 was near perfect, 5 years ago.
I don’t think this is very interesting and it won’t bemissed in general.
But…where is the G7? Much more interested in such a model and no sign of it (yet?). I read somewhere it wil not come at least not this year.
I can see potential for a cam that has the GX7 sensor, panorama mode, timelapse and video IQ (or video IQ between Gh4 and GX7), but same input and output for video like G6.
EVF, swiveling display and focussing system of GH4. No weathersealing to may be..Such a cam at € 800. Especially when the DFD system is really good for sports and birding that might be a very nice add-on for those making it a mFT that does everything that D7100s et do..
But: no rumours about the G7 I think, otherwise admin would have told us about them..
I dont care about the gf-line. What I DO care about is the successor to the LX7. “1 -sensor and 24-90mm eq. f2.0-2.8 would be nice.
I’m hoping this means we are MORE likely to get a G7. I think it was obvious that Panasonic has a bit too much model proliferation, and now this leaves a space for a well-featured but economical body targeted at the market for cost-conscious buyers – somewhere between an OM-D E-M10 and an E-PL5, and also makes clear that the GM1 is the product positioned at those who want small size enough to pay a premium for it.
After a long time, Panasonic has come up again with a new mirror-less camera called Panasonic Lumix GF7…
http://goo.gl/eYfNl6