Image courtesy: Tyson Robichaud
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The GX7 is in Stock and shipping at Amazon US (Click here). And it is also easily on top of the most sold mirrorless camera ranking (you can see it here). And there are alreayd plenty of new tests and reviews to report today:
Our friend Tyson Robichaud (Click here) posted the first part of his ongoing GX7 review. He likes the camera a lot but also marked some quirks that can hopefully be fixed by Panasonic via fw update:
“Oddly, if you are using a Lumix lens that also has OIS, the GX7 will disable the In Body Image Stabilization and as far as I can figure out, you cannot use it. This also follows a very odd omission of the lack of IBIS for video requiring optical stabilization for video shooters. Silly. I certainly hope this is remedied in a near future firmware update.”
Hardwarezone wrote a very positive conclusion:
“The Panasonic Lumix GX7 has genius. When I first learned about the camera I was not impressed, but when I started to use it I became impressed by how smoothly the camera handles. When I got the chance to use it side by side with the Olympus PEN E-P5 I became even more enamoured with the camera. On paper, the GX7 seems like it doesn’t hold up to many of the E-P5′s specs. But Panasonic’s great strength is in making their cameras easy to use, and that’s a metric you can’t judge on paper.”
And there are more test here:
GX7 test at Dime. And Jonas sent us a link to his own test: “I did a quick videotest with a GX7 and a slider. Have a look man! It’s all filmed as flatt as possible. -5,-5,-5,0 Natural style on 1080p 50fps then converted to 24fps 720p in premiere elements 11. http://youtu.be/DEoEJ23B7Ac”
GX7 links:
Silver GX7 body at Amazon US, BHphoto, Adorama, Samys, Wex Deutschland, Wex UK , Amazon JP.
Silver GX7 with 14-42mm lens at Amazon, BHphoto, Adorama, Samys, Henrys, Wex Deutschland, WexUK, Amazon UK.
Black GX7 body at Henrys, Wex Deutschland, Wex UK, Amazon UK, Amazon Japan.
Black GX7 with 14-42mm lens at Henrys, Wex Deutschland, Wex UK, Amazon UK.
Black GX7 with 20mm lens at Henrys, Wex UK, Amazon UK, Amazon Japan.
Silver GX7 with 20mm lens at Henrys, Wex UK, Amazon UK, Amazon Japan.
72 Responses
What a happy looking family. It is neat to see how the camera has evolved. This is the proper succession of the GF1.
+1 – they have pretty much nailed this design.
it looks like a lot of consideration went into this.
Yeah, but he forgot the GF2, GF3, GF5 and GF6 …any family looks good if you take the black sheep out.
They are best left forgotten.
The current GF6 is much like the GX1. But the GF line is no longer top of the line for Panasonic since GF2. The problem lies more in the misleading model numbering (GF3 sounds like GF1 successor, but it is not), than in the product itself. GF3 was not a bad camera, and you could get it really cheap. The other problem is that GX1 came too late, and so did GX7 (rangefinder form factor with EVF was expected from Panasonic at least since Nex 7). The blessing to that long waiting time is that now we get it, GX7 IQ is same as current best Olympus (in RAW), not far from APS-C mirrorless, which we probably wouldn’t have got if it was released last year. IBIS is also a good surprise.
Overall, late in the game compared to Nex and Fuji, but fully featured and well finished. (Heard that, Canon M!)
Panasonic been explained this. Why would you want to use Less image stabilization coming from the body, when the Panasonic lens OIS is sharper?
I don’t get it.
because you could use third party lenses that don´t have stabilization, also if there is a feature in a product of mine i would like to use it whenever i see fit.
Since no third-party Micro Four Thirds lenses have OIS, what’s your point?
Of course IBIS will be a boon for some users who shoot with non-stabilized and adapted lenses.
More than anything, I’m curious to see if that is true. Either way, we’re covered which is great, but I’m always a fan of options when it comes to this type of situation. Just as an example, I have found the IBIS in the OMD EM5 to be much more effective in stabilizing the view through the viewfinder on the Pana 100-300 and at 300mm it helps to compose and follow. With a fast enough ss, the IS is just icing, but the viewfinder image being more stable can help. I don’t know if that would be the case with the GX7, but it would be interesting to see. Also, I’m sure the newer OIS is better than the GX7 (or arguably the Oly 5 axis), but what about the older generations?
Anyway, thanks for the link Ale, and thanks for the read guys! If there is anything specifically anyone would like me to test out, fire off a comment on the blog, and I’ll do my best to answer or include in the ongoing tests.
Cheers,
Tyson
(I tried to submit a response earlier which seems to have disappeared, so I’ll try again)
Perhaps, but is that true across all generations of Panasonic’s OIS? Could the IBIS in the GX7 perform better than the earlier OIS from the earlier lenses?
The other issue I feel could be in the photographer’s best interest that I’ve found to be the case with the Oly 5 axis IBIS is that while it may not be able to account for the focal length the way that a lens based IS is, I have found that in the viewfinder, or on the LCD, the image is far less jittery when using the IBIS vs the OIS (on the Pana 100-300 anyway). When shooting in good light, where you’re going to be able to utilize a fast enough shutter speed to negate a stop or half stop advantage via OIS, the more stabilized view through the viewfinder can be far handier for compositional purposes. I just today tried this out with the 100-300 on the OMD EM5 to see if I was remembering it incorrectly, but in fact, the IBIS did a better job at stabilizing the live view than did the OIS on the 100-300. Whether that translates to the sharpness of the final image or not, I don’t know, but again, in situations where it helps more to see what your shooting more stably, I’d like to have that option. Choices are rarely a bad thing, and while the OIS may be superior to the final result, it may or may not translate to the live view image and that is one reason I’d like to at least see it included.
Thanks Ale for the link, and thanks to everyone who has come by to read and comment! I really appreciate it and will continue to test this awesome camera both on its own merits and against the GX1, GF1 and OMD EM5. Maybe I’ll even find some time to test it out against some full frame cams too just for s’s and g’s.
Cheers,
Tyson
NO All Black GX7 for the USA. How long will the US buyers have to wait for the all black body??
mine is black. picked it up yesterday. well, up here in Canada, not sure about the states…
No black GX7’s in the US seriously blows, but at least we can order them from Canada!
When I purchased the GX1 I was looking for the black one, Adorama had the silver one cheaper, so decided to save some money and buy that one.
But for the GX7, I think the silver looks better.
However, I do agree that it makes no sense US has only one color available.
Is it that US market for Panasonic is not that profitable?
Maybe they want to do what Olympus did with some of their lenses and sell the black bodies at a premium.
“The Panasonic Lumix GX7 has genius. When I first learned about the camera I was not impressed, but when I started to use it I became impressed by how smoothly the camera handles. When I got the chance to use it side by side with the Olympus PEN E-P5 I became even more enamoured with the camera. On paper, the GX7 seems like it doesn’t hold up to many of the E-P5’s specs. But Panasonic’s great strength is in making their cameras easy to use, and that’s a metric you can’t judge on paper.”
-Quote taken from Hardwarezone.
I expect Panasonic to blow these out.
…..The Olympus OMD-M1 !!!! 🙂
Another colossal blunder with outdated IBIS, useless/dinky EVF, and overpriced hype to match their FAILED HDTV lineup.
A consistent DUD year in… year out.
Kind of like troll posts on 43rumors? o_0
I’m sorry, I know you don’t feed a troll, but I can’t help: what’s the exact purpose of publicly bitching on cameras you don’t like/own/want/can’t afford? What is your expected outcome?
Get a life, get outdoor, have fun shooting using your favorite hardware & lenses, but please quit wasting bits, your life and our patience.
Or just do the same old thing…
… beat the wife and kids, then kick the dog… 😛
@Mr Reeee
A little of the topic here.
I finally cracked Mr Reeee! I succumb!
I had previously decided that despite finding the voigtlanders a very attractive proposition for low light shooting and even walk about or video,
I could not commit due to the weight of these lenses, especially the 17.5mm which I was most interested in which weighs around 540 grams.
The other issue also of it being a full time manual lens presented a new challenge for me because despite owning the samyang 7.5 fisheye manual lens at about f5.6 most is in focus anyway and other than the occasional manual focus in macro it was AF most of the time.
My rules were m43 primes all under 200 grams unless absolutely stellar like the 75 f1.8 in which case I’ll tolerate up to approximately 350 grams and Pro grade weather sealed zooms I was okay with if the weight was more.
The idea was during travel a couple of Pro zooms a little on the heavier side and a few small light primes to plug the holes were large apertures, better iq or a distinct roles needed to played like eg fisheye, macro or large aperture required. These primes I could carry a few of because of small size and weight but now that voigtlander came along.
I kept looking at sample images through
forums, flickr and reading reviews etc and that incredible colour, distinctive look and the way these lenses draw got me.
Sorry for the long story but yeah
Mr. Reeee, I’ve read many of your posts in praise of these lenses and I finally ordered the 17.5mm at the nearest store which sells them and it should be in within a couple of days.
I’m hoping I have no regrets and that I’ll enjoy this lens. If you have any advice on using this lens, it’s character please fire away. I’m anticipating using it with the forthcoming em1 with 5 axis IBIS and peaking mode.
Thanks
Thanks! And welcome to the magical world of Voigtländer! 😉
Good choice! The 17.5mm is truly a great lens… as are the 25mm and 42.5mm! Sure, they’re all expensive, big, heavy, manual only, have no electronic contacts, etc., but they’re fabulous, fabulously fun and a joy to use! And quite honestly, when I was about to get my 25mm a couple years ago, I was skeptical and doubtful, but once i started shooting with it, all the anxiety vaporized!
After I got the 42.5mm, was raving about it and itching to add the 17.5mm to my Voigtländer kit, my girlfriend told me to just get it. “You only live once”, said she! Wow! So I did and love it, too! I’ve been going through all the shots I took on a recent trip and have been extremely happy with more than a few shots. The Voigtländer shots really shine!
You’ll LOVE yours, too! 🙂
Hey mr. Reeeee,
if you had to pick only one, what would that be?
Tough question.
I really love the 25mm, since I spent years shooting film with a 50mm on Konica and Nikons.
The 17.5mm I’m finding to be much more versatile, especially shooting in tight spaces.
The 42.5mm seems to render the best of the three. I love a slightly longer focal length. Close-up shooting with it is excellent and good enough to leave my Nikon macros at home if traveling light.
Yep, tough call… 😉
Thanks, that’s a very reassuring comment for me especially regarding how you felt before the purchase of your first one how despite the few challenges it was ultimately rewarding.
Yes it’ll cost me $1100, expensive but I don’t mind if the quality is great and I use and enjoy it. Something I’m sure you’re doing.
Out of curiosity, do you carry a small set of nd filters for shallow dof in bright day light or perhaps even a variable nd for video? Sorry for the questions.
I shouldn’t get carried away here but just out of curiosity, I wonder what focal length voigtlander are dreaming up next for this format.
What a long rant man; go shoot wit your buddy all,MF focus peaking galore..
.
Mr. Reeee
14 hours ago
Or just do the same old thing…
… beat the wife and kids, then kick the dog… 😛
Sorry I have to draw a line at kicking the dog 😛
A Dud? Takes one to know one.
It’s not really in stock, until they have a black one. Silly Panasonic.
This would be a first.
“We also found the auto white balance to be spot on and accurate, surprisingly more so than with the Olympus Pen E-P5.”
are techradar the only ones who have properly tested the GX7 sensor so far? I’m very curious to see how much of a leap it is from the GH and G series.
Even at the largest text size I can’t read Tyson’s pages because the text is so small. Only page I ever saw like that. So, I can only come to the conclusionthat if a guy can’t make a wordpress page that is readable, why would I believe a word he would say about anything. Thumbs down.
Which browser are you using? Safari on Mac or iPad handles the text perfectly.
Another excellent opinion piece from Tyson, BTW.
I have no problem whatsoever reading the wordpress review using my smartphone. The problem might actually be at your end. Just sayin’!
I have no problem whatsoever reading the wordpress review (which I personally found to be reasonably insightful) using my smartphone. The problem might actually be at your end. Just sayin’!
It is an issue with Internet Explorer not being able to properly render certain wordpress themes unfortunately. Any other browser views it just fine 🙂
After watching the camera store review, wow!…this cameras af is fast or what?
Af speed for panny is a given but what that video conveys is something else.
No shortage of features either.
Panasonic seems to have a very mature and almost complete product with this gx7.
The GX7 seems to have struck a similar nerve that the EM5 hit. Reviews are generally glowing from all quarters. It looks like a damn compelling camera.
I commented when the GX7 was leaked that it seemed to be what every one wanted of the ep5. Olys product just seemed to fall short on several things that the GX7 provided and adding IBIS to the built in EVF. The scene stealer. I am getting the em1 but I have a feeling there may be a GX7 +20mm on the list as well.
I think a lot of people would have liked an integrated viewfinder on the ep5. probably more so than the 5axis ibis… oh well, maybe next time around they’ll get it right?
between the gx7 and the em1 the ep5 has some very strong competition.
I think a lot of people would have liked an integrated viewfinder on the ep5. probably more so than the 5axis ibis… oh well, maybe next time around they’ll get it right?
between the gx7 and the em1 the ep5 has some very strong competition.
Admin: !!!
Die zweite Seite, also die mit den Kommentaren wird von Google nicht mehr von Englisch in Deutsch übersetzt.
Was kann ich tun ? Ich habe ihre Seite bis jetzt gerne auf Deutsch übersetzt gelesen.
Gruß Swejk
Google Translation funktioniert:
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=en&tl=de&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.43rumors.com%2Fnew-gx7-tests-and-in-stock-reminder%2F&sandbox=1
Hallo Danke,
was immer sie gemacht haben, bei mir kommt die Gerüchteseite auf Deutsch und wenn ich auf “Kommentare” gehe ist die Seite in Englisch. !?!
So ist es seit ein paar Tagen auf meinem Windows-Computer und auf dem iPhone 4.
Deine Seite wird auch wieder Englisch wenn ich auf eine andere Seite von 43rumors gehe.
Ich bin ratlos…
Gruß Swejk
Reminder: ONLY the version with kit lens is in stock at Amazon. The body-only version is still without a predicted ship date.
I wonder how many people will buy a “$100 body cap” kit lens to get their camera a little sooner…?
Tried GX7 yesterday and I’m delighted with it! Did a couple of test shots at ISO1600 and it’s totally acceptable for me. Focus with the kit lens was a bit slow in dim light, but I don’t care about that lens… The grip is better than on my PL1, but I’d still like a slightly larger or less curved one. Auto WB is excellent, better than on my Oly. Mode dial is a bit stiff. Camera is the right size for me, I like the features and now that the reviews say IBIS is only a bit worse than E-P5’s, I’m starting to save money :).
THe GX7 is mediocre in various ways, according to Focus Numerique:
– IBIS is 2 or 3 stops less than Oly No stab in video!
– CAF is mediocre
– battery like is VERY short
– Tunnel EVF with rainbow effects
– Slow focussing in poor light
– no weathersealing
– no external mic
– slow fps
One could also add
– that it is not compatible with all 4/3 lenses
– that it is a v. expensive camera for what it is. In Europe the equivalent of 1340 $
Good luck to the starry eyed of the Palaeolithic savannahs who can appreciate a well splintered stone, and trade it for 1000 shells 🙂
Focus Numerique write: Recommandé!!!!!!
Not mediocre at all!!!
I bet that all their cameras are ‘recommandé’ otherwise they wouldn’t even start writing again. What is impressive is the list of no-nos. If you only care to read it, that is, Mr. Gobble-Gobble…
“IBIS is 2 or 3 stops less than Oly”
I’ve read the Focus Numerique review and didn’t find this… Can you paste the quote or give a link to the page?
The Hardwarezone review says that it’s only half a stop behind E-P5. And if it was 2-3 stops worse, that would mean it’s only 1-2 stops, because I think E-P5 compensates 3-4 stops max. Correct me if I’m wrong.
Just go to the relevant IBIS page and look at the charts, everything below 1/10 or 1/20 is laughable.
THey are not suicidal enough to compare it to the Oly’s 5 axis IBIS, but you can do the comparisons by yourself.
One can live with a lesser IBIS, one can contend that by drinking less coffee, and avoiding delirium tremens one is self stabilised anyway, there is no limit to tendentious arguments, if one can stand the ridicule of them.
BTW I didn’t invent anything, the list of the Cons is in the verdict page. My contribution is that if I paid the camera 700 €, as the Americans do, I would have far less restraints to procure a sleek TOY, especially if it was paid with tax returns, or with blind trusts at some robber Goldman Sachs bank.
Instead since we pay 1000-1100 € ( add the price of 2 gold plated batteries), good and hard earned geld, we are entitled to be a tad more critical than our starry eyed, guttural friends of the verdant savannahs beyond the Pond.
Sorry chump, but the EM5 is last years news. But its cool though, you can still take nice pictures wirh it.
I can’t wait to take the GX7 to these NYC streets. I don’t care for ibis, I’d rather have it in the Lens anyway. Weather sealing? I always carry a couple of small plastic bags.
The GX7 has better ISO, better focus speed and I shoot Raw, so I know I’ll be pleased with the IQ.
Another note, if the GX7 is slow to focus in low light, that means the EM5 is slower! Hahaha! So what’s your point?
You’re wrong about IBIS.
They tested it on Oly 17 mm and said it was good for about 2.5 stops.
Are you saying 5 axis is 4.5-5.5 stops? If that’s the case, great for you, but I’d say 2.5 stops is plenty for most uses.
As for the con list, they matching each pro with a con, so of course it amounts to a lot of items. We even get a line for “too many buttons”.
Overall, their review was strongly positive.
The GX7 seems to get very good reviews. It looks like a nice camera. In my view, the looks is kind of dull, but it is discreet. Probably, the ergonomics are very good (except back buttons??). I don’t see much purpose in the tiltable EVF — it looks fragile. The non-availability of a black version in certain markets is a hilarious poke in the eye to those who have mocked Oly for the silver lenses :-).
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will I buy it? Not right now: it doesn’t have sufficient advantage over the E-M5, it seems.
Don’t feel bad that the GX-7 has some important features that your aging E-M5 is lacking. No need to get all defensive by launching an attack.
Since you push me to it, yes the E-M5 is still the best bang for the buck, in respect to the newer model who went to a price hike, without proportion with the added functionality.
it is still a photog.’s dream. If you are one, that is.
Maybe you should spend your time at Amazon, telling would be GX7 buyers to buy a EM5 instead…
Then again, the way you’d go about it, you’d get BANNED from Amazon!
Hahahaha!!! That would be hilarious!!
Taken from CameraLabs: “In its favour, the GX7’s viewfinder is higher resolution and tilts vertically, it has built-in Wifi and NFC for wireless image transfer and smartphone remote control, a built-in flash, a faster top shutter speed of 1/8000 vs 1/4000, slightly quicker flash sync of 1/320 vs 1/250, it focuses in lower light, has focus peaking, an auto panoramas mode, manual exposure control for movies, the choice of higher 50 / 60p for movies or more cinematic 24p, the ability to touch refocus during movies, and is shorter, albeit thicker according to the official measurements.”
So, what was you saying about low light, Baldie?? Stop hating, EM5 had its year, Last year… enjoy your purchase and stop the hate.
It took me a while, but here at last we got the big rise of the undead – A Big Coven of distilled Idiots 🙂
So you said, desperate trolls and leprechaums?
It was enough to QUOTE the Cons from one AUTHORITATIVE review, instead of the usual mishmash of AngloSaxon shills to make you all feel queasy?
No staying power, tsk, tsk…
Please be less stupid.
Far, far less stupid.
No staying power… kinda like your HAIR.
Maybe I can get some advice from the Panasonic shooters here. I just got my hands om the GX7 and really like it – apart from one issue that really troubles me. I do a lot of candid photography under variable lighting conditions. For that I need to be able to control both aperture and shutter speed, or at least to set a minimum shutter speed. Sadly the GX7 does not seem to have a configurable minimum shutter speed and there is not Auto-ISO in M mode – which means I cannot use it for this purpose as constantly adjusting the ISO between every shot means I miss most of my opportunities.
Is there any way to make Auto-ISO work in M or set a minimum shutter speed? I don’t mind if it was complicated, but without that feature I cannot use the camera for the main purpose I bought it and would have to return it – which would be a shame as otherwise it is really good.
Any suggestions?
Yes, it’s an issue on my GH2 too. I hoped they’d figure auto-ISO in M mode was needed since then.
Anyway, what I do is I use shutter priority, set shutter speed where I want it, and use auto-ISO. If it’s dark, camera will set the lens wide open, which is fine for me. I much prefer shooting wide open on my 20mm of 45mm than using ISO 3200-6400.
In really low light that’s also what I’d do, and that’s obviously fine. With m4/3 even at f1.7 of the 20mm depth of field is decent anyway (I usually shot full frame, so that’s my point of reference). The problem comes up when the light is not good enough to give you fast shutter speed and higher f-number but when you need both: today I tried to photograph a dispersed group of relatively fast moving people in average light; f4-5 and shutter speed of maybe 320 or 400 would have been fine. But the light changed constantly and trying to adjust the ISO every other second meant lots of over- and underexposed shots and several great ones missed. Not a single useful shot. 🙁
hmm,
In that case, there is no perfect workaround that I can think of on my GH2. You could set ISO to always underexpose a little then try to recover shadows from RAW file in PP. Is there much difference between shooting at ISO 800 then boosting 2 stops in Lightroom vs shooting ISO 3200. On some cameras it about the same. Don’t know about Panasonic.
I wonder if you can set aperture and shutter speed on the clickable dial, and then ISO on the front dial. That would help somewhat compared to GH2, which has only the clickable dial.
Then there’s the obvious: use the kit zoom in S mode! You’ll be at f4-5 at 20mm in low light all the time!
Thanks for your time and comments, Paul. I have played with it and the ISO setting is annoying: when you change the ISO the display does not show you the exposure information – so you basically have to remember that they ISO needs to go down 2.3 stops, then set the new ISO and hope that in the second or so it takes to: press ISO button, turn the dial, press ISO button again the light has not changed. Obviously, it is doable, but so much more hassle than it needs to be. Shame, otherwise a lovely camera.
I think Pany reads this blog and decided every man and his dog really, really want high ISO. And it will be used all the time. So they make their cameras to use it as a matter of routine. Not realising that most people don’t really, really want high ISO. Its just a few who ‘might’ go out once a year when its dark or do the tourist in a church bit. Then again, some may use it all the time.
You’ve highlighted something I feel strongly about too.
It is enough for me to sit back and say, no I’m not going to
spend that much money if the camera doesn’t allow me to control it
the way I’d like to.
I have a cheap G5 that also has this flaw, but I can forgive it because of the price.
Hi, I’m new to photography and I really don’t understand all the terms…however, I’m thinking of purchasing this GX7…when you say that it has no stabilization on video – does it mean that all the videos I will take will be shaky? Will the lens (with OIS)help to stabilize the videos I’m taking?
Image stabilization from the lens will help; in fact depending on the lens it may be more effective than the in-body stabilization would be (if it worked in video). Whether or not your videos are shaky depends on the technique and the shooting circumstances; stabilization definitely helps though!
I’ve used the GX7 and the auto white balance, color production and metering is spot-on, every single time. This is really a photographer’s camera. It’s one heck of a camera.