CameraLabs (Click here) posted the full Panasonic G7 review and writes:
For all the reasons mentioned in this verdict section, I find the Lumix G7 far more compelling than DSLRs pitched at the same price point. The real competition here comes from rival mirrorless cameras, particularly Sony’s A6000 (for its superior burst and continuous AF), Fujifilm’s XT10 (for it’s superb imaging pipeline), and the Olympus OMD EM10 (for its built-in stabilisation). You should carefully compare the feature sets of all these models to see if one’s a better fit for how and what you shoot, but if you’re into video or just want a great all-round mid-range camera, the Lumix G7 is hard to beat at this price point.
Panasonic G7:
Black G7 with 14-42mm lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto and Panasonic. In EU at Jessops, WexUK.
Silver G7 with 14-42mm lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto and Panasonic. In EU at Jessops, WexUK.
Black G7 with 14-140mm lens at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto and Panasonic. In EU at Jessops, WexUK.
Black G7 with 14-140mm and 14mm lens kit at BHphoto.
Black G7 with 14-42mm and 45-150mm lens kit at BHphoto.
Silver G7 with 14-42mm and 45-150mm lens kit at BHphoto.
20 Responses
I had a chance to handle the camera at a recent demo event. It’s a really solid camera, and the viewfinder is MUCH improved. Can’t go wrong with it if you want a great all-around camera. Olympus was wise to price the EM10 lower to appeal more toward stills shooters.
I have to agree. I own and love my E-M10, but this camera’s feature-set is much broader. I’ll likely pick up a G7 for work, unless the announcement of the GX8 in the coming months pushes the bar further. Hopefully an updated sensor and at least the equivalent to Oly’s 3-Axis IBIS in the new GX8.
I’m using the E-M5ii, the E-PL7 and the GH4 – I have to say I’m a bit underwhelmed with IBIS; fine if you have shaky hands and great with short lenses but short lenses don’t need stabilisation and with long lenses it reverts to about 1/focal_length same as the GH4 does, it can kill tripod vibration with a long lens but if a long lens has vibration damping (OIS) use that.
On the down side the highest usable ISO is much lower than the Panasonic, it may say IS25600 on the tin but noise at ISO6400 is poor.
The stabilisation in my wife’s GX7 is equivalent to the 3-axis in my E-PL7. The GX7 will default to OIS but the E-PL7 lets you choose (but OIS is the better option as it’s equivalent to 5-axis).
It will take an updated E-M10 II with better video and electronic shutter to compete with this. Having been disappointed by the E-M5 II as an upgrade, I hope Olympus will release the E-M10 update model soon, to provide what I need in an IBIS mainly stills photo taking mirrorless.
What was disappointing in the E-M5 II and what do you expect to be better in an new EM10?
The sensor of E-M5 II was very disappointing e.g. it cannot compete with the one in Samsung NX-500, Sony NEX-6000, or Fuji X-T10.
The E-M5ii is a very competent stills camera in good light. I use mine with unstabilised lenses. The stabilisation doesn’t handle very long and heavy lenses well, no better than the unstabilised body of GH4 does. With shorter lenses it works well but can result in shutter speeds that are too slow to prevent motion blur (no worries, just watch what you’re doing).
The E-M5ii cannot shoot long movie clips, Olympus limit it to 4GB, that can limit the clips to as short as 5 minutes because the clip length gets shorter as the sensor warms up until it can and will cut out and shut the camera down (I tested this because I need to shoot 20-30 minutes); this is a safety feature to prevent permanent damage to the sensor (read the manual). Panasonic sensors have a heat sink. The E-M5ii stabilisation works like a built-in steadycam during movie, but don’t waggle it about or you will get some very strange effects.
The E-M5ii is not wonderful in low light, noise becomes unacceptable around ISO6400, which is pretty high but the GH4 goes up through the roof and shooting it in low light at ISO10,000 – ISO16,000 is fairly normal (acceptable noise).
I was hoping the E-M5ii would be my movie B-cam to the GH4 but it’s not even close; I have to use a G5 or G6 as reserve camera. These do not have the high-ISO low light range I need, the G5 lacks focus-peaking, both lack the AF-ON back button focus Fn. My wife’s GX7 suffers similar sensor heating problems shooting movie due to lack of heat sink, so that’s out.
It’s looking very like I need the G7.
I have shot AVCHD clips for nearly an hour with my GX7 as a second to my GH4. Never an overheat problem.
I too am looking for a “B” cam. Could be G7 or GH4 with prices dropping the way they are.
The E-M5 II is a big mistake. After waiting for 3 years for an upgrade (to what was an excellent or even game changing camera), Olympus gave us the same old IQ as what you can get 3 years ago and what you can get in every M43 camera, even in the E-PM2, while other brands have made significant improvements, e.g. the Sony A6000. The focus for the E-M5 II was on video improvements, but video was not an important feature for such a camera (People get GH4 or other Panasonic cameras for video since Olympus cameras are no match), and video is still no match in the E-M5 II. Then there is the gimmicky Hi Res feature, and the clumpsy flip out screen. Money was spent on so many wrong things in this camera. Huge disappointment. Apart from a larger EVF and a couple of other non-essential improved features, the E-M5 II is not really such an upgrade after 3 years, esp in IQ. A new E-M10 II will be cheaper, and if it gives 5-axis IBIS, it will be just as good or better for still photo shooting. If it gets a new sensor, then it will definitely be a better buy than the E-M5 II. In fact, all M43 cameras will soon have new sensors and better IQ because it has been too long stuck at the same 16MP quality, and therefore the E-M5 II should be ignored by any new buyers. Just wait for the next M43 camera.
I don’t expect the next E-M10 to be better than the E-M5 II in any aspect except price. If a new sensor is showing up, it will be in the E-M1.
If you don’t like the E-M5 II, you most likely will not be happy with the next E-M10.
A good review but I think you’ll find as I have done with my GH4 that the DFD functions not only with Panasonic lenses but any lens that will AF on the body including 4/3 Sigma and Olympus; the DFD works by judging the hyperfocal range fore and aft of the focus point.
I’m not sure of the -4EV on the AF as I’ve found mft will AF without the lamp by starlight, it goes further into the dark than most folks will ever use.
Continuous focus is of most use during movies. Of course Panasonic have strived hard here but it can get confused by passing objects, so the operator needs to ride the camera.
This looks like a solid upgrade from the G6!
Does anyone know how you trigger magnified view for manual focus, now that the 2-stage rear Control Wheel is gone?
Good question, I’m curious too…
Left “D” button?
Testing continuous focus during video is a waste of time. It’s not going to happen so don’t be disappointed. I don’t think it works on any camera.
No headphone out, but I’m wondering if one could monitor in real time by means of the a/v (does anyone ever use those??) output? I’m going to try it. It is always nice to know you are not recording only hummmm. Of course one could record a short sample and play it back but that still leaves you judging audio quality with the tiny built in speaker.
A GH4 lite with the same tired 16mp sensor. Meh…
The “new” EM5II with the same old sensor. Meh…
Maybe the GH5 or the EM1mkII will provide a compelling reason to upgrade. With high performance APS-c bodies ranging from cheap (A5100/6000) to expensive (NX1) priced competitively with M43’s best, both Panasonic and Olympus really need to up their game.
APS-C who care here, I dont want 50% very average much larger lenses
I think of T1i users, if there is any reason for them to upgrade. Get your cheap aps-c and be happy.
A $800 kit that beats the A6000 in C-AF and features and beats the NX1 for 4K video quality (avoiding its moire and color problems) is meh?
The “same old” sensor just works, its image quality never disappoints me in any lighting condition and I shoot night-time events a lot. I know many people who deliver amazing results non-stop with older sensors… It’s only measurebators who care at this point.
NX1 video is better, there is zero rolling shutter in 1080p, and it does 120 fps in full hd. And its still mop the floor with the GH4, so yes its meh because there are better cameras for the money.