Vintage Digital Review: Panasonic Lumix DMC G7.
…very competent but too plastic-y and could not overlook its lack of IBIS ultimately…
But I could not stop looking this camera up in the used online listings. Why? I am glad I imagined that you asked. I have quite a bit to say on this, but I will start with this.
They are giving these cameras away used.
My first go around I bought this camera because it was touted as a screaming 4K video solution bargain on sale new. And they were right. That was eight years ago. And it is still a viable option. How do I know? It is still available new… on sale… <checks notes> 10 years (!) after its 2015 announcement. The body is available all day for relative peanuts used now.
After looking at it for weeks I was finally motivated to go ahead with the purchase as a distraction from the ascension of he who shall not be named to the highest office in the land. So what of my prior gripes?
Plastic-y.
Yeah. I do not know what I was on about. Perhaps it is because I chose the silver version this time, but this camera feels fine. Much better than my memory indicated. Not Pentax DSLR melee weapon in a pinch sturdy (Not much else is.) but just fine. While it has nothing to do with capturing an image I will say it looks great in silver livery.
No IBIS.
Do you know what else does not have IBIS? My little GF1.
And I love that thing. So I got over it. A nice to have, not a have to have.
Additionally all but one of the four AF lenses I selected have stabilization built in, including a portrait lens.
And the one AF lens that does not have it has a fast aperture and it so small…
…it has not proven to be much of an issue at all.
Another “justification” that was partly to blame was a lens I picked up recently.
Great for video… especially filming one’s self… but I did not have an MFT body with a front facing screen. Now I do.
Confirming AF is not the issue with a wide lens like this, but framing is.
Compared to the two Lumix bodies I already have.
On paper the G7 kicks in the teeth of the GF1. But the GF1 counters with a dirt cheap asking price, a little brick of an all day battery, serviceable AF, solid ergonomics/control scheme, great IQ, all in a package that easily fits in any pocket with the right lens.
It appears they have the same sensor but these two have little else in common. The GX7 adds IBIS and has a higher top shutter speed, but coming two years later the G7 packs in quite a few advances. The GX7 makes sense if stills are all you are looking for.
What did I say I bought it for? Welp.
- A small bag of 4K related circus tricks like 30fps still grabs by way of 4K video.
- Unique focus modes that really make sense when you use them.
- For example, there is a focus mode where it creates a horizontal line of AF points across the frame and you select the vertical height. Where I found this handy was for a band performance my kid was in. I was capturing the video from the back of the auditorium with a zoom lens. This allowed me to set the horizontal line of focus across the band on stage and it ignored all audience activity in the foreground years ago.
Now that I have it again what have I noticed?
The controls.
Above all else this is the main party trick for me so far. Everything has a button or switch. Near no menu diving is needed at all.
Record button is conveniently placed. Having things like Scene selection, picture effects, and Panoramic mode right on the dial is nice. Well placed from and back dials also. I left Fn1 at it’s exposure adjust default. Great placement.
Right thumb access to many controls including Fn3 default to turn silent shutter on and off and Fn2 Q. Menu. Not pictured here but touch screen controls are near perfect and could nearly take up at least half a post on their own.
All the AF controls I could want on one switch/button.
A perk of all screens like this but I like that you can tuck away the screen when you just want to use the EVF or to protect the screen when not in use.
Clear viewfinder and I like the dedicated Fn5/LVF button that toggles EVF/back screen/Auto finder selection. Flash button for the built in flash…
…is well placed.
I love that the drive modes are on a dedicated dial.
While not as compact as the GF1 or GX7 it is not large by any measure. Fitted with the 20mm f/1.7 or 14-42mm PZ it easily fits in a jacket pocket as well.
The images.
I already know this camera is a capable video performer based on my experience the first time around. But neither that nor anything stated above would matter if it did not capture a decent stills image.
Again, it has the same sensor as the GX7 so we are good there also.
I close with a sampling of images captured since its arrival and some parting thoughts.
Thoughts.
This camera is not a perfect camera. The main ding is AF performance in speed and accuracy. Serviceable. As in, it serves the purpose I intended.
- Inexpensive to the point of almost being disposable compared to most camera gear. Memory cards cost more than these cameras. This makes for much better daily carry solutions than much more precious gear.
- Compact. Take the Panasonic Lumix 42.5mm f/1.7 portrait lens. Positively tiny to the point that I carry it in a jacket pocket in case I need it. And it is so small and light I am likely to forget I even have it on me if I am not careful. Perfect for a daily carry solution. No camera bag needed.
- The relative AF slowness is kind of the point. Similar to a recent rant about film photography this is a benefit to a certain extent in these times where blazing fast AF and burst rates can lead to image capture bloat and overstuffed memory cards.
- Enough MP. Not a lot. Pixel peeping is not the goal. Enough MP to get the image while not so many that you fill the cloud to bursting with massive MP casual images.
- Fun. Add all of those bullets up and I get fun. The fun of not worrying about getting jacked for my gear. Not worrying about dropping, breaking, or leaving my gear behind. Would I be happy? No. But the impact would be much more manageable with replacement costs in the hundreds rather than thousands.
- Good enough. That all said if proper care is taken technique used there is no reason that this kit could not be used for any type of photography work and deliver a great product.
I will stop myself here. Not bad for an inexpensive camera from 10 years ago.
Happy capturing.
-ELW
Eric L. Woods 
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