Panasonic Lumix G7 (G70)
Announced May 18, 2015
PixelMeter The PixelMeter is our 1–100 aggregate of reviewer scores from trusted publications and creators. Weighted by source tier — not a raw average, and not PetaPixel’s own review.
Reviewer Consensus
Strong
The Panasonic Lumix G7 is a versatile and compact mirrorless camera that provides high-quality 4K video and responsive autofocus for content creators on a budget. Although the plastic build and lack of in-body stabilization are notable compromises, it remains a powerful workhorse for those prioritizing video capabilities.
Weighted from 32 reviewer scores
Pros
- High-quality 4K video recording and 4K photo modes
- Extensive physical controls and ergonomic design
- Fast and responsive autofocus performance
- Bright, high-resolution electronic viewfinder and articulating touchscreen
- Excellent value for money with a compact, lightweight form factor
Cons
- Plastic construction feels cheap and lacks weather sealing
- Absence of in-body image stabilization and headphone jack
- Autofocus can struggle or hunt during 4K video recording
- Limited battery life and inconvenient battery compartment access
- Complex menu system and control layout for casual users
- Launch price $799 (USD)
- Sensor 16MP Micro Four Thirds CMOS
- Video 4K 29.97p
- Stabilization None
- Burst 40 fps electronic
What the Reviewers Say
All 32 expert reviews, weighted into the PixelMeter score.
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- DPReview 80/100
The Panasonic G7 is an impressive all-rounder, combining solid image quality, impressive autofocus performance and 4K (UHD) capability into a compact body with extensive external controls.
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The crop above right shows the effect of noise suppression in the form of smudging of individual strands together in the darker areas of the model's hair, as well as in areas with low local contrast.
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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.
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With the increasing importance of video, Panasonic has placed the emphasis very much on the G7’s movie capabilities without treading too closely on the Lumix GH4’s toes.
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[I]f you're a home user and you want to get into 4K video and you get the G7, you're going to be amazed by how sharp it is, how good it is in low light; it's really a very impressive camera.
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The Panasonic Lumix G7 offers an impressive range of features, including 4K video recording, a high resolution electronic viewfinder (EVF), rapid performance and focus speeds, as well as high image quality with a newly updated image processing engine.
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The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G7 is the fifth Panasonic stills camera to offer 4K video and photo shooting, following in the footsteps of the GH4, LX100, FZ1000 and CM1 models.
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The Panasonic Lumix G7 is a great camera for those who want to shoot 4K video without spending a fortune.
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The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G7's excellent 4K capture will appeal to you if video is a priority, but its plastic body may be a turnoff.
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[T]he Panasonic G7 produces high-quality 16Mp images and offers one of the most well-rounded feature sets in its field, with a high-quality OLED viewfinder, a vari-angle touchscreen and Wi-Fi connectivity.
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The Lumix G7 is small, lightweight, powerful and while not perfect, it gives you good 4K video for an incredibly low price. [...] For [...] less than $800, the Lumix G7 is a great camera to take on your next vacation.
- CNET 8.2/10
Now that the newer (but far more expensive) Lumix GX8 has incorporated a higher-resolution version of the sensor and offers sensor-shift stabilization in addition to optical so that it works with Olympus lenses, it’s tempting to ding the G7 for not having these features.
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The very same could be said of the Panasonic G7 compared to the GH4, although admittedly more in terms of specifications than appearance.
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[T]he G7 offers great image quality, excellent 4K video capture, super-fast autofocus, and even the 4K Photo option has its uses.
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The G7 is the clear victor for video capture, and its fast, flexible, touchscreen-operated autofocus system is the best of the bunch, too. That makes it at least as good in our view, and equally deserving of a Best Buy award.
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[I]t’s not at all bad for what you get with the Panasonic Lumix G7.
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The Panasonic Lumix G7 is a fast, responsive, hybrid photo/video capture machine.
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The G7 does the rest extremely competently. It operates quickly while delivering all major photographic functions through an efficient interface and highly ergonomic design.
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I think this is a very, very solid camera and really recommend this to anybody that's a content creator. If you make YouTube videos, short films and music videos, travel videos, this camera's fantastic.
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The range and scope of the Panasonic Lumix G7 (G70) is so extensive that I'm going to put it in a new class called workhorse cameras. There's nothing you can't do with the G7 and there's nothing that it doesn't do well.
- GadgetGuy 4.4/10
There’s no other way of saying this, but Panasonic’s Lumix G7 is an absolute game changer when it comes to cameras, and the 4K pre-burst has to be one of our favourite additions to a digital camera in the eight years we’ve been reviewing cameras.
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At the end of the day, the Panasonic G7 is an outstanding camera for shooting video, and I can't stress this enough. For the price, it's basically in a class of its own.
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If you are looking to get into YouTube and you want 4K and you want the best place to start so you can upgrade over time, the Panasonic Lumix G7 (G70) is absolutely one of the best options you're gonna find. It's legitimately amazing and I highly recommended it.
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What I did end up with, however, is what I believe to be the best budget camera if you want to shoot 4K video: The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G7.
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So for an all around camera that's good value that you can take out with you that has your flippy screen for vlogging for instance, I really don't know if there's a better camera on the market there. I've said it, value for money the Panasonic Lumix G7 (G70) is phenomenal.
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Panasonic Lumix G7 is a one-of-its kind compact mirrorless camera that beautifully mimics a full-fledged mid-range DSLR.
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So if you are thinking on getting this camera as your first camera for blogging or for YouTube videos, go right ahead, I approve.
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If what you're doing, if you have the right settings the right lens, this is an awesome camera for video.
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This is a great camera if you’re looking for a compact camera on a midrange budget.
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Despite the negatives, the Lumix G7 remains an excellent choice for beginners. It has an uncomplicated menu system and packs features offered in much more expensive cameras.
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The Panasonic Lumix G7 gave me the image quality and creative flexibility I wanted without the bulk that often discouraged me from carrying my DSLR. I genuinely liked its comfortable grip, physical controls, articulating touchscreen, 4K video, and interchangeable-lens system.
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It's overall such a great camera and I could recommend this literally to everybody because for the price you can't go wrong with it.
