This is the Plastic Fantastic

Many lenses are called 'plastic fantastic' for offering great budget IQ but plastic build quality, and the Panasonic G7 is the camera body equivalent. This is easily the most comprehensive 'G' body yet, and is packed with tech:

• Panasonic DFD autofocus for great continous/tracking AF with Panasonic lenses
• Large high resolution EVF
• Good (8 FPS/10FP with e-shutter) burst shooting, with fantastic 4K photo mode (8MP photos at 30 FPS)
• Reasonably up-to-date 16MP sensor (same as in Panasonic GX7)
• Great video options including 4K video (as well as multiple aspect ratios via the 4K photo mode which actually saves 4K video to the card, great for anamorphic video)
• External mic port
• Great physical controls, with 2 control dials, physical dials for burst rate and AF mode, and more customizable function buttons that I know what to do with
• Electronic shutter for silent shooting and wide open shooting in daylight (present since G5)

This is the first Panasonic G body that does not seem purposefully gimped in any significant way to differentiate from the GH model. Rather, they built the G7 to be the best camera it could be, and also did the same with the GH4. The GH4 of course offers more than the G7, but the Panasonic G7 truly lacks for nothing in its price class.

I have not done formal testing of DFD and continuous autofocus, all I know is that with my Panasonic 45-175mm and 25mm lenses the tracking is excellent, and my hit rate is very high tracking fast-moving subjects.

Since I bought the camera, additional enhancements have been made via firmware update (the latest being focus stack in 4K mode.)

I am not a big fan of its styling, but while plasticky I imagine the body will hold up fine. Countering the plasticky body are very nice feeling dials, especially the twin control dials which have a nice solid 'clickiness' to them.

To be honest, I look at cameras like the Fuji X-E2 and Panasonic GX7 and envy their styling and more compact designs. But the G7 offers so much for both still and video shooting (especially for sports/action) that nothing within its price class can replace what I am able to do with it. If I want a metal body I can pay twice as much for a GH4.

Ultimately it comes down to this for me- do I care more about how the camera looks, or how my photos and video look? For that reason, I am going to give the Panasonic G7 5 stars.

I agree about the G7 styling - in my eyes both the G6 and G5 were better looking cameras, expecially the G6. And like you, it wouldn't dissuade me from buying a G7 were I in the market. For now I'm sticking with my G5 though.

Mark G, Longmont CO

Does DFD works with all lens including Oly?

TIA

Unfortunately it only works with Panasonic lenses, as it requires detailed optical info to derive whether the camera is back or front focused.

This could theoretically change in the future, but I doubt it will since certain other lens corrections features have also been brand specific.

Chi Pham wrote:

Does DFD works with all lens including Oly?

TIA

Chi Pham wrote:

Does DFD works with all lens including Oly?

TIA

I have two Panny lenses and one Oly lens, do I notice a difference?  No

And the G6 is terrific, but clearly the G7 hasmore going for it -- quite a lot more!

As for the plastic -- well, anyone puts down plastic simply because it is  plastic in this day and age needs and urgent short course in materials technology in 2016. All metal construction is vastly over-rated.

MDGColorado wrote:

I agree about the G7 styling - in my eyes both the G6 and G5 were better looking cameras, expecially the G6. And like you, it wouldn't dissuade me from buying a G7 were I in the market. For now I'm sticking with my G5 though.

It's the first G-series I like the looks of. The first I consider buying. Of all current mirrorless cameras from Panasonic,  Oly, Sony and Fuji it has the best control layout I think.

Really enjoy my G7. Great camera and feature set and plastic doesn't worry me in the least. Now if we could just get Panasonic to lower the price of the GX8 in Canada I would even be happier.

Silver