G7 as a second camera?

notuno wrote:

Yes indeed. It is still a great camera.

Personally I tend to keep the 'auto' shutter choice or electronic engaged. Only select mechanical if there are fast moving subjects crossing the scene, like cars. This keeps my total shutter count down. I also have a well used G6, which I use in electronic shutter mode more often than not, resulting in a very low shutter count relative to years of use. On the other hand I tend to use the GX80 mostly with mechanical shutter which has resulted in a newer and far less used camera than my G6 having double the recorded shutter count.

I know the above because I did a rare shutter count survey of my Panasonic cameras a couple of days ago and I know why the figures are as they are, because I'm the exclusive user of all of them.

Having used my GX85 almost always with mechanical shutter for 5 years, I wonder how much of a toll on the shutter that has taken. I'm starting to use more the ES, especially with long focal distance.

It is 'easy' to check the mechanical shutter count of Panasonic cameras. It just requires a little knowledge and dexterity to press multiple buttons at the same time. There are plenty of tutorials on YouTube showing how.

Mine is at just over 7000 with 1400 power-ons. This is relatively low because I don't use burst and it is one of several cameras I use. Nevertheless it has twice the shutter count of my older and much more intensively used G6 [ Not used so much these days.], because that is used with electronic shutter 90% of the time whereas the GX80 is 90% mechanical shutter if not more. I actually like the sound and feel of the GX80's shutter.

Does it have ibis?

rick in vegas wrote:

Does it have ibis?

The G7 does not have IBIS.  I think it is the last model before the new shutter was introduced along with IBIS. Maybe there has been a later release of a budget compact M4/3 model, but certainly anything from the G and GX 80/85 and higher new models have both these features.

Most longer focal length Lumix lenses have lens image stabilisation of course and stabilisation is not important for short focal lengths and fast shutter speeds. The lack of IBIS is not something that makes me want to upgrade my G7, although it can be very helpful when photographing static subjects in poor light.