For those who don’t know, the Panasonic DMC-G7 is a midrange mirrorless camera by Panasonic that just so happens to be the company’s first ever mirrorless camera. That’s right. The Panasonic DMC-G7 came out in 2015 and Panasonic hadn’t ever released a mirrorless camera before this one.
So, I think it’s important that you keep this fact in mind while you read this Panasonic DMC-G7 review because, while there is definitely room for improvement with this model, it’s pretty solid considering Panasonic hadn’t done anything like it before.
The Panasonic DMC-G7 is dated in a few ways, which I’m going to get into more when I talk about the Panasonic DMC-G7 specs, but in other ways it is still surprisingly modern and competes with equipment much more expensive.
Let’s get started.
Panasonic DMC-G7 Specs
The Panasonic DMC-G7 definitely ages itself pretty immediately with its sensor, which is a 16MP Four Thirds CMOS. This sensor isn’t large enough to compete in a 2021 market for professionals.
However, as I mentioned in the intro, the Panasonic DMC-G7 also includes specs that you’d expect of something much more modern. For instance, you can shoot 4K video at up to 30p with this camera. Considering this solid video is then paired with a fully-articulating touchscreen, it should be considered as a mirrorless option for photographers who run vlogs or photographers who are simply interested in both photography and videography.
Other Panasonic DMC-G7 Specs Include:
- 16MP Four Thirds CMOS sensor
- 4K video at up to 30p
- 4K Photo mode
- 3” fully-articulating touchscreen with 1.04m-dots
- EVF with 2.36m-dots
- 7fps burst mode
- Built-in Wi-Fi
- 350-shot battery life
Panasonic DMC-G7 Body & Design
If you’ve heard anything at all about the Panasonic DMC-G7 body then you’ve likely heard that it feels a little, well, crappy.
In a really unfortunate decision, Panasonic opted to build a relatively good camera with a plastic body, which makes it feel cheap to the touch. It is frustrating that all of the other great Panasonic DMC-G7 features are overshadowed by the fact that it feels like a DSLR you might buy for your teenager.
However, if you can get past the fact that it feels so cheap, the Panasonic DMC-G7 design is otherwise quite intuitive.
On the top of the camera, next to the pop-up flash there is a dedicated dial that controls the Single, Self-Timer, Continuous, and 4K Photo modes. The much larger Mode dial sits on the opposite side of the flash, to its right, and the power button is right next to it.
The EVF toggle, as well as the mechanical flash release, sit next to each other right by the EVF which is placed where an optical viewfinder would be on a DSLR.
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Panasonic DMC-G7 Build & Handling
When it comes to the Panasonic DMC-G7 handling, the first thing I have to discuss is the menu, which is easy to use and pretty straightforward. This intuitive menu is only aided by the touchscreen, which is bright and offers a great resolution considering how old this camera really is.
When you use the EVF on this camera, it will also feel like you’re using a much newer model thanks to the 2.36m-dot resolution. The EVF is a bit too big for my liking, but I know that other photographers really prefer the eyecup on this model to smaller versions found elsewhere. Whether you like it or not, it won’t be a make or break.
As mentioned, you can shoot up to 350 shots with this camera before you need to recharge your battery. Considering the fact that some newer cameras can only shoot somewhere in the 200s, I consider the battery life a win on this camera. I can go out for a long shoot and know that my extra battery is really only there for my own peace of mind. I likely won’t need it.
The Panasonic DMC-G7 build, as mentioned, is mostly plastic. The camera weighs 410 grams and measures 125 x 86 x 77mm. It feels comfortable to hold and comes with a deep grip.
Panasonic DMC-G7 Video Performance
As I’ve already talked about a few times in the article, the Panasonic DMC-G7 video performance is definitely going to be one of its best selling points in 2021 and beyond.
As 8K video starts to roll out in high-end cameras, we can only expect 4K capable cameras, like the Panasonic DMC-G7, to continue to drop in price. But, we are far from a world where 4K video is obsolete. To me, this makes the Panasonic DMC-G7 the perfect vlogging camera at the perfect price point for this coming year.
You can record 4K video with this camera at 30fps or 24fps. Conversely, you can record Full HD video at 60fps or 30fps.
The Panasonic DMC-G7 doesn’t come with in-body image stabilization, which means that in order for you to take full advantage of the videography skills in this camera, you will need to buy a lens that comes with image stabilization. Thankfully, there are plenty of Panasonic DMC-G7 lenses which fit the bill.
Panasonic also realised who their target audience was with this camera. It comes with a mic input, so that you don’t have to rely on the camera’s audio. It also comes with a micro USB, a micro HDMI, and a remote control connection.
Panasonic DMC-G7 Price
The Panasonic DMC-G7 price when this camera first came out in 2015 was $800. That wasn’t a bad price at all to begin with.
Of course, this price has dropped significantly since this time as Panasonic stopped manufacturing the Panasonic DMC-G7 which means you can only find them for sale from other photographers now.
I went to MPB to check the current price of the Panasonic DMC-G7 and was pleasantly surprised to find that you can purchase one in excellent condition for just $359. Conversely, you can purchase a Panasonic DMC-G7 in like new condition for $374. Regardless, it’s a lot more reasonable than $800 and the camera is now sitting in a price range, and with specs, that are amateur-friendly.
Of course, it can still be difficult to convince yourself to spend nearly $400 on a camera that you don’t know will work for you. This is why I always suggest that you shop with MPB. Whereas you never know the true quality of a camera that you pick up off of Craigslist or eBay, MPB hires an awesome crew of professional photographers and videographers to grade each piece of equipment that they decide to buy. And they’re picky about their buying process, too, because they want to make sure that you are going to be happy with your camera at the end of the day.
MPB also has a 30-day guarantee on each of their products. Try taking your broken camera back to a Craigslist seller and I’m assuming you’ll get laughed at.
For more info about why MPB is one of our favorite used camera retailers, you can read our review of the site in the learn more links below.