The body of the Panasonic G7 is
based on the classic SLR system design. Clearly defined edges create a retro
look that is a little different than the curved and smoothed body of its
forerunner, the Panasonic G6.
The camera was tested with
the kit lens, the G Vario 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 II ASPH OIS. Combined with this
lens, and even with larger lenses like the G VARIO 14-140mm f/3.5-5.6 ASPH.
POWER O.I.S., the cameras is well balanced. A large grip on the right hand side
offers slip-proof handling, while function elements and the two setup dials
(one at the shutter release button, one at the backside of the top plate) are
easily accessible.
The new G7 offers a high
resolution EVF with 2.36 million RGB dots, which makes image control very
comfortable. It offers all the electronic aids and utilities available with an
electronic system like “focus magnifier” (including free choice of the
magnified image area), “focus peaking” and more.
The Panasonic offers all
standard exposure modes like P, S, A and M. Beside these standards it offers
numerous (24) scene modes and additional image effects. The modes are chosen
with the large mode dial on the right hand side at the top and is easily accessible,
even when the photographer is composing images. The camera offers additional
settings like a “panorama” mode and a special video mode that allows the user
to make manual video settings.
A second dial on the left
hand side of the camera's top plate offers modes like single and continuous
shot modes and the self-timer function. A special setting is added to these
shooting modes and marked by a small “4K” icon: in this mode the camera takes serial
shots at 30 frames per second. These images are saved as an MP4 video file from
which the best shot can be saved as a single JPEG file. The resolution of these
images varies slightly but is basically 8MP. The actual resolution depends on the
chosen aspect ratio; the Panasonic can record with an aspect ratio of 4:3, 3:2,
1:1 and 16:9 when recording in “4K Photo” mode.
Note: Basically, you can use
all 4K video cameras for taking video sequences with up to 30 frames per second
and using single frames of these videos as an 8MP still. However, the Panasonic
G7 (and all other new Panasonic cameras, like the GX8 or the FZ300) offers a
more convenient way to get these shots and allows for the use of photographic
aspect ratios other than 16:9, which is used by all other cameras.
The “4K Photo” function offers
different options as well. The camera is able to “pre-record” sequences in its
image buffer consisting of the last second before pressing the shutter release
button and the second after pressing it. Other “4K Photo” modes allow the user
to record very long sequences, similar to recording video scenes.
The Panasonic G7 uses SD
cards for storing image and video files. It worked well with all kinds of SD,
SDHC and SDXC cards in our test. The card slot is located at the bottom of the
camera (next to the tray for the battery), which can be a bit unhandy when
trying to change the card while working on a tripod.
Comments on Image Quality
Color: The camera showed a tendency towards cooler colors
with a very highly saturated reproduction of blue. The white balance system did
a good job; only the brightest nuances of the gray pattern in our test chart
showed a shift into the yellowish and green area. The reproduction of skin
tones is good. The corresponding colors in the result chart showed only a minor
shift. Characteristically for Panasonic cameras, the brighter skin tones showed
a shift into the more magenta/pink area. This is also noticeable in our
portrait test shot.
The overall color
reproduction is very good. The camera offers a lot of additional color settings
for changing the white balance characteristic or image parameters like
saturation and contrast. This allows the user to change the magenta overlap
into a more neutral or even warmer rendition, for example.
Sharpness: The camera achieved a very high resolution result by
reproducing the ISO 12233 test chart with 3147 of 3348 lines per picture
height. Nevertheless, the standard test box shot and the portrait shot have a
slightly softer look than the images of most other (even Panasonic) cameras.
This is also a bit surprising
because ImaTest showed a clipping warning for the images of the resolution
chart. This is a result of a very intense sharpness filtering done by the
“Venus Engine” processor and causes some exaggerated reproductions of hard
contrast lines, like in the Siemens star of our test box image or line patterns
in our ISO 12233 test chart. With more than 22 percent, the overshot effect is
very high: most other cameras will create overshot effects of about 10 to 15 percent.
Noise: The
Panasonic G7 showed very good results in our noise tests. The luminance noise
level is a little higher than in images taken with full frame cameras, but
nevertheless is on a low level. Color noise gets noticeable in images taken at
ISO 1600, while images taken at ISO 200 to 800 have a very clean look. The
color noise level is noticeable, but still acceptable in images taken at ISO 3200
and 6400. In images shot at ISO 12,800 the combination of color noise and anti
noise filtering becomes visible and is annoying in images taken at ISO 25,600.
The camera showed a good
performance in tests of its dynamic range. It achieved a maximum of 11.1
f-stops at ISO 200, although at higher ISO settings the dynamic range drops to
9-10 f-stops.
Video Format and Handling
The G7 offers numerous video
modes and recording formats. It can use a standard AVCHD setting with Full HD
recording of 1920 x 1080 pixels and high framing rates up to 50/60 full
progressive frames per second. In this mode the highest data rate is 28 mbit/s,
which is the maximum defined as AVCHD 2.0 standard.
The Panasonic also allows users
to record in MP4 file format. In this mode it is able to record UHD movies (4K)
with 3840 x 2160 pixels and 25/30 frames per second. In addition, it offers a
“cinema” and Blu-ray compatible mode with 24 frames per second. In all of these
MP4 modes it offers higher data rates up to 100 mbit/s. In addition, the camera
can record 720p movies and videos with 640 x 480 pixels.
The camera uses a second
shutter release button to start video recording, even when working in photo
mode. But choosing the special video mode on the mode dial allows for the use of
the standard shutter release button to start video recording as well as
providing access to a lot more tasks and functions, including manual exposure
modes for video recording. The camera can be used in P, S, A and M mode plus
manual selection of ISO speed settings. In contrast to photo mode, the ISO
speed settings are limited to a maximum of ISO 6400.
Using the electronic
viewfinder helps with manual focusing in video mode; additional focusing modes and
aids include “focus tracking” and “focus peaking” (colored and enhanced
contrast lines which are in focus) plus a magnifier function.
The camera also offers manual
sound control. “Level bars” are shown in the electronic viewfinder when working
in video mode. To enhance sound quality, the camera offers a 3.5mm jack for an
external microphone. A second jack for an earphone and for direct sound control
is missing.
An integrated image stabilizer
based on sensor shift technology is missing. But the camera can use the optical
stabilizer systems of its G-lenses when recording video. This helps to create
steady and smooth video shots.
Comments on Video Quality
The Panasonic showed a very
good performance in our video tests. In Full HD mode it reproduced the ISO
12233 chart with 940 of 1080 lines per picture height. In 4K mode it showed up
to 1525 of 2160 lines.
The color reproduction in
video mode corresponds to color reproduction in photo mode. The white balance
shows a shift of bright and white nuances into the yellow direction, while most
other gray nuances will show a “neutral” behavior. Blue colors have high
saturation, especially the clean cyan test pattern, which shows a big shift
into the dark blue area resulting in a higher magenta rate.
Noise results are very good.
The G7 shows only minor luminance noise effects in videos taken at ISO 200 to
800. At ISO 1600 and ISO 3200 we noticed some noise grain effects and at ISO
6400 very intense noise artifacts. We suggest that ISO 6400 should only be used
when absolutely necessary. The dynamic range in video mode is good. The camera
achieved a maximum of 11.2 f-stops, while dynamic range drops to 8-9 f-stops at
higher ISO speed settings.
Pro
-very compact system camera
-good body design with
numerous function buttons, plus more virtual function buttons on the touch
screen
-innovative 4K photo modes
combine 4K video function and continuous photo shooting with high burst rates
-very fast AF system
-WiFi system for remote
control and transferring images to Smartphones and more
-swivel LCD offers
comfortable image control
-high resolution EVF
Con
-missing NFC system (would
have made WiFi function more convenient)
-MFT (Micro Four-Thirds) format
means high lens crop factor of 1:2
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