Panasonic G7 Review - The Best Value Camera?

I've taken the Panasonic G7 all over the place, so now it's time for a review. I think it might be one of the best all-round cameras on the market right now. What do you think?

Photo examples from travel, gig photography, event, and some lifestyle ones too. I love this camera! Though there are a few things I'd improve with a magic wand.

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Here’s a linkie to all my stuff — NEW! — the links should send you to your regional stores, so click away for prices and more info :)

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[keithspillett]

Loved the video - highly refreshing as usual. I also loved my G7, though I've actually traded up to a G80 now, because of the awesome in body image stabilization, which makes it a perfect match for my Olympus OMD-EM10 that I use as a second body. Unlike the G7, it's weather sealed too. I'd love a GH5 or G9, but I'm retired now, so buying one of those would be pure indulgence, and I'd be better off using the dosh to visit some photo opportunities!

[nhizzlefoshizzle]

Spot on review. The G7 is my first 'real' camera, and it's been amazing. Keep up the great work!

[johnbentley]

Nice video. I switched from Canon to Olympus. Love my OMD EM5 Mk II. But I also got the Panasonic G7 for video. I haven't regretted the switch at all. Both cameras are great. And the G7 takes great stills as well as 4K video. In addition both cameras have built in timelapse. Awesome

[Kobbo]

Alright, for now i love the G7 even more, cause it is the reason i have found your channel. Btw your pictures are stunning gurl ! Love ya!

[alexwade]

I have an original E-M5 and a G5. Both old hat now. Like you with the G7, I picked up my G5 for sub £200 as a second body to do a wedding. I've never really felt that it quite matched the Olympus though. From a raw image, the ultimate potential from a heavily edited still is close, but the fundamental colour/contrast calibration and hence stills straight out of the Olympus are a lot better. Less time editing, and often lovely usable jpegs with no work at all! I agree that the Oly menu system is annoying, but I've managed to work around that with the 'myset' memories. I have four refined setups that I can switch between (normal, back button focus, focus tracking, tripod settings) I've got all the small subsidiary settings optimised for each scenario. It took a couple of months to get there. It doesn't leave too much fettling now though. I think the newer bodies like the E-M5 II and E-M1 II have more function buttons than my old beast and you have a lot of latitude to configure them for whatever purpose suits, so more like the Panasonic perhaps?

[joeltunnah]

I picked up every camera in B&H in NYC this weekend, and hands down the G7 *still* has the most perfect grip of any camera in the store, by any brand.

[PedroEduardoBraz]

You are so funny and love your work. I have a Panasonic GX 80 and I love it. It is so small. The only minus is that the screen doesn´t rotate for selfies or Vlogging. Regards from Portugal

[SteveSacramento]

I love your detailed and very usable review of this camera, after watching this video I have to subscribe to your channel straight away. Thank you so much for doing this review!

[blindkkj]

Another nice video!
I love my g7 most of the time, but still wondering if I had to spend a bit more for g85. I really want to try out IBIS. I'm not a video guy at all, but was interested to try shooting video more often after finding out g7 does 4k. My most used lenses are Pana 25mm 1.4 and Oly 75mm 1.8. I don't expect to have a stable footage from Oly 75mm at all, but still it would be nice to have IBIS to support any lenses that doesn't have in-lens stabilization. People say get 12-35 or 12-60 which has lens stabilization, but that bits my goal trying to use prime lenses more.

Other than that, g7 is great. :)

[mikegill]

Hi. Thanks for another great video.🙂
I'm now on the lookout for a Panasonic, thinking a second hand GX80 with 17mm prime. Also very taken with your demo of the 4K photo mode.
Thanks

[cbrules]

How is the autofocus for gig photography/videography? I’ve heard bad reviews for this cameras autofocus, but the photos from the gigs looked great. Also, how difficult is it to do manual focus at gigs?

[CymBan]

Great video and channel. I'm enoying watching you on ur MFT journey :)
My first "real" camera was a G7 I got myself for XMas 2015, but unfortunately we became separated while paragliding @1500ft due to a loose zipper in my harness 3 mths later :(. After that I decided to upgrade to the GX8. Gaaawd I miss the G7 grip. It just melted in your hand. However after using the GX8 I'd really really miss the Tilting EVF, the weathersealing, the IBIS and the 20MP sensor ( I crop a lot for macro). The cost of a used GX8 has dropped significantly into the US$550 region nowadays so that's quite the bargain, but ofcourse it can't compare to a G7 for GBP200 :P.
I personally think the best up-to-date bang for buck is the Panasonic G80/85. It's an almost perfect camera with close to Olympus level IBIS, no AA filter which gives it similar real-world resolution as the GX8 20MP sensor, weathersealing and the video features and deity-level ergonomics of the G7. Only reason I haven't bought one is I'm waiting to see how the GX9 is going to look plus the extra MP's and tilting EVF are still very useful. It'd make a perfect 2nd camera to the GH5.

[bryanmorales]

I just got a Panasonic g7 with its kit lens. I’m wondering what lense would be great for landscapes and some street photography of like people walking and of buildings/skyscrapers of day and night. My budget is around $500 I’m having trouble deciding on what lense to get.

[thb]

Hi Emily, I've been watching your videos lately and I lm enjoying your reviews and your photography style, well done! I do kinda hate you for this one though...Ive had my eye on the Oly E-m5 II for a while now, and Im almost ready to take the jump (from canon DSLRs)... but now you've got me all confused since you like so much this Panasonic... its such a hard choice... when you mention the Oly M1, what do you like about it? Cheers!

[psionicdreams]

I never had a G7, had the G1, 2, 5 (and Only epl5) then went to the GH3 in '14 which is what i have now (and last year I bought the gm5 that had been languishing in our shop for nearly 2 years, poor little guy :)
Before all that I was a Canon man but the smaller, lighter, no noticeable difference in image quality thing won me over. i hope to get the G80 as soon as i can afford it, the GH5 is a bit too far out of reach (jealous now ;)
Enjoyed the vid, will be watching more.

[Ottaro]

.... Now you have me confused again. I'm currently using a Sony A7 for stills, non professionally. I some times do real estate shots and sometimes an event but I mostly shot for my own amusement.
I've become disenchanted with FE mount lenses, they are too pricey to justify buying them and entirely too big to my taste.

I discovered your channel a few months ago while shopping for a new system (love the channel btw) in the end I had taken the MFT system out of my choices mostly due to lack of stills reviews.... but thanks to you MFTs are back in my choice list!

I know you've used the Sony A7(x) how would you compare IQ? Not pixel peeping just general, small print/social media quality?

[romualdb]

ahhh the pany g7 i was on th e point to buy one and in final in bought a olympus e-m1 mk2

[johnhurn]

I'm 50 this Sunday coming and I think it's a G7 I can't wait 😊 if anyone knows of a cheap canon micro 4 thirds adapter let me know please?

[medokn]

3:48
4k is 8mp
4k burst mode captures 8mp stills at 30fps

[EddiksonPena]

Absolutely loved your review .. thank you for sharing 🙏🏽