i have to agree, just got the camera yesterday and the video is outstanding. on the other hand the stills arent as sharp as id like... so im looking towards upgrading lens to hopefully fix this issue
I got mine a couple weeks ago. The video is fantastic. The photos are ok with good light. Put it in low light and both take a huge nose dive in quality. My favorite though is the timelapse. The g7 makes it really really easy.
This is the radical review as far as 4K is concerned. This clearly indicates that the USP of this camera is to be destroyed with this approach. Not a single person has said that 4K recording is not good in this camera. Something unacceptable. Do not know intentional or unintentional.
As a Sony a7s/r shooter the g7 is my favorite small form factor camera. You can get some.absokutlely stunning results for video with it. They are b roll cameras. I don't think panasonic has any intention for these cameras to canabalize market share from the GH4, which is still a market leader. That said, I think you can get mist video capabilities you need from the g7. It lacks some of the gh4 's refinements but that's clearly intentional. What do people expect for $700? There was a time very recently where you had to pay $10k for what the g7 and cameras like the rx10 are giving you for very little money.
you shoot with the A7s/r and those bodies are expensive.. not to mention LENSES are expensive too.. I think the Panasonic G7 would be a great choice for people starting out! It's a lovely camera...
I am about to think the G7 is a better choice for me than a second GH4 camera with the low prices (400 euros for the body only) in my country. I have a lot of Canon L lenses which I can use with a dumb EF to MFT Adapter.
Great review, honest and straight forward. I am a portrait photographer that shoots 2 G7s. It is more than capable as a stills camera and honestly most people can not tell my work from ones done with full frame.
You are right about the short comings on auto focus and image stabilisation for videos. But we are the end of 2019 and we still don't have any alternative from any camera manufacturers to G7. Not even from Minolta, Olympus or Fujifilm at sub-$500. That's why people buy G7 even today. Canon, Nikon and Sony are way above the affordable mark. Thanks for the review.
You are very knowledgeable, unbiased, straight forward, concise and yet giving detail where needed and informative. I think you are my favorite reviewer. Thanks for your work! Subscribed!
I recently bought a GX7 for £310 including a high speed card a superb camera with metal body. This was a bargain because it has been replaced by the GX8. Conveniently compact with a feeling of quality and the image quality is excellent.
Jean berthelot You can find a lot of useful tutorials on RUclips. I also practice by shooting photos at home. I shoot under different lighting conditions. Just shoot anything and everything so you can stay sharp
Totally agree about the stills capability, but I'm not so sure about the video side. I bought the G7 because it offered 4K, and my clients were beginning to ask about it, but since then, haven't had occasion to use 4K professionally. Shooting full HD at 50i or 50p - I'm based in UK - gives astonishing results, and these have become my goto choice for video.
Set the camera to manual focus, and while recording you can use the back button focus or whatever it's called to focus automatically instead of pressing the shutter and accidentally stoping the recording...
I love your reviews! Mainly because you focus on video, and filming yourself which is what I do. I'm with you on the fully articulating screens needing to be on all cameras. I can't believe Sony isn't doing this or I would have bought an A7. I'm still waiting for a full frame camera with fully articulating screen. I tried the Sony VG900 and it was pretty terrible.
I shoot video with my Panasonic camera that "specs" at 4K, but I actually shoot at 1080p and it is awesome! You don't have to max out the capabilities every time... or any time. At HD 1080p, the Panasonic cameras shine BIG TIME! Why be disappointed when you don't have to be? Unless you have endless funds to spend on cameras and lenses to match, find what works for you and run with it. I think the G7 or GX85 are more than adequate for 98% of us. By the way... love the pics of FTW arts district. The Kimbell Art Museum is one of the great places on the planet. Your pics of the Modern Art Museum are nice too...
B&H is selling the Panasonic G7 for $499. This makes is a good price for a starter camera or a second camera. For $200 more, you can get the G95, which has a better lens, 12-60mm and in body image stabilization. Both are good deals.
Bought this yesterday as my first camera, features and price is what got me here, I'm more interested in vid but looking forward to use photo side of it too.
I love your reviews, they are real life useful. The G7 is my favorite camera ever, it feels great, it’s fun to use, and has an incredible image quality. I’m a stills guy and only have used for video a couple of times and for family events so for me it totally delivered.
I understand the frustration of the GX85 having IS with no mic input, and the G7 having the reverse. I believe it's not entirely intentional because Panny just came out IS in body in their lastest model which happens to be the GX85 so for future G and GH models, for sure will have the mic input as well as the in body IS. Panny isn't known for introducing new tech in their G line but for the GH or GX line they do like newer sensor, IS, etc.
I’m actually waiting for my G7 to ship. I bought it by trading in a couple old lenses, bringing my cost for the G7 to $119. I haven’t tried it yet, but apparently if you switch the G7 to Service Mode, you can film past the 30 minute mark. Regarding focus, I’ve seen other videos that show that the G7 is pretty successful with face detection. One caveat being that if you shoot in 4K the AF doesn’t work as well. D4Darious, who I’m subbed to on RUclips, likes the G7 a lot and has filmed several shorts with it. I mainly got the G7 for vlogging so I’m not looking for crazy image quality. I have the BMPP4K for that. I’ll be sure to share my experiences with the G7 on my RUclips channel. I hope I have the positive experience others have had. Cheers.
Cameras now are really awesome. It's hard to find fault actually. But for me (at this price range), photos goes to Fuji because of the bigger sensor and videos to Canon for its AF. But I have my eye on that G7 for a long time now. Haha! Kudos to you, Sir.
I've watched your videos about these Panasonics (also your many others) but I after 2 videos I still don't understand why exactly they fail for video. (Former GH4 user, Sony's user and current GX85 user) I only get 2 specific things: 1. Mic input on GX85. Yes the GH4 had mic input (G7 does) and onboard mic was high quality, but if you're serious about sound, a small zoom recorder will smoke any mic connected to camera input. I had high end mic connected to my GH4 and it was almost the same as onboard mic. The Zoom was much better. Not to mention that capturing sound from the camera position is amateurish, and I'm being nice here. 2. Autofocus. Yes, Sony is better in 1 or 2 models only (RX100 IV sucks for 4K AF just like Panasonic). Canon is by far the best. However, none good enough to rely on, and I have doubts there will be. I use Panasonic in AF-S and works very well, just touch where to focus and you're good. You said something about image quality and honestly I used them all but don't see that. Set up default and yes there is poor DR especially on GX85 but turn down contrast (starting from most neutral profile), lower highlights and up shadows and no problems. There are differences in these cameras where one is better then the other in X area and viceversa, but still don't understand why you dismiss them for video like they are junk. Others have all kinds of problems too but somehow a few things the Panasonic lacks are dealbreakers
i love my G7. Found the video interesting because the 4k quality you can get on this camera is unmatched without spending a lot more money. Sony's have overheating issues from everything I have seen. So for 4k video that really only leaves you with the GH4 or the eventual GH5 which again cost a lot more money. To me for even the casual shooter with the flexibility of the screen and the mic input it offers a lot, in fact to me it is probably the best camera for vblogging if you don't mind the size. If you don't want to shoot 4k you can always use the 1080. Though most people I know actually record in 4k but then encode back to 1080 because they think it provides better quality than recording normally with a 1080 camera. The G7 for its combo uses in video and photos along with adapters and retro glass make it seem to me like the best valued camera on the market.
I am glad you mentioned that it is a slow camera. I was considering buying this for my railroad stuff where I shoot photos of trains and things like that where the train would move at a very high speed and I would need to move quickly also so if not using the Panasonic G7 for photo what camera would you recommend for my sort of activity where photographing very fast moving objects can be done at any time of day and easily
To solve the focus hunting while using the cam for video, just use a stabilizer with a 16 mm Rokinon at aperture around 11 or smaller and everything will be in focus.
And I was about to buy two of this cameras for video but I have seen the same problem over and over again... hunting when focusing... so will go with the Sony a6500
Great review as always Ted. The Panasonic G6 was my first MFT camera - love it and still have it, although nowadays it's relegated to tripod video where I need clips up to 1 hour long. I chose the GX85 a couple of weeks ago over the G7 mainly due to the 5 axis IS for stills and handheld video where audio is not critical. Plus I wanted To get into the whole 4K video/photo game. I don't regret the GX85 choice, and so far I'm glad I invested in the Micro Four Thirds system. My ideal MFT camera would have the weather sealing, colour rendering, mic jack and 5 axis IS of the Olympus OMD EM5ii, along with the 4K video features, video quality and menu system of Panasonics.
I love this camera ! Its got a great form factor and very light body. The 50 mm prime gives me tac sharp pics. The 4 K mode is super cool and I think it is one of the best video cameras in market for this, price. The 4k picture, option is a very clever way of using the 4k , 30 fps mode and then converting, it to still images. This was my first Panasonic and I love the menu system, which is so intuitive. However I do feel there are a few issues - The image stabilisation is so important in these format of camera, because the advantage you get out of holding & walking with it in your hand, is lost if you have a shaky image. But G7 doesn't have IS. Further, I feel the micro 4/3 format in general suffers from darker images, in, low light condition and because the issue is accentuated with a crop factor of 2. I generally use lens with a aperture of more than 2.3, which struggles to render good images. Most of my telephoto lenses have 4.3 and higher aperture. A similar lens in a full frame might receive more light thus better for low light. This issue is very visible whilst using the Panasonic. So, unless the light is really bright, and if I to have use a higher shutter speed for wild life photography then the output gets too dark ( I don't like to crank up ISO, generally). I am waiting to buy a 300 or 400mm telephoto lens as that would, unleash the absolute full potential of this camera. I am glad that, the 4/3 system generally have lower entry point from price point of view (same lens of canon 600 mm would cost over 12k while here is costs just over 599 USD). This makes it a great camera for "enthusiast" who want to rub shoulders with a professional. I do sometimes however also feel the form fact is too small for my large hands. What's been your experience? Is there a word around for issue of low light ( without increasing the ISO)?
Strange, as I have the opposite advise for anyone around, avoid the G7 and GH4 for photo (GX85 is the exception) and get either a G7 or GH4 with the 12-35 and 35-100 F2.8 for 4K video... (Note, that 4K down-sampled to HD is fantastic, better than the G7 and GH4 native HD). Granted the Panasonic's AF is not as good as the Canon Dual AF, but good enough for anyone who knows how to shoot videos. And on top of all the G7 is 1 to 2 stop better in low light than the GH4. So, to anyone who's riding this, G7 or GH4 for Videos, GO for it... Photo? Get a GX85! Note. I own a GH4, GX85 and sometimes use a rental G7.
I'm new to cameras and just bought a G7. Maybe an intro into the world of lenses would be useful to a noob like me? I got the kit lens with it, but I'm unsure what else I should be buying? A beginners guide would be awesome...
for a beginner who does alot of traveling and values video and photos equally, would you recomend this or the nikon d5500 since they are both similiar price ranges
Ted, I enjoy your channel and this is a nice review but, as an introduction to Panasonic's product line and to micro 4/3, you really should have started with the gx8. That would have given you a true reference point for what is currently the full-featured flagship of the lineup and your criticism of the video functionality of these cameras may have been resolved. And you can find the gx8 selling for around $850 if you look around, making it a very attractively priced alternative.
Great review. I love my G7, but wish it had in-body stabilization and weather sealing. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Photokina to see what comes out (GH5 please). I shoot stills and 4k quite a bit, so many other platforms don't quite hit all my points. Thanks again for great content.
Hey Ted, Wondering which camera(s) you believe do a better job of both stills+video combined? Or for that matter, do a better overall job at video in a DSLR or mirrorless camera? It just seems overly harsh to say the G7 is frustrating for video considering the utterly gorgeous Cinelike-D flat profile in 4k, the ability to shoot 60p slo-mo at 1080 (tho down from the GH4's 96 unfortunately), and decent video autofocus (especially facial tracking). I also shoot with a (full-frame) Canon 6D, Fuji X-E1 (APS-C), and BMPCC (super16), and find the micro-four-thirds system to be an ideal balance of size, weight, and image quality. Why lug around big DSLRs, the 70d/80d included, when you get fit a G7 in a jacket pocket and shoot practically any situation just as well? Just my 2 cents, curious to hear your thoughts!
Forgot to mention the fully articulating screen, which also works phenomenally well as another contact point for holding the camera stable during handheld video recording. Oh and all for under $600. Fugetaboutit
I love my G7 and the video quality in most circumstances is excellent, similar to the GH4 but even better in low light. However, auto focus, depending on the lens you use, is indeed often a challenge. It definitely can't match up with, for example, the Canon 70D. What I usually end up doing is go into manual focus, and use the shutter button to autofocus and then keep it locked in that position until re-focussing is necessary, I press the shutter button again to re-focus. This prevents the hunting that you often see. I actually assigned focus function to the AF/AE lock button which I find easier to access while shooting video.
great comment... one thing I would like to share with you is that instead of using the shutter button to focus while recording you can use the back button focus.... that will save you from accidentally stop the recording...
I would not recommend this for photo's, for video it's the absolute best option for under 1k (you can get it for 250 used) for photo's I would recommend the nikon d3200.
I enjoy your videos. I'm really confused by some of your comments. Maybe beacause I didn't what the GX85 video. You say is C-AF is behind Canon, ok. You say G7 has no IBIS, ok. What do you mean by 'Panny claims to do 4k recording?" Are you asking for Cinema 4K here? Then you seem to flip and list 4K capability as a negative? Folks can shoot 1080 if desired. Panny has led the way in pushing more and more capability down market, starting with the GH1 and GH2. Sony has joined them and it's great to see. All manufacturers purposly withhold features/capabilities. I'd guess Canon does it more than most...
I don't know if you will see this but when I look in the viewfinder, there is a box and a + sign in the box.....I've been told that is for pinpoint focus....I don't want that and don't know how to get rid of that + sign? Help?
Awesome video! Thanks! Do you know if this camera has a shutter life expectancy? I know that DSLRs has a shutter life, correct? Often, maybe, between 80,000 - 120,000+, maybe?
I agree with your comment about the articulating display. Also the frustration about why one camera has a good feature and the next more expensive camera does not. Sometimes you pay for more but get less. While you are at it why not review good inexpensive video only cameras?
Thanks for the in depth review, I have a question, I am looking for a camera mostly for video shooting. Could you please advise whether I should consider the Panasonic G7 or the Panasonic LX10. Thanks.
Ted I Like your channel, but I'm quite confused concerning your review, (and the reviews of others), on this camera. I own a DMC-G7K. For me; the autofocus has been poor sometimes failing to attain focus completely, and the 4k photo feature, (a major selling point in my case), now, (starting about 4 months after purchase), lags before starting to shoot. I'm not trying to discount your experience I'm just saying mine has been very different and ppl should be aware. All that being said I learn a lot here thanks for instruction you provide.
Great great camera, 400€ for a sealed one. The only camera alternative to me was new G80, the same without AA filter but Sensor Stabilization and sealed body, but DOUBLE the price :( for same photo video quality
I'm looking at buying a Panasonic G7 and wondering which lens I should get. I'm going travelling to South America and am on a budget. Should I purchase an additional lens, and if so which one, or am I better off staying with the kit lens?
Hi. I'm really confused which camera to buy for a first timer. Gonna use it for a concert, both videos and photos, will it be worth the money? Thank you!
I think your comments are really clear and valuable. I guess what I would like to know is that would you recommend the GH4 over the G7 or GX8? Is there something a little better on the market, at a reasonable price? I had a Sony DSLR (Sony Alpha 55) but I found that it didn't really produce GREAT photos and the Video wasn't that great and I was hoping that you could help. I was thinking Panasonic as I have had great results with their point and shoot cameras however I have never used a Mirrorless camera before. Thank you in advance.
While the increased data in 4K images does give the photographer nice benefits--like a bigger image for cropping, or the ability to pick a focus point after shooting, or the ability to select one 8 meg image from a video stream--from the standpoint of the person viewing the images, I find 4K to be way over-hyped. What I mean is, the difference between standard def and HD was and is enormous, so enormous that it's hard nowadays to watch tv programming that's not HD. By contrast, the perceptible difference between HD and 4K is minuscule. I own both a 50 inch HD tv and a 50 inch 4K tv. I get 4K programming both from Netflix and RUclips. The difference to the naked eye is so small, most of the time I can't remember which tv I'm watching. Sure, in the lab and on the bench there are big differences. Not so much in the real world. I have both the gx8 and the g7. After my initial excitement about 4K, I now shoot 1080p 100% of the time. Just some food for thought.
you say you find the video on this camera frustrating, so what other camera in this price range or lower would you prefer over this camera with video and stills?
But you dont have to shoot 4k and edit 4k, isn't the great thing about shooting 4k is that you can downscale it to 1080p and still have much sharper footage than shooting 1080? I think this is a great casual stills/video camera.
Love it, very good review! I'm really want to know what you think about the new panasonic g80/g85 & do a comparison between them especially in low light ;) , because in the new camera (g80) there is a 5-axis image stabilization with Dual I.S. 2, I heard that it pretty bad compared to the gx80/gx85 (maybe it's just an update which can fix it) What do you think ?
Love this camera, I got a good deal with it during Black Friday, very impressed with Panasonic menu and handling, however, the only concern I have is battery life :( I really like to try out the GH5 but not sure how its battery life is?
Hello, I need to get a cam within few weeks and the G7 have the answers to all my needs. My main focus is video (low light mostly) However, I got really confused when I saw the result on the GX85 with its cool 5 axis stabilization. Having that that level of stability in my videos would definitely be a plus. But I still prefer the grip and the ergonomics on the G7, also, I can't buy the G85 (which will be out soon siwth 5axis stabilization) cz it's be expensive. My question is, can I achieve, with my G7, a footage perfectly steady like the GX85's with accessories and software? (could be a steady mount + software etc...)
Debating between a used G7 or a new Gx85 as a B cam to the G85. Thanks for the info, love your videos! Gonna go see what I can find in the camera market here in Beijing.. Also, Modern Art Museum of FW?
It does't make clear why you don't recommend it for video shooter...because of no Mic input? UHD size video is not capable for most consume customers? no luck of auto focus?
I think 4k is great, but it seems for some reason that the video only really looks impressive when you are shooting people. When I switch to shooting video of landscapes or city scenes, the visual flaws seem so much more apparent, and even the 4k resolution does not look impressive. I do both photo/video, and for instagram, the photo performance on the g7 is ok, but I am definitely not sold. Probably gonna look towards the Sony A7siii.
Hi! I was wondering for the 4k photo mode on g7, it's an 8 mp. would a 4k photo in 8mp be better than a normal 20mp photo? I'm trying to decide between this and the a51000
the way you narrate things is very comforting, yet well structured.
Haha totally.
that's funny a lot of people say the opposite. that it's phenomenal for video and meh for stills
i know.. now im confused hahaha
i have to agree, just got the camera yesterday and the video is outstanding. on the other hand the stills arent as sharp as id like... so im looking towards upgrading lens to hopefully fix this issue
I got mine a couple weeks ago. The video is fantastic. The photos are ok with good light. Put it in low light and both take a huge nose dive in quality. My favorite though is the timelapse. The g7 makes it really really easy.
I would say that too !
This is the radical review as far as 4K is concerned.
This clearly indicates that the USP of this camera is to be destroyed with this approach.
Not a single person has said that 4K recording is not good in this camera.
Something unacceptable.
Do not know intentional or unintentional.
As a Sony a7s/r shooter the g7 is my favorite small form factor camera. You can get some.absokutlely stunning results for video with it.
They are b roll cameras. I don't think panasonic has any intention for these cameras to canabalize market share from the GH4, which is still a market leader.
That said, I think you can get mist video capabilities you need from the g7. It lacks some of the gh4 's refinements but that's clearly intentional.
What do people expect for $700? There was a time very recently where you had to pay $10k for what the g7 and cameras like the rx10 are giving you for very little money.
you shoot with the A7s/r and those bodies are expensive.. not to mention LENSES are expensive too.. I think the Panasonic G7 would be a great choice for people starting out! It's a lovely camera...
been on my video camera list for 2 weeks now!
4K for under 500 dollars and the lenses are dirt cheap too!
I am about to think the G7 is a better choice for me than a second GH4 camera with the low prices (400 euros for the body only) in my country. I have a lot of Canon L lenses which I can use with a dumb EF to MFT Adapter.
Nah, the G7 and the GX85 are both good enough to be A cameras. And it won't overheat and they're smaller and the lenses and and and and...
I bought the G7. . Mostly using for stills and I'm very happy with it. .
My blood pressure dropped when I saw it was you reviewing the G7. Just what I needed. You're a treasure, Ted.
Great review, honest and straight forward. I am a portrait photographer that shoots 2 G7s. It is more than capable as a stills camera and honestly most people can not tell my work from ones done with full frame.
what lenses do you have with it?
You are right about the short comings on auto focus and image stabilisation for videos. But we are the end of 2019 and we still don't have any alternative from any camera manufacturers to G7. Not even from Minolta, Olympus or Fujifilm at sub-$500. That's why people buy G7 even today. Canon, Nikon and Sony are way above the affordable mark. Thanks for the review.
I have two G7s to pair with my GH4 & FZ1000. They are wonderful to use together and match very well. Best value on the market right now.
You are very knowledgeable, unbiased, straight forward, concise and yet giving detail where needed and informative. I think you are my favorite reviewer. Thanks for your work! Subscribed!
I recently bought a GX7 for £310 including a high speed card a superb camera with metal body. This was a bargain because it has been replaced by the GX8. Conveniently compact with a feeling of quality and the image quality is excellent.
There is a 12-60mm kit lens worth mentioning, bit more range than the 14-42mm and pretty much the same quality
This is the camera I use for my channel. I'm new to high end cameras. Learning a lot... I had it about five months.
I'm on a budget :( the g7 looks like the best camera to me and it's Afforable... enough 😂
I love my G7.
Jose Betancourt love it I got it a week ago and I haven't been able to use it to much and I need it for work. Where can I go to get some training
Jean berthelot You can find a lot of useful tutorials on RUclips. I also practice by shooting photos at home. I shoot under different lighting conditions. Just shoot anything and everything so you can stay sharp
Me too !!
What do you say after 2years of using? :)
👍
Totally agree about the stills capability, but I'm not so sure about the video side. I bought the G7 because it offered 4K, and my clients were beginning to ask about it, but since then, haven't had occasion to use 4K professionally. Shooting full HD at 50i or 50p - I'm based in UK - gives astonishing results, and these have become my goto choice for video.
Set the camera to focus with the shutter release button. It will remove the bad hunting.
Set the camera to manual focus, and while recording you can use the back button focus or whatever it's called to focus automatically instead of pressing the shutter and accidentally stoping the recording...
I love your reviews! Mainly because you focus on video, and filming yourself which is what I do. I'm with you on the fully articulating screens needing to be on all cameras. I can't believe Sony isn't doing this or I would have bought an A7. I'm still waiting for a full frame camera with fully articulating screen. I tried the Sony VG900 and it was pretty terrible.
Little did we know .
This man would go ahead and get the perfect camera .
I shoot video with my Panasonic camera that "specs" at 4K, but I actually shoot at 1080p and it is awesome! You don't have to max out the capabilities every time... or any time. At HD 1080p, the Panasonic cameras shine BIG TIME! Why be disappointed when you don't have to be? Unless you have endless funds to spend on cameras and lenses to match, find what works for you and run with it. I think the G7 or GX85 are more than adequate for 98% of us. By the way... love the pics of FTW arts district. The Kimbell Art Museum is one of the great places on the planet. Your pics of the Modern Art Museum are nice too...
The GX85 is unreal. Smooth stabilized imagery.
B&H is selling the Panasonic G7 for $499. This makes is a good price for a starter camera or a second camera. For $200 more, you can get the G95, which has a better lens, 12-60mm and in body image stabilization. Both are good deals.
Bought this yesterday as my first camera, features and price is what got me here, I'm more interested in vid but looking forward to use photo side of it too.
Byron Phillips congratulations man let me know how it goes for you, keep us updated
@@kingsqod4268 so far so good, put it to use with the edelkrone system and had a play Sunday night, really happy with it
I love your reviews, they are real life useful. The G7 is my favorite camera ever, it feels great, it’s fun to use, and has an incredible image quality. I’m a stills guy and only have used for video a couple of times and for family events so for me it totally delivered.
I understand the frustration of the GX85 having IS with no mic input, and the G7 having the reverse. I believe it's not entirely intentional because Panny just came out IS in body in their lastest model which happens to be the GX85 so for future G and GH models, for sure will have the mic input as well as the in body IS. Panny isn't known for introducing new tech in their G line but for the GH or GX line they do like newer sensor, IS, etc.
best camera ive ever owned. I love my FF but theres nothing like this little gem
First time I heard this in all the reviews I’ve watched. Everyone else says the opposite. Better for videos than photos
I’m actually waiting for my G7 to ship. I bought it by trading in a couple old lenses, bringing my cost for the G7 to $119.
I haven’t tried it yet, but apparently if you switch the G7 to Service Mode, you can film past the 30 minute mark.
Regarding focus, I’ve seen other videos that show that the G7 is pretty successful with face detection. One caveat being that if you shoot in 4K the AF doesn’t work as well.
D4Darious, who I’m subbed to on RUclips, likes the G7 a lot and has filmed several shorts with it.
I mainly got the G7 for vlogging so I’m not looking for crazy image quality. I have the BMPP4K for that.
I’ll be sure to share my experiences with the G7 on my RUclips channel. I hope I have the positive experience others have had. Cheers.
Cameras now are really awesome. It's hard to find fault actually. But for me (at this price range), photos goes to Fuji because of the bigger sensor and videos to Canon for its AF. But I have my eye on that G7 for a long time now. Haha! Kudos to you, Sir.
I've watched your videos about these Panasonics (also your many others) but I after 2 videos I still don't understand why exactly they fail for video. (Former GH4 user, Sony's user and current GX85 user)
I only get 2 specific things:
1. Mic input on GX85. Yes the GH4 had mic input (G7 does) and onboard mic was high quality, but if you're serious about sound, a small zoom recorder will smoke any mic connected to camera input. I had high end mic connected to my GH4 and it was almost the same as onboard mic. The Zoom was much better. Not to mention that capturing sound from the camera position is amateurish, and I'm being nice here.
2. Autofocus. Yes, Sony is better in 1 or 2 models only (RX100 IV sucks for 4K AF just like Panasonic). Canon is by far the best. However, none good enough to rely on, and I have doubts there will be. I use Panasonic in AF-S and works very well, just touch where to focus and you're good.
You said something about image quality and honestly I used them all but don't see that. Set up default and yes there is poor DR especially on GX85 but turn down contrast (starting from most neutral profile), lower highlights and up shadows and no problems.
There are differences in these cameras where one is better then the other in X area and viceversa, but still don't understand why you dismiss them for video like they are junk. Others have all kinds of problems too but somehow a few things the Panasonic lacks are dealbreakers
i love my G7. Found the video interesting because the 4k quality you can get on this camera is unmatched without spending a lot more money. Sony's have overheating issues from everything I have seen. So for 4k video that really only leaves you with the GH4 or the eventual GH5 which again cost a lot more money.
To me for even the casual shooter with the flexibility of the screen and the mic input it offers a lot, in fact to me it is probably the best camera for vblogging if you don't mind the size. If you don't want to shoot 4k you can always use the 1080. Though most people I know actually record in 4k but then encode back to 1080 because they think it provides better quality than recording normally with a 1080 camera.
The G7 for its combo uses in video and photos along with adapters and retro glass make it seem to me like the best valued camera on the market.
I think this review one of the best and most agnostic reviews - absolutely zero bias ! I agree with all of the points - thanks.
I am glad you mentioned that it is a slow camera. I was considering buying this for my railroad stuff where I shoot photos of trains and things like that where the train would move at a very high speed and I would need to move quickly also so if not using the Panasonic G7 for photo what camera would you recommend for my sort of activity where photographing very fast moving objects can be done at any time of day and easily
To solve the focus hunting while using the cam for video, just use a stabilizer with a 16 mm Rokinon at aperture around 11 or smaller and everything will be in focus.
To tell you the truth i am using G7 for videos and it’s excellent! My gosh 4k on that baby is freigging awesome
Love how light the G7 is and was actually comparing to GX85 so...thanks for the awesome review!!
Well, that was a pretty succinct review, especially concerning the video capabilities of this camera. Cheers for posting.
And I was about to buy two of this cameras for video but I have seen the same problem over and over again... hunting when focusing... so will go with the Sony a6500
Great review as always Ted. The Panasonic G6 was my first MFT camera - love it and still have it, although nowadays it's relegated to tripod video where I need clips up to 1 hour long. I chose the GX85 a couple of weeks ago over the G7 mainly due to the 5 axis IS for stills and handheld video where audio is not critical. Plus I wanted To get into the whole 4K video/photo game. I don't regret the GX85 choice, and so far I'm glad I invested in the Micro Four Thirds system.
My ideal MFT camera would have the weather sealing, colour rendering, mic jack and 5 axis IS of the Olympus OMD EM5ii, along with the 4K video features, video quality and menu system of Panasonics.
I wanted to get Panasonic G7 last week to record videos and i'm glad i didn't, i go with a Sony camcorder instead and it's pretty good so far.
I love this camera ! Its got a great form factor and very light body. The 50 mm prime gives me tac sharp pics. The 4 K mode is super cool and I think it is one of the best video cameras in market for this, price. The 4k picture, option is a very clever way of using the 4k , 30 fps mode and then converting, it to still images. This was my first Panasonic and I love the menu system, which is so intuitive.
However I do feel there are a few issues -
The image stabilisation is so important in these format of camera, because the advantage you get out of holding & walking with it in your hand, is lost if you have a shaky image. But G7 doesn't have IS.
Further, I feel the micro 4/3 format in general suffers from darker images, in, low light condition and because the issue is accentuated with a crop factor of 2. I generally use lens with a aperture of more than 2.3, which struggles to render good images. Most of my telephoto lenses have 4.3 and higher aperture. A similar lens in a full frame might receive more light thus better for low light. This issue is very visible whilst using the Panasonic.
So, unless the light is really bright, and if I to have use a higher shutter speed for wild life photography then the output gets too dark ( I don't like to crank up ISO, generally).
I am waiting to buy a 300 or 400mm telephoto lens as that would, unleash the absolute full potential of this camera. I am glad that, the 4/3 system generally have lower entry point from price point of view (same lens of canon 600 mm would cost over 12k while here is costs just over 599 USD). This makes it a great camera for "enthusiast" who want to rub shoulders with a professional.
I do sometimes however also feel the form fact is too small for my large hands.
What's been your experience? Is there a word around for issue of low light ( without increasing the ISO)?
Thanks for pointing out the video focusing on the G7. I'm looking for something to replace my X70 and your videos have helped a lot.
Strange, as I have the opposite advise for anyone around, avoid the G7 and GH4 for photo (GX85 is the exception) and get either a G7 or GH4 with the 12-35 and 35-100 F2.8 for 4K video... (Note, that 4K down-sampled to HD is fantastic, better than the G7 and GH4 native HD).
Granted the Panasonic's AF is not as good as the Canon Dual AF, but good enough for anyone who knows how to shoot videos. And on top of all the G7 is 1 to 2 stop better in low light than the GH4.
So, to anyone who's riding this, G7 or GH4 for Videos, GO for it... Photo? Get a GX85!
Note. I own a GH4, GX85 and sometimes use a rental G7.
I'm new to cameras and just bought a G7. Maybe an intro into the world of lenses would be useful to a noob like me? I got the kit lens with it, but I'm unsure what else I should be buying? A beginners guide would be awesome...
Bought the G7 on the weekend with 3 lenses. Love. It.
for a beginner who does alot of traveling and values video and photos equally, would you recomend this or the nikon d5500 since they are both similiar price ranges
Ted, I enjoy your channel and this is a nice review but, as an introduction to Panasonic's product line and to micro 4/3, you really should have started with the gx8. That would have given you a true reference point for what is currently the full-featured flagship of the lineup and your criticism of the video functionality of these cameras may have been resolved.
And you can find the gx8 selling for around $850 if you look around, making it a very attractively priced alternative.
Great review. I love my G7, but wish it had in-body stabilization and weather sealing. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Photokina to see what comes out (GH5 please). I shoot stills and 4k quite a bit, so many other platforms don't quite hit all my points.
Thanks again for great content.
I thought it does?? According to the website it does
C on main dial has 3 options where I can set and preset photo setting and viideosetings quick jumping from photo mode to video ...
Hey Ted, Wondering which camera(s) you believe do a better job of both stills+video combined? Or for that matter, do a better overall job at video in a DSLR or mirrorless camera? It just seems overly harsh to say the G7 is frustrating for video considering the utterly gorgeous Cinelike-D flat profile in 4k, the ability to shoot 60p slo-mo at 1080 (tho down from the GH4's 96 unfortunately), and decent video autofocus (especially facial tracking). I also shoot with a (full-frame) Canon 6D, Fuji X-E1 (APS-C), and BMPCC (super16), and find the micro-four-thirds system to be an ideal balance of size, weight, and image quality. Why lug around big DSLRs, the 70d/80d included, when you get fit a G7 in a jacket pocket and shoot practically any situation just as well? Just my 2 cents, curious to hear your thoughts!
Forgot to mention the fully articulating screen, which also works phenomenally well as another contact point for holding the camera stable during handheld video recording. Oh and all for under $600. Fugetaboutit
I love my G7 and the video quality in most circumstances is excellent, similar to the GH4 but even better in low light. However, auto focus, depending on the lens you use, is indeed often a challenge. It definitely can't match up with, for example, the Canon 70D.
What I usually end up doing is go into manual focus, and use the shutter button to autofocus and then keep it locked in that position until re-focussing is necessary, I press the shutter button again to re-focus. This prevents the hunting that you often see. I actually assigned focus function to the AF/AE lock button which I find easier to access while shooting video.
great comment... one thing I would like to share with you is that instead of using the shutter button to focus while recording you can use the back button focus.... that will save you from accidentally stop the recording...
I would not recommend this for photo's, for video it's the absolute best option for under 1k (you can get it for 250 used) for photo's I would recommend the nikon d3200.
Thanks!
Does it have external output for a monitor?
But what camera are you filming this on? The image quality is gorgeous
Thank you for this wonderful review. I really appreciate the time and work you put into your reviews and videos.
great as always. Please get your Hand on the G85. Would be really helpful. have a nice one.
I enjoy your videos. I'm really confused by some of your comments. Maybe beacause I didn't what the GX85 video. You say is C-AF is behind Canon, ok. You say G7 has no IBIS, ok. What do you mean by 'Panny claims to do 4k recording?" Are you asking for Cinema 4K here? Then you seem to flip and list 4K capability as a negative? Folks can shoot 1080 if desired. Panny has led the way in pushing more and more capability down market, starting with the GH1 and GH2. Sony has joined them and it's great to see. All manufacturers purposly withhold features/capabilities. I'd guess Canon does it more than most...
I was planning on getting this camera for filming my aquariums, do you think this would be a good choice?
I don't know if you will see this but when I look in the viewfinder, there is a box and a + sign in the box.....I've been told that is for pinpoint focus....I don't want that and don't know how to get rid of that + sign? Help?
Awesome video! Thanks!
Do you know if this camera has a shutter life expectancy? I know that DSLRs has a shutter life, correct? Often, maybe, between 80,000 - 120,000+, maybe?
I agree with your comment about the articulating display. Also the frustration about why one camera has a good feature and the next more expensive camera does not. Sometimes you pay for more but get less. While you are at it why not review good inexpensive video only cameras?
You are in Fort Worth! HA! Recognized the Modern Museum!!!
that was a rock-star quality review... excellent. thanks, really helped me choose.
Thanks for the in depth review, I have a question, I am looking for a camera mostly for video shooting. Could you please advise whether I should consider the Panasonic G7 or the Panasonic LX10. Thanks.
The 4 K video are split in camera @ 6mins per shot which you have combine in post
Great video...like always but I've always noticed a lot of sibilance in your audio.
Ted I Like your channel, but I'm quite confused concerning your review, (and the reviews of others), on this camera. I own a DMC-G7K. For me; the autofocus has been poor sometimes failing to attain focus completely, and the 4k photo feature, (a major selling point in my case), now, (starting about 4 months after purchase), lags before starting to shoot. I'm not trying to discount your experience I'm just saying mine has been very different and ppl should be aware.
All that being said I learn a lot here thanks for instruction you provide.
Great great camera, 400€ for a sealed one. The only camera alternative to me was new G80, the same without AA filter but Sensor Stabilization and sealed body, but DOUBLE the price :( for same photo video quality
I have it.. The only disadvantage is no 5 axis stabilization.
I'm looking at buying a Panasonic G7 and wondering which lens I should get. I'm going travelling to South America and am on a budget. Should I purchase an additional lens, and if so which one, or am I better off staying with the kit lens?
Hi. I'm really confused which camera to buy for a first timer. Gonna use it for a concert, both videos and photos, will it be worth the money? Thank you!
The issues about G7 , are they also present while shooting at 1080p?
I think your comments are really clear and valuable. I guess what I would like to know is that would you recommend the GH4 over the G7 or GX8? Is there something a little better on the market, at a reasonable price? I had a Sony DSLR (Sony Alpha 55) but I found that it didn't really produce GREAT photos and the Video wasn't that great and I was hoping that you could help. I was thinking Panasonic as I have had great results with their point and shoot cameras however I have never used a Mirrorless camera before. Thank you in advance.
If you still have this camera can you do a comparison to the GH4? They seem to be more of an overlap in terms of market needs etc.
While the increased data in 4K images does give the photographer nice benefits--like a bigger image for cropping, or the ability to pick a focus point after shooting, or the ability to select one 8 meg image from a video stream--from the standpoint of the person viewing the images, I find 4K to be way over-hyped.
What I mean is, the difference between standard def and HD was and is enormous, so enormous that it's hard nowadays to watch tv programming that's not HD. By contrast, the perceptible difference between HD and 4K is minuscule. I own both a 50 inch HD tv and a 50 inch 4K tv. I get 4K programming both from Netflix and RUclips. The difference to the naked eye is so small, most of the time I can't remember which tv I'm watching. Sure, in the lab and on the bench there are big differences. Not so much in the real world. I have both the gx8 and the g7. After my initial excitement about 4K, I now shoot 1080p 100% of the time. Just some food for thought.
you say you find the video on this camera frustrating, so what other camera in this price range or lower would you prefer over this camera with video and stills?
But you dont have to shoot 4k and edit 4k, isn't the great thing about shooting 4k is that you can downscale it to 1080p and still have much sharper footage than shooting 1080? I think this is a great casual stills/video camera.
In your opinion, for a video maker, would be better a Sony a 6000, or a g7 (I don't need the microphone input)
Love it, very good review!
I'm really want to know what you think about the new panasonic g80/g85 &
do a comparison between them especially in low light ;) ,
because in the new camera (g80) there is a 5-axis image stabilization with Dual I.S. 2,
I heard that it pretty bad compared to the gx80/gx85 (maybe it's just an update which can fix it)
What do you think ?
Love this camera, I got a good deal with it during Black Friday, very impressed with Panasonic menu and handling, however, the only concern I have is battery life :( I really like to try out the GH5 but not sure how its battery life is?
its amazing even today
i can see there are some versions : DMC-G7K/DMC-G7H
DMC-G7W .. so what are the differences? please help me.
Hello, I need to get a cam within few weeks and the G7 have the answers to all my needs. My main focus is video (low light mostly)
However, I got really confused when I saw the result on the GX85 with its cool 5 axis stabilization. Having that that level of stability in my videos would definitely be a plus. But I still prefer the grip and the ergonomics on the G7, also, I can't buy the G85 (which will be out soon siwth 5axis stabilization) cz it's be expensive.
My question is, can I achieve, with my G7, a footage perfectly steady like the GX85's with accessories and software?
(could be a steady mount + software etc...)
Why are you not testing/using the GX8? It combines all benefits from the G7 and GX85 in one body.
It's not all good though. Compared to the G7 it's a lot more expensive and crops sensor in 4K video more. Also lacks dials and buttons compared to G7.
This or canon t6i? Not always shooting video and is my first camera
Debating between a used G7 or a new Gx85 as a B cam to the G85. Thanks for the info, love your videos! Gonna go see what I can find in the camera market here in Beijing.. Also, Modern Art Museum of FW?
should i get the G7 or a Canon for shooting video in this price? cuz i dont really need 4K, and if it is canon, which one should i get?
Is the fz 300 that bad compared to g7? Love the content. 😀
So for video folks, whats the alternative in the same price range seeing as you are frustrated with these?
What are the best settings for taking still pictures on the g7?
Would you go for the 140mm lens?
I am between the g7 or an olympus em10 mark ii, what do you think I should buy?Ps:sorry if I am wrong in the grammar, this is not my home language.
You have an Ile-de
You have an Oled Evf on thé G7 and a sequential Evf on GX80 and also on Gx9.
It does't make clear why you don't recommend it for video shooter...because of no Mic input? UHD size video is not capable for most consume customers? no luck of auto focus?
I am confused to buy canon SL2 or G7 for youtube channel could you tell me what is your preference? thanks
I think 4k is great, but it seems for some reason that the video only really looks impressive when you are shooting people. When I switch to shooting video of landscapes or city scenes, the visual flaws seem so much more apparent, and even the 4k resolution does not look impressive. I do both photo/video, and for instagram, the photo performance on the g7 is ok, but I am definitely not sold. Probably gonna look towards the Sony A7siii.
Hi! I was wondering for the 4k photo mode on g7, it's an 8 mp. would a 4k photo in 8mp be better than a normal 20mp photo? I'm trying to decide between this and the a51000
What a great review! Im always looking for a new mico four thirds camera might gh1 is biting the dust. Gotta save up!
Got the G7 which is great and still love my GH1...
its a great camera indeed. Just wished there was hdmi out.
What about 4k downsampling to fullHD ? It would be better than native fullHD.
Optical image stabilisation in the G7? Thought it has no inbody stabilization?!
How many minutes does this allow for 1080p vid?
Torn between m50 and this for sitdown indoor vlogs and cover music and filminp band gigs.
If it’s for vlogging and only vlogging I would go with the M50. If your into filmmaking go with the G7. 💪🏾
Goid review, i have 2 of each, G7 and GX85.