Panasonic lumix dmc g7 reviews. LUMIX DMC-G7KEE Digital Mirrorless Hybrid Camera. Maximum shutter speed

4K VIDEO and 4K PHOTO modes - make every moment perfect

Special scenes that you would like to save may appear at any time and must be captured in the highest possible resolution. Thanks to Panasonic 4K technology, it's available to everyone. After leaving new camera LUMIX G7 you can record video in 4K resolution (up to QFHD: 3840 x 2160 pixels, 25 fps, 100 Mbps).

Plus, with the 4K PHOTO feature, you can easily extract the perfect frame directly from your footage (25 fps) and save it as an 8 megapixel image.

The LUMIX G7 Hybrid Camera lets your creativity run free for both stills and video.

Focus on the moment

Be ready to capture a unique shot at any moment. The addition of the new DFD (Depth from Defocus)* autofocus (AF) technology to Contrast AF improves the accuracy of the system, as well as speeding up the response time to approximately 0.07 seconds**. It combines an approximately 200% increase in AF tracking performance***, 8fps burst shooting at full resolution, and a UHS-II SDXC memory card to turn life's unique moments into memories that last forever.

* Contrast AF with DFD technology only works with Panasonic Micro 4/3 lenses.
** In AFS mode, with H-FS14140.
*** Panasonic compared to LUMIX G6.

Everything is in its place

LUMIX G7 combines not only a stylish, well-designed body and a comfortable grip, but also intuitive controls. The Live View Finder (LVF) helps you frame images even in bright sunlight, and the body design makes it easy to change settings. The front/rear control wheels control the leading aperture value and shutter speed, and can easily switch between white balance (WB) and light sensitivity (ISO) settings. Settings can also be linked to six programmable buttons.* In addition, 4K PHOTO mode can be quickly activated using the mode dial.

* Six buttons on the body and five menu buttons.

Video in 4K resolution - more detail than in Full HD

Whether you're watching movies or editing videos, 4K provides a much deeper viewing experience than ever before. The actual resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels is four times that of Full HD, resulting in significantly greater levels of detail. Even if you convert videos shot in 4K to Full HD for viewing on a TV, they will have a clearer and sharper picture than if they were shot in Full HD.

*For 4K video recording, use a UHS Speed ​​Class 3 memory card.

4K PHOTO - make every moment perfect

Using the high resolution of 4K, the Panasonic LUMIX G7 introduces a new 4K PHOTO feature that allows you to extract individual frames from video (captured at 25 frames per second) to capture those magical moments that only last a fraction of a second. Thanks to this function, you can be sure of the freedom to choose any "ideal" moment for you.

4K PHOTO modes - unleash your creativity

The 4K PHOTO function can be used in three different modes and allows you to capture perfect moments at a high speed of 25 frames per second:

4K Burst - Burst shooting in 4K
This is a function that can be used as a burst mode. The camera shoots 8-megapixel images at ultra high speed for as long as the shutter button is pressed.

4K Burst S/S - Burst 4K S/S (Start/Stop)
This is a standard 4K photo shooting function that can record 4K video and then extract 8-megapixel images from it. You can relax and wait for the right moment.

4K Pre-Burst - 4K pre-burst burst
A feature of the 4K Pre-Burst Burst mode is that the camera starts recording video in 4K resolution a second before/after the shutter button is pressed/released. Thanks to this mode, you can catch an unexpected moment that happens faster than you have time to react. You can get additional 50 images to choose the best one.

High-speed autofocus with DFD (Depth Out of Focus) technology

Capture even the fastest action with Panasonic's DFD (Depth From Defocus) autofocus technology*. The LUMIX G7 is equipped with this advanced technology that constantly calculates the distance between objects in the frame and shifts the focus of the lens in one quick, continuous movement. This new technology increases autofocus speed to 0.07 seconds** and burst shooting to 6 fps in AFC (Continuous Auto Focus) mode. It also improves the stability of continuous autofocus during video shooting.

* Contrast AF with DFD technology only works with Panasonic Micro 4:3 lenses.
** In AFS mode (autofocus for still scenes), with H-FS14140.

Fast and accurate auto focus tracking

With a new auto focus tracking algorithm, the camera recognizes not only the color, but also the size and direction of movement of the subject, which allows it to lock on to the subject even more reliably. As a result, continuous autofocus performance is increased by 200% or more, preventing the camera from losing the subject*.

* Panasonic compared to LUMIX G6.

Focusing in low light conditions - Star Light AF

Autofocus in low light (Low Light AF) allows you to accurately focus on subjects even in lighting conditions of -4EV (moonlight without other light sources). What's more, the LUMIX G7 is equipped with new technology Starlight AF, which lets you capture stars in the night sky by calculating focus from contrast values ​​in small focus areas.

High image quality even in low light conditions

The 16-megapixel Digital Live MOS sensor, combined with the Venus Engine, provides: high-quality image capture and high-speed signal processing. The advanced noise reduction system allows you to take clear pictures even at ISO 25600. The Venus Engine also does a great job of compensating for diffraction, which allows you to take clear and sharp pictures even at small apertures.

Excellent view and framing

The LUMIX G7 is equipped with a high-resolution 2360k-dot OLED Live View electronic viewfinder that provides excellent visibility with a 10,000:1 contrast ratio and framing even in direct sunlight. With all settings displayed directly in the viewfinder, your photos will always turn out exactly the way you wanted them to.
The camera screen also provides good visibility even when shooting outdoors on a sunny day. And the pan/tilt sensor design lets you shoot from unusual angles while maintaining complete control over the image and settings.

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Panasonic review LUMIX DMC-G7: how to improve an already good camera?

The display is very good. Yes, this is not an OLED matrix, but an LCD, but it has an impressive resolution, excellent protection that is not afraid of even strong pressure, huge viewing angles and good color reproduction, and there is also a touch layer that makes it easier to control the camera. The maximum backlight level of the display is not too high, but the information is easy to read even in bright sunlight. In addition, the display here is rotatable in two planes, which makes it convenient to take self-portraits, shoot from an up or down angle, or even turn the display over to protect it during transportation.

And now the most interesting: a graphical interface that is intuitive even for a completely inexperienced user. The hierarchy of the main menu is well thought out, so you can find the desired item quite quickly, and you do not have to open the instructions for this. The quick menu is replete with many options. Do not forget about touch control, because in Panasonic cameras you can control almost any parameter by touching the screen. Summing up the intermediate results, let's say that the hybrid control, coupled with the interface worked out to the smallest detail, allows us to boldly call the user interface the best in the class. Below are some screenshots for your reference.

Camera Features

Perhaps the main feature of the camera is shooting video with a resolution of 4K. In principle, many smartphones already know how to do this, but in terms of the quality of the resulting material, they are very far from the Panasonic G7. Of course, 4K support is only available when shooting in MP4 format, while when using the AVCHD codec, the resolution is limited to the usual Full HD progressive scan at 50 frames per second; when recording 4K video, you have to be content with 25p mode. However, even in this mode, the data flow is so large that not every memory card can digest it - 100 Mbps.

Of course, a modern camera cannot do without the HDR function, which allows you to expand the dynamic range by stitching together several frames with different exposures. It is not taken out in the menu of subject programs, it can be used both in program and in manual modes. In addition, there is the possibility of manually setting the exposure step (1, 2 and 3 EV), as well as automatic equalization, which minimizes the negative effect of camera shift during shooting. Of course, there are still certain limitations. For example, with HDR enabled, flash cannot be used, nor can the RAW save format.

The G7 can automatically stitch multiple exposures. Here it is already possible to use both the RAW format and the flash, and the number of overlays is virtually unlimited. There is also interval shooting, which allows you to take frames in increments from 1 second to 99 minutes 59 seconds, and the number of frames can reach 9999. Feature of the mode: with long pauses between frames, the camera simply falls asleep and automatically wakes up only when you need to take the next frame. This allows you to automatically perform interval shooting of fairly long processes without the need to recharge the battery. It is worth noting the frame-by-frame animation mode with subsequent conversion to video. The settings provide both manual and automatic shooting in increments of 1 to 60 seconds. It is noteworthy that frames can be added to the project later, after which they can be converted into a video sequence.

It is also worth noting the functions of intelligent selection of the scene program, sensitivity and exposure. The smart exposure mode needs a bit of clarification: it optimizes the exposure for each part of the frame, preventing the appearance of shadows and glare, and it also has an automatic backlight compensation function.

Another important feature is the presence of Wi-Fi and NFC modules with a very wide functionality. The camera is able to display the image on TV, send the image to a PC, smartphone, Panasonic cloud service, as well as various web services (Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, Picasa, Flickr). And this applies to both images already stored on the memory card, and those that you just took. When sending to a computer, no special software is required, as in the case of Sony cameras, and you can choose any network folder - if only there was permission to write. It is worth mentioning that you can send pictures during shooting only with a memory card installed, because first the picture is recorded from the buffer to the memory card, and only then is it sent. When transferring images stored on a memory card, the option to send for printing is also available. Files can be sent in any format: JPEG, RAW, or JPEG+RAW. Moreover, before sending directly on the camera, you can change the size of the picture. The G7 has a function for calculating the remaining data transfer time, however, the readings of this function often noticeably differ from reality - the device greatly exaggerates the remaining time. Shooting on a smartphone is controlled using free application Panasonic Image App.

Filming and impressions

Most "mirrorless" cameras are not able to compete in terms of the speed of preparation for work with classic reflex cameras, but the situation is gradually being corrected. For example, the predecessor, the DMC-G6 camera, kept within 0.41 seconds. The DMC-G7, to our surprise, was slightly slower at 0.53 seconds. However, the reaction time of the average person is just about half a second, so this result is not bad either. It is worth noting that, for example, Fujifilm X-T10 is significantly slower - 1.1 seconds, but Olumpus OM-D E-M5, on the contrary, is a little faster - 0.36 seconds.

The burst shooting speed is 8 frames per second, which is a very good result. The measurement of the speed and duration of the series was carried out in three modes: in JPEG format with the lowest compression, in RAW and RAW+JPEG formats with the lowest compression. All formats were set to the maximum available resolution. Focusing was switched to manual mode, shutter speed was 1/1000 of a second, and various software processing was disabled. To minimize the influence of various third-party factors, the fastest available memory card was chosen - SanDisk Extreme Pro Class 10 UHS-I with advertised write speeds up to 90 Mbps. When shooting in RAW and RAW + JPEG format, the data rate is too high, so you should not count on infinitely long bursts. Nevertheless, the camera showed a good result - 19 and 15 frames, respectively. In JPEG, the camera clicks cheerfully at a maximum speed of 7 frames per second without a hint of hesitation, but after exactly 100 frames it starts to jam. At first it even seemed that, as in the case of Nikon cameras, the automation forcibly ends the recording of the series. But no, the shooting of the series continues further, but with noticeable pauses. However, it is unlikely that someone will need longer series. As for competitors, the Fujifilm X-T10 at the same speed is noticeably inferior in burst length: JPEG - 13 frames, RAW - 9, RAW + JPEG - only 8. The Olympus OM-D E-M5 is already able to shoot 9 frames in second, and the duration of the series was 12 frames for all formats. Unfortunately, the Olympus camera was tested with a regular Transcend Class 10 card, so the comparison is not entirely correct.

In terms of focusing speed, Panasonic cameras often turn out to be leaders in the class, so we expected good results from the new product. Unfortunately, not the fastest lens was provided for testing Panasonic Lumix G Vario 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 ASPH OIS. However, this has its advantages, because we had exactly the same lens when we tested the G6, so two generations can be compared without regard to the difference in lenses. The focusing speed was measured in good light (1000 lux at the control point in the center of the template), the test still life used in assessing the noise level was used as the aiming object, focusing was carried out in the central zone, before each measurement the camera was aimed at infinity, shooting was carried out from a distance 50cm wide and 100cm telephoto. Of course, pre-focusing was disabled. As a result, at a wide angle, the test subject completed the task in 0.25 seconds, in a tele-position - in 0.26 seconds. Of course, it is far from Olympus OM-D E-M5, because it is controlled with the same task in 0.06 and 0.21 seconds, but, for example, Fijifilm X-T10 is noticeably slower, because it needs 0.47 and 0, 46 seconds respectively. Another thing is noteworthy - Panasonic DMC-G6, being equipped with the same lens, was able to aim at the subject in 0.39 and 0.55 seconds, respectively. The growth is almost doubled.

Of course, not only speed is important, but also the correct operation in low light with the autofocus backlight turned off. And then the novelty simply amazed us - it was able to aim at the test pattern at an illumination of 0.06 lux ( it's not a mistake, it's six hundredths) is an amazing result. For the first time in our testing, we even had to press the fix button on the light meter, because for reading we had to turn on additional lighting. Of course, in such low light, focusing lasts not a quarter of a second, but a little more than 1 second, but the result is still impressive.

In the focus area selection menu, six modes are available at once - multi-zone (49 zones, like the GH-4, while the G6 had only 23), custom multi-zone with the ability to manually select zones, single-zone with the possibility of manual selection, moreover, as with a joystick, as well as using the touch screen. In addition, there is the so-called very accurate mode (by the center point), as well as the currently popular face detection and object tracking modes. Of course, the most interesting is the mode of conducting, because despite the fact that this feature appeared quite a long time ago, only in rare cases does it really make sense. Actually, G7 refers to those cases. To hold a fixed object in the sight, you do not have to hold the half-pressed shutter button - it is enough to press it only once. In addition, when an object leaves the frame, the automation “remembers” it and immediately picks it up again upon return, even if it switched to tracking another object before. And finally, the most important thing - automation is able to hold even fast and non-linearly moving objects against a low-contrast background. Of course, the nimble sparrows disguised in the branches of trees are too tough for this regime, but, for example, automation is quite capable of holding a dove. The face detection mode works almost flawlessly. Of course, there is no blink detection function, no self-timer when detecting a smile, but faces are picked up instantly and held even when they move quickly. In addition, the face detection mode is supplemented by the function of identifying favorite faces from the list - up to six faces can be stored in the camera's memory. For all selected people, you can specify the age (date of birth) and name.

IN manual mode focusing control is carried out by means of a lens ring with an unlimited stroke and electrical connection with the optical system. The user can magnify the focus area by 6 times (with a zoom step of 1x or 0.1x using the rear and front control dials, respectively), the distance scale, as well as the function of highlighting the edges in the sharpness zone (focus peaking). By the way, in the “peaking” settings, there are two levels of function activity and three backlight options (pale blue, yellow and green). It is noteworthy that the focus area (zoom) can be quickly moved, and not only with the navigation keys, but simply by dragging the enlarged fragment with your finger. Very comfortably.

The camera supports standard exposure settings - P/A/S/M. Metering modes are also quite standard: spot, center-weighted and multi-zone. In addition, there is a function for introducing exposure compensation in the range of -3 ... + 3 EV in increments of a third of the step. The wealth of settings pleases the automatic bracketing mode: it is possible to shoot 3, 5 and even 7 frames in increments of 0.3, 0.7 and 1 exposure level. This feature can be used not only for shooting in difficult conditions, but also for manually stitching HDR images. Still, seven frames will provide more dynamic range than three, and you can shoot in RAW.

Also available manual control brightness of dark and light areas. In fact, this is a regular post-processing like smart exposure, but in manual mode. There are four presets that can be changed, as well as three custom settings. The brightness of the shadows is changed using the rear control dial, and the highlights - using the top dial. Of course, you can make such changes in any graphics package using the gamma curve correction, but if there is no possibility of processing on a computer, then this tool can be very useful, because it is not always possible to expand the dynamic range using the HDR mode.

Automation works correctly even in difficult shooting conditions. On a sunny afternoon, even an inexpensive smartphone will set the exposure more or less correctly, but on a cloudy day, most cameras draw shadows very strongly. Panasonic Lumix DMC-G7 sins with this only a little. In laboratory conditions, the G7 does not set records. For example, under fluorescent lighting, the error is -0.13 EV, which is small, but still far from the record. When using incandescent lamps, the situation is worse - the error reaches -0.58 EV, which is noticeable to the naked eye.

White balance settings include five presets (sunny, cloudy, shade, incandescent, flash), manual setting with four containers auto mode, as well as manual input of a color temperature from 2,500 to 10,000 K. It is noteworthy that when choosing a color temperature in degrees, you can use not only the keys on the body, but also the touch screen. For any preset and manual modes, fine adjustment is provided on the A-B / G-M scales, and in the fine-tuning mode, shooting with white balance bracketing is available. In natural light - and regardless of weather conditions - automatic white balance detection works very accurately. But when illuminated by incandescent lamps, the automation is noticeably mistaken, filling the frame with yellowness. Fluorescent lamps with a reference temperature of 5,500 K also make the automation warm, but only a little.

The Colorchecker 24 table was used to assess the correctness of the automatic white balance determination. The selected constant light sources are fluorescent lamps with a color temperature of 5500 K, as well as illuminators with incandescent lamps. The test results are shown below.

Automatic WB, fluorescent lighting 5500 K

Automatic BB, incandescent lighting

On the images in each field, the small inner rectangle is the reference color, and the inner square is the camera-derived but adjusted for brightness and contrast, the outer square is the raw area received from the camera. The red numbers indicate color deviations on the S scale in the HSV color space, and the blue numbers indicate degrees Kelvin [Meredah].

Phototests

Noises

The following method was used to assess the noise: a group of multi-colored objects was photographed with all sensitivity values ​​in JPEG format with minimal compression, as well as in RAW format, followed by conversion to TIFF format with standard settings. Unfortunately, the software was not provided for testing, so the package was used to convert Adobe Lightroom with default settings.

The white balance was set automatically. The shooting of the test target was also carried out with both noise reduction modes. Crop fragments were created in Photoshop CC and then saved in JPEG format with a minimum compression ratio. In the image below, the green squares indicate the areas of crop fragments. The test shots were shot at all available sensitivity settings, including the extended range (ISO 100 to 25600).

Test still life with the indicated areas of crop fragments

The Panasonic G7 camera replaced the G6 and brought a lot of new things: first of all, 4K video recording appeared in it, the minimum shutter speed was reduced by 4 times and the maximum shutter speed increased, work with RAW improved and the electronic part was generally redesigned, which led to purely interface improvements, including fast tracking autofocus. The camera will be with us for two weeks of testing, during which we ask you to ask us questions about what is interesting about it.

The camera body is made in a traditional pseudo-mirror form. However, it is quite large for mirrorless cameras in general, which makes it suitable for more or less professional shooting - this is a noticeable trend in the company's camera industry in relation to the top of the line (GX8 has also become larger compared to its predecessor). The case is made of very high quality and durable, there is no backlash and no creaks. And all this despite the fact that the case is made on the basis of plastic.

In terms of ergonomics, the camera is probably one of the best. Everything here is done very logically, the on and off key is located next to the thumb, so the camera can be quickly turned on and start shooting, instead of rushing somewhere to the opposite edge of the camera in search of it. In my opinion, this is very important for mirrorless cameras, given that keeping the camera turned on for a long time means, in any case, draining the battery (in addition to the active matrix, the stabilization and prefocusing systems also noticeably eat up free battery charge). On the left side there is an infrequently used mode dial, which appeared just in the seventh version of the camera, so its functionality will most likely come in handy - the quick selection of the shooting mode could previously be set only to the function keys, but now it has its own disk.

On the right, you can find quite traditional solutions: this is the main mode dial, a function key, two record keys for photos and videos, as well as two main control dials. However, on the top of the main control dial there is a button that switches both dials to the auxiliary mode, so that not two, but four functions can be hung on them to control the main parameters. Interestingly, there are as many as 11 function keys on the camera body, which can be customized to suit yourself. This is probably a record today - by the way, this is how it differs greatly from its predecessor. There are also a lot of options for configuring these keys and they do not fit even on several menu pages. Thus, the camera can be seriously considered as a good option for the job, especially considering that it is neither simplistic nor too expensive (and therefore fully claims to be a "workhorse"), and also does not have an anti-aliasing filter, but at the same time, it has a convenient swivel screen, fast autofocus, the ability to shoot excellent video with customizable settings, and a number of other interesting features. Here, perhaps, only the stabilizer in the camera itself is missing.

The viewfinder of the camera, in principle, is not bad. No, in fairness, it should be said that its resolution has grown and corresponds to the variant from the older GX8 model, however, as our comparative test, the viewfinder here is somewhat smaller purely visually. True, if you shoot on reflex camera with a crop, such restrictions are not significant for you, because the viewfinder in terms of visibility exactly corresponds to the solutions that are in the younger DSLRs, it only has a number of advantages, since it is completely electronic, and in terms of refresh rate it has changed a lot, and there is almost no difference. The wider viewfinder option will only be available on the GX8, which has the more expensive option and higher magnification. Interestingly, this resolution of the viewfinder is more than enough to easily sight in any conditions, it allows you to see the picture in great detail. But the camera screen has a lower resolution, given that it is usually looked at not as close as in the viewfinder. At the same time, the screen traditionally has multi-touch control, and the processor for displaying the image is the same here, which ensures its high-speed real-time updating and, perhaps, more convenient operation compared to the viewfinder.

The screen can be rotated reverse side so that you can shoot self-portraits, selfies (selfies) and video reviews without problems. At the same time, a lot of electronic functions are available to shoot on this camera using both huge amount system lenses of the micro-4/3" system, and with third-party lenses through an adapter, thanks to the possibilities of focus-peaking, zebra and digital functions that allow you to use the level and other camera sensors.

I must say that the video in the camera is not as advanced as in the GH4 (in terms of flexible settings image, compression, on-the-fly audio), which continues to be the standard choice for many video professionals who work with it professionally. There is also 4K here, however, there is no possibility of recording it, except in MP4 - the camera does not allow you to output a picture to an external recorder. However, today, 4K is nothing more than a marketing myth. Since recording such a dense stream requires either compression with more modern codecs, such as H.265 (not supported by most popular video editing programs and requires prior conversion to legacy options), or a strong reduction in quality, the data transmission problem is only intermediate. Yes, it is already being successfully solved in other companies, however, at the editing level, the situation becomes noticeably more complicated, since processing a signal of such density requires a workstation with serious requirements for hardware. In particular, this is either a cheaper RAID0 array or an SSD-based working disk, which are noticeably more expensive. This is all in addition to the fact that both the processor and the memory should be among the most advanced. It is possible that the situation will change in the next two years in positive side, if you keep in mind the speed of innovation in the computer field, which is what manufacturers are counting on. However, we must not forget that manufacturers will not stand still, releasing new cameras regularly.

At the same time, this camera has a connector for connecting an external microphone, a standard 3.5 mm for such situations. This is convenient for shooting movies on a budget. Considering that today there are a lot of lenses from several manufacturers for the system (more only in mirror systems), including those with an electric zoom drive and convenient autofocus, this also makes video shooting noticeably easier.

The built-in flash allows you to control groups of external flashes through protocols that work for both Olympus and Panasonic. This is very good, since many studio photographers use compact solutions. Naturally, options are available for firing external studio flashes manually with a built-in or through a synchronizer. An unpleasant feature of the built-in flash is that it cannot work in high-speed sync mode, which is why when shooting in semi-automatic modes it will not allow you to set a faster shutter speed relative to the sync shutter speed. The result is sometimes overexposed pictures when shooting outdoors with an open hole. Let me remind you that here big role It also plays the fact that the sensitivity of the matrix does not fall below 200, and even a purely calculated parameter is not lower here.

Considering this camera, one should not forget about the purely psychological aspects, in particular, if you come to work with a Panasonic GM1 format camera, in the eyes of the client you will look, to put it mildly, ridiculous, because people are not used to the image of small cameras. It is believed that professional camera should be big.

Remote control of the camera is traditionally one of the best, as the "native" application allows you to control almost all the available functionality that Panasonic has at its disposal, and not just serve as a shutter button according to the settings that are set on the camera. The camera connects to phones and tablets without any problems. Also, the camera can use data from the GPS receiver of the phone to synchronize with the pictures, so that later there would be no problems with determining the location of pictures left after a trip to vacation.

The matrix of the new camera, although it has the same resolution, 16 megapixels, is nevertheless different. It's a little inconvenient that it doesn't have the ability to save RAW files at more than 12 bits, and also that the sensitivity at the minimum does not drop below 200 here, however, if you know how to shoot, this is not a particular problem. The real range of the matrix ends at 1600 or 3200, when quite serious work with noise is already required. This, however, is an understandable price for the compactness of the system - the pixel size is too small for today's technologies. At the same time, the pixel size is on par with 36MP full-frame cameras or 24MP crop cameras, which do better due to the more expensive technologies used by competitors. When we talk about compactness, we must remember that professionals approach it differently. Naturally, a standard lens can have rather modest dimensions, but in professional solutions the situation goes much further, since professional system lenses are three or even four times smaller compared to their full-frame counterparts for well-known SLR systems. If we calculate the savings on metal and glass, then the difference in weight is significant, about 2-3 times.

Autofocus here is implemented on the basis of the main matrix, it is of a fully contract type here and works across the entire field. This has long been no longer a disadvantage, but rather, even an advantage, since in terms of speed it is at the level of its mirror counterparts, yielding to them only on the basis of studio tests on special equipment. Purely visually, there are no problems with this camera, and it focuses not only on the screen, but at almost the same speed. As our autofocus test showed, to fully shoot with this camera, you still need a fairly fast memory card, at least class 10 or UHS-I, which will allow you to shoot both video in the maximum quality for this camera and photos with maximum frame density.

From what I lack, it should be noted, perhaps, the metal case and moisture protection, which are present in older cameras. However, here, since the camera is a compromise between functionality and the maximum package of options, I am glad that the manufacturer did not sacrifice functions in a non-top class, but allowed enthusiasts to shoot at maximum capabilities and use all the functions that are in the manufacturer's arsenal.

Advantages

• new low noise matrix (for system)
• correct color reproduction
• 11 function customizable keys
• good viewfinder
• plug for external microphone

disadvantages

• starting price
• no matrix stabilizer

Characteristics

• convenient pseudo-mirror case made of plastic
• high-quality control from a smartphone
• video in 4K resolution
• high quality tilt screen

12.08.2015 10528 Tests and reviews 0

After the announcement of the camera two years ago, Panasonic introduced the new Lumix DMC-G7, which updated the mid-range range, designed for photography enthusiasts and family shooters. Support for 4K resolution has become the main feature of the DMC-G7, and the compact size, which is one of the main advantages of mirrorless cameras, is still present, although the dimensions have grown slightly compared to the previous generation.

Let's start our review with the central innovation - the ability to shoot 4K video at a resolution of 3840x2160 pixels, at 25p (50Hz) or 24p in MP4 format. This feature also made it possible to capture still images at 25 fps at a resolution equivalent to 8 MP (still frame from video). If you write video in 1080p, then it becomes possible to get 60 fps. You'll also find several new 4K shooting modes in the G7: 4K Pre-burst, 4K Burst Shooting, and 4K Burst (Start/Stop) - the company promises that photos can be taken from a freeze frame of 4K video. For example, you can take photos without stopping video recording, use the "4K pre-burst" mode, which allows you to take several pictures before and after pressing the shutter button.

Device hardware update. In addition to the DFD (depth from defocus) system, which allows you to quickly get the distance to the subject for instant focusing, the G7 introduces for the first time the so-called motion vectors, which improve the continuous autofocus of a moving subject. With the help of the new 16 MP Digital Live MOS sensor (physical size 17.3x13 mm), according to the manufacturer, it was possible to achieve a high level of light sensitivity and minimize the response time. The quad-core image processor Venus Engine has become faster - the camera shoots bursts at 8 fps (AFS) or 6 fps (AFC), which should, in theory, simplify the process of shooting fast-moving objects. We also worked on the noise reduction system, which made it possible to increase the light sensitivity of the camera - the maximum value is now ISO 25600 (the minimum is ISO 160). Algorithms have also become more accurate, Panasonic says. The data exchange between the camera and the lens occurs at a speed of 240 fps.

New opportunities. Panasonic decided to sacrifice NFC in favor of passwordless Wi-Fi connections, while, as before, you are offered QR codes for a more secure connection (you take a picture of this code with the camera of your smartphone or tablet and then set up the connection). You can also transfer pictures to an external device. There is also a proprietary application for iOS and Android - this will allow you to view pictures in the field, since it will hardly be convenient to do it on a 3-inch camera screen. The Jump Snap option, using the camera's built-in accelerometer, allows you to take snapshots while jumping, capturing you at the highest possible point. The new Starlight AF autofocus mode uses a grid of small areas to focus on small objects like distant stars. Panoramic lovers will appreciate new mode, which allows you to shoot photos with an angle of 180 degrees, while it is worth noting that such shots will be about half the height of standard panoramic photos. Well, in conclusion, I would like to note the new Impressive Art filter, with which you can take high-contrast HDR shots.

The DMC-G7 is also equipped with an OLED Live Viewfinder, the resolution of which has been increased to 2,360,000 dots (2048x1152 pixels), it offers a 16:9 aspect ratio and a 100% field of view. Face/Eye Detection, Precise AF, One-Shot AF, and Low Light AF are all designed to help you take better pictures in a variety of conditions.

New design. Compared to its predecessor, the G6, the new Panasonic is larger and heavier: 124.9 x 86.2 x 77.4 mm and weighs 410 grams. This is one of the largest modern cameras in its price category. On the top panel you can see a stereo microphone, a flash, a command dial and two mode dials, a camera power switch, a shutter button, a video recording button and one function key "Fn1". The button used to start and stop video recording is slightly recessed into the body, which makes it easy to distinguish it from the other buttons to the touch and prevents accidental pressing, making it almost impossible to accidentally interrupt the recording of important video material.On the left is the shooting mode dial, where, among the usual burst, single-frame shooting and timer, you can see the photo extraction mode from 4K video. microphone jack All other dials have been enlarged The battery capacity of the Panasonic DMW-BLC12 should be enough to take 360 ​​CIPA photos The G7 is available in two colors: black and two-tone grey-black. » configuration, then there will be 4 of them: the first - from 14-42 mm op tick, the second - with 14-140 mm optics, the third - with the two previous options and the fourth - without any optics.

conclusions

Panasonic Lumix G7 fully justifies its price with a decent set of features. By purchasing this camera, you get a reliable, modern camera that will delight you with beautiful pictures.

Specifications Panasonic Lumix DMC-G7

The most affordable mirrorless camera on the market, capable of fully recording videos in 4K format, is located exactly in the middle between the entry-level and advanced classes of cameras with interchangeable lenses from the Japanese company Panasonic. It has a Micro 4/3 sensor with a resolution of 16 MP. This figure is enough to perform almost any daily tasks.

"Buns"

The camera is distinguished from the crowd by one of the brand's advantages - a fast focusing system based on Depth From Defocus technology. It allows you to cling to the subject in about 0.07 s. In addition, the mirrorless camera is able to extract individual 8-megapixel photographs from a 4K video sequence. Another very useful "bun" is focusing after the fact, i.e. after the fact. the ability to select the zone of sharpness already on the finished photo. Previously, this feature was exclusive to Lytro cameras.

Strengths

The main focus of the camera is video shooting. Under it, both the menu and the controls are sharpened. The camera records videos in all major formats: 4K (up to 30 fps), FullHD (up to 60 fps) and HD (up to 60 fps). The only thing missing is a port for connecting headphones and an image stabilization system, so for comfortable video shooting you will have to buy stabilized optics. The body of the camera, although made of plastic, stands out among other mirrorless cameras with a larger size, thanks to which a bunch of programmable keys are placed on it and the camera has a very comfortable grip.

True friend

The camera is the lot of those who cannot imagine their future life without being directly involved in filling YouTube, and want to get a faithful assistant in this difficult task for an adequate cost.