Panasonic GF7 Comparison Review
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF7 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera that was announced in January 2015 and is equipped with a Four Thirds sensor. It offers a resolution of 15.8 megapixel.
Is the Panasonic GF7 a good camera? The GF7 has a Camera Elo of 1877. This rating puts the GF7 below average of all mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras. In terms of its sensor size category (Four Thirds cameras), the GF7 also ranks below average. Based on its within category standings, the camera earns a 2.5-star performance rating. – Well, the Panasonic GF7 is more than 10 years old, and there have been many other good digital cameras released since 2015.
| Panasonic GF7 |
|---|
| Mirrorless system camera |
| Micro Four Thirds lenses |
| 15.8 MP, Four Thirds Sensor |
| 1080/60p Video |
| ISO 200 - 25 600 |
| no viewfinder, LCD framing |
| 3.0 LCD, 1040k dots |
| Tilting touchscreen |
| 5.8 shutter flaps per second |
| 230 shots per battery charge |
| 107 x 65 x 33 mm, 266 g |
Read on to find out more about the camera's size, sensor, features, reception by expert reviewers, and how it compares to other digital cameras.
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Body comparison with a credit card
The physical dimensions of the Panasonic GF7 relative to a credit card are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.
The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the Panasonic GF7 alongside a set of similar cameras. If you want to review a particular camera pair side-by-side, just move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible comparisons there.
| Camera Model |
Camera Width |
Camera Height |
Camera Depth |
Camera Weight |
Battery Life |
Weather Sealing |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price |
Street Price |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Panasonic GF7 | 107 mm | 65 mm | 33 mm | 266 g | 230 |  | Jan 2015 | US$ 499 | ebay.com | |
| 2. | Canon M10 | 108 mm | 67 mm | 35 mm | 301 g | 255 | | Oct 2015 | US$ 499 | ebay.com | |
| 3. | Panasonic G3 | 115 mm | 84 mm | 47 mm | 336 g | 270 | | May 2011 | US$ 599 | ebay.com | |
| 4. | Panasonic G5 | 120 mm | 83 mm | 71 mm | 396 g | 320 | | Jul 2012 | US$ 599 | ebay.com | |
| 5. | Panasonic G6 | 122 mm | 85 mm | 71 mm | 390 g | 340 | | Apr 2013 | US$ 599 | ebay.com | |
| 6. | Panasonic G7 | 125 mm | 86 mm | 77 mm | 410 g | 350 | | May 2015 | US$ 649 | ebay.com | |
| 7. | Panasonic GF3 | 108 mm | 67 mm | 32 mm | 264 g | 300 | | Jun 2011 | US$ 549 | ebay.com | |
| 8. | Panasonic GF5 | 108 mm | 67 mm | 37 mm | 267 g | 360 | | Apr 2012 | US$ 499 | ebay.com | |
| 9. | Panasonic GF6 | 111 mm | 65 mm | 38 mm | 323 g | 340 | | Apr 2013 | US$ 499 | ebay.com | |
| 10. | Panasonic GM5 | 99 mm | 60 mm | 36 mm | 211 g | 220 | | Sep 2014 | US$ 749 | ebay.com | |
| 11. | Panasonic GX800 | 107 mm | 65 mm | 33 mm | 269 g | 210 | | Jan 2017 | US$ 549 | ebay.com | |
| Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders. | |||||||||||
| Camera Model |
Camera Width |
Camera Height |
Camera Depth |
Camera Weight |
Battery Life |
Weather Sealing |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price |
Street Price |
||
| Camera Model |
|||||||||||
The listed prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The Panasonic GF7 was launched in the US market at a price of $499. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.
Check GF7 offers at
ebay.com
Sensor comparison with a 35mm slide
The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.
The Panasonic GF7 features a Four Thirds sensor and has a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 2.0. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the Panasonic GF7 among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability.
Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for most cameras. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.
| Camera Model |
Sensor Class |
Resolution (MP) |
Horiz. Pixels |
Vert. Pixels |
Video Format |
DXO Portrait |
DXO Landscape |
DXO Sports |
DXO Overall |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Panasonic GF7 | Four Thirds | 15.8 | 4592 | 3448 | 1080/60p | 22.7 | 12.3 | 874 | 70 | |
| 2. | Canon M10 | APS-C | 17.9 | 5184 | 3456 | 1080/30p | 22.2 | 11.4 | 753 | 65 | |
| 3. | Panasonic G3 | Four Thirds | 15.8 | 4592 | 3448 | 1080/60i | 21.0 | 10.6 | 667 | 56 | |
| 4. | Panasonic G5 | Four Thirds | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 1080/60p | 21.4 | 11.6 | 618 | 61 | |
| 5. | Panasonic G6 | Four Thirds | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 1080/60p | 21.3 | 11.5 | 639 | 61 | |
| 6. | Panasonic G7 | Four Thirds | 15.8 | 4592 | 3448 | 4K/30p | 22.8 | 12.4 | 904 | 71 | |
| 7. | Panasonic GF3 | Four Thirds | 12.0 | 4000 | 3000 | 1080/60i | 20.6 | 10.1 | 459 | 50 | |
| 8. | Panasonic GF5 | Four Thirds | 12.0 | 4000 | 3000 | 1080/60i | 20.5 | 10.0 | 573 | 50 | |
| 9. | Panasonic GF6 | Four Thirds | 15.8 | 4592 | 3448 | 1080/60i | 20.7 | 10.6 | 622 | 54 | |
| 10. | Panasonic GM5 | Four Thirds | 15.8 | 4592 | 3448 | 1080/60p | 22.1 | 11.7 | 721 | 66 | |
| 11. | Panasonic GX800 | Four Thirds | 15.8 | 4592 | 3448 | 4K/30p | 23.2 | 13.3 | 586 | 73 | |
| Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age. | |||||||||||
| Camera Model |
Sensor Class |
Resolution (MP) |
Horiz. Pixels |
Vert. Pixels |
Video Format |
DXO Portrait |
DXO Landscape |
DXO Sports |
DXO Overall |
||
| Camera Model |
|||||||||||
Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. The GF7 indeed provides movie recording capabilities. The highest resolution format that the GF7 can use is 1080/60p.
Feature comparison
Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The adjacent tables list some of the other core features of the Panasonic GF7 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.
| Camera Model |
Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots) |
Control Panel (yes/no) |
LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots) |
LCD Attach- ment |
Touch Screen (yes/no) |
Max Shutter Speed * |
Max Shutter Flaps * |
Built-in Flash (yes/no) |
Built-in Image Stab |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Panasonic GF7 | | | 3.0 / 1040 | tilting |  | 1/500s | 5.8/s | | |
|
| 2. | Canon M10 | | | 3.0 / 1040 | tilting | | 1/4000s | 4.6/s | | |
|
| 3. | Panasonic G3 | 1440 | | 3.0 / 460 | swivel | | 1/4000s | 4.0/s | | |
|
| 4. | Panasonic G5 | 1440 | | 3.0 / 920 | swivel | | 1/4000s | 6.0/s | | |
|
| 5. | Panasonic G6 | 1440 | | 3.0 / 1036 | swivel | | 1/4000s | 7.0/s | | |
|
| 6. | Panasonic G7 | 2360 | | 3.0 / 1040 | swivel | | 1/4000s | 7.0/s | | |
|
| 7. | Panasonic GF3 | | | 3.0 / 460 | fixed | | 1/4000s | 3.2/s | | |
|
| 8. | Panasonic GF5 | | | 3.0 / 920 | fixed | | 1/4000s | 4.0/s | | |
|
| 9. | Panasonic GF6 | | | 3.0 / 1040 | tilting | | 1/4000s | 4.2/s | | |
|
| 10. | Panasonic GM5 | 1166 | | 3.0 / 921 | fixed | | 1/500s | 5.8/s | | |
|
| 11. | Panasonic GX800 | | | 3.0 / 1040 | tilting | | 1/500s | 10.0/s | | |
|
| Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one. | |||||||||||
| Camera Model |
Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots) |
Control Panel (yes/no) |
LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots) |
LCD Attach- ment |
Touch Screen (yes/no) |
Max Shutter Speed * |
Max Shutter Flaps * |
Built-in Flash (yes/no) |
Built-in Image Stab |
||
| Camera Model |
|||||||||||
The LCD screen on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF7 is flexibly attached to the body. In particular, the LCD can be tilted vertically to facilitate odd-angle shots in landscape orientation. This tilting design is often preferred, for example, by street photographers to a fully articulated, swivel type of LCD attachment, as it is more unobtrusive during shooting than a screen that flips out to the side.
One convenient feature of the GF7 is the presence of an on-board flash. While this built-in flash is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light to brighten deep shadow areas.
Connection comparison
For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF7 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.
| Camera Model |
Hotshoe Port |
Internal Mic / Speaker |
Microphone Port |
Headphone Port |
HDMI Port |
USB Port |
WiFi Support |
NFC Support |
Bluetooth Support |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Panasonic GF7 | | stereo / mono | | | micro | 2.0 | | | |
|
| 2. | Canon M10 | | stereo / mono | | | mini | 2.0 | | | |
|
| 3. | Panasonic G3 | | stereo / mono | | | mini | 2.0 | | | |
|
| 4. | Panasonic G5 | | stereo / mono | | | mini | 2.0 | | | |
|
| 5. | Panasonic G6 | | stereo / mono | | | mini | 2.0 | | | |
|
| 6. | Panasonic G7 | | stereo / mono | | | micro | 2.0 | | | |
|
| 7. | Panasonic GF3 | | stereo / mono | | | mini | 2.0 | | | |
|
| 8. | Panasonic GF5 | | stereo / mono | | | mini | 2.0 | | | |
|
| 9. | Panasonic GF6 | | stereo / mono | | | mini | 2.0 | | | |
|
| 10. | Panasonic GM5 | | stereo / mono | | | micro | 2.0 | | | |
|
| 11. | Panasonic GX800 | | stereo / mono | | | micro | 2.0 | | | |
|
| Camera Model |
Hotshoe Port |
Internal Mic / Speaker |
Microphone Port |
Headphone Port |
HDMI Port |
USB Port |
WiFi Support |
NFC Support |
Bluetooth Support |
||
| Camera Model |
It is notable that the GF7 offers wifi support. Wifi can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location.
Further information on the features and operation of the GF7 can be found in the free online Panasonic GF7 Manual or on the Panasonic support site.
Expert reviews
While the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the GF7 handle or perform in practice. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate. This is where reviews by experts come in. The table below summarizes the assessments of some of the best known camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]).
| Camera Model |
AP score |
CL score |
DCW score |
DPR score |
EPZ score |
PB score |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price |
Street Price |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Panasonic GF7 | 4/5 | + | .. | .. | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Jan 2015 | US$ 499 | ebay.com | |
| 2. | Canon M10 | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | 4/5 | Oct 2015 | US$ 499 | ebay.com | |
| 3. | Panasonic G3 | 3/5 | + + | .. | 75/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | May 2011 | US$ 599 | ebay.com | |
| 4. | Panasonic G5 | 3/5 | + + | .. | .. | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Jul 2012 | US$ 599 | ebay.com | |
| 5. | Panasonic G6 | 4/5 | + + | .. | .. | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | Apr 2013 | US$ 599 | ebay.com | |
| 6. | Panasonic G7 | 4/5 | + + | 3.5/5 | 80/100 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | May 2015 | US$ 649 | ebay.com | |
| 7. | Panasonic GF3 | 3/5 | 82/100 | .. | 71/100 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | Jun 2011 | US$ 549 | ebay.com | |
| 8. | Panasonic GF5 | 3/5 | .. | .. | .. | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Apr 2012 | US$ 499 | ebay.com | |
| 9. | Panasonic GF6 | .. | + + | .. | .. | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Apr 2013 | US$ 499 | ebay.com | |
| 10. | Panasonic GM5 | 3.5/5 | + | .. | 77/100 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | Sep 2014 | US$ 749 | ebay.com | |
| 11. | Panasonic GX800 | .. | + | .. | 76/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Jan 2017 | US$ 549 | ebay.com | |
| Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available. | |||||||||||
| Camera Model |
AP score |
CL score |
DCW score |
DPR score |
EPZ score |
PB score |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price |
Street Price |
||
| Camera Model |
|||||||||||
The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.
Check GF7 offers at
ebay.com
Panasonic GF7 FAQ
Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the GF7.
What type of imaging sensor is used in the Panasonic GF7?
The camera has a CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor at its core.
Which image processing chip is used in the Panasonic GF7 to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?
Panasonic equipped the GF7 with the Venus image processor.
What is the ISO sensitivity range of the Panasonic GF7?
The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 200 to ISO 25600, which can be extended to ISO 100-25600.
Does the Panasonic GF7 have a selfie-friendly screen?
Yes, the LCD-screen of the GF7 is flexible and can be turned to be front-facing for capturing selfies.
What is the life expectancy of the shutter in the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF7?
Panasonic does not publish a shutter rating for the GF7. Yet, shutters in comparable cameras from other manufacturers are said to be good for at least 100 000 actuations. It should be noted, though, that this number represents a Mean Time before Failure. The shutter might fail earlier, or it might last longer. Anyway, in order to exhaust an expected shutter life of 100 000 shots over, say, three years, one would have to take about 100 pictures each and every day.
How do I find the shutter count on my Panasonic GF7?
Panasonic embeds the number of shutter actuations in hidden menus. You can check the number of shots that your GF7 has taken up to now by carefully following the steps described on the Panasonic GF7 shutter count page.
Is completely silent shooting possible with the Panasonic GF7?
The camera has an electronic shutter option, so that it is indeed feasible to capture images without any shutter noise.
Is it difficult to use manual focus lenses with the Panasonic GF7?
The GF7 offers focus peaking as a manual focus aid. This feature works by placing a colored highlight on in-focus zones within the image.
Does the Panasonic GF7 feature an autofocus assist light?
Yes, the camera has a lamp built-in that can illuminate the subject and improve autofocus in low-light settings.
What is the fastest shutter speed that can be used with the Panasonic GF7 for flash photography?
The GF7's flash sync speed is 1/50 sec.
Does the Panasonic GF7 support the Ultra High Speed (UHS) bus interface for SD cards?
Yes, the camera can indeed use UHS-I cards (data transfer speed of up to 104 MB/s).
Which battery does the Panasonic GF7 use?
The camera gets its power from the Panasonic DMW-BLH7 (here at amazon), which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.
Camera to camera comparisons
In case you are interested in seeing how this camera compares to another one, just use the search menu below. An an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.
- Canon 1D Mark IV vs Panasonic GF7
- Canon D60 vs Panasonic GF7
- Canon M50 vs Panasonic GF7
- Fujifilm X100S vs Panasonic GF7
- Fujifilm XP130 vs Panasonic GF7
- Leica V-LUX Typ 114 vs Panasonic GF7
- Panasonic G85 vs Panasonic GF7
- Panasonic GF7 vs Panasonic GX800
- Panasonic GF7 vs Panasonic LX100
- Panasonic GF7 vs Samsung NX1
- Panasonic GF7 vs Sony RX100
- Panasonic GF7 vs Sony RX1R
| Camera Model | Panasonic GF7 | |
|---|---|---|
| Camera Type | Mirrorless system camera | |
| Camera Lens | Micro Four Thirds lenses | |
| Launch Date | January 2015 | |
| Launch Price | USD 499 | |
| Sensor Specs | ||
| Sensor Technology | CMOS | |
| Sensor Format | Four Thirds Sensor | |
| Sensor Size | 17.3 x 13.0 mm | |
| Sensor Area | 225 mm2 | |
| Sensor Diagonal | 21.6 mm | |
| Crop Factor | 2.0x | |
| Sensor Resolution | 15.8 Megapixels | |
| Image Resolution | 4 592 x 3 448 pixels | |
| Pixel Pitch | 3.77 μm | |
| Pixel Density | 7.04 MP/cm2 | |
| Moiré control | Anti-Alias filter | |
| Movie Capability | 1080/60p Video | |
| ISO Setting | 200 - 25 600 ISO | |
| ISO Boost | 100 - 25 600 ISO | |
| Image Processor | Venus | |
| Screen Specs | ||
| Viewfinder Type | No viewfinder | |
| Top-Level Screen | no Top Display | |
| LCD Framing | Live View | |
| LCD Size | 3.0 inch | |
| LCD Resolution | 1040k dots | |
| LCD Attachment | Tilting screen | |
| V-logging Friendliness | Front-flip possible | |
| Touch Input | Touchscreen | |
| Shooting Specs | ||
| Focus System | Contrast-detect AF | |
| Manual Focusing Aid | Focus Peaking | |
| Maximum Shutter Speed | 1/500s | |
| Continuous Shooting | 5.8 shutter flaps/s | |
| Shutter Life Expectancy | 100 000 actuations | |
| Silent Shooting | Electronic Shutter | |
| Time Lapse Photography | no Intervalometer | |
| Fill Flash | Built-in Flash | |
| Storage Medium | SDXC cards | |
| Single or Dual Card Slots | Single card slot | |
| UHS card support | UHS-I | |
| Connectivity Specs | ||
| External Flash | no Hotshoe | |
| USB Connector | USB 2.0 | |
| HDMI Port | micro HDMI | |
| Wifi Support | Wifi built-in | |
| Near-Field Communication | NFC built-in | |
| Body Specs | ||
| Battery Type | Panasonic DMW-BLH7 power pack | |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 230 shots per charge | |
| Body Dimensions |
107 x 65 x 33 mm (4.2 x 2.6 x 1.3 in) |
|
| Camera Weight | 266 g (9.4 oz) | |
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