Panasonic GX7 Comparison Review
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera that was announced in August 2013 and is equipped with a Four Thirds sensor. It offers a resolution of 15.8 megapixel.
Is the Panasonic GX7 a good camera? The GX7 has a Camera Elo of 1817. This rating puts the GX7 below average of all mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras. In terms of its sensor size category (Four Thirds cameras), the GX7 ranks among the top 50 percent. Based on its within category standings, the camera earns a 3-star performance rating.
| Panasonic GX7 |
|---|
| Mirrorless system camera |
| Micro Four Thirds lenses |
| 15.8 MP, Four Thirds Sensor |
| 1080/60p Video |
| ISO 125 - 25 600 |
| Electronic viewfinder (2760k dots) |
| 3.0 LCD, 1040k dots |
| Tilting touchscreen |
| 5 shutter flaps per second |
| In-body stabilization |
| 350 shots per battery charge |
| 123 x 71 x 55 mm, 402 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.
Body comparison with a credit card
The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size of the Panasonic GX7 vis-à-vis a credit card. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.
The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the Panasonic GX7 alongside a set of comparators. If you want to review a camera pair side-by-side, just select a right-side comparator from among the camera models in the table. Alternatively, you can also 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 1 |
Weather Sealing |
Camera Launch 2 |
Launch Price (USD) |
Street Price |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panasonic GX7 | 4.8 in | 2.8 in | 2.2 in | 14.2 oz | 350 | n | Aug 2013 | 999 |  | |
| Olympus E-M10 | 4.7 in | 3.2 in | 1.8 in | 14.0 oz | 320 | n | Jan 2014 | 699 | | |
| Olympus E-PL7 | 4.5 in | 2.6 in | 1.5 in | 12.6 oz | 350 | n | Aug 2014 | 599 | | |
| Olympus E-P5 | 4.8 in | 2.7 in | 1.5 in | 14.8 oz | 330 | n | May 2013 | 999 | | |
| Panasonic G85 | 5.0 in | 3.5 in | 2.9 in | 17.8 oz | 330 | Y | Sep 2016 | 899 | | |
| Panasonic GX85 | 4.8 in | 2.8 in | 1.7 in | 15.0 oz | 290 | n | Apr 2016 | 799 | | |
| Panasonic GX8 | 5.2 in | 3.1 in | 2.5 in | 17.2 oz | 330 | Y | Jul 2015 | 1,199 | | |
| Panasonic GM5 | 3.9 in | 2.4 in | 1.4 in | 7.4 oz | 220 | n | Sep 2014 | 749 | | |
| Panasonic G6 | 4.8 in | 3.3 in | 2.8 in | 13.8 oz | 340 | n | Apr 2013 | 599 | | |
| Panasonic GX1 | 4.6 in | 2.7 in | 1.5 in | 11.2 oz | 320 | n | Nov 2011 | 699 | | |
| Panasonic GH2 | 4.9 in | 3.5 in | 3.0 in | 15.6 oz | 330 | n | Sep 2010 | 899 | | |
|
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders. (1) Number of images that can be taken on a full battery charge according to the CIPA-standard; (2) Official announcement. |
||||||||||
The listed prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The Panasonic GX7 was launched in the US market at a price of $999. 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 Ebay offers
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. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and 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 associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.
The Panasonic GX7 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 GX7 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 is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). 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 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panasonic GX7 | Four Thirds | 15.8 | 4592 | 3448 | 1080/60p | 22.6 | 12.2 | 718 | 70 | |
| Olympus E-M10 | Four Thirds | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 1080/30p | 22.8 | 12.3 | 884 | 72 | |
| Olympus E-PL7 | Four Thirds | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 1080/30p | 22.7 | 12.4 | 873 | 72 | |
| Olympus E-P5 | Four Thirds | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 1080/30p | 22.8 | 12.4 | 895 | 72 | |
| Panasonic G85 | Four Thirds | 15.8 | 4592 | 3448 | 4K/30p | 22.8 | 12.5 | 656 | 71 | |
| Panasonic GX85 | Four Thirds | 15.8 | 4592 | 3448 | 4K/30p | 22.9 | 12.6 | 662 | 71 | |
| Panasonic GX8 | Four Thirds | 20.2 | 5184 | 3888 | 4K/30p | 23.5 | 12.6 | 806 | 75 | |
| Panasonic GM5 | Four Thirds | 15.8 | 4592 | 3448 | 1080/60p | 22.1 | 11.7 | 721 | 66 | |
| Panasonic G6 | Four Thirds | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 1080/60p | 21.3 | 11.5 | 639 | 61 | |
| Panasonic GX1 | Four Thirds | 15.8 | 4592 | 3448 | 1080/60p | 20.8 | 10.6 | 703 | 55 | |
| Panasonic GH2 | Four Thirds | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 1080/60i | 21.2 | 11.3 | 655 | 60 |
Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. The GX7 indeed provides movie recording capabilities. The highest resolution format that the GX7 can use is 1080/60p.
Feature comparison
Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the GX7 has an electronic viewfinder with a resolution of 2760k dots. The viewfinder offers a field of view of 100% and a magnification of 0.70x. The tables below summarize some of the other core capabilities of the Panasonic GX7 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.
| Camera Model |
Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots) |
Control Panel (yes/no) |
LCD Size (inch) |
LCD Resolution (000 dots) |
LCD Attach- ment |
Touch Screen (yes/no) |
Mech Shutter Speed |
Shutter Flaps (1/sec) | Built-in Flash (yes/no) |
Built-in Image Stab |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panasonic GX7 | 2760 | n | 3.0 | 1040 | tilting | Y | 1/8000s | 5.0 | Y | Y | |
| Olympus E-M10 | 1440 | n | 3.0 | 1037 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 8.0 | Y | Y | |
| Olympus E-PL7 | optional | n | 3.0 | 1037 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 8.0 | n | Y | |
| Olympus E-P5 | optional | n | 3.0 | 1037 | tilting | Y | 1/8000s | 9.0 | Y | Y | |
| Panasonic G85 | 2360 | n | 3.0 | 1040 | swivel | Y | 1/4000s | 9.0 | Y | Y | |
| Panasonic GX85 | 2765 | n | 3.0 | 1040 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 8.0 | Y | Y | |
| Panasonic GX8 | 2360 | n | 3.0 | 1040 | swivel | Y | 1/8000s | 10.0 | n | Y | |
| Panasonic GM5 | 1166 | n | 3.0 | 921 | fixed | Y | 1/500s | 5.8 | n | n | |
| Panasonic G6 | 1440 | n | 3.0 | 1036 | swivel | Y | 1/4000s | 7.0 | Y | n | |
| Panasonic GX1 | optional | n | 3.0 | 460 | fixed | Y | 1/4000s | 4.2 | Y | n | |
| Panasonic GH2 | 1534 | n | 3.0 | 460 | swivel | n | 1/4000s | 3.0 | Y | n |
One convenient feature of the GX7 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-GX7 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.
| Camera Model |
Hotshoe Port |
Internal Microphone |
Internal Speaker |
Microphone Port |
Headphone Port |
HDMI Port |
USB Port |
WiFi Support | NFC Support |
Bluetooth Support |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panasonic GX7 | Y | stereo | mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
| Olympus E-M10 | Y | stereo | mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
| Olympus E-PL7 | Y | stereo | mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
| Olympus E-P5 | Y | stereo | mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
| Panasonic G85 | Y | stereo | mono | Y | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
| Panasonic GX85 | Y | stereo | mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
| Panasonic GX8 | Y | stereo | mono | Y | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
| Panasonic GM5 | Y | stereo | mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
| Panasonic G6 | Y | stereo | mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
| Panasonic GX1 | Y | stereo | mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| Panasonic GH2 | Y | stereo | mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - |
It is notable that the GX7 offers wifi support. Wifi can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location.
Expert reviews
While the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it says nothing about, for example, the handling, responsiveness, and overall imaging quality of the GX7 in practical situations. 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 why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The table below summarizes the assessments of some of the best known camera review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, photographyblog).
| Camera Model |
camera labs |
dp review |
ephoto zine |
imaging resource |
photography blog |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price (USD) |
Street Price |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panasonic GX7 | + | 79/100 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | Aug 2013 | 999 | |
|
| Olympus E-M10 | .. | 80/100 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | Jan 2014 | 699 | |
|
| Olympus E-PL7 | + | .. | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | Aug 2014 | 599 | |
|
| Olympus E-P5 | + + | 78/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | May 2013 | 999 | |
|
| Panasonic G85 | + + | 84/100 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Sep 2016 | 899 | |
|
| Panasonic GX85 | + + | 82/100 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | Apr 2016 | 799 | |
|
| Panasonic GX8 | + | 82/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | Jul 2015 | 1,199 | |
|
| Panasonic GM5 | + | 77/100 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | Sep 2014 | 749 | |
|
| Panasonic G6 | + + | .. | 5/5 | .. | 4.5/5 | Apr 2013 | 599 | |
|
| Panasonic GX1 | + | 77/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Nov 2011 | 699 | |
|
| Panasonic GH2 | + + | 79/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | Sep 2010 | 899 | |
|
| Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available. | |||||||||
The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.
Panasonic GX7 FAQ
Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the GX7.
What is the technology behind the imaging sensor in the GX7?
The camera is build around a CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor.
Which image processing chip is used to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?
Panasonic equipped the GX7 with the Venus image processor.
What is the ISO sensitivity range of the GX7?
The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 125 to ISO 25600.
What is the life expectancy of the shutter in the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7?
Panasonic does not publish a shutter rating for the GX7. 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.
Is completely silent shooting possible with the Panasonic GX7?
The camera has an electronic shutter option, so that it is indeed feasible to capture images without any shutter noise.
Do I need to purchase an external camera trigger to shoot time-lapse sequences?
No, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7 has an intervalometer built-in, so that low frequency shooting (for example, flower blooming, sunset, moon rise) can be undertaken without the need to purchase a separate external intervalometer and related software.
Is it difficult to use manual focus lenses with the Panasonic GX7?
The GX7 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 GX7 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 flash?
The GX7's flash sync speed is 1/320 sec.
Does the Panasonic GX7 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 GX7 use?
The camera gets its power from the DMW-BLG10 (here at amazon), which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.
Camera to camera comparisons
If you would like to see a side-by-side review of this and another camera, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.
- Canon T6i vs Panasonic GX7
- Fujifilm X-T30 vs Panasonic GX7
- Fujifilm X30 vs Panasonic GX7
- Nikon B600 vs Panasonic GX7
- Nikon D5300 vs Panasonic GX7
- Nikon D7200 vs Panasonic GX7
- Nikon P1000 vs Panasonic GX7
- Nikon Z50 vs Panasonic GX7
- Olympus E-PM2 vs Panasonic GX7
- Panasonic GX7 vs Ricoh GR
- Panasonic GX7 vs Sony NEX-5T
- Panasonic GX7 vs Sony RX1
| Camera Model | Panasonic GX7 | |
| Camera Type | Mirrorless system camera | |
| Camera Lens | Micro Four Thirds lenses | |
| Launch Date | August 2013 | |
| Launch Price | USD 999 | |
| 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 | 125 - 25 600 ISO | |
| Image Processor | Venus | |
| DXO Sensor Quality (score) | 70 | |
| DXO Color Depth (bits) | 22.6 | |
| DXO Dynamic Range (EV) | 12.2 | |
| DXO Low Light (ISO) | 718 | |
| Screen Specs | ||
| Viewfinder Type | Electronic viewfinder | |
| Viewfinder Field of View | 100% | |
| Viewfinder Magnification | 0.70x | |
| Viewfinder Resolution | 2760k dots | |
| LCD Framing | Live View | |
| LCD Size | 1040k dots | |
| LCD Attachment | Tilting screen | |
| Touch Input | Touchscreen | |
| Shooting Specs | ||
| Focus System | Contrast-detect AF | |
| Manual Focusing Aid | Focus Peaking | |
| Maximum Shutter Speed | 1/8000s | |
| Continuous Shooting | 5 shutter flaps/s | |
| Shutter Life Expectancy | 100 000 actuations | |
| Silent Shooting | Electronic Shutter | |
| Time Lapse Photography | Intervalometer Built-in | |
| Image Stabilization | In-body stabilization | |
| Fill Flash | Build-in Flash | |
| Storage Medium | SDXC cards | |
| Second Storage Option | Single card slot | |
| UHS card support | UHS-I | |
| Connectivity Specs | ||
| External Flash | Hotshoe | |
| USB Connector | USB 2.0 | |
| HDMI Port | mini HDMI | |
| Wifi Support | Wifi built-in | |
| Near-Field Communication | NFC built-in | |
| Body Specs | ||
| Battery Type | DMW-BLG10 power pack | |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 350 shots per charge | |
| Body Dimensions |
123 x 71 x 55 mm (4.8 x 2.8 x 2.2 in) |
|
| Camera Weight | 402 g (14.2 oz) |
Did you notice an error on this page? If so, please get in touch, so that we can correct the information.
You are here: Home » CAM-parator » Panasonic GX7 Review
