Panasonic today has (officially) let loose details about its latest G Series Digital Single Lens Mirrorless camera, the Lumix DMC-GX7. Images and specifications have leaked over the past few days, but as of today the specifications, release date and pricing have been confirmed.
I’ve been lucky enough to have used the GX7 over the past two days, and it is an excellent addition to Panasonic’s micro four thirds camera range. Like the Fujifilm X100, with the GX7 Panasonic has gone for a retro look in its design. The GX7 is a rangefinder-type camera, with a tiltable (90 degrees) Live View Finder, and a tiltable LCD screen (up 80 degrees, and down 40 degrees).
It has a 16 megapixel Live MOS image sensor, a new version of Panasonic’s Venus engine, with a maximum shutter speed of 1/8000 second. It is Panasonic’s fastest G Series camera. In addition to still the GX7 will shoot high definition (1920 x 1080) video at 50p.
If you’re thinking of making the step up from a point-and-shoot digital camera to an interchangeable lens camera, the GX7 shouldn’t be too daunting a prospect for you. Beginners can set the camera to Intelligent Auto, and the GX7 will assess the subject and light, and select the best setting to capture you image. Also familiar from point-and-shoots are the scene settings and art filters – including Expressive, Retro, High Key, Sepia, High Dynamic, Soft Focus, Dynamic Monochrome, Impressive Art, One Point Color, Cross Process, Low Key, Toy Effect, Star Filter, Miniature Effect, Old Days, Sunshine, Bleach Bypass, Toy Pop and Fantasy.
More experienced users have all the control they need, and can apply all manual settings. Photographers that have favourite settings are able to program up to five functions within the touchscreen menu, and on the camera body there are four programmable buttons.
Ken Duncan, the well-known Australian photographer, and Panasonic brand ambassador, has been using a pre-production GX7 for some time now, and is very enthusiastic and complimentary about the GX7. Of course being the brand ambassador he would be, but at the launch he displayed pictures taken with the camera, even some taken in JPG rather than RAW format, and the images were (enviably) very good.
Panasonic GX7 price and availability
The Panasonic Lumix GX7 will go on sale in Australia in September, in a choice of two tone black and silver, or all black. It will be available in the following body and lens configurations:
- GX7 body only, Black or Silver – $1,249 RRP
- GX7 Silver with 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 MkII lens – $1,349 RRP
- GX7 Silver with 20mm F1.7 MkII lens – $1,499 RRP
- GX7 Black with Leica 25mm F1.4 lens – $1,949 RRP
At launch there will be 20 lenses available, and four conversion lenses. Another new lens, a Leica Noctricon 42.5 mm F1.2 lens, is under development and will be available at a yet to be advised date.
Disclaimer: Scott travelled to Kingfisher Bay Resort on Fraser Island to trial the Lumix GX7 as a guest of Panasonic.