Panasonic Lumix GX7 Ergonomic Review

GX7 on the left with G6 on the right.

 

Much goodness but holding could be better

Market position and user demographic   The Micro Four Thirds camera system came to market in 2008. The original Panasonic G cameras looked like little DSLR's.  Presumably Panasonic was hoping to attract buyers wanting a DSLR style camera in a more compact size. Olympus' first M43 cameras used a flat top style without a built in EVF. Panasonic followed with a range of similar cameras with monitor only viewing.

There have been  requests from user forum members over the years for a rangefinder style M43 camera, flat top style with built in EVF located top left on the body.

It seems Panasonic was listening and responded with the GX7,  packed  with  features and specifications likely to appeal to the enthusiast user.

Some reviewers have described  the  GX7 as an evolution of the GX1, but I prefer to understand it as the first iteration of a new product line with a new style.  It could be seen as a modern version of the rangefinder "look-a-Leica" style, also found in Fuji X-Cameras.

On the left GH3 with 12-35mm lens, in the center G6 with 14-42mm (original version), on the left GX7 with 14-42mm Mk2 kit lens. The size and style differences are self evident.

 

Specifications and features  You can read a list of these in the manufacturer's brochures and other published material. I make just a few comments.

The list of specifications and features is very extensive, suggesting Panasonic is working hard to make this model a success.

Just to pick out some of the features which attracted my attention, the GX7 has:

* A tilting EVF located top left on the body, both features a first for Panasonic M43 cameras.

* An accessory rubber eyepiece, DMW EC-1 available separately, to shield the EVF from stray light.

* The monitor tilts up and down but is not fully articulated.

* Two axis in body image stabiliser (IBIS), a first for Panasonic.

* Wi-Fi capability, now becoming standard on current model Panasonic M43 cameras.

* Twin dial user interface with the front dial surrounding the shutter button, Olympus style.

* Video reported to be of very good quality.

* Focus peaking with selectable colors in addition to focus assist zoom with manual focus.

* Fast flash shutter speed of 1/320 second and a top shutter speed of 1/8000, allowing wide apertures to be used in bright light.

* Silent E-shutter with maximum available ISO increased from 1600 on the GH3/G6 to 3200.

* Time Lapse photography.

* In camera panorama mode (JPG only). This was introduced in the G6  but the version in the GX7 brings visible improvement.   Problems with stitching errors and other artefacts in the G6  appear to have been eliminated in the GX7.

* In camera HDR blending (JPG only).

* Shutter delay feature to eliminate any risk of shake with shutter speeds longer than 1 second which are not supported by the E-Shutter.

* Multiple hard and soft Function buttons with  user selectable functions.

* Touch screen controls which can be disabled for those who prefer to control the camera with the buttons and dials.

* Wireless remote flash unit control with FL360L or R.

* Ability to autofocus (AF-S) at extremely low light levels.

* The battery is rather small for a camera with EVF plus monitor, no doubt a consequence of the camera's compact dimensions and small handle.

The list of features goes on and on,  indicating a camera of considerable technical sophistication and capability.

ISO 3200. This photo has had some color balance correction in Photoshop Camera Raw 8.3 but no other adjustment and no noise reduction.

 

Picture quality  This review is mainly about ergonomics, that being the main theme of this blog. However picture quality has a direct influence on the user experience and is obviously important.  Note that I distinguish "Picture Quality" being something which any user can evaluate, from "Technical Image Quality" which a laboratory would determine  using a special test protocol in a controlled environment.

For all tests I used RAW capture and Photoshop Camera Raw 8.3.

I had the opportunity  to test the GX7 alongside a G6, GH3 and a Fuji X-E1. I used a test chart and also made many photographs of general subjects with each camera using the same lens (except for the X-E1 of course on which I used the 18-55mm f2.8-f4 zoom). I will just summarise my findings.

Resolution/sharpness I found all four cameras gave the same resolution/sharpness at low to mid ISO settings. At ISO 6400 the EX-1 was best followed by the GX7, GH3 and G6 in that order. The difference was due to the amount of noise which when prominent interfered with rendition of fine details.

At ISO 12800 and 25600  (not available for RAW capture with the Fuji)  the GX7 had less noise than the GH3, with better retention of color accuracy and image detail. The G6 showed marked purple color shift in the dark tones, heavy noise and loss of detail at these ISO  settings.

ISO 5000. Mild noise reduction was applied in Photoshop Camera Raw 8.3.

 

Dynamic Range  At low ISO settings, rendition of highlight and shadow detail in scenes with high subject brightness level (dynamic range) appeared to be the same with all four cameras but the Fuji images had clearly less shadow noise than the GH3 or GX7.

Overall  I found the GX7 made excellent pictures in almost any circumstance. I would use this camera without hesitation right up to ISO 25600 and expect to get a usable photo. This represents a dramatic improvement from the original G1 of 2008, and a big improvement at high ISO settings over the G6 which is still a current model. Even better, the camera will autofocus in the low light levels which might require such high ISO settings.

Lens  I tested the GX7 with the diminutive featherweight, Lumix 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 OIS Mk2 kit zoom. The one tested had a plastic, or should I say "engineering grade polycarbonate" lens mount. Other  versions of this lens apparently have a metal mount, but the same optics. The fixed rear element of the optical pathway has a greater diameter than the diagonal of the sensor. This lens turned in a generally excellent performance. Zoom action was smooth. AF and OIS worked well. Performance on the test chart was right up with the much more expensive Lumix 12-35mm f2.8. In the field however I found that  sharpness at focussed distances greater than about 10 meters from the camera was not as good as the  12-35mm or the older design 14-45mm Lumix.  This may have been an issue with sample variation.  Lenses like this demonstrate that modern budget kit zooms can deliver remarkable picture quality in a very small package.

Performance   Shot to shot times with single AF are very good. The camera will make shots each with AF and AE almost as fast as I can  press the shutter button.  In M Burst drive with continuous AF, RAW capture,  the GX7 made 10 shots in 2 seconds, with a 95Mb/sec card, which is the same 5 fps frame rate as the GH3. However the GH3 has a much larger buffer and faster write times making that camera more suitable for continuous shooting.

Otherwise I found the GX7's performance to be brisk and responsive, in keeping with it's enthusiast appeal.

Autofocus, especially AFS  is very fast, sensitive and accurate even in low light levels. The camera will very occasionally miss focus but only in situations which would confuse any AF system.

Manual Focus  As with other recent Panasonic M43 cameras the GX7 offers full time manual focussing, which means you can focus manually while autofocus is active. Focus assist with variable zoom is automatically activated with MF and focus peaking is available in user selectable colors. Unfortunately focussing by preset distance on an analogue scale is not yet available on Panasonic M43 cameras. This feature is present on several other cameras, for instance the Canon G16 compact and Fuji X-E1, both of which I reviewed recently.  It is very useful when you want to preset the hyperfocal distance for any given aperture. The camera can then fire quickly without having to autofocus.

This photo and the one below demonstrate that sometimes a photo does not tell a thousand words. I doubt most people could tell by looking at the photos whether the GX7 above or the G6 below is the more comfortable to hold. My experience and that of several other users is that the G6 is more secure and comfortable to hold. 

You can't see it on this photo but the strap and it's lug fit easily in the wide gap between the thumb and index finger.

Ergonomics

Setup Phase  A newcomer might find the menu system of a current model Panasonic camera rather daunting. But the number of items is a consequence of the high degree to which the user can configure the camera to personal requirements. The visual presentation of the menus is clear and easy to navigate. Allocating functions to each Fn button and items to the user selectable Q Menu will be a steep learning curve for Panasonic novices. However all these things can be left at default settings initially and the camera will operate just fine. As with other recent Panasonic M43 cameras, the cursor buttons can be configured for Direct Focus Area  which allows the active AF area position and size to be changed quickly while looking through the viewfinder.

Menu Resume is available. This means a  menu will open at the last used item. It is very handy for people like me who often need to format a memory card.

In order to set up the camera for optimum responsiveness to individual requirements and in order to understand all those functions,  I found it very helpful to download and print out the entire 379 page  Advanced Operating Instructions.

The instruction manual has drawn some criticism on user forums but I think it represents a good approach to managing the considerable complexity involved. It's no light read though. You need to study it like a textbook and think carefully about the alternative settings available.

Just for the record I have found Olympus M43 menus and user manual even more difficult to fully comprehend.

Prepare Phase   Most items requiring adjustment in the few minutes prior to image capture can be congregated in the Q Menu. The contents of this are user selectable from a long list of options. Q Menu graphical interface is nicely designed, logical and works well.

Capture Phase 

Holding  This is the part of using the GX7 which I found least satisfactory. The GX7 has several characteristics which adversely affect holding. It is very small for a full featured camera and it is designed to a faux  rangefinder style. Part of the style signature is the horizontal silver band running along the top of the front face of the body.  This forces the grip downwards where it cannot be anatomically shaped like the grips on the GH3 or G6, and it forces the shutter button upwards onto the top plate. Some people have expressed themselves happy with the resulting hold on the camera but I had problems with it. 

Even after several weeks of frequent use to acclimatise myself to the new shape, my right index finger kept wanting to find the shutter button forward and to the left (as viewed by the user) of it's actual location. The middle and fourth fingers of my right hand never felt they had a secure grip on the mini handle with which the GX7 is equipped. The thumb support is very shallow for reasons which escape me. The designers could easily have made it deeper as on other recent Panasonic M43 cameras.

The GX7 with kit zoom lens or a small prime like the 20mm f1.7 is light enough to carry without a neck strap. A wrist strap would be sufficient.

Unfortunately I found and so did several others who handled the camera that the right side  strap lug dug into my palm just below the junction of the index and middle fingers. If one did use a neck strap the right side of it would be in an awkward  position relative to the right index and middle fingers.

I asked various family members to hold and operate the GX7 and G6. Every one of them preferred the G6 for the reasons given above.

Already there are reports on user forums of owners fitting a thumbs up type thumb support into the hotshoe and commenting that this greatly improves holding  and handling.  In this regard the GX7 appears to be like the Fuji X-Cameras many of which are kitted out by owners with aftermarket handles and thumb supports.  I would not be surprised to see aftermarket accessory handles being offered for this camera in due course.

GX7 Hold Top View. Some users will be happy with this, others will not. You can just see that pesky little strap lug which presses into my hand. Imagine this with a neck strap fitted. The strap and fingers will be competing for the same restricted little piece of real estate.

 

Viewing    The GX7 has the well advertised tilting EVF. This feature could be quite useful in some circumstances and I am sure some users will appreciate it. In the old days when I was doing macro work with a SLR I had to buy a separate angle viewfinder eyepiece at considerable cost. Such a thing is no longer required.

The EVF itself provides an acceptable but not wonderful viewing experience. I found the EC1 accessory eyecup desirable to reduce stray light entering the eyepiece. This does the job but when fitted restricts access to the Fn4 button.

The EFV is sharp but prone to blocked up shadows and purple/magenta color cast in the shadows. Reducing contrast to improve highlight/shadow detail also lowers color saturation.

I  found myself squinting more when using this viewfinder than I do with the G6 or GH3. The reason for this is not clear to me  but it also happened with the X-E1. I seem to be able to relax the left eye when viewing with the right eye using the GH3 and G6.

The monitor can swing up or down but is not fully articulated. In consequence the camera can readily be used overhead or underhand in landscape orientation but not in portrait orientation. The monitor cannot be turned inward to protect the screen.

Operating  Camera operation is generally very effective.  The Mode Dial and twin control dial control system is fast and effcient. The user has very good control over all primary and secondary exposure and focussing parameters which can be quickly adjusted with a minimum of finger actions while keeping the eye to the viewfinder.

Design and operation of the control dials and buttons is improved over the G6.  The control dials are easy but not too easy to turn. Buttons protrude slightly more than the G6 and have a slightly sharpish edge for easy location by touch. However the GH3 with it's larger buttons and dials is easier to operate with gloves. The cursor buttons have a raised sharpish edge which is easily located by feel. This design is a slight improvement over the G6 and a huge advance over the GH2, the rounded cursor buttons of which I could never find or operate by feel. Neither the GX7 nor the G6 cursor control system is as easy to find and operate by feel, with gloves, as that on the GH3.

Fn button functions are user selectable. This enables each individual to configure the camera so it operates to personal requirements. Operation of the cursor buttons is user selectable. There are few cameras which allow more individual selection of button/dial functions. Users need to have  a comprehensive understanding of camera operation to obtain maximum benefit from this capability.

There is an AF/AE lock button with user selectable function, located where the thumb can reach it easily. It can be set to provide back button AF start,  DSLR style.  Surrounding this is an AF/MF switch. This gives only two positions, AF/MF, unlike the similar switch on the GH3 which offers AFS/AFC/MF and is therefore more useful. In addition there is more space on the GH3 allowing the toggle lever for the switch to be positioned on the right side of the AF/AE button for easier operation by the right thumb. The lever on the GX7 points upwards which is not where the thumb wants to find it.  It works, but is not as readily accessible as the layout on the GH3. These little ergonomic details do have a significant effect on camera operation. They remind us that shrinking the camera can adversely affect functionality. 

Notes on other reviews

Digital Photography Review  This site did it's typically thorough job although  I would like to see more discussion about ergonomic issues from dpreview. Some user forum members were disappointed the GX7 was awarded a silver, not gold rating by dpreview. On my assessment the silver rating was fair.

Imaging Resource  This is another site which has a record of doing thorough reviews with plenty of comment about the user experience as well as picture quality and technical analysis.

Camera Labs  This New Zealand based site offers a well researched review and comparison with other recent camera makes and models.

Popular Photography This magazine/website's GX7 review contains some remarks which are at odds with my evaluation. They describe Panasonic's approach to RAW as "lackadaisical" which leaves me wondering what that is intended to mean. They describe the GX7 noise levels at 1600 as "unacceptable" which is not my experience at all. They do however make reference to the holding and handling issues which I experienced.

Dxomark  This site publishes analysis of RAW sensor performance and lens performance using descriptors unique to DXO and often raising comment on user forums when, as happens quite frequently,  DXO's results seem at odds with user experience. For instance on 13 December this year DXO published results indicating that the Lumix 12-35mm f2.8 lens would resolve 9 "Perceptual Megapixels" (P-Mpx, a unique DXO metric) on a GH2 or GH3 camera but only 5 P-Mpx on a GX7 camera. These results are completely at variance with my own test findings are drew many responses on forums indicating other  users have the same experience as me, namely that the GH3, GX7 and pretty much any 16Mpx M43 camera, deliver the same sharpness with any given lens.

Summary The GX7 is an interesting addition to Panasonic's growing stable of M43 cameras and one which I am sure will please many enthusiast users. It is a good illustration of the way in which a Mirrorless ILC can be designed to any shape, with the EVF located just about anywhere you want it.

I think this camera will be useful for candid and  street photography where small kit size and responsiveness are desirable. It would work well with a pancake style  prime like the 20mm f1.7   for fast unobtrusive operation.

I  found myself at odds with the holding arrangements and decided not to keep the camera. I am sure many other users will have a different experience with the GX7 and will enjoy using it. However I would suggest that "Try before you buy" might be a good policy, just in case you are like me and don't like the way it handles.