4K cameras finally affordable

BLAYNE SLABBERT tests a4K camera as the feature becomes available to the average photographer.

Cameraswith the ability to take 4K video have been on the market for a few years, but until recently they’ve been too pricey for most people.

But now you can buy one for $1100 (without a lens), which shows how quickly top tech becomes affordable.

Panasonic’s effort in this market is the G7 (officially the Lumix DMC-G7K), a micro fourthirds mirrorless camera, which means it doesn’t have a mirror like traditional DSLRs.

It’s the baby brother of the highly regarded GH4 (which costs about $1000 more) which has been wowing camera fans for about a year with its 4K ability.

Now Panasonic has packed similar features into a more affordable product, but its made a few sacrifices.

The first and most noticeable is the very plasticky build quality, which makes it feel more budget that other similarly priced cameras.

However, while pros may scoff at its finish, its target market won’t mind as this plastic fantastic is light to carry around and has many features that result in great photos and video.

In fact, it probably has more features than you need which is both good (you can grow into the camera as your develop your skills) and bad (it can be intimidating at first glance).

DO YOU NEED 4K?

The G7’s biggest feature is 4K, which captures four times the resolution as high definition (1080p).

To make it immediately worthwhile, you need to both record and watch the video in 4K. This tech is becoming more affordable in both cameras, smartphones, monitors and televisions though they still make up a tiny portion of the market, for now.

However, YouTube and Netflix are capable of streaming 4K.

Buying a 4K-capable camera is more about investing in the future. If you look back at the footage you took on your camera five or more years ago, the quality will be disappointing. One day we’ll think like that about 1080p.

So moving to 4K will mean that when everyone has 4K monitors and TVs in a few years, the footage you took this year will still look great.

USING THE CAMERA

Serious cameras are a tool, not a toy and to get the most out of them you need to take the time to learn the controls and settings. Panasonic takes a conservative approach, with everything where you’d expect it to be.

It all makes sense and it won’t take long to learn if you are coming from another brand but if you are a newbie it can be intimidating, but that’s the same with every serious camera. One thing that does make it a bit easier is the touchscreen.

One physical aspect I really like was that with the 12-42mm lens attached, I could fit the camera into my jacket pocket.

THINGS THAT COUNT

If you are buying a camera, picture (and video) quality is probably the most important thing.

The camera takes great quality images, which is no surprise as the company has been in the photo business for a while and has developed a solid reputation.

It also has quick autofocus and works well when the light is low. It can take 7 frames per second which is OK, but it has a feature where you can take a 4K movie and extract photos, effectively giving you 30fps.

I also liked the electronic viewfinder, but if you haven’t used one before I’d suggest trying it out before buying. They take a wee while to get used to, especially if you’ve come from an optical viewfinder.

VERDICT

If you like making videos and want the best quality resolution, then the G7 should be on your shortlist.

Getting 4K at this price is amazing. To get it in a Canon camera costs $10,000 (for the Canon EOS-1D C) – though you do get lots of other features for that price.

However, if you are interested in a mirrorless camera, then the decision is harder. Mirrorless cameras are getting a lot of attention, with fans attracted to their smaller size and progressive features and, as a result, there are some great options available from Fujifilm, Olympus and Sony.

Each brand tends to have a key feature it pushes, and with Panasonic it’s video. To choose a camera for yourself, find out what is important to you then visit your local camera shop to see how it feels to use.