Panasonic GF7
The GF7, Panasonic’s latest starter CSC, offers a host of enticing features in a smaller, more retro body, says Amy Davies
A new compact system camera with selfie-friendly features
Panasonic’s GF series was traditionally its range aimed at novice photographers – but since the introduction of the GM series, the range has taken a little bit of a back seat. Now, however, Panasonic has refreshed the GF series with the GF7, which the company says is replacing the GF6. (Bargain hunters may like to note that the older model will continue to be on sale for a short while.)
Features
The pixel count of the GF7 remains the same as the GF6, at 16 million pixels, but the sensor and processor are upgraded to the ones found in the Panasonic GX7.
Panasonic claims that the autofocus system can operate in very low light, down to -4EV, but a Focus Peaking system is on hand, helping you see which areas are in focus, is on hand for those occasions when you need to focus manually.
The GF7 has a screen which can be flipped upwards through 180 degrees. Designed for taking selfies, the camera automatically switches to selfie mode when the screen is flipped up. New options for selfies have also been included. In Face Shutter mode, the wave of a hand in front of a face will trigger the shutter, while Buddy Shutter mode is designed to help when taking selfies with friends.
Jump Snap mode, meanwhile, works by connecting the camera to a smartphone. You then put the phone in your pocket to detect when you’re in mid-jump and trip the (tripod-mounted) camera shutter to take a shot.
Build and Handling
While the GF6 came supplied with a fairly large (by comparison) 14–42mm kit lens, the GF7 ships with the smaller, collapsible 12–32mm kit lens, which has previously been packaged with the GM range. This makes the camera smaller overall, while Panasonic has also given the GF7 a more classic, retro-inspired look.
Despite the fact that it’s smaller than the GF6, the redesigned camera body feels a little more solid. For example, there’s a more substantial thumb-pad on the back of the camera. Although the ridge texture that was on the front of the GF6 is now missing, the coating on the GF7 still gives some purchase.
The controls have had a little shift around since the GF6. On the top-plate, the mode dial moves from its position next to the pop-up flash to sit on the right-hand side, and there’s also a new customisable Function button on the left.
Semi-automatic modes (such as Aperture Priority) are included on the mode dial, along with Panoramic mode, Scene mode, digital filters and a couple of other scene modes. The Automatic mode, however, is available via a separate dedicated button.
While there is now only one customisable physical button – which accesses Wi-Fi settings by default – there are a further six ‘virtual’ spaces on the touchscreen, which can also be customised; they’re useful if you find yourself wanting quick access to a given function.
Digital filters can either be accessed through a dedicated mode, or via the touchscreen while in other exposure modes. As the lens is collapsible, you’ll need to extend it before you can shoot. This makes the process a little slower for the first picture you take, but you can leave the lens extended for the next shots.
Performance
Given that the sensor and processor have a proven track record, hopes were high for the GF7. Colours are bright and punchy direct from the camera, without so much vibrance that images appear unnatural.
Changing the Photo Style enables you to alter the look of your image, but not too drastically. You can choose from options such as Vivid, for instance, which is useful for boosting the hues in landscape shots. The good news is that you can use these in raw format, so you also have an unprocessed version of the image should you need it. The same can be said of the more dramatic digital filters, which you can apply in semiautomatic or Manual modes to keep full control of other camera settings.
The camera’s sensor reproduces detail very well. By examining an image at 100%, we can see how much
“Colours are bright and punchy, without so much vibrance that images appear unnatural”
fine detail there is. As you move up the sensitivity scale towards higher values such as ISO 3,200, you can see some smoothing and loss of detail at 100%. The overall impression of detail at normal printing and web sizes is very good, though.
Generally speaking, both the all-purpose metering system and the automatic white balance system do a good job of producing accurate
Below The iA button is useful if you want the GF7 to take control. exposures and colours. In low light, at high sensitivities, images are generally very good, with noise levels kept low even at sensitivity settings as high as ISO 3,200.
The supplied kit lens is a decent performer, but you might find it useful to purchase an additional lens with a longer focal length for holidays and travelling.
The GF7’s autofocusing speeds are very quick, especially in bright light, and it’s only really when you reach almost pitch-black conditions that the camera starts to struggle to lock on at all.
Verdict
Some may question the point of the GF range now that the GM range offers, in some respects, more functionality in a smaller package. But the GF series still offers a great range of features at a more affordable price.
Great for travelling, the GF7’s flipping screen is ideal for selfies and perhaps appeals most to those who like to document their holiday visits, but the image sensor and processor can cope with varied conditions.
“It’s only really when you reach almost pitch-black conditions that the camera starts to struggle”