Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7 is a compact mirrorless camera from 2013 built around the Micro Four Thirds system. At 402 g and roughly 123 x 71 x 55 mm, it stays small and light, which suits travel and everyday photography where a bulky kit would stay home.

Owning one means access to Micro Four Thirds lenses, plus practical touches like a tilting touchscreen and built-in Wi-Fi for wireless connection. There is also a built-in flash for when light runs short, and an electronic viewfinder as an alternative to the rear screen.

The GX7 pairs a 16 megapixel Micro Four Thirds CMOS sensor with the Venus Engine processor, and its Optics score of 54 is a modest showing, around the middle of cameras in our database for Optics. The native ISO range runs from 200 to 25600.

In-body stabilisation is a practical asset, reducing camera shake so slower shutter speeds stay usable handheld. It steadies the camera rather than the subject, which helps most with static scenes in dim interiors or at dusk.

For action, burst shooting reaches a maximum of 5 frames per second with 23 autofocus points on offer. Those numbers do not by themselves establish tracking performance, and the rate is a maximum rather than a sustained promise. The shutter reaches 1/8000 second, giving latitude for bright conditions.

Framing is handled by an electronic viewfinder with roughly 2.76 million dots, giving a detailed view of the scene, and the Micro Four Thirds mount keeps lens choice open.

The GX7 records video in MP4 files. Maximum resolution is Full HD, and the maximum frame rate reaches 60 fps; each is a separate limit, so a combined recording mode is not confirmed. Full HD resolution suits family clips, web content and holiday footage.

Its Video score of 56 is modest, and the main constraint is simple: there is no 4K recording here. If your work ends up on large screens or you crop heavily while editing, Full HD limits how far you can push the footage.

There is no built-in intervalometer, so timelapse sequences are not automated by the camera itself. Anyone planning regular interval work will need to consider how frames are triggered, since this function is absent.

The 3 inch LCD carries around 1,040,000 dots, so playback and live view look crisp. It is also a touchscreen that flips, which makes the camera quicker and easier to use: touch input is available for controls, and the tilt lets you shoot from the hip or overhead without guessing your composition.

Built-in Wi-Fi is present, though there is no Bluetooth for a persistent low-power link. A built-in flash covers occasional low-light needs, and the camera accepts an external flash when you want more power or bounce.

The Features score of 57 is modest. The touchscreen and live view earned full credit, while absent weather sealing and Bluetooth cost points. That means care in rain, dust and sand, and there is no GPS for automatic location tagging.

This is the camera's weakest area, with a limited Storage & Battery score of 21. Points were lost across every contributing field: no dual card slots, a modest battery life rating and no USB charging.

There is a single SD, SDHC or SDXC slot, so you cannot write a backup copy of important frames to a second card as you shoot. For weddings or one-off events, that means careful card handling and a spare card in the bag.

The 1200 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated for about 350 shots. That figure is a rating rather than a guarantee, so a second battery is a sensible purchase for long or heavy shooting days.

The battery cannot be charged over USB, so you need the dedicated charger and a mains outlet. Anyone used to topping up from a laptop or power bank will need to adjust their routine.