Panasonic Lumix DMC-G7

The Lumix DMC-G7 is a mirrorless camera from 2015 built around the Micro Four Thirds mount, so it accepts lenses made for that system. Body and lenses share one standard, keeping the kit simple to build.

It measures 125 x 86 x 77 mm and weighs 410 g, so it fits a small bag or a long day of handheld walking without strain. The electronic viewfinder lets you shoot at eye level instead of holding the camera out in front of you.

It suits travellers, family photographers and anyone moving up from a phone who wants interchangeable lenses and 4K video in one light body. A built-in flash covers dim rooms, Wi-Fi is built in, and Bluetooth is not.

A 16-megapixel CMOS sensor in the Micro Four Thirds format sits at the heart of the camera. That resolution suits everyday prints and moderate cropping, and the compact format pairs with the camera's light build.

Autofocus offers 49 points, giving you several focus targets when you frame a subject. Shooting runs at up to 7 fps, which covers short bursts of movement, though that is a maximum rate rather than a promise for long sequences.

Sensitivity spans ISO 200 to 25600, giving a broad range of settings as light fades. The base setting of ISO 200 pairs with the 1/4000s shutter ceiling, which can limit wide apertures in bright conditions.

There is no in-body stabilisation, so steadiness at slower shutter speeds depends on your technique or the lens you attach. The 2.36-million-dot electronic viewfinder keeps the framing detailed at eye level.

Video is a defining capability of this camera. It records 4K, which gives footage real detail on large screens and leaves room to crop or reframe during editing without the result falling apart.

The fastest frame rate on offer is 60 fps. That figure is specified separately from the 4K maximum, so check which combinations your project needs before a shoot. Sixty frames per second can also suit fast movement and slow-motion work.

A built-in timelapse function automates interval shooting, so clouds, crowds and changing light can be captured without an external remote.

Files record as MPEG-4 or MOV, and the flipping screen helps when you film yourself or need to hold the camera low.

The 3-inch LCD uses 2.36 million dots and touch input. The detail is high enough to check focus carefully, touch makes setting changes quick, and the screen flips for framing at high or low angles.

Lighting options are flexible for this class. A built-in flash handles dim rooms or fill light without any accessories, and the camera also supports external flash units when you need more power.

Wi-Fi is built in, but there is no Bluetooth or GPS, so the camera cannot tag your files with location data on its own.

There is no weather sealing, so rain, spray and dusty conditions call for care and protection.

The G7 takes SD, SDHC and SDXC cards in a single slot. SDXC keeps high-capacity options open for long 4K clips, but with one slot you cannot record a second copy while shooting, so format cards and plan capacity before an important job.

Power comes from a DMW-BLC12E battery rated at 350 shots. That figure is a rating without stated conditions, so treat it as a guide rather than a promise of real-world endurance. Heavy screen and video use will likely drain it faster, so a spare battery earns its place on longer days.

The battery recharges over USB, which makes topping up between shoots simpler when you are away from home.