Panasonic Lumix GH7 Review

The GH cameras were the working videographer's default for a decade and lost that position over one thing: contrast detect autofocus that pulsed and hunted while every rival locked on. The GH7 fixes it. Phase detection with subject recognition makes the autofocus usable for solo shooters, and with that resolved the rest of the package is as strong as it ever was. It records 5.7K, internal ProRes RAW, 4K at 120 frames, and it does so indefinitely because the body has a fan, which is the kind of unglamorous engineering that matters at hour three of an interview.

Thirty two bit float audio with the optional XLR unit is a first. Stabilisation is superb. The sensor is Micro Four Thirds, so stills quality and high ISO trail a full frame camera by a stop or two, and the smaller sensor's shallow depth of field limits are real. For someone who shoots more video than stills, it is the best value in a serious hybrid.