New Panasonic LUMIX GH7: Great Video, Fantastic Audio

The Panasonic LUMIX series has long been the favorite of serious video shooters who want the latest features and technology in a small package that can be brought anywhere. The LUMIX GH7 follows that promise with much-sought-after features like 32-bit Float Recording and improved Auto Focus (AF) that can recognize and focus on even more subjects.
Features like frame.io integration allow creators to work quickly and efficiently with teams, even remotely. Open Gate makes editing your footage to match various social media formats simple and helps vertical footage feel less like an afterthought. All this makes the LUMIX GH7 an ideal camera for content teams and social media creators.
Key Specs of the Panasonic LUMIX GH7
- 25.2MP BSI CMOS Sensor
- Dynamic Range Boost (Full ISO Range)
- 13+ stops V-Log/V-Gamut
- Active I.S. Technology
- Phase Hybrid AF with Human/Animal/Car/Motorcycle/Train/Airplane Target Part Detection
- 32-bit Float Recording with Optional DMW-XLR2
- REAL TIME LUT
- Lumix Lab App
- ProRes RAW HQ Internal Recording
- USB-SSD Recording
- Cooling Fan
- CFexpress Type B and SD UHS-II U3 V90 Slots
- Dust/Splash/Freeze Resistant
Noteworthy Features of the LUMIX GH7
It’s no surprise that Panasonic packed the LUMIX GH7 with tons of powerful features for both photographers and filmmakers. With a massive 13+ stops of dynamic range, HFR 4:2:0 10-bit 4K up to 120p, and The ability to create LUTS with the LUMIX Lab app, the GH7 is a filmmaker’s Dream. A 25.5M sensor and Phase Hybrid AF that can now recognize airplanes, trains, Humans, Animals, and other vehicles make the GH7 great for photographers.
Panasonic realizes that so many of us these days straddle the line between photo and video. Not to mention social media content creation. Having a tool like the GH7 in our kit allows us to work seamlessly on whatever projects we face.
32-bit Float Recording
With the optional LUMIX DMW-XLR2, the LUMIX GH7 is capable of 32-bit float recording. This protects your audio from extreme changes in noise level. A practical day-to-day benefit is that you don’t have to make constant changes to your recording levels while shooting. The 32-bit Float recording allows perfect balancing in post-production without losing quality.
ProRes RAW Internal
Many of us have gotten used to connecting an external recorder to our cameras to capture the high-quality footage that PreRes RAW offers. With the LUMIX GH7, we can leave behind the bulky recorder while maintaining the quality, as the GH7 captures ProRes RAW internally on the CFexpress card.

REAL TIME LUT
LUT, or lookup table, is a term most filmmakers know well. Frequently, video shooters record in Log (V-log in the GH7) and apply a LUT in post-production. Of course, some external monitors allow the LUT to be seen while shooting, giving the client a better idea of what the final footage will look like.
The GH7’s REAL TIME LUT feature allows creators to apply LUTs in the camera. LUTs can be created and added using the LUMIX Lab App. This allows using industry-standard LUTs and those designed for specific scenes or projects.
These REAL TIME LUTs are not just for video files; they can also be applied to photos. When shooting in RAW + JPG, a creator can lock in the perfect LUT while shooting and, if necessary, make adjustments to the RAW image later in post-production.
Combined with frame.io, a shooter could share images with the LUT baked in, ready for their remote team. A RAW file can also be shared if further adjustments are to be made.
The JPG could also be referenced to match the LUT when retouching the RAW file. This is an excellent example of how Panasonic thinks about the big picture when designing cameras like the LUMIX GH7.
Open Gate
Like the GH5 and GH6 before it, the GH7 includes Open Gate. This feature allows us to record the entire sensor area and, later in post-editing, crop the video to whatever aspect ratio works best for social platforms.
The same footage used for a long YouTube video can easily be cropped vertically for Instagram stories. Yes, you can already do this with any video file in post. However, with Open Gate recording the entire sensor and giving us guidelines for various ratios, we can frame our shots optimally to take advantage of the multiple formats we will edit to later.
We often frame our shots for 16:9 only to be asked to cut a vertical version. By capturing the initial footage with the vertical guide in place, we can ensure plenty of breathing room in the footage to create pleasing compositions in both formats.
In fact, if we edit our footage in a 4:3 full-frame timeline, we can duplicate the project, changing the output as needed. For instance, we can create 16:9 and 9:16 projects. With those exports, we have two full videos in barely more time than it takes to edit one.
Adobe Cloud and Frame.io
With the LUMIX GH7’s frame.io integration, working with a remote creative team has never been easier. GH7 users can connect directly to frame.io and upload stills and video footage. This allows their team to edit and post directly to social media or create content to be shared immediately.
Imagine having your team post updates as you cover a street festival. Or they could be assembling a slide show of formals to be played at the wedding reception while you shoot the cocktail hour. Sending a team of LUMIX GH7 shooters out to cover an event while editors assemble the footage from various sources—all this and more is possible with frame.io content sharing.

Who Should Use the LUMIX GH7?
The LUMIX GH7 offers many new features and improvements, making this upgrade ideal for those already in the GH system. Your old GH5 or GH6 will make a great 2nd camera as you integrate the GH7 into your workflow. For those who shoot for the love of it, or maybe as a side hustle, the LUMIX GH7’s price point is very appealing. With Open Gate, this camera allows the solo shooter to maximize the value of each composition. With REAL TIME LUT’s ability to reproduce the look of some ARRI cinema cameras, the GH7 would make a welcome companion to the ARRI shooter as a small and reliable 2nd camera.
The Unexpected Partnership
With this announcement, we received the latest news from Panasonic as they revealed their collaboration with ARRI featuring LogC3 for the LUMIX GH7.
For those unfamiliar, ARRI LogC3 is the third-generation logarithmic gamma curve used on ARRI cameras. This means that along with maximizing the dynamic range of your sensor, it enables color matching with ARRI’s digital cinema cameras color science and gives you flexibility for post-production using the DMW-SFU3A software upgrade key (sold separately) for LUMIX GH7 and GH6.
LUMIX GH7 VS LUMIX GH6
The GH7 is a worthy successor to the LUMIX GH6. It takes all the features creators use most and adds powerful audio recording. Both cameras can work side by side in your kit, with the GH7 taking on more heavy lifting and the GH6 operating to capture an additional angle or B-roll.
One of the great benefits of the LUMIX system is that these tools are made to last. While the new generation of cameras offers us expanded opportunities to create, the previous generation holds its value on set.
Conclusion
Panasonic has produced a feature-packed camera for filmmakers, photographers, and content creators. The LUMIX GH7 feels at home in video productions, weddings, documentaries, and any type of project that requires versatility.
A powerful video camera with ProRes RAW and 32-bit Float Recording. A capable photo camera with a 25.5MP BSI CMO Sensor and Active Image Stabilization. The GH7 is a fantastic tool for content and social media creators with Open Gate.
For anyone looking for a compact powerhouse that can handle video, photo, and content creation, the LUMIX GH7 is for you.
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