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| G7 Control Panel showing the flat top 4 Way Pad and buttons. The little ridge on the right side of the control panel is easily seen in this photo. The thumb support is adequate for a small light camera and its shape allows the thumb easy operation of the rear dial. |
The camera was evaluated with the standard kit 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 (2) lens mounted.
This ergonomic score follows my established schedule which you can read about here.
Setup Phase
The G7 uses the same menu system as other current Lumix MILCs and high end FZLCs. It is graphically very clear and for the most part well laid out. Navigation is easy. Access to the menus is easy.
There is a Q Menu for user selectable quick access items. [Menu Resume] is available.
The camera is highly configurable. Dial and button functions can be assigned to user preference from a long list of options.
There are a few negatives which prevent a maximum score.
There is no [My Menu].
There are a few mystery menu items such as [Constant Preview].
I think it is time for Panasonic to revisit the entire menu/submenu system with a view to breaking out some groups and consolidating others to new submenus. There are, for instance, [Focus], [Shutter] and [Display] items spread across several submenus. Various [Image Quality] items are in the Rec menu but would make more sense to me in their own submenu. I think the current Rec, Custom and Setup menus could be replaced with more meaningful groupings.
Score 10/15
Prepare Phase
Current Panasonic G cams including the G7 do Prepare Phase well.
The Q Menu is user configurable as are several buttons and dials.
Set-and-seemodules are optimally used for prepare Phase items. These include the Drive Mode and
Main Mode dials and the Focus Mode lever. The layout designer has a good understanding of the relationship between Prepare Phase and Capture phase tasks and therefore which modules are best suited to each task group.
Score 13/15
Capture Phase: Holding
The G7 has the best size, shape and configuration of handle of the “Just G” cameras. I rate it with the GH3/4 for comfort and conformity to the natural position of the hand. If I were working on the next version I might locate the shutter button a touch to the left (as viewed by the user) and I might put the rear dial in a wider thumb support. But that would entail making the monitor smaller.
As it stands I rate the G7 as having just about the best possible holding arrangements given the overall size of the body.
Score 18/20
Capture Phase: Viewing
The G7 provides excellent viewing via either the EVF or monitor. It really is a pleasure to use.
The monitor is the highly versatile fully articulated type. The EVF provides a large bright, clear and sharp view of the subject. My personal preference would be for a softer rubber material in the eyecup with a more rounded edge for more comfort.
Both EVF and monitor are highly adjustable to personal preference. I find the default EVF contrast too high but minus 5 contrast soon fixes that.
Both the EVF and monitor can be configured to “Monitor style” or “Viewfinder style”. The EVF and monitor display the same information in the same way for a seamless segue between the two.
Extensive data can be displayed (or not if desired) in both the EVF and monitor. This includes peaking (for very accurate manual focus) and zebras (for accurate control of highlight brightness).
Score 18/20
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| FZ1000. This shows the "rocking saucer" type 4 Way Pad with raised edges, seen on some Panasonic cameras. This type is much easier to locate and operate by feel. In my view Panasonic and other camera makers should standardise on this type. |
Capture Phase: Operating
An ideal camera allows the user to adjust all primary and secondary exposure and focussing parameters while looking continuously through the viewfinder and without having to change grip with either hand. Not many cameras fully meet this standard but the G7 comes close.
It is the first ‘Just G” model to utilise a full twin dial design which is well implemented. Both dials are easy to turn with minimal finger action being required.
With [Direct Focus Area] set, moving the AF box and changing its size are quick and easy.
Adjusting AF<>MF, AFC<>AFS, Changing Mode, adjusting aperture, shutter speed and exposure compensation are all quickly and reliably performed without impeding the picture taking process.
There is a little ridge on the far right side of the camera back to prevent the palm accidentally pressing on the rear pad and buttons there. This works well and is an example of the way in which subtle changes can have a big effect on ergonomic characteristics.
The only blemish on this otherwise excellent performance is haptic issues on the 4Way Pad and rear buttons.
The 4Way Pad is of the “4 flat buttons” type which I hoped Panasonic might have abandoned by now.
The FZ1000 utilises the much more easily operated “rocking saucer” type, with a raised edge which is easy to feel. In addition the pad on the FZ1000 has a diameter of 17mm whereas that on the G7 is almost 20mm in diameter.
I fail to understand why they used a larger diameter pad on the smaller camera.
The pad on the G7 is usable but when doing so I am constantly a little unsure if my thumb is in the right place whereas with the FZ1000 I never have any concern about this.
It is an abiding mystery to me that different cameras use different rear pads. They are going to be used by the same humans with the same hands so why the difference ?
In addition the buttons in the rear control panel are not as easy to locate by feel as they should be.
They need slightly more projection. This is a guess but maybe an extra 0.2mm would do the trick.
Enough to make them easy to feel but not so much they will get bumped accidentally.
I would also like to feel a rough surface on the buttons with the Playback button having a very different texture from the Q Menu and Disp buttons.
This is another aspect of design detail where small changes can have a big effect on usability.
I scored the G7 down a few points because of these haptic issues which I think Panasonic could and should fix in mid production.
Score 17/25
Review Phase
With its twin dial operation the G7 is easy to use effectively in Review Phase. Scrolling between enlarged frames is easy. The review experience could be improved a bit if Panasonic implemented the “jump to AF point” on zooming in, as seen on some other cameras.
Score 5/5
Overall score 81/100
Comment This is a good score for a small ILC, reflecting the generally very good user experience.
If Panasonic could fix the haptic issues the camera would score even higher.
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