When you’re looking at digital cameras, you’ll have no shortage of options to choose from. When you narrow down your search to two specific cameras from one manufacturer, the choice may be even more difficult.

Panasonic Lumix gx1 vs gx7: both are great cameras with many similar features and abilities, but they also have their differences.

In this detailed comparison of the Panasonic Lumix GX1 and GX7, I’ll help you figure out which model can offer what you need without sacrificing too many of your other wants and needs in the process.

Let’s get into it!

Table of Contents

Lumix Gx1 Vs Gx7: Detailed Comparison

Below are the most prominent aspects that should be compared while comparing Lumix Gx1 and Gx7.

Design

Image Stabilization
Control and Options
Video Recording

Battery Life
Price Tag

Let’s discuss them one by one!

Design

Lumix Gx1 Vs. Gx7 When it comes to design, the two cameras are pretty similar. They both share the same body type, are portable due to their lightweight, and are small in size.

The designs of the Lumix Gx1 and Gx7 are clearly inspired by the classic style of film cameras and have a retro look that a lot of people find appealing.

The Lumix Gx1 has a classic design. It features a silver metal body with a black plastic grip on the front and the back. The camera’s retro design makes it instantly recognizable as a Panasonic camera.

The Gx1 has a lens that protrudes from the front of the camera by around 1 inch, which is a common feature of cameras with interchangeable lenses.

The lens mount for the camera is situated on the left side of the body. The Gx1’s built-in flash is situated above the lens on the top of the camera.

On the other hand, the Lumix Gx7 is a more modern-looking camera than the Gx1. It boasts a modern black design with a few touches of silver.

The Gx7’s lens sits flush with the camera body, which means that it doesn’t protrude at all. The Gx7 has a battery door on the bottom of the camera’s rear.

Image Stabilization

Image stabilization is an important feature for any camera, especially if you plan on using it for video. Both the Panasonic Lumix Gx1 and Gx7 include image stabilization, however, they differ in some significant ways.

The Panasonic Lumix Gx1 has optical image stabilization, which means that the lens itself is stabilized. This is the most effective type of image stabilization, as it can counteract even very small movements.

The Gx7, on the other hand, has electronic image stabilization. This means that the image sensor is stabilized rather than the lens.

Electronic image stabilization can still be effective, but it isn’t as good as optical image stabilization. It can’t counteract as much movement, and it can introduce some unwanted artifacts into your video footage.

So, if you’re looking for the best image stabilization possible, the Panasonic Lumix Gx1 is the way to go. However, if you’re looking for a more affordable option, the Gx7 may be a better choice.

More informational content: Camera Settings For Night Photography Without Flash

Control and Options

There are a few key differences between the Panasonic Lumix Gx1 and Gx7 when it comes to controls.

To begin, the Gx1 features a mode dial on top of the camera, but the Gx7 does not. This gives the Gx1 a bit more control over exposure settings.

Additionally, the Gx1 has a hot shoe for mounting an external flash, while the Gx7 does not.

The Gx1 also includes a dedicated shutter speed dial and aperture ring on the lens for more direct control over those settings. The Gx7 does not have these physical controls; instead, you have to adjust those settings via the touch screen or menu system.

The Gx1 has a joystick on the back of the camera body that can be used to quickly adjust focus points. The Gx7 does not have this feature; instead, you have to use the touch screen to select your focus point.

Video Recording

Both the Lumix Gx1 and Gx7 offer Full HD video recording with stereo sound, and both can also record at a reduced resolution. However, there are some significant variations between the two models that you should be aware of if you want to use your camera to shoot video.

The most obvious difference is that the Lumix Gx7 has an external microphone jack. This allows you to plug a mic into your camera for higher-quality sound recording when you’re shooting video with it.

The Lumix Gx7 also allows you to use the zoom while shooting video, something you can’t do with the Gx1 because it doesn’t have a constant F/2.8 lens.

Both cameras offer full manual control over exposure when shooting video, although the Gx7 allows you to change shutter speed as well.

Battery Life

The Gx1’s battery life is pretty good. You can expect to get around 500 shots per charge, which is just about enough for a full day’s shooting.

The Gx1 has a small battery door on the bottom of the camera’s rear. The camera uses regular AA batteries, which are inexpensive and easy to find.

On the other hand, the Gx7’s battery life is pretty good. You can expect to get around 600 shots per charge, which is just about enough for a full day’s shooting. On the bottom of the back of the camera, the Gx7 includes a large battery door.

Panasonic has included a secondary shutter release button on the front of the camera, which is handy if you’re using the camera in two-handed shooting mode. The Gx7’s battery door is hinged and opens outwards, which makes it easier to remove the battery.

The Gx7 can also use regular AA batteries, which is great if you don’t have a charger or spare batteries for your camera with you.

Moreover, it has an optional AC adapter, so you can charge the camera’s battery at home without having to use AA batteries.

Price Tag

The Lumix Gx1 is considerably cheaper than the Lumix Gx7, with a current average price of $950, compared with $1000 for the Gx7.

However, the Gx7 is the higher-end model of the two, so it’s actually not a bad price for what you get.

The Gx1, however, is a very low price for its features and qualities, so it is certainly a bargain.

Overall, both cameras have a fully-articulated touchscreen, as well as a built-in viewfinder. The Gx7 also has manual focus and aperture adjustment, which the Gx1 doesn’t have. Also Gx7 has an impressive 20-megapixel sensor, which increases the price a bit.

Which One Should You Buy?

If you’re planning to do a lot of video recording, you’ll get better results with the Gx7, as it has superior sound quality, as well as zoom functionality when recording.

The Gx7 also has a higher resolution sensor, so if you’re into photography, this could be a decisive factor for you.

If you’re planning to use your camera for still photography, as well as for occasionally recording video, the Lumix Gx1 is a good choice.

You can get it for much less than the Gx7, and it has many of the higher-end model’s features, such as a higher resolution sensor, as well as a constant F/2.8 lens.

Since both of these cameras are excellent options, it really comes down to your own preferences and spending limit.

My Personal Experience With Both Lumix Gx1 Vs Gx7

I owned the Lumix Gx1 for a few years and loved it. The Gx7 is a bit more of a complicated camera, so I’ve only owned it for a couple of months, but I have been thoroughly impressed with it so far. Both cameras are great, although if I had to choose, I would go with the Gx1.

It’s a terrific camera for someone just getting into photography, and I enjoy how basic it is. The Gx7 is a more advanced camera, so I recommend it for people who have been shooting for a while and want to take their photography to the next level.

Both cameras are great, but I would recommend that you try to get your hands on both before making your decision so that you can decide for yourself which one is best for you.