Panasonic’s GX7 aimed at giving enthusiasts a reason to drop the mirror altogether

There’s a new compact system camera coming from Panasonic, and just going on the pictures and specs alone, it looks like it will be an interesting little camera.

The next model that Pana plans to launch under the Lumix brand is the GX7, a mirror-less that looks to build a bridge for enthusiasts still stuck with a bulky lens-based camera and offer a chance to try something just as powerful – if not more – but in a much smaller size.

“The camera excels in both its feature set and design,” said Doug Campbell, Product Marketing Manager for the Lumix brand at Panasonic Australia.

“In the same way as the DMC-GH3 set the benchmark in video functionality, the DMC-GX7 leads the G Series in imaging capability. And, there has been no compromise on camera styling, with a sleek rangefinder body cast in durable magnesium alloy with a classic silver and black, or all black design.”

Panasonic’s spokesperson has already mentioned the body construction, with magnesium alloy, but there’s more to the camera than just its chassis design, as this camera bridges a gap left by most mirror-less cameras by including both a viewfinder and an LCD.

In fact, the GX7’s viewfinder will be electronic, but actually be able to tilt 90 degrees, making it usable from both the back of the camera and looking down.

If the viewfinder doesn’t work for you, the LCD can do the same thing, coming out from the body and tilting at an angle, making top down shooting possible when looking through either the viewfinder or the screen.

Touchscreens have been a staple of Panasonic’s high-end Lumix cameras for a while, and that continues in this model, with touch-based auto-focus possible here.

Inside the camera, Panasonic has equipped a newly developed 16 megapixel LiveMOS sensor to work alongside the “Venus Engine” image processor for sharp photos, with Full HD videos also possible to capture in AVCHD and MP4.

Creative modes are here through 22 filters, several of which add different monochromatic modes, while time lapse and stop motion photography modes are also available here.

If being told how to be creative isn’t on your agenda, Panasonic has left plenty of manual modes, with Program, Aperture priority, Shutter priority, and Manual mode also here.

We haven’t been able to spend any time with the camera yet, though we’re looking forward to it, as it looks like it could be a decent mirror-less, especially for those of us who can’t live without the viewfinder.

Pricing will be set to $1249 RRP body only in silver or black, $1349 with the 14-42 f/3.5-5.6 lens, $1499 with the 20mm f/1.7, and $1949 with the Leica 25mm f/1.4 lens. Expect it to his stores in September.