Upgrade Guide
Lumix DC-G97→Lumix GH7
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the DC-G97. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the GH7
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Resolution25MP vs 20MP (+5MP)
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Weather sealingAdded — fully sealed body
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Burst rate75fps (electronic), 14fps (mechanical) vs 6fps (continuous AF)
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Battery life~370 shots (CIPA) vs 300 shots (CIPA, estimated)
Unchanged or similar
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StabilisationIBIS not present in new body
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | DC-G97 | GH7 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +2.0 | ||
| Street | +0.1 | ||
| Travel | +0.5 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +3.6 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | +0.5 | ||
| Filmmaking | +2.4 | ||
| Documentary | +2.7 | ||
| Sports & Action | +4.0 | ||
| Landscape | +1.7 | ||
| Wildlife | +3.2 | ||
| Casual | -0.8 | ||
| Food | +0.7 | ||
| Macro | +1.6 | ||
| Architecture | +1.3 | ||
| Astrophotography | +0.9 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | DC-G97 | GH7 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £649 | £1,700 | |
| Released | 2024 | 2024 | |
| Sensor | 20.3MP Four Thirds CMOS | 25.2MP Live MOS Micro Four Thirds | |
| Resolution | 20MP | 25MP | ↑ |
| Video | Unlimited 4K/30p, V-Log L pre-installed | 5.7K/60p (open gate), C4K/60p 10-bit 4:2:2, ProRes RAW via HDMI | |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF with Depth-from-Defocus, face/eye detection | Phase-detect + contrast-detect AF with subject recognition | |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS (4-stop) | 5-axis Dual I.S. 2 (body + lens) | |
| Burst Rate | 6fps (continuous AF) | 75fps (electronic), 14fps (mechanical) | ↑ |
| Battery Life | 300 shots (CIPA, estimated) | ~370 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 530g (with battery and card) | 535g (body only) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Yes | ↑ |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots | Electronic, 3.68M dots, 0.76× | |
| Screen | Fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.84M dots | |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Micro Four Thirds | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD (UHS-II) | Dual slot: CFexpress Type B + SD UHS-II |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See DC-G97 and GH7 next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
Run the upgrade checker →
Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the GH7 against your specific genres — not just specs.
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