Replacing the Panasonic G6, the G7 sits beneath the Panasonic GH4 in the company's line-up of compact system cameras. It's the smaller of the two SLR-like models and is aimed at enthusiast photographers. It sits alongside the rectangular Panasonic GX7 and above the GF7, GM1 and GM5.

Every Panasonic interchangeable lens camera briefing recently seems to have started with the words 'it's got the same sensor as the GX7', and it's the same with the G7. This means the new camera has the same resolution as the camera it replaces, 16MP, but the sensor is newer (albeit still two years old). This sensor is coupled with the Venus Engine 9 processing engine found in the GH4 and, according to Panasonic's Michiharu Uematsu, this combination produces the best image quality of any Panasonic camera. It also enables a native sensitivity range of ISO 200-25,600 with a low expansion setting of ISO 100. The G6 has a native range of ISO 160-12,800 with an expansion setting of 25,600, so we can assume an improvement in image quality at the higher sensitivity values.

The G7's Venus Engine image has a quad-core CPU for faster processing and this enables full-resolution continuous shooting at 8 fps (frames per second) in Single-AF mode or 6fps in Continuous AF mode. That's 1fps up on what the G6 can muster in each autofocus mode.

• Buy Panasonic DMC-G7 Compact System Camera (16 MP, MOS Sensor) at Amazon for £599.00

If you want to shoot at a faster rate you have to drop the image size to 8 million pixels –that's still large enough to make A4 prints – and use the 4K Photo modes to shoot at 30fps. This uses the G7's 4K video technology to shoot a sequence of images for up to 29 minutes 59 seconds. It's then possible to extract the 8Mp still images from the footage in-camera.

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In 4K Burst Shooting mode, shooting continues for as long as the shutter release is held down. Similarly, in 4K Burst (Start/Stop) mode, recording is started with a press of the shutter release and is stopped by a second press. Meanwhile in 4K Pre-burst mode, sensor scanning starts as soon as the mode is activated and the 30 frames before the shutter release is pressed are recorded along with 30 frames after, giving 60 images from the two seconds of recording.

These 4K burst modes can be used in any exposure mode and in 4K Burst Shooting and 4K Burst (S/S) modes it's possible to use image ratios of 16:9 (3840 x 2160), 4:3 (3328 x 2496), 3:2 (3504 x 2336) and 1:1 (2880 x 2880).

Panasonic has also given the G7 the DFD (Depth from Defocus) focusing system first seen in the GH4. This system uses lens data and looks at the contrast of the scene at two different defocused points (images) to help it calculate the correct focus point more quickly. As with the GH4, Panasonic claims that this enables the G7 to achieve focus in just 0.07 sec, approximately half the time the G6 takes.

Although the G7 has Wi-Fi connectivity, in a surprise change from the G6 and in an effort to keep price down, there's no NFC (near field communication).

n a move that runs the risk of confusing the market, Canon has introduced two upgrades to the EOS 700D (EOS Rebel T5i); the 750D and the 760D (reviewed here). Like the 700D, the 750D and 760D are DSLRs in Canon's 'beginners' range. The 760D is at the top of the group, but below the Canon 70D, which sits at the bottom of the 'enthusiast-level' range.Known as the Rebel T6s in US territories, the 760D has a very similar specification to the 750D along with a few extra features that impact upon its handling, making it more suitable for experienced photographers or those wanting flex their creative muscles.

Inside the 760D is the same 24.2-million-effective-pixel CMOS sensor and Digic 6 processor found in both the 750D and the EOS M3. This means that it also has the same Hybrid CMOS AF III autofocus system, which combines phase detection and contrast detection, for use when using Live View mode to compose images and video on the main screen on the back of the camera.

 n a small but significant difference from the 750D, the 760 has a Servo autofocus option in Live View and video mode. When this is selected the camera continues to focus the lens for as long as the shutter release is depressed half-way. Both cameras have a Continuous AF option in the Live View section of the main menu. This is designed for use in video mode and to pre-focus when shooting stills as, when activated, focus is adjusted fairly slowly when the shutter release isn't pressed.

There's a 19 cross-type point autofocus system available for use when composing images in the viewfinder. When this system is in use the camera can select the appropriate point to use automatically in 19 point AF mode, or it can be selected manually in Zone AF or Single point AF mode. There are 5 zones available for selection in Zone AF mode.

When Zone AF mode is set in Continuous Autofocus (C-AF) mode, the camera switches automatically between the AF points within the selected zone. In 19-point C-AF mode the camera follows the subject around the frame, switching between AF points.

Exposure metering also changes depending upon whether images are captured using the viewfinder or the main screen for composition. In reflex mode (when the viewfinder is used), the 760D uses Canon's new 7,560-pixel RGB and InfraRed metering sensor. Although the 7,560 pixels are grouped into 63 segments, they each have their own RGB-IR filter and are read independently, which should make the system more accurate than the 700D's. There's still a weighting applied to the brightness of the subject under the active AF point, but it should be better able to assess the scene as a whole and give a balanced exposure.

 

In a small but significant difference from the 750D, the 760 has a Servo autofocus option in Live View and video mode. When this is selected the camera continues to focus the lens for as long as the shutter release is depressed half-way. Both cameras have a Continuous AF option in the Live View section of the main menu. This is designed for use in video mode and to pre-focus when shooting stills as, when activated, focus is adjusted fairly slowly when the shutter release isn't pressed.

There's a 19 cross-type point autofocus system available for use when composing images in the viewfinder. When this system is in use the camera can select the appropriate point to use automatically in 19 point AF mode, or it can be selected manually in Zone AF or Single point AF mode. There are 5 zones available for selection in Zone AF mode.

When Zone AF mode is set in Continuous Autofocus (C-AF) mode, the camera switches automatically between the AF points within the selected zone. In 19-point C-AF mode the camera follows the subject around the frame, switching between AF points.

Exposure metering also changes depending upon whether images are captured using the viewfinder or the main screen for composition. In reflex mode (when the viewfinder is used), the 760D uses Canon's new 7,560-pixel RGB and InfraRed metering sensor. Although the 7,560 pixels are grouped into 63 segments, they each have their own RGB-IR filter and are read independently, which should make the system more accurate than the 700D's. There's still a weighting applied to the brightness of the subject under the active AF point, but it should be better able to assess the scene as a whole and give a balanced exposure.