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Can I Use The Panasonic Lumix G7 As A Webcam?

Yes, you can use the Panasonic Lumix G7 (also known as the DMC-G7) as a webcam and for live streaming, but you will need the right accessories to make this possible.

Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as just downloading one piece of software…

Here’s the best way to use your Panasonic G7 as a webcam:

  1. Connect your Panasonic G7 camera to a capture card using a ‘Micro HDMI to HDMI’ cable.
  2. Plug the capture card into your computer.
  3. Use a suitable webcam software and use the feed from the capture card for high quality video for video calls or live streaming.
  4. Use a clean HDMI output on your Panasonic G7 for best results.

This post will guide you through the above steps in further details and provide you with helpful tips to make sure you get the most out of this streaming setup on the Panasonic G7.

What You’ll Need

Panasonic Lumix G7

You’ll be using this as your webcam.

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Elgato Cam Link 4K

This capture card allows you to use your camera’s feed as a webcam.

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‘Micro HDMI to HDMI’ cable

Needed to connect your Panasonic Lumix G7 to your Elgato Cam Link 4K capture card.

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Can I use the Lumix Webcam Software for the Panasonic G7?

You may see online that you can use the LUMIX Webcam Software (Beta) to use a Panasonic Lumix camera as a webcam…

However, this is not true for the Lumix G7 as the LUMIX Webcam Software is only compatible with the following models.

  • DC-BS1H
  • DC-S1R
  • DC-S1
  • DC-S1H
  • DC-S5
  • DC-S5M2
  • DC-BGH1
  • DC-GH5
  • DC-GH5S
  • DC-G9
  • DC-G100/110
  • DC-GH5M2

As you can see the Panasonic Lumix G7 (DMC-G7) is NOT on the list of compatible models above, so we need to find another solution. 

*The above is true at the point of updating this post in April 2023.

What Accessories Do I Need to Use My Panasonic G7 as a Webcam?

To use your Panasonic G7 as a webcam you will need a few accessories for different things.

Essential Accessories

1. Micro HDMI (Type D) to HDMI (Type A) cable

You will need this to connect your Panasonic Lumix G7 to your capture card.

The small side is the Micro HDMI (HDMI Type D) and the larger side is the standard HDMI (HDMI Type A).

This is essential.

The best (and probably only) way to use the Panasonic Lumix G7 as a webcam is to use a HDMI output and a capture card.

The capture card will be outputting the footage straight from your camera to your webcam or live stream via a HDMI output.

We recommend the Elgato Cam Link 4K as Elgato is a reputable company with a product which is easy to use.

It also has a camera compatibility checker so you are certain that your Panasonic G7 works with the Elgato Cam Link 4K.

The Elgato Cam Link 4K is also the most recommended product because it uses a UVC driver. 

This basically means it is universally compatible with any conference software that is able to use webcams e.g. Zoom, Skype or OBS Studio.

Below you can see a screenshot from Elgato’s website showing compatibility with the Panasonic Lumix G7.

Elgato Compatibility Check for Panasonic Lumix G7 (DMC-G7)

To check for yourself you can go to this Elgato camera checker link, search for Panasonic, and go to the Lumix DMC-G7.

You can check the current price and availability for the Elgato Cam Link 4K on Amazon at the link below.

3. Webcam software e.g. Zoom, Microsoft Teams, OBS Studio

You have quite a bit of freedom here.

You will need a webcam/streaming software that you want to use.

Luckily, the Elgato Cam Link 4K should work with most popular webcam or streaming software.

For extra information you can check out Elgato’s page for ‘Supported Software for the Cam Link 4K’.

Optional Accessories

1. HDMI Extension cable

This is only necessary if you need a long cable length from your camera to the capture card.

Most people should be fine with just the Micro HDMI to HDMI that we linked earlier.

If you think the Micro HDMI to HDMI cable you have is too short for your setup then you can get a HDMI male to female extension cable.

This will allow you to extend the length of cable between your camera and the capture card.

E.g. A micro HDMI to HDMI cable fits into the female side of the HDMI extension cable and the male side fits into the capture card.

Tip: To reduce the need for this, get a micro HDMI cable to HDMI cable that is already long enough on its own. 

This is arguably essential if you are streaming or using the G7 for a long period of time.

For example, if you plan to record for a few hours in 4K then your battery will definitely run out.

The AC adapter uses a dummy battery in the battery compartment of the camera and allows your camera to have continuous power.

This will ensure that you will not run out of power when streaming for long periods of time on the Panasonic G7. 

3. Tripod 

Having somewhere stable for your camera to sit is essential when using it as a webcam. 

The last thing you want is shaky footage or a camera that gets knocked out of place during a video call or stream.

If you don’t already have a tripod then you may want to invest in one as they can provide more flexibility and stability to your setup.

  • GorillaPod 3K – if you need a lot of flexibility you can attach this to pretty much anything.

4. Extra Lens

Depending on your setup you might want a new lens.

For example, if you only have a telephoto lens there is no way you will be able to do a face cam for a gaming stream with a camera only inches away from your face… (unless you want people to see up your nose).

You would need a wider angle lens.

However, if you have the standard kit lens which normally comes with the G7 then you should be fine.

The kit lens for the Panasonic G7 is the 14-42mm F3.5-5.6.

This lens should give you a wide enough angle to allow you to use it as a webcam or for streaming.

If you are happy with the focal length, but want a lens that allows you to go to a slightly wider aperture then you can use the Panasonic 12-35mm F2.8.

What Software Do I Need to Use My Panasonic Lumix G7 as a Webcam?

To use the Panasonic G7 as a webcam or for live streaming you will need software that is compatible with the capture card you decide to use. 

Elgato Cam Link 4K is universally compatible with any conference software that is able to use webcams, like Zoom or Skype.  

You can also use it with popular streaming software like OBS Studio. 

To read more about compatibility with the Cam Link 4K check out the following link ‘Supported Software for the Cam Link 4K’.

If you decide to use a different capture card then please check the compatibility for that specific capture card with the webcam/streaming software that you intend to use.

Set Up the Panasonic G7 for Webcam or Streaming 

  1. Make sure your camera has enough battery or set up the AC adapter so that your camera can receive constant power.

  1. Use your Micro HDMI cable to connect your camera to the capture card. The small side of your Micro HDMI cable should go into the Micro HDMI port on your Panasonic G7. The larger side can go straight into the Elgato Cam Link 4K. 

  1. Plug the Elgato Cam Link 4K into a USB port on your computer. You should be using a USB 3.0 port (these USB ports are blue on the inside). 

  1. Open your webcam software on your computer and make sure your camera is turned on. 

  1. Select the appropriate setting so that the Elgato Cam Link 4K is your chosen video feed. (This will depend on the software you decide to use but you can use the Elgato help website for assistance).

  1. Now you should see a direct feed from your Panasonic G7 on your webcam/streaming software. Adjust your camera settings to suit your preference.

  1. If you can see lots of icons etc. on your video feed then that means you need to set your camera up to have a Clean HDMI feed.

To make the most of this setup you need to make sure you have the ability to use a Clean HDMI feed on your G7.

This basically means that the camera can output what it is recording without having all of the icons from the user interface such as the frames per second, battery life etc.

Luckily the Panasonic G7 is able to output a Clean HDMI feed. 

How to Enable Clean HDMI on the Panasonic G7

To enable a clean HDMI feed on the G7 you need to do the following:

  1. Press the ‘Menu’ button.

  1. Go to the menu item on the left hand side of the screen which looks like a wrench on its own. It will most likely be the third item on the left hand side.

  1. Under the wrench sub menu, go to the third page.

  1. Select ‘TV connection’.

  1. There will be an option for ‘HDMI Info Display (rec.)’ . Set this setting to be ‘OFF’.

  1. Now you should have a ‘Clean HDMI Out’ feed on your Lumix G7. Your capture card will just be showing the image you are recording and none of the display settings. 

The number of pages and locations in your camera menu could change if you have any firmware updates. 

The main thing to look for is the ‘HDMI Info Display (rec.)’ setting and to turn that off. This is normally found under ‘TV Connection’.

Quick Recap of Items

The 3 main items you need to use your Lumix G7 as a webcam with clean HDMI output are as follows:

Further Resources

Below are some links and videos that may be of extra assistance.

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