GX850/GF9 worthless, nice job again Panny

[kenw]

Well so much for the ethic of the GM line.

New GX850 is a hunk of trash that does nothing useful and combines the worst of everything before it.

It manages to be bigger, with no EVF or hotshoe and a worthless flash that can't be tipped up. Dedicated 4K button you can't reprogram.

Panasonic is just so frustrating and baffling. They come up with some amazing and innovative concepts and then manage to almost immediately destroy them.

Ah well, at least this one won't cost me any money! Shall continue to treat my GM1 with respect and care as I'm sure GM5 users will as well.

End rant!

EDIT: I should add of course they do an awful lot right too of course. The original G line still being more refined and capable most notably in the G85. Can't win em all I guess!

 

[tkbslc]

Well so much for the ethic of the GM line.

It's not a GM camera is it? It says GX and it looks like a fancy GF7, so I just assumed it was the GF camera upgrade.

New GX850 is a hunk of trash that does nothing useful and combines the worst of everything before it.

A bit melodramatic.

 

[kenw]

Well so much for the ethic of the GM line.

It's not a GM camera is it? It says GX and it looks like a fancy GF7, so I just assumed it was the GF camera upgrade.

Fair point, but with all the name shuffling hard to say what is what. Larger point is looks like very small but targeted at advanced users has been abandoned.

Now the camera could do well with the GF market as you say, just annoyned it looks like GM concept dead.

New GX850 is a hunk of trash that does nothing useful and combines the worst of everything before it.

A bit melodramatic.

Well of course! Rants aren't typically understated

It's DPR. When in Rome...
--
Ken W
See profile for equipment list

 

[SteveY80]

Calling it worthless trash is a bit much...

For me the only nasty surprise was that it uses Micro SD cards. Not the end of the world, but they're fiddly and easy to lose, and it just seems unnecessary considering Panasonic could fit a full sized card in the little GM1.

To me a tilt screen matters more than an EVF or tiltable flash. I might buy one of these if they have a bigger buffer and Panasonic have enabled exposure compensation in manual mode with auto-ISO.

Otherwise I'll probably just stick with my GM1 and keep on living with its limitations.

 

[baxters]

It's the GX85 w/o an EVF would be my thought. Or it's a GM1 replacement with the desperately needed tilt screen.

I guess I would rather have the GX85, because the EVF and tilt screen are good features.

 

[dwkyre]

It does kind of seem like the death stroke for the GM line. I could live without the EVF (I use it sometimes, but it is not particularly great, the flip screen might make up for it), but the lack of control points would keep me away from this. It is a shame though; I would have liked a GM replacement with DFD and the removal of the AA filter.

Looks like it still has the GM shutter. If they managed to cram the GX85 shutter in there, it might have been enough to draw me in. I could deal with fiddlier controls if it meant a more capable camera, I think. Looks like I will be holding onto my GM5 for a long time.

 

[valsan]

It manages to be bigger, with no EVF or hotshoe and a worthless flash that can't be tipped up. Dedicated 4K button you can't reprogram.

 

[kenw]

From dpreview hand-on "There is a dedicated 4K photo button (that can be re-programmed)."

Thank you for the correction!

I was almost certain I read "can not" when the hands-on was first posted which surprised me. Possibly there was a typo and DPR has corrected or more likely I misread it. Anyway that's certainly good to be able to recover a control point.
--
Ken W
See profile for equipment list

 

[kenw]

It does kind of seem like the death stroke for the GM line. I could live without the EVF (I use it sometimes, but it is not particularly great, the flip screen might make up for it), but the lack of control points would keep me away from this.

As someone helpfully corrected it looks like the 4K button can be reconfigured after all. So that at least is one more control point.

I get the trade-off between either an EVF or a flash. Reasonable trade off. But a flash that can't be tipped up to bounce is rarely if ever useful. Amazing downgrade to go from the smaller GM1 with a bounce flash to this larger thing with a less useful flash.

It is a shame though; I would have liked a GM replacement with DFD and the removal of the AA filter.

The GM1 has no or at least an extremely weak AA filter. Not sure on the GM5.

Looks like I will be holding onto my GM5 for a long time.

Yes. Sigh. Well, I suppose there is always a chance they will revive the line or the concept in the future.
--
Ken W
See profile for equipment list

 

[kenw]

Calling it worthless trash is a bit much...

Yes, but can't have an product announcement complaint without hyperbole

For me the only nasty surprise was that it uses Micro SD cards. Not the end of the world, but they're fiddly and easy to lose, and it just seems unnecessary considering Panasonic could fit a full sized card in the little GM1.

Yeah, that seemed a little weird to me. I don't consider the end of the world particularly.

To me a tilt screen matters more than an EVF or tiltable flash. I might buy one of these if they have a bigger buffer and Panasonic have enabled exposure compensation in manual mode with auto-ISO.

Yes, it does at least have the tilt screen I guess. But why the junk flash?

Otherwise I'll probably just stick with my GM1 and keep on living with its limitations.

Yep, my plan as well. Love that little thing despite its imperfections. My main objection is each "new" thing has just gotten bigger and bigger while just adding new imperfections and removing some of the better features of the GM1/5.

 

[valsan]

kenw wrote: Possibly there was a typo and DPR has corrected or more likely I misread it. Anyway that's certainly good to be able to recover a control point.

 

[dwkyre]

It does kind of seem like the death stroke for the GM line. I could live without the EVF (I use it sometimes, but it is not particularly great, the flip screen might make up for it), but the lack of control points would keep me away from this.

As someone helpfully corrected it looks like the 4K button can be reconfigured after all. So that at least is one more control point.

I get the trade-off between either an EVF or a flash. Reasonable trade off. But a flash that can't be tipped up to bounce is rarely if ever useful. Amazing downgrade to go from the smaller GM1 with a bounce flash to this larger thing with a less useful flash.

It is a shame though; I would have liked a GM replacement with DFD and the removal of the AA filter.

The GM1 has no or at least an extremely weak AA filter. Not sure on the GM5.

Looks like I will be holding onto my GM5 for a long time.

Yes. Sigh. Well, I suppose there is always a chance they will revive the line or the concept in the future.

My biggest control gripe is that they are back to the GM1 style wheel. I was ok with it, but the GM5 dedicated click dial is miles ahead. I think I could get by with the number of buttons on that body.

The GM1 and GM5 both have AA filters, and they are the same as far as I can tell. It's not the worst thing in the world, but occasionally I take a photo that I notice the effect on. Obviously not significant enough for me to use a different camera, but I just have it on the list of things I would like on an upgraded GM body, and it applies here.

Looks like it charges over USB, another appealing update for a body of this size in my opinion. They did a lot of proper updates, but they definitely steered away from the enthusiast bits of the GM5, which is a shame. Maybe there is room in the numbering scheme for a GX855 that would push that direction? I doubt even Panasonic wants to muddy the product lines that much, however.

 

[dwkyre]

This a GF8 successor, nothing to do with GM line.

I agree that this is a GF8 successor, but I think it has a lot to do with the GM line. If you look at the naming scheme (GX8, GX85, GX850) you get the distinct impression that there is nowhere in-between to put a GM successor. Maybe a GX855? I wouldn't hold my breath...

 

[valsan]

This a GF8 successor, nothing to do with GM line.

I agree that this is a GF8 successor, but I think it has a lot to do with the GM line. If you look at the naming scheme (GX8, GX85, GX850) you get the distinct impression that there is nowhere in-between to put a GM successor. Maybe a GX855? I wouldn't hold my breath...

I agree with what Tom has been saying, the gx85 is the new GM line

 

[kenw]

This a GF8 successor, nothing to do with GM line.

I agree that this is a GF8 successor, but I think it has a lot to do with the GM line. If you look at the naming scheme (GX8, GX85, GX850) you get the distinct impression that there is nowhere in-between to put a GM successor. Maybe a GX855? I wouldn't hold my breath...

I agree with what Tom has been saying, the gx85 is the new GM line

No, I disagree with that completely. The GX85 is the GX7 successor and has nothing even remotely to do with GM:







--
Ken W
See profile for equipment list

 

[Aberaeron]

It's the GX85 w/o an EVF would be my thought. Or it's a GM1 replacement with the desperately needed tilt screen.

I guess I would rather have the GX85, because the EVF and tilt screen are good features.

No idea whether the GX85 is going to continue long term but they are selling it at a very attractive price in the UK until the 9th January. Grab one in the UK in the next four days if you want to upgrade. Stocks are getting very low and lots of retailers have already run out and will not be getting more in before the double cashback offer ends.

I've just bought one and think its a little marvel that complements the G7 very well. Its specification significantly exceeds the G7 in many ways.

The current price is way lower than the launch price of the GX800/850

 

[Hen3ry]

…

New GX850 is a hunk of trash that does nothing useful and combines the worst of everything before it.

A bit melodramatic.

Well of course! Rants aren't typically understated

It's DPR. When in Rome...

Well, yes, but a rant with extreme opinion is fine; but when it simply gets the facts wrong -- like all cameras today, this is an amazingly capable little box -- it is silly.

--
Geoffrey Heard
Down and out in Rabaul in the South Pacific
http://rabaulpng.com/we-are-all-traveling-throug/i-waited-51-years-for-tavur.html

 

[Aberaeron]

This a GF8 successor, nothing to do with GM line.

I agree that this is a GF8 successor, but I think it has a lot to do with the GM line. If you look at the naming scheme (GX8, GX85, GX850) you get the distinct impression that there is nowhere in-between to put a GM successor. Maybe a GX855? I wouldn't hold my breath...

I agree with what Tom has been saying, the gx85 is the new GM line

No, I disagree with that completely. The GX85 is the GX7 successor and has nothing even remotely to do with GM:



--
Ken W
See profile for equipment list

Here is a link to a comparison, with lenses, between the GM5, LX100, G85.

Loading…

j.mp

 

[kenw]

This a GF8 successor, nothing to do with GM line.

I agree that this is a GF8 successor, but I think it has a lot to do with the GM line. If you look at the naming scheme (GX8, GX85, GX850) you get the distinct impression that there is nowhere in-between to put a GM successor. Maybe a GX855? I wouldn't hold my breath...

I agree with what Tom has been saying, the gx85 is the new GM line

No, I disagree with that completely. The GX85 is the GX7 successor and has nothing even remotely to do with GM:



--
Ken W
See profile for equipment list

Here is a link to a comparison, with lenses, between the GM5, LX100, G85.

http://j.mp/2iEWXMC

Which isn't relevant at all in my opinion. No one ever thought the GX7 body size was at all anything like the GM1. To assert that because when I attach a lens they are suddenly the same is as ridiculous as the hyperbole in my OP. By your same logic the GX85 is just like the GH5.

No - the GX85 is not remotely in anyway whatsoever like the GM1. They are completely different sized cameras. The GX85 with any small lens (12-32, 15/1.7) will not come even close to fitting in the same pockets as the GM1 with the same lens on it.

--
Ken W
See profile for equipment list

 

[Aberaeron]

This a GF8 successor, nothing to do with GM line.

I agree that this is a GF8 successor, but I think it has a lot to do with the GM line. If you look at the naming scheme (GX8, GX85, GX850) you get the distinct impression that there is nowhere in-between to put a GM successor. Maybe a GX855? I wouldn't hold my breath...

I agree with what Tom has been saying, the gx85 is the new GM line

No, I disagree with that completely. The GX85 is the GX7 successor and has nothing even remotely to do with GM:



--
Ken W
See profile for equipment list

Here is a link to a comparison, with lenses, between the GM5, LX100, G85.

http://j.mp/2iEWXMC

Which isn't relevant at all in my opinion. No one ever thought the GX7 body size was at all anything like the GM1. To assert that because when I attach a lens they are suddenly the same is as ridiculous as the hyperbole in my OP. By your same logic the GX85 is just like the GH5.

No - the GX85 is not remotely in anyway whatsoever like the GM1. They are completely different sized cameras. The GX85 with any small lens (12-32, 15/1.7) will not come even close to fitting in the same pockets as the GM1 with the same lens on it.

--
Ken W
See profile for equipment list

If you are in the market, buy what suits you best. If it isn't available, you are destined to be disappointed. Neither I, Panasonic or anyone else will worry much at all for you I'm afraid.