If the G100 is such a failure where are the price discounts?

[Laszlo13]

I've been waiting for the G100 to be discounted. If anyone is aware of great discounts, please post - otherwise I guess we keep waiting. I'm excited to replace or augment my GM5 with a camera with a nice viewfinder and great rear screen, plus better ergonomics, but still relatively small and light. It's surprising the Panasonic packed such great viewfinder & rear screen into such a small package. I think the reviews were wrong - since they all focused on v-logging only. We seem to forget that Panasonic didn't have IBIS a while ago (i.e. GM5) yet the we managed to take great pictures with them, especially with stabilized zoom lenses. So I'm looking forward to G9 picture quality, in a great little package - but I was hoping for a darn discount given all the negative press.

 

[Cafe Racer]

I've been waiting for the G100 to be discounted. If anyone is aware of great discounts, please post - otherwise I guess we keep waiting. I'm excited to replace or augment my GM5 with a camera with a nice viewfinder and great rear screen, plus better ergonomics, but still relatively small and light. It's surprising the Panasonic packed such great viewfinder & rear screen into such a small package. I think the reviews were wrong - since they all focused on v-logging only.

Are you aware that Panasonic markets the G100 as a vlogging camera? That's why reviewers focus on vlogging features, which I think is justified. A hi-rez viewfinder is not something that vloggers require but IBIS is a very useful feature.

We seem to forget that Panasonic didn't have IBIS a while ago (i.e. GM5) yet the we managed to take great pictures with them, especially with stabilized zoom lenses.

Most vloggers using unstabilised lenses are likely to value IBIS to acheive stable footage. There is no additional crop penalty for using IBIS in video as far as I know, compared to digital stabilisation. Stills shooting doesn't necessarily have the same priorities.

So I'm looking forward to G9 picture quality, in a great little package - but I was hoping for a darn discount given all the negative press.

You commented that "Panasonic packed such a great viewfinder and rear screen into such a small package".

Don't you think it's worth paying the current price given that you seemed to be impressed with the overall package for stills shooting? It's more likely to be a failure if people wait for deep discounts.

 

[Helen]

I've been waiting for the G100 to be discounted. If anyone is aware of great discounts, please post - otherwise I guess we keep waiting. I'm excited to replace or augment my GM5 with a camera with a nice viewfinder and great rear screen, plus better ergonomics, but still relatively small and light. It's surprising the Panasonic packed such great viewfinder & rear screen into such a small package. I think the reviews were wrong - since they all focused on v-logging only. We seem to forget that Panasonic didn't have IBIS a while ago (i.e. GM5) yet the we managed to take great pictures with them, especially with stabilized zoom lenses. So I'm looking forward to G9 picture quality, in a great little package - but I was hoping for a darn discount given all the negative press.

Here in the UK, every retailer has also stuck closely to the suggested retail price (i.e. the full price) of the G100 in all its available packages (body only, body + 12-32, body + 12-32 + SHGR-1 shooting grip) except for Amazon UK, which currently has between 15% and 20% lower prices depending on the package - it's puzzling, as there it yo-yo's in price a lot, sometimes going back up to match everywhere else, and sometimes dropping even lower than today's prices - not always logically either, as sometimes the grip package has been cheaper than the body only! (I refer only to items sold by Amazon UK itself).

I went for one out of curiosity when the price plunged a lot at Amazon (I don't do much video so I am speaking from a still photography perspective). It's a nice little camera, a great evolution of the GM line (strictly speaking, more a development of the current GX800/880/GF9/10 I suppose, since it is polycarbonate-bodied like them, though it uses full-size SDHC/XC cards rather than the tiny Micro SD size that group uses) with the same unusual stepper-motor EFCS shutter of both those lines, with its inherent characteristics and what you could describe as limitations (top mechanical speed 1/500, top flash sync 1/50), EFCS-only when using the physical shutter. I'd say that strictly speaking, sensor-wise, it's more of a relative of the G90/95 than the G9 (which has an uprated AF system based on faster data throughput and so on).

The EVF is pretty large - I would point out that the description of it in reviews has been inconsistent; it isn't OLED as some sites suggest, but a new variant of Panasonic's sequential-field LCoS unit with higher resolution and a faster refresh rate (I can still see rainbowing but not frequently and I am quite sensitive to it, in the sense(!) that I'm able to notice it more readily than some can). Unfortunately the eyepiece optics aren't brilliant - there's an arc of distortion midway up both side edges if you don't precisely centre your eye, and I should also point out that the eyecup isn't actually an eyecup despite appearances - it's a fixed, hard plastic rim which is just painted with soft-touch finish (this is perhaps important to glasses-wearers or people who shoot in very bright sunlight a lot). Weirdly, I can always somewhat see the right-hand internal side wall of the tunnel between the EVF and the eyepiece, as it is illuminated somewhat by the light from the EVF panel (the opposite side, top and bottom areas of this are not). This is visible but not hugely distracting to me at all eye positions, in all lighting.

The G100 is very compact (slightly smaller and lighter than an Olympus E-M10 III/IIIs/IV for example). The rear monitor is good quality and the menus are full, not cut-down, with plenty of customisable buttons, albeit not quite as many as larger Panasonics. I haven't had much time to scrutinise its image quality but I see nothing to fall out with there so far. The rear wheel at the 4-way controller cluster is super-sensitive (more so than its predecessors I'd say) which could be viewed either as a positive or negative depending on your preference - it's great to have a front control wheel as well. It's a shame the IBIS is gone, but with OIS lenses there isn't a huge difference and the shutter is very low-impact of course (and no-impact with electronic shutter). The G100 uses the GX80/85/9 battery, which is fully compatible with the charger supplied with the GM1 and 5 (assuming they had chargers supplied with them, I don't remember - but their thinner battery does use the same charger anyway). In typical modern style, the G100 doesn't come with a separate charger. Its built-in flash operates via a manual lift-up by side "ears" on the flash housing.

All in all, a nice little camera - slightly unremarkable in a way, but pleasant to use and usefully compact and light for those that want these qualities.

 

[Smallpox]

I've been waiting for the G100 to be discounted. If anyone is aware of great discounts, please post - otherwise I guess we keep waiting. I'm excited to replace or augment my GM5 with a camera with a nice viewfinder and great rear screen, plus better ergonomics, but still relatively small and light. It's surprising the Panasonic packed such great viewfinder & rear screen into such a small package. I think the reviews were wrong - since they all focused on v-logging only. We seem to forget that Panasonic didn't have IBIS a while ago (i.e. GM5) yet the we managed to take great pictures with them, especially with stabilized zoom lenses. So I'm looking forward to G9 picture quality, in a great little package - but I was hoping for a darn discount given all the negative press.

Here in the UK, every retailer has also stuck closely to the suggested retail price (i.e. the full price) of the G100 in all its available packages (body only, body + 12-32, body + 12-32 + SHGR-1 shooting grip) except for Amazon UK, which currently has between 15% and 20% lower prices depending on the package - it's puzzling, as there it yo-yo's in price a lot, sometimes going back up to match everywhere else, and sometimes dropping even lower than today's prices - not always logically either, as sometimes the grip package has been cheaper than the body only! (I refer only to items sold by Amazon UK itself).

I went for one out of curiosity when the price plunged a lot at Amazon (I don't do much video so I am speaking from a still photography perspective). It's a nice little camera, a great evolution of the GM line (strictly speaking, more a development of the current GX800/880/GF9/10 I suppose, since it is polycarbonate-bodied like them, though it uses full-size SDHC/XC cards rather than the tiny Micro SD size that group uses) with the same unusual stepper-motor EFCS shutter of both those lines, with its inherent characteristics and what you could describe as limitations (top mechanical speed 1/500, top flash sync 1/50), EFCS-only when using the physical shutter. I'd say that strictly speaking, sensor-wise, it's more of a relative of the G90/95 than the G9 (which has an uprated AF system based on faster data throughput and so on).

The EVF is pretty large - I would point out that the description of it in reviews has been inconsistent; it isn't OLED as some sites suggest, but a new variant of Panasonic's sequential-field LCoS unit with higher resolution and a faster refresh rate (I can still see rainbowing but not frequently and I am quite sensitive to it, in the sense(!) that I'm able to notice it more readily than some can). Unfortunately the eyepiece optics aren't brilliant - there's an arc of distortion midway up both side edges if you don't precisely centre your eye, and I should also point out that the eyecup isn't actually an eyecup despite appearances - it's a fixed, hard plastic rim which is just painted with soft-touch finish (this is perhaps important to glasses-wearers or people who shoot in very bright sunlight a lot). Weirdly, I can always somewhat see the right-hand internal side wall of the tunnel between the EVF and the eyepiece, as it is illuminated somewhat by the light from the EVF panel (the opposite side, top and bottom areas of this are not). This is visible but not hugely distracting to me at all eye positions, in all lighting.

The G100 is very compact (slightly smaller and lighter than an Olympus E-M10 III/IIIs/IV for example). The rear monitor is good quality and the menus are full, not cut-down, with plenty of customisable buttons, albeit not quite as many as larger Panasonics. I haven't had much time to scrutinise its image quality but I see nothing to fall out with there so far. The rear wheel at the 4-way controller cluster is super-sensitive (more so than its predecessors I'd say) which could be viewed either as a positive or negative depending on your preference - it's great to have a front control wheel as well. It's a shame the IBIS is gone, but with OIS lenses there isn't a huge difference and the shutter is very low-impact of course (and no-impact with electronic shutter). The G100 uses the GX80/85/9 battery, which is fully compatible with the charger supplied with the GM1 and 5 (assuming they had chargers supplied with them, I don't remember - but their thinner battery does use the same charger anyway). In typical modern style, the G100 doesn't come with a separate charger. Its built-in flash operates via a manual lift-up by side "ears" on the flash housing.

All in all, a nice little camera - slightly unremarkable in a way, but pleasant to use and usefully compact and light for those that want these qualities.

Very useful review, thank you!

 

[Laszlo13]

Thanks Helen for the great write up. I'm surprised by the EVF - since that's a major draw for me. I see that DPREVIEW lists the EVF as TFT LCD, while some others did indeed list OLED (which would have been great). I love the GX8 EVF. I had the GX7 and found its EVF to be adequate, since I'm not sensitive to the rainbow effect. The GM5 is just not very pleasant at all, worse being it's poor dynamic range. Sounds like it would be good to try the camera first - alas, I don't think I have the opportunity these days. I don't mind the plastic body, but hope it's robust - since I'm planning to use it for hiking, biking, etc., hence the light weight / small size attractiveness.

 

[Helen]

Thanks Helen for the great write up. I'm surprised by the EVF - since that's a major draw for me. I see that DPREVIEW lists the EVF as TFT LCD, while some others did indeed list OLED (which would have been great). I love the GX8 EVF. I had the GX7 and found its EVF to be adequate, since I'm not sensitive to the rainbow effect. The GM5 is just not very pleasant at all, worse being it's poor dynamic range. Sounds like it would be good to try the camera first - alas, I don't think I have the opportunity these days. I don't mind the plastic body, but hope it's robust - since I'm planning to use it for hiking, biking, etc., hence the light weight / small size attractiveness.

You should be fine with the G100 EVF as long as the slight off-axis distortion at the edges isn't an issue - that will vary from person to person and I suspect is worse for people who wear glasses, like me. The one-sided internal reflection isn't particularly obtrusive - I can ignore it pretty easily. The resolution is higher than the GX7 and the refresh rate is faster, but as you are not too bothered by the rainbow effect anyway, you should hopefully find it undetectable in this one. I haven't ever used a GM5 (just a GM1) so I don't have first-hand experience of that model's EVF (but do know the GX7, GX8 and GX80/85 - the latter isn't quite as good IMHO as the GX7 whilst yes, the GX8 is vastly better than either, and still preferable to the G100 for me, at least, in quality - despite its technically lower resolution). Can't speak to how robust the G100 is, as I'm gentle! :-D

 

[Raist3d]

because it will still sell for the group that really wants it and pay a higher price, thus creating a not so obvious balance of more sales / lower margins vs lower sales/higher margins.

It could even be left as is with current stock discontinued.

 

[alcelc]

In Hong Kong, there has been a slow (because it is a relatively new product) price dropped in gray market. IIRC the gray market price of G100 should be around 10~15% discount from Published list price when it was launched, now has been widened to around 25%...

Price of G100 is vey close to the price of a GX9 body in gray market. It costs more than a G85, not to mention the GX85. If I would buy a new Panny now, I might look for the higher spec GX9 since I have 0 issue with the evf of GXs but for the full range of feature set and IBIS/DUAL IS...

My 2 cents.







--
Albert
** Please forgive my typo error.
** Please feel free to download the original image I posted here and edit it as you like **

 

[jalywol]

I agree with your assessment of the EVF in the G100; I found it large enough, but the lens distortion was kind of annoying. Not a deal breaker, but a little disappointing given how well the reviews spoke of its EVF.

I was surprised, actually, at how much chunkier the G100 was than the GM5 (which I own). And I did not find it all that comfortable in hand, where as the GM5 sits great, even though it's tiny.

So, I ended up returning the G100 and getting a GX9, for the same price (on sale) (and it's not a whole lot larger or heavier). I am quite pleased with the GX9, and for me it was a better choice, certainly for the same cost, than the G100. The OP might want to consider it instead.

-J

 

[007peter]

Laszlo13 wrote: I've been waiting for the G100 to be discounted.

While what yr saying is Logical, the sad reality is most of Retail don't actually follow logic.

1. Small Mom & Pop camera store often will NOT discounted poorly sales camera. In fact, they often charged Full Retailers $800 USD for a (new non~openes) GM5 and Pen-F. The reason is because the owner PAID full price for the camera and need to recovered the margin.

Unlike new cars that cost money to maintain car washed and functions, a camera can sit on the shelf for years without worry. Thus, you cannot find deals on Gm1, Gm5, or Pen-F across Asia

2. Manufacture took back poorly sales product from distributor, thus No Discount to consumers.

When Samsung shutdown NX1, I rush to buy it, only to be told by Samsung Rep all NX has been Pull from Market, there will be no discount as it would hurt Samsung "premium" image. In another words, Samsung would rather Pretend NX never exited, rather than admit it's failure.

When HP made an IPad competitor, it was such a sales failure that Best Buy used and demand HP took back all 2 millions of unsold stocks. HP caves to Best Buy and these tablets were never on discount to the consumer but hurried in the desert somewhere.

3. Many Luxury brand choose to BURN their poorly sale handbags than sell them to Discounters for profits. Luxury brand Burburry, Michael Kors, and Coach has been caught and criticised for polluting the environment a year ago.

Panasonic,AFAIK, don't discount their camera either, so you won't find any G100 on sales anytime soon. I suspect Panasonic is digging holes in the in the desert somewhere.

American company are more "logical", when a product don't sell in the marketplace. They are sold in bulk to LIQUIDATORS, then you will see a massive discount on camera. This practice was,very popular in the 80s, 90s, early 2000. But today, company prefer to destroy or burried their poorly sold products than discounting to consumers.

Pentax is worse selling DSLR in the world (yet) you will Not find any discounted Pentax for sale because Ricoh want to controlled it's image as a niche premium brand.

The irony is Canon the #1 camera brand don't suffer from dilusion of grandier, Canon see itself as consumer brand, and sell its camera in BULK to Discounters like Walmart & Costco

 

[cba_melbourne]

I've been waiting for the G100 to be discounted. If anyone is aware of great discounts, please post - otherwise I guess we keep waiting. I'm excited to replace or augment my GM5 with a camera with a nice viewfinder and great rear screen, plus better ergonomics, but still relatively small and light.

Hmmm, take a a good look at this:

It's surprising the Panasonic packed such great viewfinder & rear screen into such a small package. I think the reviews were wrong - since they all focused on v-logging only. We seem to forget that Panasonic didn't have IBIS a while ago (i.e. GM5) yet the we managed to take great pictures with them, especially with stabilized zoom lenses. So I'm looking forward to G9 picture quality, in a great little package - but I was hoping for a darn discount given all the negative press.

There is a good reason the GM5 did not have IBIS: size.

However,

There is no excuse the G100 does not have IBIS.

 

[Impulses]

I've been waiting for the G100 to be discounted. If anyone is aware of great discounts, please post - otherwise I guess we keep waiting. I'm excited to replace or augment my GM5 with a camera with a nice viewfinder and great rear screen, plus better ergonomics, but still relatively small and light. It's surprising the Panasonic packed such great viewfinder & rear screen into such a small package. I think the reviews were wrong - since they all focused on v-logging only. We seem to forget that Panasonic didn't have IBIS a while ago (i.e. GM5) yet the we managed to take great pictures with them, especially with stabilized zoom lenses. So I'm looking forward to G9 picture quality, in a great little package - but I was hoping for a darn discount given all the negative press.

Here in the UK, every retailer has also stuck closely to the suggested retail price (i.e. the full price) of the G100 in all its available packages (body only, body + 12-32, body + 12-32 + SHGR-1 shooting grip) except for Amazon UK, which currently has between 15% and 20% lower prices depending on the package - it's puzzling, as there it yo-yo's in price a lot, sometimes going back up to match everywhere else, and sometimes dropping even lower than today's prices - not always logically either, as sometimes the grip package has been cheaper than the body only! (I refer only to items sold by Amazon UK itself).

I went for one out of curiosity when the price plunged a lot at Amazon (I don't do much video so I am speaking from a still photography perspective). It's a nice little camera, a great evolution of the GM line (strictly speaking, more a development of the current GX800/880/GF9/10 I suppose, since it is polycarbonate-bodied like them, though it uses full-size SDHC/XC cards rather than the tiny Micro SD size that group uses) with the same unusual stepper-motor EFCS shutter of both those lines, with its inherent characteristics and what you could describe as limitations (top mechanical speed 1/500, top flash sync 1/50), EFCS-only when using the physical shutter. I'd say that strictly speaking, sensor-wise, it's more of a relative of the G90/95 than the G9 (which has an uprated AF system based on faster data throughput and so on).

The EVF is pretty large - I would point out that the description of it in reviews has been inconsistent; it isn't OLED as some sites suggest, but a new variant of Panasonic's sequential-field LCoS unit with higher resolution and a faster refresh rate (I can still see rainbowing but not frequently and I am quite sensitive to it, in the sense(!) that I'm able to notice it more readily than some can). Unfortunately the eyepiece optics aren't brilliant - there's an arc of distortion midway up both side edges if you don't precisely centre your eye, and I should also point out that the eyecup isn't actually an eyecup despite appearances - it's a fixed, hard plastic rim which is just painted with soft-touch finish (this is perhaps important to glasses-wearers or people who shoot in very bright sunlight a lot). Weirdly, I can always somewhat see the right-hand internal side wall of the tunnel between the EVF and the eyepiece, as it is illuminated somewhat by the light from the EVF panel (the opposite side, top and bottom areas of this are not). This is visible but not hugely distracting to me at all eye positions, in all lighting.

The G100 is very compact (slightly smaller and lighter than an Olympus E-M10 III/IIIs/IV for example). The rear monitor is good quality and the menus are full, not cut-down, with plenty of customisable buttons, albeit not quite as many as larger Panasonics. I haven't had much time to scrutinise its image quality but I see nothing to fall out with there so far. The rear wheel at the 4-way controller cluster is super-sensitive (more so than its predecessors I'd say) which could be viewed either as a positive or negative depending on your preference - it's great to have a front control wheel as well. It's a shame the IBIS is gone, but with OIS lenses there isn't a huge difference and the shutter is very low-impact of course (and no-impact with electronic shutter). The G100 uses the GX80/85/9 battery, which is fully compatible with the charger supplied with the GM1 and 5 (assuming they had chargers supplied with them, I don't remember - but their thinner battery does use the same charger anyway). In typical modern style, the G100 doesn't come with a separate charger. Its built-in flash operates via a manual lift-up by side "ears" on the flash housing.

All in all, a nice little camera - slightly unremarkable in a way, but pleasant to use and usefully compact and light for those that want these qualities.

Is the e-shutter readout rate still in the ~1/20 range as it is in other lower end bodies or did it get the G9 / E-M1/5 sensor with the 1/60 readout? That would make it quite a bit more desirable for me as an upgrade or alternative to my GX850...

 

[Helen]

I've been waiting for the G100 to be discounted. If anyone is aware of great discounts, please post - otherwise I guess we keep waiting. I'm excited to replace or augment my GM5 with a camera with a nice viewfinder and great rear screen, plus better ergonomics, but still relatively small and light. It's surprising the Panasonic packed such great viewfinder & rear screen into such a small package. I think the reviews were wrong - since they all focused on v-logging only. We seem to forget that Panasonic didn't have IBIS a while ago (i.e. GM5) yet the we managed to take great pictures with them, especially with stabilized zoom lenses. So I'm looking forward to G9 picture quality, in a great little package - but I was hoping for a darn discount given all the negative press.

Here in the UK, every retailer has also stuck closely to the suggested retail price (i.e. the full price) of the G100 in all its available packages (body only, body + 12-32, body + 12-32 + SHGR-1 shooting grip) except for Amazon UK, which currently has between 15% and 20% lower prices depending on the package - it's puzzling, as there it yo-yo's in price a lot, sometimes going back up to match everywhere else, and sometimes dropping even lower than today's prices - not always logically either, as sometimes the grip package has been cheaper than the body only! (I refer only to items sold by Amazon UK itself).

I went for one out of curiosity when the price plunged a lot at Amazon (I don't do much video so I am speaking from a still photography perspective). It's a nice little camera, a great evolution of the GM line (strictly speaking, more a development of the current GX800/880/GF9/10 I suppose, since it is polycarbonate-bodied like them, though it uses full-size SDHC/XC cards rather than the tiny Micro SD size that group uses) with the same unusual stepper-motor EFCS shutter of both those lines, with its inherent characteristics and what you could describe as limitations (top mechanical speed 1/500, top flash sync 1/50), EFCS-only when using the physical shutter. I'd say that strictly speaking, sensor-wise, it's more of a relative of the G90/95 than the G9 (which has an uprated AF system based on faster data throughput and so on).

The EVF is pretty large - I would point out that the description of it in reviews has been inconsistent; it isn't OLED as some sites suggest, but a new variant of Panasonic's sequential-field LCoS unit with higher resolution and a faster refresh rate (I can still see rainbowing but not frequently and I am quite sensitive to it, in the sense(!) that I'm able to notice it more readily than some can). Unfortunately the eyepiece optics aren't brilliant - there's an arc of distortion midway up both side edges if you don't precisely centre your eye, and I should also point out that the eyecup isn't actually an eyecup despite appearances - it's a fixed, hard plastic rim which is just painted with soft-touch finish (this is perhaps important to glasses-wearers or people who shoot in very bright sunlight a lot). Weirdly, I can always somewhat see the right-hand internal side wall of the tunnel between the EVF and the eyepiece, as it is illuminated somewhat by the light from the EVF panel (the opposite side, top and bottom areas of this are not). This is visible but not hugely distracting to me at all eye positions, in all lighting.

The G100 is very compact (slightly smaller and lighter than an Olympus E-M10 III/IIIs/IV for example). The rear monitor is good quality and the menus are full, not cut-down, with plenty of customisable buttons, albeit not quite as many as larger Panasonics. I haven't had much time to scrutinise its image quality but I see nothing to fall out with there so far. The rear wheel at the 4-way controller cluster is super-sensitive (more so than its predecessors I'd say) which could be viewed either as a positive or negative depending on your preference - it's great to have a front control wheel as well. It's a shame the IBIS is gone, but with OIS lenses there isn't a huge difference and the shutter is very low-impact of course (and no-impact with electronic shutter). The G100 uses the GX80/85/9 battery, which is fully compatible with the charger supplied with the GM1 and 5 (assuming they had chargers supplied with them, I don't remember - but their thinner battery does use the same charger anyway). In typical modern style, the G100 doesn't come with a separate charger. Its built-in flash operates via a manual lift-up by side "ears" on the flash housing.

All in all, a nice little camera - slightly unremarkable in a way, but pleasant to use and usefully compact and light for those that want these qualities.

Is the e-shutter readout rate still in the ~1/20 range as it is in other lower end bodies or did it get the G9 / E-M1/5 sensor with the 1/60 readout? That would make it quite a bit more desirable for me as an upgrade or alternative to my GX850...

I’ll double check under artificial light later, but I suspect it’s still around 1/20. By the way, I don’t think the G9 uses quite the same sensor (Sony IMX 272) as those Olympuses (Sony IMX 270) and its fast readout drops to the slower rate above ISO 1000, whereas the Olys drop above ISO 6400, I believe.

 

[Cafe Racer]

I've been waiting for the G100 to be discounted. If anyone is aware of great discounts, please post - otherwise I guess we keep waiting. I'm excited to replace or augment my GM5 with a camera with a nice viewfinder and great rear screen, plus better ergonomics, but still relatively small and light.

Hmmm, take a a good look at this:

It's surprising the Panasonic packed such great viewfinder & rear screen into such a small package. I think the reviews were wrong - since they all focused on v-logging only. We seem to forget that Panasonic didn't have IBIS a while ago (i.e. GM5) yet the we managed to take great pictures with them, especially with stabilized zoom lenses. So I'm looking forward to G9 picture quality, in a great little package - but I was hoping for a darn discount given all the negative press.

There is a good reason the GM5 did not have IBIS: size.

However,

There is no excuse the G100 does not have IBIS.

I'm also not convinced that size is the reason for not having any kind of IBIS in the G100. Panasonic could use their older 3 axis IBIS system like what Olympus done with their Pen Lite line.

 

[alcelc]

I've been waiting for the G100 to be discounted. If anyone is aware of great discounts, please post - otherwise I guess we keep waiting. I'm excited to replace or augment my GM5 with a camera with a nice viewfinder and great rear screen, plus better ergonomics, but still relatively small and light.

Hmmm, take a a good look at this:

It's surprising the Panasonic packed such great viewfinder & rear screen into such a small package. I think the reviews were wrong - since they all focused on v-logging only. We seem to forget that Panasonic didn't have IBIS a while ago (i.e. GM5) yet the we managed to take great pictures with them, especially with stabilized zoom lenses. So I'm looking forward to G9 picture quality, in a great little package - but I was hoping for a darn discount given all the negative press.

There is a good reason the GM5 did not have IBIS: size.

However,

There is no excuse the G100 does not have IBIS.

I'm also not convinced that size is the reason for not having any kind of IBIS in the G100. Panasonic could use their older 3 axis IBIS system like what Olympus done with their Pen Lite line.

Panny indeed did it.

But G100 8s built on the GF9/10 instead of a full IBIS support GX85/9... Put on a big evf, add a more substantial grip at the front, add 2 extra internal mic and install a new audio system... Its launching price is indeed close to its higher spec brother, GX9 IIRC. What better than this way of escalating the price of an existing model.

If Panny use a GX9 instead (change the evf, put in 2 extra internal mic, enlarge the front hand grip... ), it could become a non WR version, video centric G95. I suppose it would cost a lot more ( at least more than G95)... Also such new model must be heavier than G100, making it less desirable for selfie/vlogging.

Moreover, under the current market uncertainty (Covid 19), what would you do if you are the boss. To test the water (vlogging centric) by launching a cheaper repackage GF9/10, or a high launching price repackage GX9/G95?

It is not easy to make business decision under the current market: shrinking + unbelievably long dragging pandemic.

--
Albert
** Please forgive my typo error.
** Please feel free to download the original image I posted here and edit it as you like **

 

[Cafe Racer]

I've been waiting for the G100 to be discounted. If anyone is aware of great discounts, please post - otherwise I guess we keep waiting. I'm excited to replace or augment my GM5 with a camera with a nice viewfinder and great rear screen, plus better ergonomics, but still relatively small and light.

Hmmm, take a a good look at this:

It's surprising the Panasonic packed such great viewfinder & rear screen into such a small package. I think the reviews were wrong - since they all focused on v-logging only. We seem to forget that Panasonic didn't have IBIS a while ago (i.e. GM5) yet the we managed to take great pictures with them, especially with stabilized zoom lenses. So I'm looking forward to G9 picture quality, in a great little package - but I was hoping for a darn discount given all the negative press.

There is a good reason the GM5 did not have IBIS: size.

However,

There is no excuse the G100 does not have IBIS.

I'm also not convinced that size is the reason for not having any kind of IBIS in the G100. Panasonic could use their older 3 axis IBIS system like what Olympus done with their Pen Lite line.

Panny indeed did it.

But G100 8s built on the GF9/10 instead of a full IBIS support GX85/9... Put on a big evf, add a more substantial grip at the front, add 2 extra internal mic and install a new audio system... Its launching price is indeed close to its higher spec brother, GX9 IIRC. What better than this way of escalating the price of an existing model.

If Panny use a GX9 instead (change the evf, put in 2 extra internal mic, enlarge the front hand grip... ), it could become a non WR version, video centric G95. I suppose it would cost a lot more ( at least more than G95)... Also such new model must be heavier than G100, making it less desirable for selfie/vlogging.

Moreover, under the current market uncertainty (Covid 19), what would you do if you are the boss. To test the water (vlogging centric) by launching a cheaper repackage GF9/10, or a high launching price repackage GX9/G95?

It is not easy to make business decision under the current market: shrinking + unbelievably long dragging pandemic.

I agree that making sound business decisions is important under the current market conditions. Given the criticism levelled against the G100, questioning it's competitiveness as a vlogging camera, it could turn out that Panasonic misjudged the market and failed to add the right specs for the target customer. Time will tell I guess.

 

[Laszlo13]

Laszlo13 wrote: I've been waiting for the G100 to be discounted.

While what yr saying is Logical, the sad reality is most of Retail don't actually follow logic.

Peter - your post makes sense - as well as other comments on the logic of selling off inventory at profit.

Guess where myself and others perhaps are struggling is the price in comparison to the GX9. If I were buying a single camera, the GX9 (or other G models) make so much more sense. As a second portable camera, the G100 edges out the GX9 in terms of weight (by 100 grams), although not really by size. Also - for backpacking and such, I like fully articulating rear LCDs. But mainly - I got excited about the much better specified EVF. This is why I would be willing to lug it around compared to the GM5, which while being a great camera in a pinch, isn't really enjoyable to shoot with. So if the EVF isn't as great as I would have hoped - maybe I'll bite the bullet and just get the GX9 (and in that case perhaps sell the GX8, and just have that as my main cam)

Laszlo

 

[Helen]

Laszlo13 wrote: I've been waiting for the G100 to be discounted.

While what yr saying is Logical, the sad reality is most of Retail don't actually follow logic.

Peter - your post makes sense - as well as other comments on the logic of selling off inventory at profit.

Guess where myself and others perhaps are struggling is the price in comparison to the GX9. If I were buying a single camera, the GX9 (or other G models) make so much more sense. As a second portable camera, the G100 edges out the GX9 in terms of weight (by 100 grams), although not really by size. Also - for backpacking and such, I like fully articulating rear LCDs. But mainly - I got excited about the much better specified EVF. This is why I would be willing to lug it around compared to the GM5, which while being a great camera in a pinch, isn't really enjoyable to shoot with. So if the EVF isn't as great as I would have hoped - maybe I'll bite the bullet and just get the GX9 (and in that case perhaps sell the GX8, and just have that as my main cam)

Laszlo

Don't forget that the GX9's EVF is at the GX7 level (though if you were happy with that, it's not an issue and it is tiltable like the GX7 was - and indeed as your GX8 is, though the GX8 EVF is so much better in all other respects - size, OLED panel, high-quality eyepiece optics - than those of the GX7 and GX9). The image size is bigger than the GX9 on the G100 of course, and the effective resolution is higher, and delivered at a faster refresh rate (with regard to the red/green/blue field sequencing), but it doesn't have the OLED quality and crisp optics of the GX8, though I'd say its optics are somewhat better than the GX7 and GX80.

I discovered today (in good light) that I misdescribed the eyecup of the G100 originally. Having pressed it hard with the tip of a fingernail, I see that in fact it is not hard plastic "soft-touch painted" as I had thought, but in fact it has a very thin single layer of synthetic rubber bonded to the hard plastic (I could see a slight imprint from my fingernail, which gradually disappeared - there'd be no mark on soft-touch paint, as it has no flexibility at all). The G100's eyecup is therefore very slightly less rock-hard than I thought, though it's far closer to hard plastic than it is to the proper rubberised eyecups found on the rest of the G-series for example, or the GX7/8/9. The good thing is that it won't deteriorate over the years (going sticky or flaking) like soft-touch paint eventually would.

I checked the e-shutter readout speed of the sensor in the G100 and it appears to be around 1/20 at all ISO values. Whilst I was doing that, I checked the G9, since I mentioned it in an earlier post in this thread - I remembered reading that it shifts down from its initial 1/50 (approx) readout speed above ISO 1000, but on checking it seems to be the case that it only slows down (to around 1/20) once it is set to higher than ISO 3200. If this wasn't always the case (I never checked before) perhaps the latest firmware has improved this, or I misunderstood/misremembered what I read before. The PDAF 20MP Olympuses I can confirm do the same slowdown only above ISO 6400 but it seems with the behaviour of the G9 that I noted today that there isn't as large a difference between them in this respect as I had thought.

 

[Rens]

I find it comfortable to hold, and compared with my previous GX800 (which I never loved) it has better controls. I hated the 'push to change function' wheel on the GX800, and was dissatisfied with the tilt screen.

I'm bewildered by the criticisms of the G100's VF; after reading them I looked again through mine (and I wear glasses) and found it perfect. Off-axis distortion? Whatever this is, I didn't notice it.

I also checked out the GX9 before buying, but despite some clear advantages - IBIS and a second top wheel - it has two distinct drawbacks for me.

1. It's just sufficiently bigger that it will be a less happy fit in a jacket pocket, even with the excellent 12-32 lens.

2. It has a tilting rather than a fully articulating screen. This is a deal breaker for me; while I understand many won't shoot using a screen not in line with the lens, I don't have the slightest problem doing this. I shoot lots of portrait style photos, and also like to shoot from the waist bracing the camera against my body.

The press criticism of the G100 was mostly video related, and I never use video. But the lack of IBIS is a genuine downside, especially as my most used lens is the unstabilised Olympus 9-18 (another tiny lens).

My ideal G100 Mark 2 would have IBIS and a rear top dial. But if the GX9 gave way to a GX10 with a fully articulating screen (I can hear the tilt screen folks shouting already) I'd certainly consider it.

 

[Helen]

I find it comfortable to hold, and compared with my previous GX800 (which I never loved) it has better controls. I hated the 'push to change function' wheel on the GX800, and was dissatisfied with the tilt screen.

Yes, I find it comfortable to hold (easier than the GX880, which is a GX800 with a small but very helpful vertical front finger grip ridge added). I think the G100's front control dial is a very helpful addition indeed.

I'm bewildered by the criticisms of the G100's VF; after reading them I looked again through mine (and I wear glasses) and found it perfect. Off-axis distortion? Whatever this is, I didn't notice it.

I think it is linked to eye relief - this can vary amongst glasses-wearers - the further away from the eyepiece you are, the more easily it shows - it's a sort of "kidney bean" distortion with a central blackout that starts to impinge from one side or the other according to the angle of your eye (takes up the middle third or so of the height, and is centred, height-wise). I think from her response earlier in the thread that jalywol had noticed it too on the one she had. However, to be fair, it doesn't happen too easily so it's not a huge problem, just an imperfection in certain circumstances for certain users.

I also checked out the GX9 before buying, but despite some clear advantages - IBIS and a second top wheel - it has two distinct drawbacks for me.

1. It's just sufficiently bigger that it will be a less happy fit in a jacket pocket, even with the excellent 12-32 lens.

2. It has a tilting rather than a fully articulating screen. This is a deal breaker for me; while I understand many won't shoot using a screen not in line with the lens, I don't have the slightest problem doing this. I shoot lots of portrait style photos, and also like to shoot from the waist bracing the camera against my body.

The press criticism of the G100 was mostly video related, and I never use video. But the lack of IBIS is a genuine downside, especially as my most used lens is the unstabilised Olympus 9-18 (another tiny lens).

Yes, I don't use it for video so have no video-related complaints either, but feel it would have been nicer to have retained IBIS, as you also say.

My ideal G100 Mark 2 would have IBIS and a rear top dial. But if the GX9 gave way to a GX10 with a fully articulating screen (I can hear the tilt screen folks shouting already) I'd certainly consider it.

Yes, a top-mounted rear dial would make an excellent addition too (I don't get on well with the semi-embedded type on earlier Panasonics, though it's for reasons that are down to shortcomings in my hands rather than faults in the design of cameras which have them).