Advice needed for next purchase

Torogoz wrote:

I am about to come into some money that I want to invest in improving the quality of my images. My budget will be about $1000, and maybe $1200 maximum. I'm not a pro, just an enthusiast that likes to take pictures.

[snip equipment]

I shoot sometimes in jpeg, sometimes in RAW, depending on how much time I want to dedicate to post-processing with Silkypix (I've never tried Lightroom). Shooting in jpeg does require more time in preparation/camera settings/pre-processing, but less time in post. The G5 allows me to preset 4 custom modes to save time, and I'm not above using some of the "scene modes" or "creative modes" that come with the camera. You can look at my gallery to see the kinds of things I shoot, but it's a bit of everything. I do about 40% of my shooting with the standard zoom, 25% with the 25mm, and about even with the rest of the lenses. I don't have another camera body.

My choices to improve my equipment would be:

1) get the Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 and replace my 14-45mm (get 2/3 of a stop better on the wide end, better OIS);

2) get the Panasonic 35-100mm f/2.8 and replace my 45-175mm (get 2 stops better at 100mm);

3) get the GX7 to obtain IBIS for the 25mm prime, plus a better sensor (1 stop better, maybe?) better viewfinder, better processing engine, and wi-fi (don't know how much I'd use the wi-fi, honestly, and I may miss the grip and ergonomics on the G5);

4) save my money, and then get the LUMIX G7 (or whatever) when it comes out.

I will appreciate your advice and comments. Remember I'm a hobbyist, not a pro, so the only person I have to please is myself.

What do you mean "improve the quality of my images"?

What size prints do you require?  Because with that range of equipment, I would suspect that there is something wrong with your technique rather than the equipment.

I have used (and still use) a Panasonic G1 and recently a OMD E-M5, and I have had no difficulty getting prints up to 24" x 20" - from a good image - and good means noc camera shake and proper exposure. I got the OMD for low light stuff where the noise on the G1 obtruded.

So please explain your technique and types of images rather than going on about how much to spend!!

Mike