GX7 successor?

grasscatcher · Mar 5, 2015

It seems to work well in the fz1000. You can always turn it off....

Bobby Rue Goldberg · Mar 5, 2015

grasscatcher said:
I've been shooting the GX7 since October 2013. I think it's a great camera, the EVF works well for me, and I can only think of a few improvements I'd really like to see in the GX8 (or whatever the successor is called):

- DFD focusing from the GH4/FZ1000 (this would be next-step evolution of the already-fast GX focusing)

- 5-axis IBIS from the FZ1000 (this would fit in with the GX being the only m43 Panny with IBIS)

- new 18mp organic sensor would be nice (24mp would be nicer, if they can maintain their low-light quality)

- 4k would be nice, but don't think we'll see it on the GX, as it would take away from the GH...

- better NFC/networking range

It would really be a shame if there were no GX7 successor. I think it really was a ground-breaking camera by Panasonic, underserved by the DP review, and would be a significant loss to the photography community if it goes away.

The GX7 is the only Panasonic camera ever to use IBIS. Panasonic has never put it into a compact or camcorder or any other MFT body.

Impulses · Mar 5, 2015

RickPick said:
Warning: speculative rubbish: please forgive or ignore as appropriate.

43rumors has updated its trailing of a GX7 successor to FT4 - 61-80% chance the rumour is correct. No specs yet.

Many previous rumours on the site have proved correct so I would not be surprised....

Interesting that a "hybrid" Panasonic camera (relatively high end - above GH4) has also been trailed for the same time frame (May-June this year). The latter is meant to have a new, high DR sensor and very good low light performance...wonder if this could make it into the GX7 follow-up too? (Similar to GX7/GH4 sensor relationship).

Very sorry that there is very little factual content to this post, which goes against my usual principles. But I know some people are interested.

In case you're interested I have developed some principles which I try to stick to in relation to this forum - (which by the way I find fascinating for some reason):

Only post what I know from personal experience (again apologies for breaking this one)

Do not "bash" or "knock" my fellow forum readers for their sincerely held views and opinions

Do not "bash" or "knock" Olympus or Panasonic except for good reason and certainly not merely because I happen to have bought into the other's product line

In fact, thank both of them for developing a camera system that is pretty much perfect for my needs

Where I do know the answer to a question on the forum, try to answer it helpfully

Where I don't know the answer, do not try to answer it.

Thanks for reading.

No need to be so apologetic, rumor mongering is par for the course with these boards... Even tho Panasonic seems to be playing things very close to the vest lately, having launched several lenses with little to no rumors in advance. I think even the GM line came as something of a surprise, compared to other brands anyway where stuff leaks months in advance sometimes.

In any case, I'm looking forward to the next GX and I'm glad they're not gonna wait a full two years before updating it (or are they? I forget when in 2013 it came out, was towards the latter half tho no?). Not much else to go on right now tho... It'll be VERY interesting to see if it STILL features IBIS (improved or otherwise).

Beyond that, if it features DFD and/or 4K video I'll be mighty interested, if it features both AND IBIS I might even buy it on launch... IBIS might get sacrificed at the altar for 4K tho, who knows. I'd take any other improvements (to the EVF particularly) but that's my short list.

Impulses · Mar 5, 2015

peppermonkey said:
RickPick said:

Warning: speculative rubbish: please forgive or ignore as appropriate.

43rumors has updated its trailing of a GX7 successor to FT4 - 61-80% chance the rumour is correct. No specs yet.

Many previous rumours on the site have proved correct so I would not be surprised....

Interesting that a "hybrid" Panasonic camera (relatively high end - above GH4) has also been trailed for the same time frame (May-June this year). The latter is meant to have a new, high DR sensor and very good low light performance...wonder if this could make it into the GX7 follow-up too? (Similar to GX7/GH4 sensor relationship).

Very sorry that there is very little factual content to this post, which goes against my usual principles. But I know some people are interested.

In case you're interested I have developed some principles which I try to stick to in relation to this forum - (which by the way I find fascinating for some reason):

Only post what I know from personal experience (again apologies for breaking this one)

Do not "bash" or "knock" my fellow forum readers for their sincerely held views and opinions

Do not "bash" or "knock" Olympus or Panasonic except for good reason and certainly not merely because I happen to have bought into the other's product line

In fact, thank both of them for developing a camera system that is pretty much perfect for my needs

Where I do know the answer to a question on the forum, try to answer it helpfully

Where I don't know the answer, do not try to answer it.

Thanks for reading.

Click to expand...

I hope a GX8 is coming, as it's the only camera that I'd currently think of getting.

Interested in video but GH4 is too big.

Interested in rangefinder 'form' with an integrated EVF but need something more than the excellent GM5.

And I just like the Panasonic interface more than the Oly (I own GF1 and E-P2).

Closest camera to my needs is the GX7 but I had problems with its EVF so that went out the door sadly.

As such, there is currently nothing out that is in my sights. Now before I go on, I should mention that my main camera is still my GF1. Got it in 2009 when it came out and it's still awesome. As such, I'm the type of person who does NOT upgrade after every year...or probably even every generation. Meaning, I would like something that would last me for another 5'ish years.

what I would like is...

4K...video is going 4K (well, over 1080P anyhow). Some would say 4K isn't here yet...but considering I probably wouldn't get an upgrade for another 5-6 years...can't wait THAT long to get 4K...lol

Need a new sensor. Sorry, waited this long, I'm not about to invest in a camera with a sensor that is already around 3 years old. Waiting for a generational sensor, not just an upgrade. Organic sensor?

Better EVF. I prefer the Oly EVF's currently, even though I like the detail and colours of the Panny better so a new GX8 needs to be at least as good as the Oly.

IBIS...well, not really necessary for me but IBIS with video for my primes would be greatly appreciated.

Grip...I think I find the GX7 grip a little...urr...fatty? So...a bit modified...

Otherwise, general upgrades would be appreciated.

If the above doesn't happen? Guess I'll just be waiting a little more while enjoying my GF1 a bit longer (and investing in lenses more).

Impulses · Mar 5, 2015

dv312 said:
design the GX8 I would:

1) make the grip a bit smaller and more elegant, using more grippy pleather

2) include Olympus IBIS or similar

3) improve upon the EVF, make it less protruding while improving magnification, usability to VF4 level at least; keep it static

4) Reduce camera size /weight a tad

5) use less plastic

6) Remove builtin flash if no room

7) replace current sensor with new one with more resolution + DR

8) Refine the design for a more handsome looks (less staid)

9) improve upon the dials in the rear

10) make it weatherproof

11) add 2 wheels for control, 1 in front, 1 in the back

Think it can be done

Voila,

Cheers,

Doesn't it already have 2 control wheels? There's one on the back and one around the shutter...

Plus it has a magnesium alloy build (which people often confuse with plastic), wishing for reduced weight and less plastic seems to be at odds with each other... Besides those, I could agree with that list tho nothing on it would top DFD and/or 4K for me.

I'd rather not lose the built in flash but I can live with it, rather not lose the tilting EVF either (users have brought up genuine usage cases for it that reviewers never conceived) but if going static makes it less bulky I'm all for it.

Trevor Carpenter · Mar 6, 2015

dv312 said:
design the GX8 I would:

1) make the grip a bit smaller and more elegant, using more grippy pleather

2) include Olympus IBIS or similar

3) improve upon the EVF, make it less protruding while improving magnification, usability to VF4 level at least; keep it static

4) Reduce camera size /weight a tad

5) use less plastic

6) Remove builtin flash if no room

7) replace current sensor with new one with more resolution + DR

8) Refine the design for a more handsome looks (less staid)

9) improve upon the dials in the rear

10) make it weatherproof

11) add 2 wheels for control, 1 in front, 1 in the back

Think it can be done

Voila,

Cheers,

whenever I get used to something, everybody want to change it

I don't want anything here other than some improvement to the EVF and I'll always take an improved sensor

Last time I looked mine had two control wheels, I should send yours back

MFiftysomething · Mar 6, 2015

I cant see the GX8 getting the same sensor as the AF101 replacement but expect to see that in the GH5 first

GX8 I think will be GH4 sensor with a few tweaks and 4k video

The big question for me is IBIS in video -so many people want this. Panasonic started with IBIS in the GX7 and then forgot about it for the next 5 cameras they released; GH4, GM1 GM5 LX100 & GF7. Of course most of those too small and GH4 issues with heat but have they solved this yet as Olympus have the IBIS but still can't do anything nice in video.

The other thing is DFD hope they have improved that if they are not using PDAF.

tt321 · Mar 6, 2015

Bobby Rue Goldberg said:
grasscatcher said:

I've been shooting the GX7 since October 2013. I think it's a great camera, the EVF works well for me, and I can only think of a few improvements I'd really like to see in the GX8 (or whatever the successor is called):

- DFD focusing from the GH4/FZ1000 (this would be next-step evolution of the already-fast GX focusing)

- 5-axis IBIS from the FZ1000 (this would fit in with the GX being the only m43 Panny with IBIS)

- new 18mp organic sensor would be nice (24mp would be nicer, if they can maintain their low-light quality)

- 4k would be nice, but don't think we'll see it on the GX, as it would take away from the GH...

- better NFC/networking range

It would really be a shame if there were no GX7 successor. I think it really was a ground-breaking camera by Panasonic, underserved by the DP review, and would be a significant loss to the photography community if it goes away.

Click to expand...

The GX7 is the only Panasonic camera ever to use IBIS. Panasonic has never put it into a compact or camcorder or any other MFT body.

Where do you get the info on FZ1000? I thought it has 5-axis i.e. two in lens and three on sensor.

Fred Bauer · Mar 6, 2015

...and PLEASE shield the Disp button. Am I the only user that had to make a mod to prevent the constant unwanted display changes? I superglued a rubber o-ring around the button. Works great, but be VERY careful to keep the glue out of the button (use a toothpick or such to apply). It's my favorite camera of 50 years of them.

Mike Raub · Mar 6, 2015

How about single shot HDR with RAW output. Since almost no camera now offers this, I assume it's a matter of getting enough number-crunching power in a processor small enough to fit into a camera.

zukeeper · Mar 6, 2015

I'm very good at turning it off

Hen3ry · Mar 6, 2015

Trevor Carpenter said:
dv312 said:

design the GX8 I would:

1) make the grip a bit smaller and more elegant, using more grippy pleather

2) include Olympus IBIS or similar

3) improve upon the EVF, make it less protruding while improving magnification, usability to VF4 level at least; keep it static

4) Reduce camera size /weight a tad

5) use less plastic

6) Remove builtin flash if no room

7) replace current sensor with new one with more resolution + DR

8) Refine the design for a more handsome looks (less staid)

9) improve upon the dials in the rear

10) make it weatherproof

11) add 2 wheels for control, 1 in front, 1 in the back

Think it can be done

Voila,

Cheers,

Click to expand...

whenever I get used to something, everybody want to change it

I don't want anything here other than some improvement to the EVF and I'll always take an improved sensor

Last time I looked mine had two control wheels, I should send yours back

…preferring to keep my umbrella and a plastic bag in hand. However, here in paradise we have had a most uncharacteristic week of rain when I wanted to photograph stuff. It is towards the end of the wet season and this is a send-off (I hope). But I have had to sneak out on the few sunny breaks or more accurately, lightish breaks in the overcast/heavy clouds, and try to grab a few shots with the G6. Weather sealing would have made me feel better.

As you say, Trevor -- improved EVF (why didn't they use what they had in the G6?) and anything improved they have in sensors although my experience with the GM1 tells me the GX7 sensor is very good indeed so I would hardly cry over no change there.

Definitely no down-sizing -- you want little with EVF, you have the GM5. I thought the grip was fine when I tried it, but a grip more like the shape of the G6 might be even better. how many buttons does the GX7 have? I wouldn't want any fewer than I have on the G6 now that I have at last started to use the darned things!

And I would like an all silver or white body, please. This is a computer, not a camera. Black bodies absorb heat like mad in summer or as I am, in the tropics.

EDIT: And one oher thing…

If they can see a way to squeeze 1/1000 and a flash speed of around 1/200 out of the GM1 shutter, then I would like that too, please! LOL.

Hello! I just looked out the window and it has stopped raining and there is some lightish texture in the overcast. Hope springs eternal!!!

--
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

Hen3ry · Mar 6, 2015

I would like to know more about what we will be offered. May/June sounds like a marginal time for me to buy -- it might just sneak into my window of opportunity. So I would like to know whether I should be waiting for it or taking the GX7 as it is.

Obviously, the GX7 is a very superior camera, but I have a couple of quibbles with it. If they asare going to offer change in those areas, I want to know so I can weigh my options.

Tom Caldwell · Mar 7, 2015

dv312 said:
design the GX8 I would:

1) make the grip a bit smaller and more elegant, using more grippy pleather

Somehow I think it is just the grip shape. It could be refined some.

dv312 said:
2) include Olympus IBIS or similar

Any IBIS is good, better IBIS is better, but I can manage even without it somehow (If I have to)

dv312 said:
3) improve upon the EVF, make it less protruding while improving magnification, usability to VF4 level at least; keep it static

Conflict - nice that it sticks out when being used - not so nice getting it in and out of a bag.

dv312 said:
4) Reduce camera size /weight a tad

Possibly can be done - they made the GM1

but I see the GX7 and anything that follows it the bloated creature comfort version.

dv312 said:
5) use less plastic

Always, but I hadn't noticed the plastic - must have another look.

dv312 said:
6) Remove builtin flash if no room

I don't really use it but the moment it went I would probably need it - "sod's law"

dv312 said:
7) replace current sensor with new one with more resolution + DR

Current is ok but I guess nothing is static.

dv312 said:
8) Refine the design for a more handsome looks (less staid)

Staid is good, don't give it the evf-hump or (horror) an articulated lcd .... arrgh

dv312 said:
9) improve upon the dials in the rear

Tried a Sony A7 recently? The dials on the GX7 are heaven by example.

dv312 said:
10) make it weatherproof

Only if it stays reasonably priced and is not heavier.

dv312 said:
11) add 2 wheels for control, 1 in front, 1 in the back

It has two quite effective wheels ... puzzled.

dv312 said:
Think it can be done

Voila,

Cheers,

Tom Caldwell · Mar 7, 2015

Jiggle from foot to foot ...

Please sir, can we have a really useful in-camera raw just like the Ricoh GR has had for quite a while now - not just an effect filter - proper raw processing tools .....

--
Tom Caldwell

RickPick · Mar 7, 2015

Hen3ry said:
I would like to know more about what we will be offered. May/June sounds like a marginal time for me to buy -- it might just sneak into my window of opportunity. So I would like to know whether I should be waiting for it or taking the GX7 as it is.

Obviously, the GX7 is a very superior camera, but I have a couple of quibbles with it. If they asare going to offer change in those areas, I want to know so I can weigh my options.

Jorginho · Mar 7, 2015

What did I miss, so where did you get it?

RickPick · Mar 7, 2015

Jorginho said:
What did I miss, so where did you get it?

Click the second "rumours" link in my previous post! It's a site I haven't seen before.

safaridon · Mar 7, 2015

broody said:
I doubt it will be getting a new sensor (or any Panasonic M43 camera before the GH5... they're conservative like that). I'm expecting LX100 internals. Possibly something closer to LX100 externals than to the GX7, too. We may get screwed out of a mic input again. However, Panasonic may have a couple cool improvements to mix it up. What those might be, I don't know...

I too expect the GX8 likely to be a LX100 using all the sensor and 4/3 mt. However that would mean Pany giving up the moveable EVF, swinging LCD, and possible the IBIS as well while gaining 4k, smaller size, and potentially lower cost to produce.

clemcam · Mar 7, 2015

One wonders if the rumors are for one camera or for two. The camera rumored for NAB at $3K to $4K cannot be considered a replacement for the GX7.

GX7 successor?

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