In praise of the Panasonic GX7 and comments about the GX8

Tom Caldwell wrote:

Despite the model numbering sequence and the basic design being continued I am not so sure that the GX8 is in the same class of use as the GX7.

It is quite a lot larger and if a "big camera" is what stokes the fire then it is indeed very much the successor of the GX7. But if the GX7 was big enough and comfortable in hand then the GX8 is playing a whole new size ball-game.

To me the GM1/5 is comfortable and light-shooting. A sort of stripped to the basics sports car. Whilst the GX7 was the every comfort limousine with evf, tilt screen and lots of buttons and wheels. The hefty end where a larger grip and more easy-functions were thought desirable.

The GX8 just takes the stakes somewhat further - great evf, articulated lcd, big grip, even more buttons and wheels to use up the extra real estate. In my mind this is the Rolls Royce edition with custom hand built body and almost needs a chauffeur, but might be nice enough to drive-oneself to the shops.

The excess (nice as it is) and in all things including extra size makes a true size replacement model for the GX7 almost mandatory - even if it can no longer be called "GX8" - GM10? perhaps.

Good saying,Tom.

Would the GX8 be a product in some sort of over-listening to reviewers or biased opinion from partial of the user community, causing a diversion in the development of GX line would be a mysterious.

Looking at GX8, a hint for the new articulated LCD extended the length of the body. It of course would satisfy wishes for a tilting evf + articulated LCD instead of a double tilting evf & LCD of GX7. The much bigger evf increased not only the height (without it, same height as GX7) but more space of the top plate. That bigger, among the best evf of mirrorless together with a 3rd wheel simply kill the internal flash. Users from some other brands internal flash is not a norm but would disappoint most of Panny users that having one on nearly every model (GM5 excluded for its ultra tiny + evf design). Complaint on the range finder design GX7 couldn't offer a deep enough hand grip (& no optional handler) like dslr-design obviously just makes it fatter...

IMHO the addition of the 3rd wheel (EC compensation, upto +/-3ev only comparing to +/-5ev for certain modes in GX7) giving a 3 wheel control vs GX7's de-facto 3 wheels control is not much meaning except to satisfy potential users never experience the clickable wheel concept?

Of course, as said all of the added features (except for that 3rd wheel) are welcome if the size and weight would still be within our acceptable level.

Yes, like you said GX8 is not a descendant to GX7 but a different beast instead. Might be a range finder design of GH4?