GX7 or OMD-E10?

alvinleong wrote:

Right, I had sold my E-PL1, E-PL2 and XZ-1 and am now looking for a replacement. I am still left with a Panasonic 14/2.5, Sigma 30/2.8 and the Olympus 40-150. I also have a Nissin Di466 flash which will also work on Panasonic I believe. My main gear is a Pentax K30 which I normally use with a Sigma 17-70/2.8-4 or a Sigma 8-16/4.5-5.6. As you can see, my choices are limited to mFT as I do not want to invest in another system all over again.

So you still own 14, 30 & 40-150?

My wife had approved the purchase of a lighter (and upgrade to the E-PLs we had) camera than my Pentax setup when I do not want to carry that heavy weight setup around so her key requirements is smaller and lighter than that. While both the GX7 and E10 are both on the heavier end of the mFT format, we can live with it because with a mFT lens attached they will still be lighter than my K30 plus Sigma. I think both the GX7 and E10 are pretty close to the Pentax in image quality except ISO performance. Given the gear I still have left, I had narrowed the choices down to these two due to the requirements (in order of importance) for IBIS, VF (I actually still have a VF-2 but I don’t like using it), built in flash and hotshoe.

At the moment, I am torn between the GX7 and E10. I like the range finder looks and size of the GX7 (and in silver, it is like a big brother to my CM1!) but the 3-axis IBIS of the Olympus.

The primitive IBIS of GX7 likely gives me around 1~1.5 stop stabilization. Before using an IBIS body, the OIS of 14-45 f/3.5 indeed allow me to shoot at slower shutter speed than 14 f/2.5. Under GX7, the storey has just been re-written on another side in favour of 14 over 14-45. IBIS of GX7 is not very great, but highly useful and it already allow me to shoot as slow as <1/8", well enough for my need whereas motion blur might worry me more if at slower speed.

My wife is not keen on the viewfinder hump because it “looks” like another dSLR.

Better try the evf of GX7. Some users including me like it, but some users hated it for the tunnel effect/rainbow effect.... EM10-I is on safe side, not as good as GX8, but comfortable to use.

However I also really like the live composite feature of the E10 for star trails. However I am attempting to experiment with the Startrail program (when I do get a clear night, none are forecasted for the next 7 days!) with my Pentax first and if successful, the E10 will most likely go off my list.

So assuming that I cross the E10 off my list and go with the GX7, I do not really like the kit 14-42 lens and intend get it body only or if I can, the 20mm kit and to use it with either the Panasonic 12-32 PZ (compact and wider), Olympus 14-42 EZ (compact and longer) or Olympus 12-50 (more useful).

Panny has only one Power Zoom lens, the 14-42 PZ. 12-32 is a tiny small lens originally to pair up with the GMs and it has a collapsible design. In operation, unlike 14-42 PZ which using power zoom/power focus, 12-32 uses manual control zoom.

As per general consensus, the best kit zoom of Panny should be 14-42 II/12-32, followed by 14-45, then 14-42 PZ (but complaint on SS although I am happy with mine) and the worst 14-42 I.

If I am you and would settle on GX7, I shall eye on Panny's 14-42 II or the tiny 12-32 (for its portability and wider) which are both the sharpest kit zooms. IIRC Oly's 12-50 (kit zom of EM5) had not been well received as its 14-42 II.

I am leaning heavily to the Olympus 12-50 because it has a similar range as my Sigma 17-70 but not the f2.8. I may get a pancake power zoom later.

I suppose 12-32 & your existing 45-150 could be a well pair of lenses for most general purpose shooting. Having the focal length divided into 2, you indeed might save a lot of weight on your neck if you don't need that extra reach. Indeed, 14-140 II could be another all-in-one good option, again a lens that is loved by many and also hated by a lot.

So my questions are as follow:

1. Will the PZ of the Olympus work on the Panasonic body? Will it extend on its own on power on? What happens when the body goes to sleep?

Should be. Don't know Oly's PZ, but Panny's PZ would extend on power up, extract back upon sleeping/power off.

2. Will the 2-axis IBIS of the Panasonic work well with the Olympus? Anyone tried this lens-body combo? Is it any good?

Should like any non OIS M43 lenses, GX7 could communicate with any native M43 lenses and and set the appropriate IBIS for the focal length in use.

3. Will E-Zoom and M-Zoom work properly and the scale show up on the screen? I read somewhere that it will not work properly on the GX1.

Not aware.

4. Inversely, if I get the E10, can the Panasonic PZ lens work on it?

I know the title is kind of wrong as I am leaning towards the GX7, but maybe someone can convince me that the E10 is actually a better choice than the GX7?

Thanks in advance.

P.S. Other cameras I had considered and discarded are:

1. Olympus E-P5/E-PL7/E-PM2 (no VF and/or no flash)

2. Panasonic GM1/5/GF7 (no VF and/or no flash and/or no hotshoe and no IBIS)

3. Olympus OM-D E1/5/10Mk.ii (too expensive)

4. Sony/Samsung/Fuji (buying into new system)

I did not post this Buying Advice forum as I am sure some fanboy will be telling me to get a Sony/Samsung/Fuji/Canon/Nikon instead and start a flame war.