Panasonic GX8 Thread

What up guys and gals! I thought it might be time to start a thread for all us Panasonic GX8 owners out there. It would be great to share your thoughts and experiences. What lens are you using? What settings do you find work best? Anything and everything is fascinating to me so don't be shy!

We have to start somewhere so here I go..

I'm a professional photographer/graphic designer by trade. I just sold all my pro Canon gear and went with the 20MP Panasonic GX8. How long do you think it's going to take before everyone realizes how good the GX8 is? Mark my words, this camera will become a legend.

Image quality is very good. Which is to say it's about the same as my old 5D MKII and 70D. I actually like the 4/3 crop factor better for my work. I shot 4X5 and 6X6 for years so it kind of feels like an old friend. I've always liked 8X10 for classic portrait shots.

The video is beyond incredible! Full 4K Ultra HD with internal recording at 100mbps. Once you shoot 4K video you can never go back to 1080P. I'll be one of the first to say this but trust me, you're going to hear it again. The GX8 shoots better internal 4K video than the GH4. Of course all the GH4 users are going to freak out but they'll get over it when the GH5 comes out with the same new Sony sensor used in the GX8. Back to the GX8...I'm sorry GH4 owners, the Sony sensor is newer and better than the old, outdated 16mp sensor. Now of course both cameras can record HDMI out but the GH4 wins out with 10-bit to the GX8's 8-Bit. I only shoot internal so it's no big deal to me.

When people bitch about a camera's lack of headphone jack I just laugh. External recorders are so cheap nowadays. If you really care that much about audio then you should be using an external recorder anyways. Get a clapper or just have your model clap their hands to make syncing audio quick and easy. Or... if you use a lapel system most receivers have a headphone out jack...just saying.

The GX8 has dual-image stabilization with OIS lenses. That means that the camera combines both the lens IS and the body IS to increase the overall effect. It's beyond anything you could ever imagine. If you have good technique you can get VERY long exposures! You really have to try it to believe it. If you don't have one of the supported lens then just the normal body image stabilization works. You only get lens IS with 4K video.

Right now I'm running a Panasonic 7-14mm f/4, 12-35mm f/2.8, 35-100mm f/4-5.6, 42.5mm f/1.7, Nikon 50mm f/1.4 AIS (w/adapter) and a cheap Chinese 25mm f/1.4 C-Mount CCTV lens. I still need a macro and super-tele to be completely set.

First impressions of the GX8:

Focus is as fast if not faster than my 70D and way faster the the old 5D MKII. It feels so mush lighter but at the same time it doesn't have a cheap feel to it. It just feels right. I love the EVF, it's huge and great for outdoor daylight video. I don't really think about whether it's mirrorless or not. It just works.

I like the small lenses. I was so sick of hauling around 50lbs of camera gear. Now everything fits in a bag a fraction of the size/weight. I carry my GX8/12-35mm combo everywhere I go. It's small and light but still carries a big punch.

The 42.5mm f/1.7 is a jewel of a lens. It takes amazing portraits! It shoots like an 85mm f/3.4. The bokeh is as smooth and creamy as anyone would need. Even busy backgrounds melt into pure butter at this focal length.

The 12-35mm f/2.8 is my main walk-around lens. It shoots like a 24-70mm f/5.6 so don't let the f/2.8 fool you. It's still a great lens though! I actually need more depth of field for my scenic and architectural photography so the crop factor works to my benefit. You can get a decent background blur at 35mm f/2.8 though. It's just not like a full-frame camera.

The 7-14mm is my main work lens for architectural photography. I shoot homes for a living so I needed a good super-wide angle lens. This lens shoots like a 14-28mm f/8. Everything is always in focus! For me that's a beautiful thing and a possible ass-saver.

The 35-100mm lens is a little gem. It's so small I can't believe it when I hold it in my hands. Its very sharp for such a slow lens and you really appreciate the dual image stabilization when hand holding this lens.

My Nikon 50mm f/1.4 has been with me for many years! I just can't get rid of my old friend. I keep getting adapters every time I switch brands! lol This lens works amazingly well on the GX8. It shoots like a 100mm f/2.8 so I can get an amazing background blur. It has that classic Nikon look to the bokeh, smooth when wide open but progressively busier when stopped down.

Noise on the GX8- The GX8 is surprisingly clean. I really don't shoot that much at high ISO's my self. I'd rather go to a tripod. People make a big deal about noise but I've found that at most print size you never see it. It's only a big deal for the pixel peepers zoomed in to 100%.

Overall I'm pleased with the switch. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Are there any other GX8 owners out there? Post your thoughts, experiences and photos! Thanks for reading!!

42.5mm f/1.7

12-35mm f/2.8

42.5mm f/1.7