Just how good is the GX8 especially against the GX7 ?

SC489 wrote:

Yes, I can see the GX8 is better is some respects - but there is no mention of the substantial extra cost of the GX8.

This is the big question. If the cost difference seems too big, then it istoo big. Just wait and enjoy the less expensive GX7 for another year

What would the actual differences be if post processing were applied to both GX7/8 images - would the differences be so evident then?

I have both the GX7 and the GX8. If you know the GX7 well, and with some work, you can probably produce pictures with the GX7 that are just as good as the GX8 99% of the time. To be honest, the improvements in the GX8 seem to just make it a bit easier in each regard (not counting a built-in fill flash ...)

For example, the EVF. I hadn't noticed that the GX7 EVF wasn't perfect until I was shooting the GX8 for a few months and went back to the GX7. Suddenly I realized that the EVF on the GX8 was actually miles better than the GX7. (Honestly, I never had an issue with the GX7 EVF until I hadn't used it for a long time and had instead been shooting the GX8!)

Another example is speed. I remember with the GX7 that I'd often get "bogged down" when shooting bursts, waiting for something to "catch up" with me inside the camera. I'm sure it can happen with the GX8, too, but I've never pushed it that far (probably because I shoot with the GX8 like I shot with the GX7).

Another example is manual focus assistance. I tried shooting my Voigt 25mm on the GX7, but to be honest it was easier back on the GH2 for some reason. I could never quite get it to "click" for stills. (For video, it was much easier, but video is far more forgiving of little focus slips!) On the GX8, the focus peaking and the improved EVF and the windowed magnified view all help make the manual focus lenses be much easier to use for stills. (I've shot well over half of my GX8 frames on manual focus lenses. Often wide open. Very good keeper ratio.)

So is the GX8 better? Yes, I think in most ways (*cough* .. flash .. *cough* .. size .. *cough* .. weight .. *cough* .. cost .. *cough*) it is a notably better camera. It's not night and day different, though, so you can easily make do with a GX7, which is a great camera in its own right (and -- like the GF1 -- will probably be remembered far longer than the GX8).