GX8 - Disappointed with shuttershock

Arctra wrote:

WARNING - Bit of a rant!

So I've been using the GX8 as my main video cam (and backup stills cam) for a few months now and while I don't like Panasonic's' UI and color output I've put up with it because the IQ has been worth it. Now however I'm not sure.

This weekend I shot my first wedding (helping a fellow photog friend as a favor) and brought my GX8 with me to use as my B-cam. The setup I had was pretty simple, EM1 on one shoulder with the 40-150 f2.8 and the GX8 on the other with either the 12-40 or 7-14 f2.8's. along with a couple speedlights for when it got dark.

The EM1 performed as expected but my GX8 didn't. Throughout the event I was experiencing extreme shutter shock issues that forced me to shoot at a minimum shutter of 1/250th. I suffered through it because the lighting was still usable but the moment the sun started setting the GX8 was shelved for the rest of the event. I had never seen such bad shutter shock coming from that camera before and I couldn't even use the e-shutter because it doesn't work with speedlights.

That would've been almost forgivable if it wasn't for the fact that I was also experiencing a lot of focus issues with the GX8. The camera would be quick to lock focus but it was almost always off the mark despite my best efforts. It didn't matter how big or small of a focus area I used it or how stationary I or the subject was it would constantly miss. My EM1 despite being much slower to focus when it got dark was almost always bang on with its focus. I eventually gave up and used the lenses in MF instead of trying to fight with the GX8.

I have no idea what went wrong with the camera, but it left me feeling rather angry and frustrated by the end of the wedding. I don't know if my camera's a lemon and I honestly don't care that much right now. I'm seriously considering selling the GX8 and either getting the GX85/80 or picking up a EM5 II. At this point I'm rather burnt out over Panasonic.

There were a few other issues I ran into but I don't want this to be any longer than it already is.

Sorry about the rather long, rambling, rant but I had to vent it somewhere!

Interesting rant. 😱

Just curious, as a professional photographer, did you test your GX8 for effects of shutter shock before shooting that all important wedding assignment?

BTW, was the wedding a paid assignment?

By your own admission, you lack confidence in Panny cameras.  So why in the world would you buy a Panny GX85/80? That simply makes no sense, to me.

Sell the GX8 and get another EM1. 👍 👍 That way you'll have matching menus, button locations, same direction manual focusing (opposite of Panny), and familiar handling.   All important , IMO, when shooting in the heat of assignments.   And you'll continue to have no lingering doubts of perceived Panny shortcomings. 👎👎

Good luck.   Report back your buying decision.

Lena