Panasonic GX series

Gato Amarillo wrote:

That actually does make some sort of sense of it.

I do not know if they just cannot commit, or they are searching for a market, or what. But it sure is confusing. I have owned a number of Panasonic cameras since the original G1. My GX-1 and GX-8 are by far my favorites for shape and handling, but except for the flat top I have no idea why they are part of the same series. And have no clear idea where the series is going or what will be the successor to my GX-8.

I just hope the next number brings back the fully-articulated LCD.

Gato

Actually compared to others (like the Canon examples) Panasonic's scheme is fairly easy to understand.

GM (discontinued) = premium compact rangefinder style

GF = entry compact rangefinder style

GX = mid/high rangefinder style

G = SLR style

GH = Video focused SLR style

During the GX85 era, in the US/European markets they tried to use a numbering scheme to denote the levels (killing off the GF designation, leaving only GX, G, and GH to denote body style).

GX850 (3 digit) = entry rangefinder

GX85 = mid rangefinder

GX8 = flagship rangefinder

G85 = mid SLR style

G9 = flagship SLR style

The somewhat confusing GX9 designation follows from this. It's a signal Panasonic does not want to make a true successor to the GX8 (perhaps disappointed in sales results). Instead the GX85 stays around as an entry/mid rangefinder, and the GX9 serves as mid/high rangefinder. The large GX8 is dead as a line (otherwise Panasonic would have named GX9 as GX95 instead).