From G7 to... GX80 or GX9?

Maren V wrote:

Hello all

I have the Lumix G7 and am actually pretty happy with the camera. My most used lens by far is the 14-140 II and my second most used lens is the 20mm pancake. I take stills only, no video. I pretty much only use the camera when I travel, but I travel quite a bit at the moment. I will take some time out from work later this year for an extended trip and I am considering buying a new body.

The reasons why I am interested in the GX80 and GX9 are as follows

• IBIS
• USB charging (I like to travel light and the huge external charger annoys me)
• Tilt screen (I never use the flip out screen on the G7 - a wasted feature for me)
• Better sensor on the GX9

I guess my questions are as follows:

1) Is the GX9 worth it for the better sensor and newer technology? I won't be buying anything until July, but at the moment I could get the GX80 with 12-32mm lens (which I would be selling) for 380GBP, whereas the GX9 costs 200GBP more for the body only.

2) Is anyone using either of those cameras primarily with the 14-140 II? I have read a lot of reviews and they generally seem to state that these cameras are not that comfortable to use "with larger lenses". I don't really know what this means. Would you consider the 14-140 II already a larger lens? I guess everyone's preferences are different but would be nice to hear from some people that use this combo. I think the 14-140 II sits perfectly on my G7 so I do worry about giving up some comfort. I know I could buy the additional hand grip which I imagine I would.

Thanks in advance for any input!

If you are not tight on budget, go for the GX9 because of the latest 20Mp sensor, plus certain incremental improvement over GX80/85 but quite big from the generation of GX7/G7 IMHO.

Those improvement over GX85 been listed by good member here at: https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/62464309

I am afraid that that post had omitted one of the major selling point of GX7 to me, the upward tilt-able evf be reused in GX9 for waist level shooting.

As you know well, 14-140 Mk-II actually is not large at all. Likely in the same size as 7-14 f/4, 12-35 f/2.8 or 45-150 f/4-5.6 and is not much larger than 14-45 f/3.5-5.6.

Lenses line up

14-140 mk-II on GX85 vs various lenses on GX7:

14-140 mk-II on GX85 (left) vs GX7 (right)

14-140 mk-II is permanently mounted on the GX85 of my wife. I would never worry using 14-140 mk-II on GX85 (only 686g including battery), and would happy to do so if I have GX9.