Gave The GX7 MkII Another Go...

Tom Caldwell wrote:

I agree. The S1/S1R were so obviously based on the G9 it would not be too unexpected to see a SX1 based on the GX9 (which could otherwise be known as the GX7III).

The only issue is that the GX9 was not a full-house RF version of the G9 but somewhat down-specified to meet a lower price point.

I have all “three” GX7, GX7II and GX7III (otherwise known as GX7, GX85 & GX9) - I love them all and use them together interchangeably almost as if they were the same camera.

My original joy and earned respect for the GX7 has never diminished it was and remains a camera that sits in a sweet spot. Of the three camera bodies the GX85 is neither one nor the other but likeable nevertheless. The GX9 is back on target except for the silly nod to retro with its mechanical EV dial which I promptly switched off as terminally useless.

That EV dial is exactly what I needed for doing EV while in Manual mode with Auto ISO, and it's why I replaced my GX85 with a GX9. I wish my GX8 would operate the same way, but it doesn't.

But the worst issue is that the introduction of the dial has introduced compromises in the controls it displaced - not good and a distinct step backwards.

There would be room in M4/3 for a GX9 successor with the full capability of the G9 - continuing the present GX9 evf to keep it the same physical size is no issues. Whether the market would pay extra for this might be a question. Even though it seems to be de jour to make an easy criticism of the field sequential evf it does work well enough and for those who must have the biggest brightest evf then they have the choice of the G9 anyway.

Those that want the compact shape and size of the GX9 RF-style body might have to continue to suffer compact field sequential evf units to get it.

On the other hand, and much more likely, I would expect that it would be the GX8 which would be re-incarnated as the SX1 which is more likely than using the GX9 as a role model for it. But please, oh please, give it a tilt lcd either normal-single or double-hinged tilt like that on the S1/S1R.

The beauty of the double hinge tilt is that it is to all intents and purposes a normal tilt until you release the second tilt catch.