A brief initial review of the GX9 vs GX8

alcelc wrote:

jalywol wrote:

This brings us to the EVF: I was expecting it to be, well, BAD. Fortunately, I was very pleasantly surprised to find that Panasonic had put a better lens in the front of the EVF this time, so no coke-bottle distortion! Hallelujah! Of course, it's not a BIG panel in there, and it is field sequential, but the FS rainbow effect is much, much, reduced over earlier generation versions. A GX8 it's not, but it is absolutely eminently usable, and noticeably better than its GX7, and GX85 predecessors.

AFAIK GX7, GX85 and GX9 should use the same evf...

They should, but the optics in front of the panel are better on my copy of the GX9 than on either of the previous versions. Also, they seem to have tweaked the refresh rate somehow to reduce the color tearing (it was there but never bothered me on the other ones, but I have to really work to see it on this one, so something in the implementation has changed)

Now the downsides:

The IBIS is OK, when used on non-stabilized lenses, but it's definitely not as good as the Oly version. It's a little better than the version on the GX8, but not, surprisingly, as much better as I thought it would be. On the other hand, when used with a Panasonic lens with stabilization, the Dual IS is VERY effective. It does makes kind of a clunk when it engages (the version on my GX8 does also, but I was surprised that this one does too).

GX9 should use the similar stabilization system of its predecessor GX85.

As per my home testing on GX85, effectiveness of the IBIS is around 2+ stops max, not really very powerful (vs that of EM10 class) but is much improved than GX7.

Oh, the GX7 had very minimal IBIS. The GX8 had better IBIS than that, by a fair bit, but a long way from Oly's version. The GX85 and GX9 have a version that's much more similar in operation to Oly's, but it's clearly not as effective, unfortunately (but a little better than the GX8's)

Comparing to the lens OIS of around 3~3.5 stops (14-45, 14-42PZ etc), IBIS is not outstanding. I suppose that could be the reason that when an OIS lens (not DUAL IS compatible) would be mounted, Panny uses lens OIS (IBIS will be disabled).

On G85, as per my home testing it is also just around 3 stops mostly, likely because of the bigger hand grip, heavier and larger size body... The best IBIS of Panny could only be found on G9 APM.

Yes, for sure. But, that's a larger, newer, and more expensive body.

However, DUAL IS of Panny is quite powerful, around 4 stops (12-32 on GX85) or 5 stops (12-35 on GX85).

Yes, I found the Dual IS to be quite good, even version I, which is what's on all of the GX bodies that have it.

Panasonic did some tweaks to their touch screen options after the GX8, so the ability to shut off the touch screen while still allowing access to the virtual function buttons on it is no longer an option (I think the GX8 might have been the only camera that let you do that, though, as all of the other current ones don't either).

If you are left eyed, the distance the eyepiece protrudes out behind the screen is too shallow, so your nose tends to move the focus point around....I have the larger eye cup on order, which should take care of that, but, since you can't turn off the touchscreen only partially, it's something left-eyed shooters should be aware of if they want to leave the touch screen functions on.

Not sure how GX8 does it.

On GX7, GX85 and G85, Touch Pad AF, Touch AF and Touch LCD can be switched on/off independently.

On all of the newest bodies, you can no longer independently shut off Touch AF unless you turn off the Touch settings completely.

If you are an evf shoot, Touch Pad AF should be the usual culprit on the running away focus point easily move the focus point (RAFP) syndrome. We can disable it and keep Touch AF and Touch LCD (for the Tab Menu, Q.Menu etc operation) alive.

I have the Touch Pad AF disabled, but I think my nose hits it before the EVF switches on sometimes .

One step further, the Touch AF (when we shoot with LCD) can be switched off to make sure no more RAFP syndrome. The Touch LCD can still keep alive...

Not on the newer models. You can only select either AF or AF+AE, but no "off"