GX9 or X-E4 w/kit lenses?

Street_Photography said:

johnc_22 said:

Street_Photography said:

... (except the GX85 which I hated)...

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Talk to me about your hate for the GX85 since it is the real predecessor of the GX9. I would be curious. The GX9 is only slightly improved over the GX85.

If I go X-E4 that is my plan. I figure the 18-55 might be a bit large and heavy for the X-E4 and the XC 15-45 seems to be a tremendous value if somewhat gimped by the PZ features.

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The EVF was smeary or something and I hated the ergonomics compared to my G7, which was superb. I haven’t held one or the GX9 since, so I am not sure if I still would hate the ergonomics with me liking the XE2 so much. It was a while ago and the wife’s but I think I didn’t like the way it felt in my hands, quite weighty and even though sharper images than the G7, I could never bring myself to use it. It just didn’t feel right at all.

But remember, the EVF isn’t an issue for many (probably most) people and how it feels in hand is a personal thing. The XE4 is a blank canvas for ergonomics so you may find the need to customise it with various options from an L Plate grip to a stick on rubber grip (like you may have on your RX100), then a thumb rest on the rear and maybe a thumb notch/grip. A stick on grip and hot shoe thumb rest might only be ~$50 extra.

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The ergonomics of the GX9 are better than that of the XE4. The XE4 may need extra grip.

This comment inspired me to have a look on those 2 combinations (GX9+20/1.7 and X-E4+27/2.8) side by side at the cameracomparison website.


The E4 appears to be slightly more pocketable than the GX9 due to less protruding EVF, but they're pretty similar in size

The 27 has the advantage of aperture ring but the 20mm admits slightly more light (F3.4 vs F4 equivalent.)

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Fujifilm X-T3 | XF16mmF1.4 | XF35mmF1.4 | XF90mmF2 | Fujifilm X100V | Fujifilm FinePix XP140

Thanks! I used the flippy screen for the first time yesterday to make a video for our food oriented YouTube channel. It was a nice feature for that purpose and meant I did not have to mount my Feel World monitor on top.

That will leave room for a shotgun mic although the Fuji audio was acceptable without an external mic in my opinion for our purposes.

Member said:

ulises66 wrote:.

The ergonomics of the GX9 are much better than that of the XE4. XE4 needs extra grip.

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Looks like the XE4 lacks any ergonomics to me so anything would be better, imo. But since stick on grip options have started appearing maybe it won’t be such a lost cause. Maybe the missing focus switch will end up being the only problem. Which the GX9 has on the back.

The XE4 is so new there could be problems with it like bugs and overheating. Time will tell. IMHO the X100V had more problems than normal, so I expect the cheaper made XE4 may have issues too. The GX9 has been out a while so you know what you are getting and Panasonic don’t mess cameras up in my experience e.g. overheating.

I was hoping to wait for the XE4 to bomb and go on sale, expecting enough other people to hate it, but unfortunately it seems to be a very attractive camera to a large number of people. Hence looking at Sony A61000 as a possible option with the 30mm Sigma and probably the 20mm f2.8 pancake. Which would make it smaller than either in the OP with a nice grip: https://j.mp/3d4m7ks

The GX9 also has the focus selector that Fuji removed on its latest cameras. Here you can see it.

https://camerasize.com/compact/#869.963,770.933,ha,b

ulises66 said:

The GX9 also has the focus selector that Fuji removed on its latest cameras. Here you can see it.

https://camerasize.com/compact/#869.963,770.933,ha,b

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I see. But to me removal of the focus switch isn't a big deal. I can't count how many times my left index finger has inadvertently toggled that switch on my X-T3.

Street_Photography said:

Member said:

ulises66 wrote:.

The ergonomics of the GX9 are much better than that of the XE4. XE4 needs extra grip.

Click to expand...

Looks like the XE4 lacks any ergonomics to me so anything would be better, imo. But since stick on grip options have started appearing maybe it won’t be such a lost cause. Maybe the missing focus switch will end up being the only problem. Which the GX9 has on the back.

The XE4 is so new there could be problems with it like bugs and overheating. Time will tell. IMHO the X100V had more problems than normal, so I expect the cheaper made XE4 may have issues too. The GX9 has been out a while so you know what you are getting and Panasonic don’t mess cameras up in my experience e.g. overheating.

I was hoping to wait for the XE4 to bomb and go on sale, expecting enough other people to hate it, but unfortunately it seems to be a very attractive camera to a large number of people. Hence looking at Sony A61000 as a possible option with the 30mm Sigma and probably the 20mm f2.8 pancake. Which would make it smaller than either in the OP with a nice grip: https://j.mp/3d4m7ks

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In my opinion, Panasonic are tough and very reliable, almost like Leica. ;-)

Go to a store and play around with both of them. And buy the one you like the most, it is the only way not to be wrong.

SpeedyNeo said:

This comment inspired me to have a look on those 2 combinations (GX9+20/1.7 and X-E4+27/2.8) side by side at the cameracomparison website.


The E4 appears to be slightly more pocketable than the GX9 due to less protruding EVF, but they're pretty similar in size

The 27 has the advantage of aperture ring but the 20mm admits slightly more light (F3.4 vs F4 equivalent.)

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Something else to consider: The GX9 has a built in popup flash, it looks like. So does my X-E1 and it's a really useful feature, I wish Fuji had kept it on these cameras.

SpeedyNeo said:

ulises66 said:

The GX9 also has the focus selector that Fuji removed on its latest cameras. Here you can see it.

https://camerasize.com/compact/#869.963,770.933,ha,b

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I see. But to me removal of the focus switch isn't a big deal. I can't count how many times my left index finger has inadvertently toggled that switch on my X-T3.

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Interesting. I've moved the focus switch on my X-100 models by mistake a few times because they're right on the edge of the body, but have never triggered the rotating focus mode switch by mistake on any other body. I use it all the time, too, and it's the one thing I really can't forgive Fuji for leaving off the X-E4. It's not like it's an expensive part!

SpeedyNeo said:

This comment inspired me to have a look on those 2 combinations (GX9+20/1.7 and X-E4+27/2.8) side by side at the cameracomparison website.


The E4 appears to be slightly more pocketable than the GX9 due to less protruding EVF, but they're pretty similar in size

The 27 has the advantage of aperture ring but the 20mm admits slightly more light (F3.4 vs F4 equivalent.)

Click to expand...

But does the Panasonic focus faster now? I haven’t heard anything, whereas the latest Fujifilm’s have done a miraculous job getting lenses like the 18mm and 27mm to focus just as fast as any other lens in SAF. If the 20 is still slow I would get the smaller 14mm f2.5 pancake or the excellent PanaLeica 15mm f1.7 with aperture ring. The latter is a very charming lens.

I am intrigued by the Sony options too, especially because of their size, AF speed and grip. I added the pancake lenses too at https://j.mp/3dbRoC8

SpeedyNeo said:

ulises66 said:

The GX9 also has the focus selector that Fuji removed on its latest cameras. Here you can see it.

https://camerasize.com/compact/#869.963,770.933,ha,b

Click to expand...

I see. But to me removal of the focus switch isn't a big deal. I can't count how many times my left index finger has inadvertently toggled that switch on my X-T3.

Click to expand...

The one on the GX9 you won't move by mistake, it's almost impossible. ;-)

Street_Photography said:

SpeedyNeo said:

This comment inspired me to have a look on those 2 combinations (GX9+20/1.7 and X-E4+27/2.8) side by side at the cameracomparison website.


The E4 appears to be slightly more pocketable than the GX9 due to less protruding EVF, but they're pretty similar in size

The 27 has the advantage of aperture ring but the 20mm admits slightly more light (F3.4 vs F4 equivalent.)

Click to expand...

But does the Panasonic focus faster now? I haven’t heard anything, whereas the latest Fujifilm’s have done a miraculous job getting lenses like the 18mm and 27mm to focus just as fast as any other lens in SAF. If the 20 is still slow I would get the smaller 14mm f2.5 pancake or the excellent PanaLeica 15mm f1.7 with aperture ring. The latter is a very charming lens.

I am intrigued by the Sony options too, especially because of their size, AF speed and grip. I added the pancake lenses too at https://j.mp/3dbRoC8

Click to expand...

If I were to look at this from a novice point of view, I'd think, 'Do I like to push buttons a lot, or do I just want to push the shutter button and take a picture?' Could go either way, depending on the novice in question.

They are both great in all honesty.

Do you prefer 3:2 or 4:3 ratio would be my main question.

APSC does have IME better DR in the extremes (really overcast or lots of bright highlights) but the 20mp M43 sensor closed the gap big time.

Look at some real world sample / gallery photos not test charts and you'll see how close most cameras since about 2015 are with a decent lens in terms of IQ....

If you don't need extra grip, the XE4 with the 27mm 2.8 is somewhat lighter than the GX9 with the 20mm 1.7, this should also be taken into account.

EOS GUY said:

They are both great in all honesty.

Do you prefer 3:2 or 4:3 ratio would be my main question.

APSC does have IME better DR in the extremes (really overcast or lots of bright highlights) but the 20mp M43 sensor closed the gap big time.

Look at some real world sample / gallery photos not test charts and you'll see how close most cameras since about 2015 are with a decent lens in terms of IQ....

Click to expand...

Aspect ratio is not important to me (either works). I've spent a good bit of time on Flickr looking at camera specific as well as lens specific images. I feel like the Fuji images pop regardless of camera or lens (some are better than others). The GX9 only pops with special, generally expensive lenses. I have a limited budget for this so dropping as much on a lens as I do on the starter kit is a long shot, or at least a long ways away.

If Fuji's colors were average this would be an easy decision. If Panny and Olympus gave any indication of solid, continuing MFT support this would be an easy decision. I like that Fuji is actively updating their lineup and publishing firmware upgrades. I know there are plenty of MFT cameras and lenses available today and in the near future but I'd feel better if there was more active support of the platform from the two main players (one of which just got offloaded and has an uncertain future, the other of which has entered the FF market to hedge its bets, I guess).

So here I am, pretty sure it's going to be the X-E4, unless I give up the idea of a rangefinder and go for the X-T30 with the 15-45 lens. In some ways it is a better starter "kit" and $50 cheaper.

Apparently the 15-45 ain't great from aprox 30-45mm

At 15mm I have seen it is super sharp but kinda flat.

Just my observations, I would recommend looking at some sample images also from that lens first

My kit lens recommendation is always the 18-55, it is just really so good

johnc_22 said:

Aspect ratio is not important to me (either works). I've spent a good bit of time on Flickr looking at camera specific as well as lens specific images. I feel like the Fuji images pop regardless of camera or lens (some are better than others). The GX9 only pops with special, generally expensive lenses. I have a limited budget for this so dropping as much on a lens as I do on the starter kit is a long shot, or at least a long ways away.

If Fuji's colors were average this would be an easy decision. If Panny and Olympus gave any indication of solid, continuing MFT support this would be an easy decision. I like that Fuji is actively updating their lineup and publishing firmware upgrades. I know there are plenty of MFT cameras and lenses available today and in the near future but I'd feel better if there was more active support of the platform from the two main players (one of which just got offloaded and has an uncertain future, the other of which has entered the FF market to hedge its bets, I guess).

So here I am, pretty sure it's going to be the X-E4, unless I give up the idea of a rangefinder and go for the X-T30 with the 15-45 lens. In some ways it is a better starter "kit" and $50 cheaper.

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In m43 you have like a million more lenses to choose from than in Fuji. This is also important.

In spite of the deafening roar from those who loathe small evf's and the GX9's 16:9 aspect ratio field sequential lcd on a 4:3 sensor, as well as the Fuji's small lcd with very little eye point, these cameras sell just fine (especially the mid-size GX series). In spite of their evf's owners somehow capture excellent images.

Personally, I'd go with the GX9...no contest.

The GX9 has IBIS and better egro/UI. There is a huge ecosystem for m43 (in case there is concern about what's happened to Olympus).

I'd go with the Fuji instead IF you are mainly a JPEG shooter and film sims appeal to you.

I'd steer clear of the X-E4 (and the X-S10) if having large hands (neither works for me). However, if you'd mentioned the XT2, XT3 or XT4 instead of the X-E4 (which I see as yet another uninteresting Fuji camera body release IMO), buy the Fuji..no contest. At least as I see it, Fuji has some clear winners and losers re camera bodies.