I'm sold on M4/3. Now what to get?

I picked up a EPM2 that was being heavily discounted at local store, just to see what all the fuss was about. Well for $200 and a kit lens, I'm blown away by the quality compared to my LX7. It even rivals my Nikon D300s and now I'm sold on this system and looking to get into it properly.

I want to stay with Panasonic because I find the menu system of the Olympus cameras way too complicated. I need the following:

• Relatively compact
• EVF
• In body IS
• ND fliter
• Flip out screen

Do any of Panasonic's cameras have these features and if not, what camera does?

Thanks

Raz

GX7 might also be considered... it is smaller than GX8
--
rob
http://hardlightimages.zenfolio.com

i was in the same spot as you, still love my LX7, but the EPM2 (after a brief EPM1 time) was superb, especially with the primes 14mm and 20mm from panasonic/lumix.

But the closest body for your requirements would be the GX7, which i managed to buy a few months ago (shop demo, had about 100 shots on it, body only for $350 or so). The GX7 is great, especially since i was buying it for the video - and the stills aren't half bad

Every other Pana with EVF is bigger, alas; maybe you can find the GX7 if the GX8 is too big? i just didn't like the OMD style, classic tho it was, preferring the 'rangefinder' ergonomics.

I want to stay with Panasonic because I find the menu system of the Olympus cameras way too complicated.

Don't narrow your choice! Menu system should be the last thing while shooting.

BTW: Olympus has so called "super control panel", which lets you forget about menus in most cases.

I picked up a EPM2 that was being heavily discounted at local store, just to see what all the fuss was about. Well for $200 and a kit lens, I'm blown away by the quality compared to my LX7. It even rivals my Nikon D300s and now I'm sold on this system and looking to get into it properly.

I want to stay with Panasonic because I find the menu system of the Olympus cameras way too complicated. I need the following:

• Relatively compact
• EVF
• In body IS
• ND fliter
• Flip out screen

Do any of Panasonic's cameras have these features and if not, what camera does?

Thanks

Raz

Err, are there any ILC with built in ND filters? Ignoring that, the older but still GX7 comes closest to what you want, the GX8 is newer and more full featured but also pretty large by M4/3 standards... Might not be an issue yo you given what you're coming from.

They're the only Panasonic bodies with IBIS, for any more options you'd have to start looking at Oly again. The GX8 has a fully articulated screen btw, tilt only on the GX7, not sure which of the two you meant by 'flip out'.

raztec wrote:

I picked up a EPM2 that was being heavily discounted at local store, just to see what all the fuss was about. Well for $200 and a kit lens, I'm blown away by the quality compared to my LX7. It even rivals my Nikon D300s and now I'm sold on this system and looking to get into it properly.

I want to stay with Panasonic because I find the menu system of the Olympus cameras way too complicated. I need the following:

If looking for something as compact as EPM2, there is only GM1 (no evf)/GM2 (integrated evf) under Panny's camp but do not have IBIS.

Only 2 Pannys have IBIS, GX7 & GX8.

Relatively compact

GX7 is within a close range to the size of EPM2 as here. GX8 is much bigger and be closer to the size of flagship GH4/EM1 as here.

EVF

Both GX7 & GX8 has an integrated tilting evf (max 90° upward).

In body IS

GX7 offering a primitive IBIS (1st time for panny). IMHO offering 1.5~2 stops close to the effect of Oly's early models. GX8 has a better IBIS than GX7 and if compatible OIS lens be used, would offer Dual IS having effect comparable to EM5-II's 5 axis IBIS.

ND fliter

Likely ICL camera use add on ND filter instead of compact's offering.

Flip out screen

GX7 uses a titling LCD whereas GX8 use a fully articulated LCD.

Do any of Panasonic's cameras have these features and if not, what camera does?

Thanks

Raz

Impulses wrote:

Err, are there any ILC with built in ND filters? Ignoring that, the older but still GX7 comes closest to what you want, the GX8 is newer and more full featured but also pretty large by M4/3 standards... Might not be an issue yo you given what you're coming from.

They're the only Panasonic bodies with IBIS, for any more options you'd have to start looking at Oly again. The GX8 has a fully articulated screen btw, tilt only on the GX7, not sure which of the two you meant by 'flip out'.

I meant fully articulating screen for taking video.

I guess it's a lot to ask. I probably would have gone for the LX100 if it had that.

I guess the GX8 is it. Hmm...pretty expensive. Dang. I hope it's just the beginning of they recognizing what people want

Thx all

raz

Before ruling out Olympus, check out the Super Control Panel. It's disabled by default for some mysterious reason, so you have to dive into the menu to enable it. With this done, the Olympus is easier to use than Panasonic. I have both.

alcelc wrote:
If looking for something as compact as EPM2, there is only GM1 (no evf)/GM2 (integrated evf) under Panny's camp but do not have IBIS.

What is a GM2?

raztec wrote:

I want to stay with Panasonic because I find the menu system of the Olympus cameras way too complicated. I need the following:

• Relatively compact

GX7

• EVF

GX7, GX8

• In body IS

GX7, GX8 (this requirement limits you to GX7, GX8)

• ND fliter

Not needed with GX8 - it has a 1/16.000s electronic shutter and 1/8.000s mechanical shutter (GX7 also has a 1/8000s mechanical shutter)

• Flip out screen

GX8

Do any of Panasonic's cameras have these features and if not, what camera does?

But you should definitely check some Olympus models.

Olympus OM-D E-M10 II is a very good proposition. I would not rule it out, if I was you. It probably has the best 16MP 4/3 sensor.

raztec wrote:

I picked up a EPM2 that was being heavily discounted at local store, just to see what all the fuss was about. Well for $200 and a kit lens, I'm blown away by the quality compared to my LX7. It even rivals my Nikon D300s and now I'm sold on this system and looking to get into it properly.

The sensor is better than your Nikon 300s to be exact, not much but still....

I want to stay with Panasonic because I find the menu system of the Olympus cameras way too complicated. I need the following:

• Relatively compact
• EVF
• In body IS
• ND fliter
• Flip out screen

Do any of Panasonic's cameras have these features and if not, what camera does?

Not possible because of the ND filter, IBIS and flipout screen.

If you can do without flippy and ND: GX7.
If you can do without IBIS and ND: G7 (but it is not THAT compact).
GM5 is very nice too, just the EVF is kind of small actually. It is as compact as your LX7 bodywise!

Thanks

Raz

Robiro wrote:

raztec wrote:

I want to stay with Panasonic because I find the menu system of the Olympus cameras way too complicated. I need the following:

• Relatively compact

GX7

• EVF

GX7, GX8

• In body IS

GX7, GX8 (this requirement limits you to GX7, GX8)

• ND fliter

Not needed with GX8 - it has a 1/16.000s electronic shutter and 1/8.000s mechanical shutter (GX7 also has a 1/8000s mechanical shutter)

Depends on the lenses. E shutter gives visibly less IQ and is precisely under those conditions
(too much light) not a real option if IQ is essential.

Panny and Oly would do well to build an ND filter in.

• Flip out screen

GX8

Do any of Panasonic's cameras have these features and if not, what camera does?

But you should definitely check some Olympus models.

Olympus OM-D E-M10 II is a very good proposition. I would not rule it out, if I was you. It probably has the best 16MP 4/3 sensor.

Not an option as the single reason he wants to leave EPM2 is the menusystem that is the way it is on every Oly cam. Otherwise I would however agree with you that Oly seems to have a lot that he wants in a small package. IQ is very good aswell etc.

speedync wrote:

Jorginho wrote:

Depends on the lenses. E shutter gives visibly less IQ and is precisely under those conditions
(too much light) not a real option if IQ is essential.

Care to point out some examples of "Visibly worse IQ" (using e shutter)

No. Well documented.

raztec wrote:

I picked up a EPM2 that was being heavily discounted at local store, just to see what all the fuss was about. Well for $200 and a kit lens, I'm blown away by the quality compared to my LX7. It even rivals my Nikon D300s and now I'm sold on this system and looking to get into it properly.

I want to stay with Panasonic because I find the menu system of the Olympus cameras way too complicated. I need the following:

• Relatively compact
• EVF

GX7, GX8, G7, G6, GM5

• In body IS

The only two Panny bodies with IS in the body are GX7 and GX8.

But the Panny equipment is designed with the strategy that lenses with a focal length greater than 25mm have Optical IS in the lens, controlled by the camera. This works fairly well.

• ND fliter

There are no Panny M43 cameras with a built in ND filter. I think no Olympus M43 either. But all but one lens can take an ND filter on the front.

• Flip out screen

GX7 has a tilt screen (vertical only)

GX8, G7, G6 have a tilt and flip screen (vertical, horizontal)

Do any of Panasonic's cameras have these features and if not, what camera does?

I think for you the G7 may be a good fit, but I would take a closer look at the G7, GX7 and GX8

Thanks

Raz

Jorginho wrote:

speedync wrote:

Jorginho wrote:

Depends on the lenses. E shutter gives visibly less IQ and is precisely under those conditions
(too much light) not a real option if IQ is essential.

Care to point out some examples of "Visibly worse IQ" (using e shutter)

No. Well documented.

Even with my GX7, I would say there is not an in use visibly different IQ between  electronic shutter  and mechanical shutter.

Although, if I had a very high contrast scene and wasn't using HDR I would probably shift to mechanical shutter so I could extract as much detail in PP as possible.