Difficult to underrate this camera

yes, i muted everything but highlighted yellow and red (or as close to yellow as I could get because that was essentially the color of his fire hat and patch) - you can add/mute several points of color in the camera

john isaacs wrote:

I don't see anything sharp in this picture. Either it is out of focus, or given that it's 1/160 with the 14-140, it suffers from severe shutter shock.

You're right that it's not very sharp, but it's always hard to tell what DPR is doing to the pics vs. what the original had in it. (Almost all of the pics on DPR are blurry.)

Hen3ry wrote:

arn it -- Iam trying to resist the urge to switch from the GX7. People like you make it hard! Explosive GAS coming on!

I think you should run down to your local Panasonic camera store in Rabaul and give the GX8 a whirl.  LOL.

I loved my G3, hated my G6, but really like the GX8, which I've had for a few months now.  What I most like about it is that it's almost infinitely customizable.  I've reassigned the function of nearly every button on the camera so that the hard controls on all of my cameras now work in similar fashion, whether they are Panasonic, Sony, or Nikon.

I've always liked my Panasonic 100-300mm lens, which is quite sharp, and on the GX8 it shines.  I've now added the 12-35mm and the 35-100mm, the latter of which arrived yesterday.  The 12-35mm is an excellent lens, very sharp, nice colors...at least for Panasonic (whose colors I normally detest).  My first photos today with the 35-100mm were disappointing, at least at 100mm where I could compare IQ with the 100-300mm and my old 14-140mm, which I've used a lot for travel.  But then I had the idea to switch from using the normal focus box to pinpoint focus, and the resulting improvement in image acuity was really dramatic.  That lens is really sharp.

There are only two things about the GX8 that I have some issue with.  First, there's more luminance noise at base ISO than I was expecting.  OK, that's fixable in post-processing, for the most part.  The second thing that bothers me is the ergonomics...but not what you might be thinking.  I find shooting with the GX8 a tad uncomfortable because there's just too LITTLE space between the large (right) hand grip and the lens mount.  I use the classical photographer's grip, cradling the lens from below in my left hand.  There is simply not enough space for the fingers of my left hand to go all the way around the barrel of the lens, so they end up overlapping the fingers of my right hand which grasps the hand grip on the camera.  This is a problem because I've assigned the function button on the front of the camera body to bring up the focus options from the shooting menu, with the idea that I can use it to switch the focus mode, the size of the focus box, and the location of the focus point within the field of view.  The tight spacing makes it awkward for me to locate and press that particular function button with my left hand while I am using my right thumb to maneuver the location of the focus spot by means of the 4-way controller on the back of the camera.  But, other than that niggling issue, I am very happy with my GX8 and I can heartily recommend it to you.

BTW, I will be heading your way in PNG come this November, but probably not to revisit Rabaul.  I will be touring the highlands region after spending a week in Indonesia and West Papua.

A: the writer in me just needs to say this: I think you mean "overrate."  Difficult to underrate would mean, no matter how low you score this camera, it's actually worse.

B.  I don't understand what the other posters are complaining about, Inthink some of these shots are gorgeous.

C: making judgements about the fine points of image quality of a 20 MP image, based on a rezzed down version online, seems to me, at best, an act of hubris.

Please be respectful. Clearly selective color from camera as well as lightroom pp was employed - sorry - this was just what I had on my disk and I like the photos but probably should have never posted them as representative of native camera images. That said I stand by my review.

yep, but i enjoy blurry in many instances where sharp looses my intention

Ergonomically, the worst thing with the GX8 is the display button. Why didn't they make it recessed or at least flush with the body and why didn't they allow the function to change the screen layout to be disabled? Very bad design detail on an otherwise excellent camera. BTW is there a touch screen shutter function? If there is I've failed to find it.

I agree totally - but once I got used to it I adapted. My problem is that I frequently alternate shots between a D810 and the GX8 (GX8 for special effects) for the same subject matter and it can be a challenge for quick shots.

Yes, I should have restated the underrate comment more logically but what I meant, without thinking much about it, was that it would be very difficult for me to underrate the the camera because I think so much of it's near perfect size and capabilities.  Anyway as soon as i posted it I knew i could not change it and would be an invitation for all the comments. Lesson learned, ha.

richshep wrote:

Ergonomically, the worst thing with the GX8 is the display button. Why didn't they make it recessed or at least flush with the body and why didn't they allow the function to change the screen layout to be disabled? Very bad design detail on an otherwise excellent camera. BTW is there a touch screen shutter function? If there is I've failed to find it.

ALL the Panasonics I have have the same problem with the DISP button. GH2, GX1, GX7, GX8.

I wish there were a setting to LOCK it. OR an ability to disable all but ONE display mode.

Either one would kill the DISP button follies.

THEN, going forward with new models, they should really just relocate it. I mean, seriously, how often does anyone change it? Me? I probably never would.

I always use the disp button to reset the focus point back to center.

Ergonomically, the worst thing with the GX8 is the display button. Why didn't they make it recessed or at least flush with the body and why didn't they allow the function to change the screen layout to be disabled? Very bad design detail on an otherwise excellent camera. BTW is there a touch screen shutter function? If there is I've failed to find it.

Try user manual?
In particular page 61, no more than 5 minutes if you really try to find it.
Or even try to play around with it.

bahamot wrote:

I always use the disp button to reset the focus point back to center.

Really? Hmmmm. That seems like a lot of fuss. I'll have to try that.

Funny, but the only time I ever put the focus point in the center is when driving (only when traveling since I don't own a car) and shooting out the window. Then it's in iAuto with an electronic lens.

Sprintmedley wrote:

bad choice. try this one

Zendo coffee - Albuquerque

With all respect Sir it is good and i like this camera too, but... i think my D5100 can compete on this camera.