GX8 Review ... Finally

[Mistajolly]

Popcorn....Large

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pan...et&utm_medium=image&ref=reviews-latest-widget

Same score as Pen-F.

 

[Mistajolly]

Maybe they're editing it, link is broken now!

 

[alcelc]

Maybe they're editing it, link is broken now!

 

[Beru Roniki - AKA Grzzl]

It seems so. I only read the conclusion. They noticed shutter shock.

 

[Adrian Harris]

Popcorn....Large

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pan...et&utm_medium=image&ref=reviews-latest-widget

Same score as Pen-F.

The GX8 review seems to have been 'pulled' already !!!

I managed to read some of it !

 

[Mistajolly]

Not sure if I'll get into trouble but I've got the conclusion in my browser history:

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8 is a impressive mirrorless camera that ticks most of the boxes that many enthusiasts are seeking. Its new 20MP sensor is impressive, Depth from Defocus AF system top-notch, and Dual IS system innovative. The camera's touchscreen and Wi-Fi features are both well-implemented, and its weather-sealed body is solid.

What separates the GX8 from its competitors, both mirrorless and DSLR, are its articulating EVF, 4K video (save for the possibly now defunct Samsung NX500 and NX1, and the recently-announced Sony a6300) and useful 4K Photo and Post Focus features. And although the GX8's Micro Four Thirds sensor can't compete with APS-C sensors at high sensitivities, it holds its own and should meet the needs of most photographers.

If you want a camera that can handle street photography and 4K video recording with aplomb, then the GX8 should definitely be high on your list. Potential buyers do need to take two important things into consideration before placing their orders, though. Still shooters will need to decide whether having to use the electronic shutter to avoid blur is worth its potential trade-offs, while videographers who want to hook up an external mic or HDMI cable may not enjoy losing the flexibility of the camera's rotating LCD. It's for these reasons - especially shutter shock - that we are unable to give the GX8 our highest award.

 

[bahamot]

Wow, as if shutter shock is present on all lense.

 

[Nemo0815]

Wow, as if shutter shock is present on all lense.

--
my filckr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/51555031@N06/

Yeah, I have NONE on any of my lenses (12-35/2.8, 35-100/2.8, 42.5/1.2, 25/1.4, 7.5/3.5, 12-32)

I bet (without reading) they tested using the 14-140II Kit and draw conclusions from that.

Did they even mention the AUTO e-shutter mode that switches to e-shutter automatically in shutter speed ranges where some lenses might be prone to shutter shock?

Edit:

Ok read it now, and pretty sure it was the 14-140II since they tested at 200mm eq.

 

[Dans79]

Yeah, I have NONE on any of my lenses (12-35/2.8, 35-100/2.8, 42.5/1.2, 25/1.4, 7.5/3.5, 12-32)

I bet (without reading) they tested using the 14-140II Kit and draw conclusions from that.

Did they even mention the AUTO e-shutter mode that switches to e-shutter automatically in shutter speed ranges where some lenses might be prone to shutter shock?

Edit:

Ok read it now, and pretty sure it was the 14-140II since they tested at 200mm eq.

it's rather disappointing that they draw conclusions about the body, while using sub par lenses, or even directly mentioning what lenses they used.

 

[jalywol]

Wow, as if shutter shock is present on all lense.

--

Here's the thing: Shutter shock is a demonstrable artifact for a lot of lenses and an lot of users. You can, if you test the camera for it, see the vibrations that are produced, independent of the lens, ergo it is only a matter of time before any user does run into it....you are lucky if you haven't, but it's a real problem that needs to addressed by Panasonic.

Oly addressed it (as did Sony) by using or having an EFCS option in their bodies. Panasonic ONLY gives the full electronic shutter option, which is not satisfactory in many situations due to the potential for distortion effects with subject or camera motion during exposure.

What Panasonic needs to do is step up and implement a true EFCS option. They've done it in the GM series, so there is absolutely no reason they couldn't do it in their other bodies. I'm not sure why they are being so intransigent about it.

--J

 

[Pixnat2]

Quote from the review :

"It's worth drawing a comparison to other sensor sizes. Micro Four Thirds sensors should show up to a 1 EV advantage over 1"-type sensors, given their 2x larger sensor surface area. That doesn't pan out though, given the highly efficient 1"-type sensors in cameras like the RX100 IV. Compared to APS-C, Micro Four Thirds sensors should show a 2/3 EV disadvantage from sensor size considerations alone. We see slightly more than a 1 EV disadvantage compared to the highest performing APS-C camera to-date: the Nikon D7200, and about a 1 EV disadvantage compared to the Canon 70D. The take-home? When it comes to low light shooting, the GX8 sensor is good, but perhaps not as efficient as its highest efficiency smaller and larger sensor counterparts."

Time to wake up Panny?

 

[BostonC]

Not sure if I'll get into trouble but I've got the conclusion in my browser history:

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8 is a impressive mirrorless camera that ticks most of the boxes that many enthusiasts are seeking. Its new 20MP sensor is impressive, Depth from Defocus AF system top-notch, and Dual IS system innovative. The camera's touchscreen and Wi-Fi features are both well-implemented, and its weather-sealed body is solid.

What separates the GX8 from its competitors, both mirrorless and DSLR, are its articulating EVF, 4K video (save for the possibly now defunct Samsung NX500 and NX1, and the recently-announced Sony a6300) and useful 4K Photo and Post Focus features. And although the GX8's Micro Four Thirds sensor can't compete with APS-C sensors at high sensitivities, it holds its own and should meet the needs of most photographers.

If you want a camera that can handle street photography and 4K video recording with aplomb, then the GX8 should definitely be high on your list. Potential buyers do need to take two important things into consideration before placing their orders, though. Still shooters will need to decide whether having to use the electronic shutter to avoid blur is worth its potential trade-offs, while videographers who want to hook up an external mic or HDMI cable may not enjoy losing the flexibility of the camera's rotating LCD. It's for these reasons - especially shutter shock - that we are unable to give the GX8 our highest award.

What score does DPR give? Pany should add ECFS and a quieter shutter (aka EM5II) to its top line cameras. (Edited: the link is working now. I can see the score)

 

[Martin Ocando]

And maybe one of the reviewers might chip in to clarify this, but how is that the GX8 gets silver award and 82% overall score, on the Mid Range Interchangeable Lens Camera / DSLR. The same exact category that the Fujifilm X-E2 which got only 80% of overall score, but a Gold award.

I thought the scoring criteria was the same within the same category, but it seems something is off here.

 

[Nemo0815]

Wow, as if shutter shock is present on all lense.

--

Here's the thing: Shutter shock is a demonstrable artifact for a lot of lenses and an lot of users. You can, if you test the camera for it, see the vibrations that are produced, independent of the lens, ergo it is only a matter of time before any user does run into it....you are lucky if you haven't, but it's a real problem that needs to addressed by Panasonic.

That's true obviously, but the majority of lenses has no real problem with it. Actually the took THE shutter shock lense to test shutter shock

Oly addressed it (as did Sony) by using or having an EFCS option in their bodies. Panasonic ONLY gives the full electronic shutter option, which is not satisfactory in many situations due to the potential for distortion effects with subject or camera motion during exposure.

What Panasonic needs to do is step up and implement a true EFCS option. They've done it in the GM series, so there is absolutely no reason they couldn't do it in their other bodies. I'm not sure why they are being so intransigent about it.

--J

Oly did also not address it completely, as shown in the imaging-resource 300/4 review there's still shutter shock even with AS-0 enabled (or also the 75/1.8 used on a e-M10 II). Also AS-0 is only working til 1/320s and beyond that you have the same problem.

GM1 is a different story as it's using a totally different shutter mechanism which is only working up to 1/500s (and then using e-shutter as well).

So global shutter would be the way to go.

 

[SpacemanUA]

Oly did also not address it completely, as shown in the imaging-resource 300/4 review there's still shutter shock even with AS-0 enabled (or also the 75/1.8 used on a e-M10 II)

Can you share a link about 75 & E-M10 II?

 

[Hen3ry]

Panasonic must eliminate this. Certainly it is not as bad or does not occur with some lenses while it does with others on my GX7 and G6 and there are puzzling oddities in its behavior.

For example, when testing the 12-32 on the GX7, SS shows up consistently throughout the 1/30-1/320 range. But show me the shutter shock in this pic in action -- when testing shows SS at this shutter speed!:


100% crop from similar picture to that below; 12-32 on GX7


Full frame of 12-32 shot on GX7

Confused? I am!

Nevertheless, I have rejected the GX8 much as I appreciate its qualities and made a decision not to buy another camera until this problem is really solved by Panasonic (or Olympus adopts Panasonic's UI including menus!).

--
Geoffrey Heard
Down and out in Rabaul in the South Pacific

http://rabaulpng.com/we-are-all-traveling-throug/i-waited-51-years-for-tavur.html

 

[dmanthree]

And maybe one of the reviewers might chip in to clarify this, but how is that the GX8 gets silver award and 82% overall score, on the Mid Range Interchangeable Lens Camera / DSLR. The same exact category that the Fujifilm X-E2 which got only 80% of overall score, but a Gold award.

I thought the scoring criteria was the same within the same category, but it seems something is off here.

--

That is curious, but it's a well done and fair review. The SS problems are well known, as is the e-shutter workaround. And their results with the continuous AF parallel mine. No surprises here, really, but it's good to have yet another data point and some additional info, even for those of us who have been using it for a while.

 

[Hen3ry]

And the review is good. I do laugh out loud at a couple of things, though.

1) They call the GX8 a flagship but in comparisons within m43, they do not mention the EM-1 -- Oly's flagship. Instead they compare it with the technologically restricted PEN F and mention the EM-5 II. And, of course, they go on about the APS-C DSLRs. Huh? Did they mention them in the PEN F review? And in their table comparing the GX7, GX8, and PEN F, does it strike you that the PEN F is more closely comparable with the GX7 than with the GX8, which in many respects is a class above the two?

2) They go on about the size of the grip. Since it looks smaller than my G6 grip, I probably would appreciate it being a bit bigger too -- but then I also get along perfectly well with my GX7's shallower, flatter grip so maybe it wouldn't concern me at all. To suggest that with this grip you need to keep your finger nails filed or you will have difficulty holding the camera with a long lens… Come on, guys! (I keep mine cut or I wear out the keys on the laptop. LOL.)

3) And finally, the tardiness of this review adds an element of faint praise. Well, better late than never! The reviewer did well with being careful to place the GX8 in its correct position in time compared with the PEN F.

The mention given to shutter shock is absolutely merited in my view. With SS resolved, the GX8 might well have been in the 85+% range and showered with gold. I can't understand why Panasonic has not resolved this -- after all , they are a major electronics company; they should have the in-house expertise to come up with an Electronic First Curtain which goes a long way to solving this problem.

--
Geoffrey Heard
Down and out in Rabaul in the South Pacific
http://rabaulpng.com/we-are-all-traveling-throug/i-waited-51-years-for-tavur.html

 

[Mistajolly]

Nevertheless, I have rejected the GX8 much as I appreciate its qualities and made a decision not to buy another camera until this problem is really solved by Panasonic (or Olympus adopts Panasonic's UI including menus!).

I have the same conclusion, I love my GX7, and the biggest issue I have is shutter shock. If the GX8 still has the same issue then it's a no buy! Electronic shutter is not always applicable.

However, if the review is overstating the problem then that's not helpful either.

 

[dmanthree]

One thing I would add to the review, unless I missed it, is that SS does not occur with every lens. I've found it on only one lens: the 14-140 II. Every other lens I have shows no symptoms.